I’m really interested to see how Belichick does it this season. He took Matt Cassell to 11 wins.
That was also coming off the heels of perhaps the most talented team in NFL history that went 18-0 and while they didn’t win the super bowl, that doesn’t stop them from being the most talented ever.
Sure that te wasn’t going to be as good the next year, but it was still only one year removed from the best team assembled in the last 30 years. Cassel did a lot of good things for them that season, and Hoodie did a lot as well. But that team was extremely talented. Let’s not pretend Bellicheck and Cassel piloted the 1996 Jets to 11-5 and a playoff berth that year.
I fully expect the Patriots with even below average QB play to compete for a division title this year. But they are cap strapped and after this season when they go 8-8 or worse, the mystique of the Patriots will fall away and they will fall apart, provides they don’t luck into another great QB in the next couple of drafts