Patriots Receive Painful Reminder About One Of Tom Brady’s Best Teams originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots experienced far more triumph than heartbreak during Tom Brady’s legendary run. That does not mean every dominant season ended with a celebration. ESPN revisited the greatest NFL teams that failed to reach the Super Bowl, using DVOA to measure play-by-play efficiency while adjusting for opponent and game situation. Two Patriots teams made the 16-team list, including one that ranked ahead of several famous championship contenders.
The 2010 Patriots landed at No. 3 overall.
Only the 2023 Baltimore Ravens and 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers ranked higher, making New England’s stunning playoff exit against the New York Jets look even more painful 16 years later.
The 2012 Patriots also appeared at No. 11 after losing to the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.
For a franchise that won six championships with Brady and Bill Belichick, the ranking is a reminder that some of their best teams never even reached the final game.
Patriots Had Historic Offense In 2010
The 2010 Patriots finished 14-2 and earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed. They averaged 32.4 points per game and closed the regular season with eight consecutive victories, scoring at least 31 points in every one.
According to ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, New England produced the most efficient offense in DVOA history. That unit narrowly surpassed the undefeated 2007 Patriots and the 1982 San Diego Chargers.
The remarkable part was how quickly New England rebuilt its offense.
The Patriots traded Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings in October, removing one of the greatest receivers in NFL history from Brady’s supporting cast. New England continued rolling with undrafted running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead, along with rookie tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Brady completed 65.9% of his passes for 3,900 yards, 36 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He unanimously won the NFL MVP Award after leading New England to the league’s highest-scoring offense.
The Patriots appeared destined for another Super Bowl run.
Then the Jets arrived at Gillette Stadium.
Jets Pulled Off Stunning Patriots Upset
New England had embarrassed New York 45-3 on “Monday Night Football” just six weeks earlier. The rematch did not resemble that blowout. Brady threw an interception on the Patriots’ opening possession, snapping a remarkable streak of 335 consecutive passes without a pick. New England later attempted a fake punt inside its own territory, but Patrick Chung mishandled the direct snap.
The mistake gave the Jets a short field, and Mark Sanchez connected with Braylon Edwards for a touchdown that extended New York’s lead to 14-3. New England’s offense never established its usual rhythm. The Patriots pulled within three points during the fourth quarter, but Sanchez answered with a touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes.
The Jets escaped with a 28-21 victory, ending one of the most productive seasons in Patriots history before the AFC Championship Game. That upset remains one of the most memorable losses of the Brady-Belichick era. ESPN’s ranking only reinforces how much championship potential New England left behind.
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Another Patriots Powerhouse Fell Short In 2012
The 2012 Patriots were not quite as dominant, but they still finished 12-4 and led the NFL with 34.8 points per game. New England scored 67 touchdowns and accumulated a league-high 6,846 yards. Brady threw for 4,827 yards and 34 touchdowns, while Stevan Ridley rushed for 1,263 yards and 12 scores.
The Patriots beat the Houston Texans in the divisional round and hosted Baltimore in the AFC Championship Game. New England led 13-7 at halftime, putting Brady one strong half away from his sixth Super Bowl appearance. The Patriots never scored again.
Baltimore produced 21 unanswered points after halftime, while Brady threw two fourth-quarter interceptions. The Ravens won 28-13 before defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. The Patriots eventually captured three more championships and appeared in another Super Bowl following the 2012 disappointment. History therefore does not view those failed seasons as the defining moments of their dynasty.
They still represent enormous missed opportunities. New England had the NFL’s most efficient offense in 2010 and its highest-scoring attack in 2012. Neither team reached the Super Bowl.
Even for Brady and Belichick, greatness never guaranteed a championship opportunity.