NFL

The New England Patriots were born on November 22, 1959 becoming a member of the new American Football League. In a naming contest, a team of Boston sportswriters decided to keep the history of the area alive calling their franchise the “Patriots”. The Patriots played in the first ever regular season AFL game on September 9, 1960 losing to the Denver Broncos 13-10. The Patriots finished the first season with a 5-9 record. The Patriots would improve over the next three seasons posting back-to-back 9-4-1 seasons and in 1963 finished tied for first place with the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots first playoff game came against the bills which they won 26-8. In the AFM Championship game the Patriots were dismantled 51-10 by the San Diego Chargers. The following season placekicker and wide receiver Gino Cappelletti was named the AFL Most Valuable Player. Cappelletti became the AFL’s all-time leadier in points scored with 1,100. In 1966 another Most Valuable Player came form the Patriots in fullback Jim Nance who lead the league in rushing twice in 1966 and1967.The Patriots would play in many different locations including Fenway Park, where the Boston Red Sox baseball team plays, Boston University Field, and in Harvard. The Patriots finally made their home at 70,000 seat Foxboro Stadium in 1971.

As the 1960′s and 1970′s went forward little success came around for the Patriots with a new low in 1970 with a 2-12 record. The Patriots would once again reach the playoffs in 1976 but would lose to the Oakland Raiders 24-21. The Patriots would make their first Super Bowl appearance against the “Monsters of the Midway” Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX. The game was rout and the Bears won 46-10. The 1990′s for the Patriots saw them rise again to meet the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI. The Packers would end the Patriots hopes again to a championship defeating them 35-21.

The 2000′s provided the New England Patriots with what they have been wishing for, a Super Bowl victory, not just one but three Super Bowl wins. The Patriots first Super Bowl win came against the heavily favored St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI with a 20-17 win. The second Super Bowl victory two seasons later against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII in another thrilling game with the Patriots winning 32-29. The next season provided the Patriots with the same result winning Super Bowl XXXIX against the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21. The Patriots would make a Super Bowl trip in Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants but lost 17-14. The Patriots were on the verge of going undefeated with a 19-0 record and do something that hasn’t been done since the 1972 Miami Dolphins, finishing a season undefeated. That year several NFL record were broken when the Patriots set the all-time scoring record in a season with points scored with 589, Tom Brady throwing fifty touchdown passes, and Randy Moss catching twenty-three touchdown passes.

Since 2001, the New England Patriots have won the AFC East seven times, four Super Bowl appearances, back-to-back 14-2 regular seasons, and a 16-0 regular season. Its safe to say that the New England Patriots are the team of the decade.