It looks like the New England Patriots have found a way to sustain their dominance.
One year after missing the postseason, they were back at it with a 10-7 record last season.
But while the Buffalo Bills dominated them during their Wild Card encounter, things will only get better for the Patriots, especially if quarterback Mac Jones gets a better feel for the game.
Yet even before they become a legitimate contender again, their performance last year helped them sustain an unparalleled record.
double-digit wins in last 19 seasons:
18 – NE
17
16
15
14
13 – GB, IND
12
11 – PIT, SEA, KC
10 – BAL
9 – NO
8 – PHI
7 – DAL, ATL, DEN, CIN
6 – CAR, MIN
5 – CHI, LAC, SF, ARI, TEN, NYG, LAR
4 – TB, MIA, NYJ, HOU
3 – BUF, JAX
2 – WAS, LV, CLE, DET— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) June 30, 2022
NBC Sports’ Warren Sharp shared that the Patriots had 18 seasons of at least ten victories over the last 19 seasons.
The Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts are a distant second at 13.
With the Patriots back in their winning ways, it would be difficult for any team to reach or surpass their impressive run.
The Brady-Belichick Connection Established Their High Standards
The Patriots had competitive squads during the 1980s and 1990s.
They made it to two Super Bowls (XX and XXXI) but lost both games to the Chicago Bears and the Packers, respectively.
But things turned for the better when Bill Belichick took over the squad in 2000 and Tom Brady took over for Drew Bledsoe.
New England won Super Bowl XXXVI in Brady’s first year as starter.
Since then, they won five more Super Bowls and only had two seasons of below 10 victories.
New England also took home 17 AFC East division titles and played in the AFC Championship Game from 2011 to 2018.
It would be difficult to see that level of success again, especially with the free agency frenzy happening every year.
For that reason, Patriots fans will continue to cherish the Brady-Belichick era until the current squad brings another title to Foxborough.
NEXT: Patriots Veteran Comments On Mac Jones' Leadership