New England Patriots: Why fans should savor AFC East title

The New England Patriots won their 11th straight AFC East title but fans should especially enjoy this one because it could be their last for a while.

We have seen a lot of AFC East titles in recent New England Patriots history. It almost seems like a guarantee each and every year.

Since 2001, the Patriots have won 17 AFC East titles. Without a doubt, they have dominated at a rate the NFL has never seen.

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But I think this most recent victory is a bit more special. Mostly because it might be their last for a while.

Now I really hope this isn’t the case. Hopefully, the start of the next decade has a similar result to the beginning of the 2010s.

But there are a lot of signs pointing to that not being the case. The foundation of the Patriots franchise appears to be rocked.

The status of Tom Brady is up in the air. For the first time, I am seriously worried about Brady leaving the team. Whether that be by retiring or joining a different team. I don’t know how successful the Jarrett Stidham era will be.

Also, the offense has struggled mightily. At times the defense has carried the team on their back. Defense might win championships, but you need to get there first.

At the beginning of the season, you probably would have called me crazy for saying this. The Patriots had an amazing receiver corps as well as a running back who helped win them a Super Bowl.

But as we have seen this season things can change very quickly. The clear No.1 team in the NFL doesn’t look so stable. The dynasty very well could be coming to an end.

So let’s enjoy this AFC East title because it could be our last for a long time.