New England Patriots: 5 reasons team is destined to make Super Bowl

Sam Minton

FOXBOROUGH, MA - DECEMBER 23: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots walks through the tunnel prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The New England Patriots seem to be getting hot at just the right time. This team just seems destined to make it back to the Super Bowl.

The New England Patriots have a great ability to find a way to win. The odds seemed stacked against them but the Pats now have a shot to be the No.1 seed in the AFC.

This has been a very unusual year for the Patriots. Tom Brady hasn’t been himself and Rob Gronkowski has looked like he went through a rapid aging machine in the offseason.

1. The Patriots have a shot to get the No.1 seed in the AFC

Just a week ago it seemed like the New England Patriots would be playing on wildcard weekend. Now the Pats have a shot to secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

New England controls their own destiny. if they win in Week 17 they have a shot at the top seed. All the team would need is for the Kansas City Chiefs to lose to the Oakland Raiders and the LA Chargers would have to lose to the Denver Broncos.

Anything is possible in Week 17. We definitely could see these two teams lose.

Home field advantage is important for the Patriots. When they secure the top spot they are basically guaranteed to make it to the Super Bowl.

With all the breaks the Patriots have gotten I wouldn’t be that shocked if they managed to get the No.1 seed. If that happens we will probably see New England in the Super Bowl.

2. The AFC is falling apart

At one point the AFC seemed like the big bad wolf of the NFL. The conference seemed to be stacked with dominant teams. Now things don’t appear to be as scary.

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The Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers looked like they would be the team’s to beat in the AFC, but these last few weeks they have struggled.

In Week 16 the Chargers lost to the Baltimore Ravens which isn’t something you should write home about, and the Chiefs have lost 2 straight games.

It seems like the Chargers are beginning their annual choke job and opposing defenses are figuring out how to stop Patrick Mahomes.

The years change, but some things remain the same. The New England Patriots always find a way to the top of the AFC.

New England is figuring things out while other teams are falling apart. All signs point to them sneaking their way to yet another Super Bowl.

3. Tom Brady is still on the Patriots

I don’t care how well he is playing or how old he is, as long as Tom Brady is on your roster you have a good shot to make the Super Bowl.

Brady is the definition of a primetime player. When the Patriots need him, Brady turns it up a notch. He can always be relied on to lead a game-winning drive no matter how little time is left on the clock.

Tom Brady isn’t a stranger to the playoffs. He has played in about 2 seasons worth of playoff games. In 37 games Brady has 27-10 record with over 10,000 yards and 71 touchdowns.

Brady just knows how to win so I will always expect him to find a way to the Super Bowl. He hasn’t let me down yet.

When Tom Brady is on your roster you just seem bound to make the Super Bowl. This season isn’t any different. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the New England Patriots in the big game once again.

4. The New England Patriots have a running game

It may come as a shock to New England Patriot fans, but the team has had a decent running game all season long. This is thanks to two guys.

Sony Michel has been great for the Patriots in his rookie season. It took him a while to get acclimated to the NFL game, but now Michel looks like a seasoned veteran.

Michel has played in 12 games this season and has 195 carries for 881 yards and 6 touchdowns. That is a pretty nice season for a rookie.

What makes Michel a good back is how he runs the ball. He can run outside the tackles and make a move, but also isn’t afraid to drop his shoulder and initiate contact.

Usually, New England has had to solely rely on Tom Brady and the passing game. This postseason, things will be different for the Patriots. They can have a much more balanced offense.

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With the Patriots having a running game they seem like they are on the right track to returning to the Super Bowl.

5. The Patriots are experienced

One of the most important things that the Patriots have on their side is that they are experienced. New England’s roster is filled with players who have played in the postseason and in Super Bowl’s.

It is one thing to play in the regular season, but the playoffs are a completely different animal. Some great regular season players can fall apart in the postseason.

So when the Chiefs and Chargers enter the playoffs they will already be at a disadvantage. They aren’t used to playing in these high-pressure scenarios.

The Patriots experience should propel them in the postseason. They may not be the dominant team we are used to, but they know what it takes to win.

So it may seem surprising to see the New England Patriots in such an advantageous situation. They struggle mightily early on in the season. Now they are at the top of the AFC.

Everything just makes it seem like the Patriots are destined to make it to the Super Bowl.

Sam Minton

Sam Minton is a graduate of Salem State University where he majored in Communications with a concentration in Journalism. He is a passionate sports fan with his favorite teams being the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots, New England Revolution and New York Yankees.