The New England Patriots have won 51 regular season games in four seasons, claimed playoff spots in 10 of the last 11 years and won double-digit games 12 of the last 13. Yet despite two Super Bowl appearances and three other conference championship appearances in the last nine seasons, if it doesn’t happen this year it will be a clean decade since the Patriots took home the Lombardi Trophy.
Most teams would do almost anything for a resume like the one put up in New England since Bill Belichick took over. But the coach and his QB, Tom Brady, aren’t getting any younger. So is there restlessness to make the next run? How far away are the Patriots from adding the fourth Super Bowl championship of the Belichick era? And what has to happen to get there?
Rich Hill, managing editor of Pats Pulpit, joined Zoneblitz to share some insight on a team he thinks is a healthy season away from contending.
Zoneblitz: The 2013 season brought another 12 wins and a conference championship appearance, but the team has lost back-to-back AFCC games — how would you assess the season? (more…)
Carolina stumbled out of the gate in 2013 and at the quarter pole it looked like coach Ron Rivera might be headed toward an ugly exit. Then, all of a sudden, the team came together, winning 11 of 12 and chasing down the Saints to win the NFC South title. Carolina even notched a playoff win to cap a turnaround season.
But the offseason has produced considerable change. Left tackle Jordan Gross retired and GM Dave Gettleman has allowed a complete turnover of the wide receiver depth chart. Free agency and cap issues cost the Panthers several key defensive cogs that were instrumental in the 12-4 run.
So where do the Panthers sit heading into this week’s draft and the 2014 campaign? Ken Dye, lead writer for Carolina Cat Chronicles, says the holes created by the roster change have not yet all been filled. But he’s got high hopes based on what he’s seen thus far from Gettleman.
Here’s what he had to say:
Zoneblitz: Carolina stumbled out of the gate before catching fire, winning 11 of 12, winning the NFC South and making a playoff run – what created the turnaround and what’s your assessment of the 2013 season? (more…)
In 2012 New Orleans went 7-9 with one of the worst defensive performances in NFL history. A year later, Sean Payton returned and the team experienced a turnaround, winning 11 games in the regular season and a wild card playoff.
The Saints eventually fell to Super Bowl champ Seattle in the second round of the playoffs, but a rejuvenated squad left fans buzzing heading into 2014. There have been some big names brought in and some prominent vets that left the team in free agency and trades, as well. So is the 2014 version of the Saints primed for another run? Travis Dauro, a writer with Canal Street Chronicles, shares his thoughts on what has to happen for New Orleans to take that next jump.
Tellijohn: In the first year back at full strength with Sean Payton the Saints won the division and a playoff game. How do you assess 2013? (more…)
In 2012, Indianapolis had a new QB, a new coach and a cause. The Colts rallied around Chuck Pagano when he was diagnosed with leukemia and rode the emotion to an 11-5 record and a first round playoff game. Some doubted the team was really nine games better than the disastrous 2011 2-14 campaign, but Indy followed up in 2013 with another 11-5 season and an exciting playoff comeback win against Kansas City.
This team, however, is far from a finished product. When Reggie Wayne went down with a knee injury, Andrew Luck struggled to find his consistency. The switch from Bruce Arians to Pep Hamilton as offensive coordinator proved at times a challenge. And there are holes on the offensive line and the defensive side of the ball that must be addressed.
Still, with some well placed pieces and some good fortune, Colts Authority Editor Kyle Rodriguez says the Colts aren’t far from joining the league’s elite teams in a deep playoff run.
Zoneblitz: What is your overall assessment of the 2013 Colts season that saw two playoff games and a division title? (more…)
At 4-6 and then 5-7 it looked like San Diego was headed toward another postseason watching on the Barcalounger. But something seemed to click the last quarter of the season and the Chargers rewarded Mike McCoy with four straight wins to close out the regular season – and a postseason upset of Cincinnati to boot.
San Diego’s luck ran out in the divisional round as Super Bowl-bound Denver ended the 2013 season. But the five-game win streak, during which the team never scored fewer than 26 points, had to leave Chargers fans and players optimistic about the future.
So can San Diego repeat its late-season success in 2014? And how far are the Chargers from making a run at the Super Bowl? Ernie Padaon, editor of Bolt Beat, shares some thoughts with Zoneblitz.
Zoneblitz: The Chargers came from an off year in 2012 to make the playoffs in 2013. How would you assess the season? (more…)
After a decade-plus long stretch of futility that covered the 1990s and early 2000s, one could forgive Cincinnati fans for simply feeling good about how the last few years have gone. The team has won 30 games in three seasons and made the playoffs four of the last five years.
That said, while Marvin Lewis has become the team’s all-time winningest coach, he has not been able to lead the team to a postseason victory in his 11 seasons on the job. Pressure may be mounting on him to take this team on a deeper run.
Is he capable? And how far is this team from making that kind of jump? Vance Meek, editor and lead writer at Stripe Hype, shares his thoughts here.
Zoneblitz: Cincy won 11 games in 2013 but got knocked out of the postseason right away. How do you assess 2013? (more…)
years and won double-digit games 12 of the last 13. Yet despite two Super Bowl appearances and three other conference championship appearances in the last nine seasons, if it doesn’t happen this year it will be a clean decade since the Patriots took home the Lombardi Trophy.
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