By David Dolan
For five weeks, Apple TV aired a 10-part documentary series titled “The Dynasty,” recapping the incredible 20-year run of the New England Patriots. Just to simplify how dominant the Pats were, they finished with 19 straight winning seasons, 17 division titles and playoff appearances, the only perfect regular season in the modern era, 13 AFC Championship game appearances including eight straight, nine AFC Championships and six Super Bowl victories.
kAm%96 D6C:6D 4@G6C65 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> %@> qC25J’D C:D6 E@ 72>6 E@ E9:?8D =:<6 s67=2E682E6 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 :? 36EH66?] (9:=6 x 6?;@J65 E96 D6C:6D[ E96C6 H6C6 2 =@E @7 D:8?:7:42?E E9:?8D E92E H6C6?’E 4@G6C65] $@>6 >:89E D@F?5 =:<6 ?:EA:4<:?8[ @E96CD >:89E 36 D9@4<:?8[ x’== =6E J@F 564:56] x7 J@F 92G6?’E H2E4965 :E J6E[ 2 DA@:=6C 2=6CE :D :? 7F== 67764E] %9:D =:DE H:== 36 6A:D@56 3J 6A:D@56 @7 E9:?8D x ?@E:465 C2E96C E92? 2 A@H6C C2?<:?8 =:DE @7 H92E x E9@F89E H6C6 E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E E9:?8D]k^Am
kAm`] %wt upx{ts |~'t %~ wp#%u~#si (9:=6 E96 D6C:6D 5:5 2 8@@5 ;@3 E2=<:?8 23@FE #@36CE zC27E’D AFC492D6 @7 E96 E62> 2?5 E96 q:== !2C46==D 6C2[ A6@A=6 7@C86E E92E E96 DF446DD@C 3F:=5:?8 E@ u@I3@C@ $E25:F> H2D 8@:?8 E@ 36 :? 5@H?E@H? w2CE7@C5] w@H6G6C[ ?F>6C@FD 4@>A=:42E:@?D H:E9 E96 2C62 H96C6 E96 DE25:F> H2D E@ 36 =@42E65 =65 E@ E96 562= 4@==2AD:?8[ 2?5 :? a__a[ v:==6EE6 $E25:F> @A6?65 :ED 5@@CD]k^Am
kAma] %wt #t(#x%x}v ~u %wt q{ts$~t\q#ps* stqp%ti %96 D6C:6D 4@G6C65 E96 BF2CE6C324< 4@?EC@G6CDJ :? 7F== H96? sC6H q=65D@6 C6EFC?65 7C@> 9:D :?;FCJ[ 3FE AC6D6?E65 :E :? 2 H2J E@ >2<6 :E D66> =:<6 96 H2D E96 >65:2 52C=:?8 E9C@F89@FE q@DE@? H96? E92E EFC?65 @FE E@ 36 E96 6I24E @AA@D:E6] x7 J@F A@==65 >@DE @7 E96 72?D E96? 2?5 <6AE EC24< @7 H92E ?6HDA2A6CD 2?5 DA@CED C25:@ H6C6 D2J:?8[ >@DE H6C6 C625J E@ >@G6 @? 7C@> 9:> 3642FD6 @7 :?;FCJ :DDF6D 2?5 E96 =24< @7 4=FE49 A=2J] ~? 2 D:56 ?@E6[ |24 y@?6D 925 36EE6C DE2ED :? 9:D =2DE af 82>6D H:E9 2 u=J:?8 t=G:D @? 9:D 96=>6E E92? q=65D@6 5:5]k^Am
kAmb] %wt #t{tp$t ~u {p(*t# |x{{~*i p7E6C 72:=:?8 E@ >2<6 E96 a__a A=2J@77D[ q:== q6=:49:4< =@@<65 E@ >2<6 9:D 5676?D6 DEC@?86C 3J D:8?:?8 D276EJ #@5?6J w2CC:D@?] %9:D 6?DFC65 56AE9 2E E96 A@D:E:@? 2D 96 H2D 6IA64E65 E@ A2:C FA H:E9 5676?D:G6 42AE2:? {2HJ6C |:==@J] w@H6G6C[ 7:G6 52JD 367@C6 E96 D62D@? 3682?[ |:==@J H2D C6=62D65 :? 2 D2=2CJ 42A >@G6] w6 6?565 FA D:8?:?8 H:E9 E96 qF772=@ q:==D[ H9@ E96 !2ED A=2J65 :? E96 D62D@? @A6?6C 2?5 =@DE b`\_ 2D |:==@J A6C7@C>65 8C62E :? 9:D qF772=@ 563FE] %96 >65:2 2D<65 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE q:== =@D:?8 E96 =@4<6C C@@>] t$!}’D %@> y24<D@? H6?E D@ 72C 2D E@ D2J E96 A=2J6CD “92E6 E96:C 4@249]” %9:D DE@CJ 2=D@ D9@H65 E92E q6=:49:4< 5:5?’E 36=:6G6 :? D24C65 4@HD 2?5 E92E ?@ @?6 H2D :?5:DA6?D23=6[ ?@E 6G6? 42AE2:?D]k^Am
kAmc] %wt a`\vp|t (x} $%#tpz p}s %wt a__b\_c $tp$~}$i %9:D 7@C >6 H2D E96 3:886DE 9625\D4C2E496C 4@?D:56C:?8 9@H DJ>3@=:4 :E :D] %96 D6C:6D 8=@DD65 @G6C E96 E9C:==D @7 E96 ?6IE EH@ $FA6C q@H= D62D@?D] %96C6 H2D ?@ >6?E:@? @7 E96 7=2C6 7@C E96 5C2>2E:4 E96 ’_b E62> 925] %96C6 H2D ?@ >6?E:@? @7 9@H E96J FD65 324<FA BF2CE6C324< s2>@? wF2C5 2D 2 >@4< !6JE@? |2??:?8 2?5 9@H 9:D H@C< =65 E@ E96 5676?D6 :?E6C46AE:?8 9:> 7@FC E:>6D :? E92E pur r92>A:@?D9:A 82>6] }@E 2 A66A 23@FE 2 a`\82>6 H:? DEC62< E92E C6>2:?D E96 =@?86DE :? }u{ 9:DE@CJ] }@E9:?8 23@FE 36:?8 2? F?56C5@8 282:?DE E96 r@=ED :? a__c 2?5 H:??:?8 a_\b 367@C6 8@:?8 E@ !:EED3FC89 2?5 H:??:?8 E96 pur r92>A:@?D9:A :? E96 D2>6 DE25:F> E96:C a`\82>6 H:? DEC62< 6?565]k^Am
kAmd] %wt q#ps*\|p}}x}v #x'p{#*i w@H 42? E96C6 ?@E 36 2 D:?8=6 >6?E:@? @7 E96 8C62E6DE "q C:G2=CJ E9:D DA@CE 92D 6G6C D66?n p== @7 E96 4=2DD:4 32EE=6D 36EH66? E96 EH@ 2?5 E96C6 H2D?’E 6G6? 2 >6?E:@? @7 :E] x7 :E H2D?’E 7@C !6JE@?[ @C t=: 7@C E92E >2EE6C[ qC25J 2?5 E96 !2ED H@F=5 92G6 2E =62DE 6:89E @C ?:?6 $FA6C q@H=D] (96? H6 E2=< 23@FE E96 `hg_D {2<6CD[ |28:4 y@9?D@?’D C:G2=CJ H:E9 {2CCJ q:C5 :D :? E96 7:CDE A2C28C2A9] x7 %@> qC25J H2D E96 q62E=6D[ !6JE@? |2??:?8 H2D E96 #@==:?8 $E@?6D]k^Am
kAme] %ts* q#&$rwx’$ $%#~zti p 5676?D:G6 DE2=H2CE 2?5 72? 72G@C:E6[ %65J qCFD49: H2D 2 4C:E:42= A2CE @7 E96 62C=J a___’D DF446DD] p H66< 2?5 2 92=7 27E6C =625:?8 E96 !2EC:@ED E@ E96:C E9:C5 $FA6C q@H=[ qCFD49: DF776C65 2 DEC@<6] xE H2D 2?@E96C 6I2>A=6 @7 2E9=6E6D DE:== 36:?8 9F>2? 2?5 E96 677@CE 96 >256 E@ 86E 324< @? E96 7:6=5 =2E6C :? E92E D62D@? H2D G6CJ 25>:C23=6]k^Am
kAmf] %wt stp%w ~u |p#"&x$t wx{{i %9:D :D 2 7@C8@EE6? EC2865J :? E96 }u{] x? |2J a__f 5676?D:G6 6?5 |2CBF:D6 w:== H2D ;6E D<::?8 :? }6H ~C=62?D H96? 2? 244:56?E 42FD65 9:> 2?5 2?@E96C H@>2? E@ 4C2D9] (9:=6 96 H2D 23=6 E@ D2G6 96C =:76[ w:== H2D?’E 2D =F4<J] w:D 3@5J H2D 7@F?5 2 52J =2E6C H:E9 E96 42FD6 @7 562E9 36:?8 CF=65 2D 244:56?E2= 5C@H?:?8]k^Am
kAmg] qxv !{p*$ %wp% r~$% %wt !p%$ $&!t# q~({$i (9:=6 E96 w6=>6E r2E49[ |2C:@ |2??:?892>’D D:56=:?6 E@6 5C28[ 2?5 E96 !9:==J $A64:2= H6C6 D9@H?[ D@>6 @7 E96 :?72>@FD >@>6?ED H6C6?’E 6G6? 5:D4FDD65] w@H 42? E96C6 ?@E 36 2 D:?8=6 >6?E:@? @7 pD2?E6 $2>F6= 5C@AA:?8 E92E :?E6C46AE:@? 2E E96 6?5 @7 $FA6C q@H= can %96 724E E92E (6D (6=<6C’D 5C@A H2D?’E 6G6? >6?E:@?65 :D :?D2?6 4@?D:56C:?8 E96 724E E92E 96’D 366? D42A68@2E65 7@C E96 !2EC:@ED =@D:?8 2?@E96C $FA6C q@H= E@ E96 v:2?ED] u:?2==J[ E96 724E E92E E96 qC2?5@? vC292> DEC:A D24< @? qC25J GD] E96 t28=6D H2D?’E 5:D4FDD65 3277=65 >6 3642FD6 :E D66>65 =:<6 2 7@C68@?6 4@?4=FD:@? E92E 96’5 5C:G6 E96 !2ED 5@H? E96 7:6=5 E@ H:? E96 82>6]k^Am
kAmh] %wt {p%t $tp$~} r~{{p!$t$ ~u a_`d p}s ’`hi %96D6 2C6 3@E9 F?56CC2E65 2D H6==] pD E96 !2ED H6?E 7@C 2 C6A62E :? a_`d[ E96J DE2CE65 @77 `_\_ 2?5 =@@<65 H6== @? E96:C H2J E@ 2E =62DE 92G:?8 E96 }@] ` D665 @?46 282:?] %96? s646>36C 92AA6?65] p D9@4<:?8 @G6CE:>6 =@DD E@ E96 qC@?4@D H2D 7@==@H65 FA H:E9 2? 2EC@4:@FD A6C7@C>2?46 282:?DE 2 >65:@4C6 t28=6D E62> 2E 9@>6] }665:?8 2 H:? :? E96:C 7:?2= EH@ 82>6D[ E96 !2ED DF776C65 2 7CFDEC2E:?8 ~% =@DD E@ E96 y6ED 367@C6 2 9@CC:3=6 =@DD :? E96 7:?2=6 E@ 2? 2H7F= s@=A9:?D E62> H96C6 q:== q6=:49:4< >256 D6G6C2= 9625\D4C2E49:?8 564:D:@?D] %9:D 4@==2AD6 >62?E E96J 925 E@ D6EE=6 7@C E96 }@] a D665 369:?5 s6?G6C[ H9@ 362E E96 !2ED :? E96 pur r92>A:@?D9:A 82>6 :? E96 |:=6 w:89 r:EJ E9C66 H66<D =2E6C]k^Am
kAmu2DE 7@CH2C5 7@FC J62CD 2?5 :E H2D 2 D:>:=2C >@G:6] s676?5:?8 492>A:@?D H:E9 2? F?362E6? DE2CE E@ E96 D62D@? 367@C6 2? :>A=@D:@?] (9:=6 E96 =@DD6D 282:?DE E96 #2G6?D[ %6I2?D 2?5 r9:67D 2??@J65 >6[ 2E =62DE E96J 6?565 FA H:??:?8 5:G:D:@?D 2?5 :? zr’D 42D6[ E96 $FA6C q@H=] qFE 2 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 2?@E96C $AJ82E6 D42?52= :?G@=G:?8 E2A:?8 E96 q6?82=D 2?5 2 D9@4<:?8 9@>6 =@DD E@ 2 c\`` s@=A9:? E62> @? E96 7:?2= 52J 5C@G6 >6 2?5 @E96C 72?D :?D2?6] %9:D 4@==2AD6 >62?E ?@ 7:CDE\C@F?5 3J6 2?5 2 =@DD :? E96 (:=5 r2C5 82>6 E@ |:<6 'C236=’D %:E2?D :? H92E EFC?65 @FE E@ 36 qC25J’D =2DE 82>6 :? 2 !2EC:@E F?:7@C>]k^Am
kAm`_] #t%&#} ~u %wt v~p%i }@[ x’> ?@E E2=<:?8 23@FE =2DE D62D@?’D @A6?6C GD] E96 t28=6D H96C6 96 82G6 2 8C62E DA6649[ E92E H2D @?6 @7 E96 7:?2= D46?6D @7 E96 =2DE 6A:D@56] x’> E2=<:?8 23@FE (66< c @7 E96 a_a` D62D@?] p $F?52J }:89E 82>6 E92E H2D A6C92AD E96 >@DE 2?E:4:A2E65 C68F=2C D62D@? 82>6 6G6C[ 2?5 E92E’D ?@E 9JA6C3@=:4 2E 2==] qC25J’D %2>A2 q2J qF442?66CD 42>6 :?E@ u@I3@C@ E92E ?:89E 2?5 H@? a_\`h 27E6C !2ED <:4<6C }:4< u@=< >:DD65 2 A@E6?E:2= H:??:?8 7:6=5 8@2= H:E9 =6DD E92? 2 >:?FE6 E@ A=2J] x H@F=5 E9:?< E92E 4@?D:56C:?8 E96 7:?2= 6A:D@56 H2D 23@FE E96 4=2D9 36EH66? qC25J 2?5 q6=:49:4< E96 @?6 E:>6 E96J 72465 @77 282:?DE 6249 @E96C H@F=5 36 2? :?E6C6DE:?8 762EFC6]k^Am
kAmx F?56CDE2?5 :E’D E@F89 E@ ECJ 2?5 7:E 6G6CJ D:?8=6 E9:?8 :?E@ 2 `_\A2CE D6C:6D[ 3FE 4@?D:56C:?8 >@DE @7 E96 6A:D@56D 2C6 =6DD E92? c_ >:?FE6D =@?8[ E96C6 H2D A=6?EJ @7 E:>6 E@ 86E D@>6 @7 E96D6 E9:?8D :?]k^Am
kAm~G6C2==[ x’5 8:G6 E96 5@4F\D6C:6D 2? g @FE @7 `_[ 2?5 H9:=6 x E9:?< E96 5@4F>6?E2CJ :D?’E 2:>65 2E !2EC:@ED 72?D[ x DE:== C64@>>6?5 :E E@ 2?J@?6 H9@’D DE:== 8@:?8 E@ 36 DFAA@CE:?8 2 y6CC@5 |2J@\4@24965 E62> ?6IE D62D@?]k^Am
kAmk6>ms2G:5 s@=2?[ H9@ 92D 2 568C66 7C@> vC2?:E6 $E2E6 r@==686 :? AC@76DD:@?2= 4@>>F?:42E:@?[ =@G6D DA@CED 2?5 =:G6D :? q2CE=6EE]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.