I’m not crazy about the Patriots this year. They lost a lot of key players (Vince Wilfork and the two starting corners), the offensive line isn’t as good as it’s been in the past, and the offseason was one gigantic distraction. They just don’t look like a Super Bowl team to me.
Plus there’s the simple reality that it’s really hard to win games in this league.
In this century, only two other teams have won a Super Bowl, then came back to play in the game again the next season. The Seahawks did it last year, and the Patriots themselves did it in 2004.
SUPER BOWL WINNERS SINCE 2000 | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Defending Champ | Result |
2000 | St. Louis | Lost Wild Card Game |
2001 | Baltimore | Lost Divisional Playoff Game |
2002 | New England | Missed playoffs |
2003 | Tampa Bay | Missed playoffs |
2004 | New England | Won Super Bowl |
2005 | New England | Lost Divisional Playoff Game |
2006 | Pittsburgh | Missed playoffs |
2007 | Indianapolis | Lost Divisional Playoff Game |
2008 | NY Giants | Lost Divisional Playoff Game |
2009 | Pittsburgh | Missed playoffs |
2010 | New Orleans | Lost Wild Card Game |
2011 | Green Bay | Lost Divisional Playoff Game |
2012 | NY Giants | Missed playoffs |
2013 | Baltimore | Missed playoffs |
2014 | Seattle | Lost Super Bowl |
2015 | New England | ??? |
—Ian Allan