The End of the Patriots Dynasty

After an impressive Week 13 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, the New England Patriots appeared to still have playoff life in 2020. The final score was 45-0, and in terms of thorough beatings, it was one of the most complete wins of the entire NFL season.

Then Thursday night happened. In the same Los Angeles stadium that gave New England life, that life was snuffed out. 

The Rams controlled everything about their 24-3 win over the Patriots and appeared to read Bill Belichick and his team their last rites for this season.

The Playoff Streak

New England has made the playoffs every season since 2008 - the year Tom Brady tore his ACL. It is easily the longest streak in the NFL. 

While the Patriots aren't officially out of the playoff race, for them to get there, it would take multiple losses from other teams, a few full moons, a coin flip, simultaneous volcanic eruptions, and a spell from the witches of Salem, Mass.

In other words, it's not going to happen.

FiveThirtyEight, the everything probabilities blog, gives the Patriots just a 4% chance to make the 2020 postseason. They are currently in 10th place in the AFC and sit 2.5 games behind the current seventh seed, Indianapolis. 

But even if the Colts were to lose on Sunday, it would be to the Raiders, who are also ahead of New England. So the Patriots wouldn't gain on the seventh spot.

Right now, a bet on the Patriots to miss the playoffs is paying -3335. Which is a sportsbook's way of telling you it's a done deal.

10-Win Season Streak

One of the Patriots' most impressive streaks that has officially come to an end is their consecutive 10-win season streak. Every year since 2002, Brady's second season in New England, the Patriots have won at least 10 games. That streak includes the one season they didn't make the playoffs.

During that streak, only twice did they only get to 10 wins, while a total of five times they got to at least 14 wins. New England's dominance in the NFL will likely never be seen again, and after Thursday's loss to the Rams, this streak is officially over.

In the 17 years in which it won at least 10 games, New England won 16 division titles, made the playoffs 16 times, reached the AFC Championship Game 12 times, and made it to the Super Bowl eight times.

Brady vs. Belichick

So does the failure in New England this season answer the question as to which of the B's was most responsible for the dynasty? Not really.

Some might even say that with the lack of talent on the outside and a Cam Newton that is a shell of his former self, this is one of Belichick's best jobs of coaching. And while Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a much better team this year (10th on the Dunkel Index rankings), they ooze talent from every position group on the roster.

Both men made the dynasty happen. And both should be appreciated for accomplishing something no one ever did before.