Titletown: Ranking Boston’s Championship Teams Since 2001
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2001-02 New England Patriots
The season that berthed a dynasty really began on September 23rd, 2001, when New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis obliterated Patriots’ franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe, clearing the way for a little known 24-year-old named Tom Brady, drafted the year before with the 199th pick. New England lost the game 10-3, with Brady throwing 5 for 10 for 46 yards, but an era of greatness was officially underway.
This Patriots team is often remembered as a cinderella story, 14-point Super Bowl underdogs to the mighty St. Louis Rams, with an unknown quarterback at the helm, but following an 0-2 start Brady went 14-3 as a starter, including nine straight wins to end the year. The Patriots had a balanced offense, with Antowain Smith rushing for 1157 yards and 12 touchdowns, and a strong defense as well. They finished sixth in the league in both points scored and points allowed.
Their march to the first Super Bowl in franchise history was undeniably improbable, but this was a very strong team from Brady’s first start on. Four titles later, this is the season that started it all. This team wasn’t as dominant as some of the juggernauts of later years, but they were certainly formidable.
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