One season after losing quarterback Tom Brady, face of the National Football League (NFL) franchise, the New England Patriots are once again a competitive team. Led by head coach Bill Belichick and rookie quarterback Mac Jones, the Patriots look for a seventh Super Bowl win. 

The Patriots were off to a questionable start, standing at 1 win and 3 losses after the first four weeks of the season. Especially after a week four loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former quarterback Brady, spectators were quick to say that the decline in wins was due to the loss of Brady, claiming that the franchise was only valuable with Brady, and that the dynasty was over. 

“Patriots’ Dynasty [is] ending like they all do – without a dominating quarterback. Tom Brady is gone and maybe so is the Patriots’ dynasty days,” Ron Borges said on Fan Nation’s Talk of Fame Network. 

However, as the record currently stands, the Patriots have 8 wins and 4 losses. Notable scores include a highly offensive 54 – 13 win against the New York Jets and a 25 – 0 shutout win against the Atlanta Falcons. 

The Patriots record is not as impressive as their current standing in the American Football Conference (AFC). After the Baltimore Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers today, the Patriots took the spot as the number one seed in the 16 team conference. 

Belichick’s coaching and the Patriots roster has led to their success, key players including running back Damien Harris, tight end Hunter Henry, and of course, Jones. The Alabama graduate was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Month for November for his performance and the Patriots winning all four games played in November. 

“Honestly the only thing that matters is today. And then tomorrow I’ll focus on tomorrow. I think the past is the past and we’re kind of moving onto the new season here,” Jones said during the 2021 preseason. 

The team faces the conference rival Buffalo Bills tomorrow at 8:15 to defend their number one spot in the AFC. The Bills currently stand at 7 wins and 4 losses, led by quarterback Josh Allen. After tomorrow’s game, the two competitors will meet again on Monday, December 26 for the AFC championship title game.