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From 2001 to 2018, the New England Patriots were defined by 13 AFC Championship Game appearances, including one in each of the final eight seasons of that span.
After six seasons failing to return to the title game, and a stretch of falling almost to the bottom, the Patriots have returned to what feels like home.
The Patriots, with Bo Nix’s injury, are the favorites to return to the Super Bowl for the first time in the post-Tom Brady era, which is impressive in itself.
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Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots talks with Drake Maye #10 during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium on September 7, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
However, no one could have foreseen it after what has happened in recent years.
In the first three seasons after Brady left, the Pats went 7-9, 10-7 (made the playoffs with rookie Mac Jones) and 8-9. But the 2023 and 2024 seasons ended with 4-13 records.
The first of them was under Bill Belichick in his last season with the team after 24 years. After Belichick left, they gave the job to Jerod Mayo, but he was unsuccessful.
Mayo was given the short end of the stick and let go after one season, a move that generated much controversy. However, it seems like it’s all worth it.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel discusses the team’s recent free agent signings with the media at Gillette Stadium on March 13, 2025. (Eric Canha-Image Images)
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The Pats then brought in Mike Vrabel, who has put himself in the Coach of the Year conversation after his previous success with the Tennessee Titans.
The “1” in 4-13 moved several places to the left as the Pats finished 14-3, their highest win total since 2016, which was a Super Bowl-winning campaign.
Only four teams have won the Super Bowl just one season after finishing last in their division: the 1999 St. Louis Rams, the 2001 Patriots, the 2009 New Orleans Saints and the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles.
Those Rams are also the only team that went from four wins in one season to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in the next. However, since they only played a 16-game season, the Pats could become the first team to lose 13 games and follow it up with a Super Bowl victory.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye passes the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England opened as a 5.5-point favorite with Jarrett Stidham replacing Nix, who suffered a broken ankle in their 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills last week.
