Every NFL team has its ups and downs. That’s what makes for any season.
This week in Foxborough, downs have taken on a new meaning. Can you say ball pressure?
The New England Patriots are headed back to the Super Bowl for the sixth time since 2001 and a record-tying eighth time overall. But four games into 2014, the dynasty was apparently over as the
So how did the Pats bounce back for a 14th straight winning campaign?
We present the five turning points of the Patriots’ season—in chronological order.
1. Patriots 43, Bengals 17 (Week 5)
Less than a week after being humbled on a Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium, the Patriots welcomed the 3-0 Bengals to New England for a crucial Sunday night tilt. Marvin Lewis’ team had allowed only 33 points during its perfect start and Bill Belichick’s team was trying to shake off a 41-14 loss to the Chiefs. But before you could say “what’s wrong with the Patriots?” Tom Brady and friends raced to a 14-0 first-quarter advantage and the team that had lost by 27 points six days rolled to a 26-point win.
2. Patriots 43, Broncos 21 (Week 9)
The defending AFC champions rolled into Foxborough riding a four-game winning streak and had scored at least 31 points in each of those victories. And Peyton Manning and company also had a few extra days to prepare for the conference title game rematch. But the Pats were on the verge of establishing themselves as the team to beat in the AFC as they used a 24-0 second-quarter explosion to wipe out a 7-3 first-quarter deficit as the New England defense held the Denver running game to 43 yards on 17 carries.
3. Packers 26, Patriots 21 (Week 13)
Yes, it was a loss and yes, it snapped New England’s impressive seven-game losing streak. But the Patriots, coming off routs of the playoff-bound Broncos, Colts and Lions, fell just short at Lambeau Field. And their much-maligned defense of recent seasons was at its bend-but-don’t-break best as they allowed a whopping 478 total yards to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense but limited the Packers to only two touchdowns.
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4. Patriots 23, Chargers 14 (Week 14)
Off a tough five-point loss at Lambeau Field, the Patriots found themselves on the road and on Sunday Night Football for the second time in four weeks. They also found themselves down at San Diego, 14-3, in the second quarter to a Chargers’ team sporting an 8-4 record and riding a three-game losing streak. Back-to-back losses would have put pressure on New England’s chances of securing homefield advantage in the AFC. But the Pats rallied for 20 unanswered points and a crucial road victory.
5. Patriots 35, Ravens 31 (AFC Divisional Playoffs)
Bill Belichick’s club fell behind the upstart Ravens twice by 14 points (14-0 and 28-14) and would tie the score both times. Baltimore would take back the lead and had an easy time for the majority of the day moving the ball, rolling up 428 total yards against the supposedly-improved New England defense. Tom Brady would erase a 31-28 deficit by throwing the go-ahead touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell with 5:13 to play. But it would be an interception of Joe Flacco by second-year cornerback Duron Harmon in the end zone with less than two minutes remaining that would end one Baltimore drive and a Devin McCourty knockdown of a Hail Mary attempt on the final play of the game that would send the Pats to the AFC title game.