There were many great New England Patriots teams from 2001 through 2019. Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and Company had the best team nearly every season, even in those that didn’t see them win a Super Bowl. Their two decades of dominance were remarkable and remain difficult to comprehend.
But what are the best Patriots teams of all time? We ranked the top seven, along with four honorable mentions.
7 Best Patriots Teams of All Time
Honorable mentions: 2017 Patriots, 2012 Patriots, 2010 Patriots, 2006 Patriots, 2011 Patriots
7) 2018 Patriots
Regular season record: 11-5
Playoffs: Beat Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl
We’re kicking this off with the last great Patriots team.
It was a weird season for the 2018 Patriots. On one hand, they got off to a 7-2 start. On the other hand, they lost three out of five in the middle of the campaign, including the infamous Miami Miracle defeat. Along the way, their defense scuffled — especially early — and the Brady-led offense played below expectations.
Then the playoffs arrived. The Patriots flipped a switch, blowing out the Los Angeles Chargers at home before earning a thrilling overtime win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. It all culminated with a dominant defensive performance over the Rams in the Super Bowl.
The 2018 season wasn’t always pretty, but it finished with a bang.
6) 2003 Patriots
Regular season record: 14-2
Playoffs: Beat Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl
The Patriots rebounded in a big way after missing the playoffs in 2002. They finished the 2003 campaign on a 15-game winning streak, including a dramatic win over the Panthers in the Super Bowl.
The 2003 Patriots knew how to win close contests, as they went 8-1 in games decided by seven or fewer points. Much of that success can be attributed to the defense, which surrendered a league-low 14.9 points per game.
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There were great players all over the roster: Brady, Ty Law, Richard Seymour, Willie McGinest, Rodney Harrison, and Deion Branch, just to name a few. The 2003 season also featured one of Belichick’s finest coaching performances.
5) 2001 Patriots
Regular season record: 11-5
Playoffs: Beat St. Lous Rams 20-17 in Super Bowl
This was a difficult team to rank. The 2001 Patriots probably could beat any group on this list, but they also benefited from playing in an era that allowed overly physical defense. This defense shut down the “Greatest Show on Turf,” but could it contain some of the offenses near the top of this list?
Regardless, this group started it all and arguably played the best team football of any team from the Patriots dynasty.
4) 2016 Patriots
Regular season record: 14-2
Playoffs: Beat Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in Super Bowl
People forget how close this team was to going undefeated. One defeat was with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback (Brady was serving a suspension), with the other a seven-point loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Other than that, this team was a juggernaut.
Brady was excellent. Julian Edelman was in his prime. Martellus Bennett was an excellent Rob Gronkowski fill-in. The defense was loaded with playmakers.
Sure, this Patriots team trailed 28-3 in the Super Bowl — but we all know what happened next.
3) 2004 Patriots
Regular season record: 12-4
Playoffs: Beat Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl
Some people might have this team atop their lists … and for good reason.
The 2004 Patriots were dominant. They also lost just two games, and one of them was by one point. Brady turned into a true star, Corey Dillon took the running game to another level, and the defense was suffocating.
This team also overcame a brutal postseason lineup, beating three teams — Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Philadelphia Eagles — that combined for a 40-8 regular-season record. The 2004 Patriots were the NFL‘s best team from start to finish, and it wasn’t close.
2) 2007 Patriots
Regular season record: 16-0
Playoffs: Lost to New York Giants 17-14 in Super Bowl
The only non-Super Bowl winner on this list, the 2007 Patriots also needed to be on this list. After all, some rank them as the greatest team in NFL history. And they’d be No. 1 on any list if not for a certain catch in the closing minutes of the Super Bowl.
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Alas, the 2007 Patriots didn’t complete a perfect season and fell to the New York Giants in heartbreaking fashion. Still, this team was an absolute wagon during the regular season and dominated opponents on a weekly basis. Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and an excellent O-line formed arguably the greatest NFL offense of all time.
Should they be in our top spot? Maybe, but No. 2 feels right.
1) 2014 Patriots
Regular season record: 12-4
Playoffs: Beat Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl
Would this team be lower on the list if Malcolm Butler didn’t pick off that pass or if Pete Carroll didn’t give the ball to Marshawn Lynch? Yeah, of course. But that’s sports, and you can’t just what-if everything to death. Are we supposed to knock the 2001 Patriots down a few spots because of the Tuck Rule?
Anyway, the 2014 Patriots are the best team in franchise history. They had the best all-around roster, had the most impressive wins (despite starting 2-2), and dethroned an all-time defense in the Super Bowl. They checked all the boxes.
Just look at the players: Brady, Edelman, Darrelle Revis, Gronkowski, Vince Wilfork, James White, Danny Amendola, Dont’a Hightower, Devin McCourty, Matthew Slater, Jerod Mayo, Jamie Collins, Brandon Browner, Malcolm Butler, Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, and LeGarrette Blount.
We’d pick this team in a game over any team in Patriots history.