New England Patriots’ Notes

The New England Patriots once again are ahead in the race for the AFC one seed. Apparently they have clinched another AFC East crown, their seventh consecutive one.

In the 15 Tom Brady/Bill Belichick seasons, (2001-2015) New England has won its division in all but one season in which Tom Brady played more than one game. He missed all but the first game of the 2008 season.

They failed to win the division title but once (2002) in the first seven football seasons coinciding with George W. Bush’s presidency (2001-2007).

“N.E.” failed in the football season in which Barack Obama was elected (Brady’s injury a scant day or two before the financial collapse, that virtually assured Mr. Obama’s election in 2008), but have won the AFC East in his seven full years as president (2009-2015).

Some say conspiracy as the PATRIOTS won the first three titles in their history, in the first four seasons after the events of September 11, 2001.

While still a regular season juggernaut, a (16-0) version in 2007, they have won just one Super Bowl crown since that time, losing twice to underdog New York Giants’ teams with mediocre records.

Last year in a “toss up” (College Bowl, anyone with Robert Q. Lewis, as in here is your toss up question) game, the Patriots prevailed vs the Seattle Seahawks, whose coach Pete Carroll’s end of game strategy will still be discussed, when perhaps a robot, a metal one, will be president twenty years hence.