PATRIOTS: A LOOK BACK AND AHEAD
1. Super comeback
As Julian Edelman said, it was a hell of a story. Down to the Falcons, 28-3, late in the third quarter of Super Bowl LI, the Patriots orchestrated the greatest Super Bowl comeback of all time and prevailed, 34-28, in overtime. Tom Brady was his vintage best as he led the Pats on the gametying and game-winning drives. He was named Super Bowl MVP for a record fourth time.
2. Jimmy G sent west
Bill Belichick called it “the best quarterback situation in the league,” but admitted it wasn't sustainable. After months of trade rumors and constant debate, he traded backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the heir apparent to the 40-year-old Brady, to the 49ers in exchange for a second-round pick. The aftereffects of the stunning move will be talked about for years, but Garoppolo already looks to be a star in the making. He's 4-0 in his first four starts for the Niners.
3. Picking up the slack
The Patriots are atop the AFC once again, but they had to overcome the losses of Julian Edelman and Dont'a Hightower to injuries to get there. Edelman tore the ACL in his right knee during a preseason game against the Lions, while Hightower, who signed a massive four-year contract extension in the offseason, tore his pectoral muscle in the Week 7 win over the Falcons. It hasn't been easy, but both the offense and the defense survived their losses.
4. Gronk’s resurgence
Rob Gronkowski had his 2016 season cut short again thanks to injury, but came back stronger — and more pliable, thanks to working with Tom Brady's personal trainer Alex Guerrero. The All-Pro's resurgence (69 receptions, 1,084 yards, eight touchdowns) has been critical in Edelman's absence. But it took a dent when he delivered a cheap shot to Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White in Week 13, resulting in a one-game suspension.
5. Sealing the deal
The Week 15 win over the Steelers might have been the most memorable regularseason victory of the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era. After Brady and Gronkowski led a stirring comeback drive, the Pats survived some controversy when Steelers tight end Jesse James failed to “survive the ground” in a would-be go-ahead touchdown with 34 seconds left to play. Two plays later, Eric Rowe deflected Ben Roethlisberger's illadvised pass, and Duron Harmon intercepted it to seal the win, putting the Pats in the driver's seat for the AFC's No. 1 seed.