The 2004 NFL saw the New England Patriots make history as they completed a perfect 16-0 regular

One of the most remarkable aspects of the 2004 Patriots was their resilience. Despite losing key players to injury throughout the year, the rings-has-the-new-england-patriots-franchise-won” title=”How Many Super Bowl Rings Has the New England Patriots Franchise Won”>rings-has-the-new-england-patriots-franchise-won” title=”How Many Super Bowl Rings Has the New England Patriots Franchise Won”>champions” title=”List of Super Bowl champions”>team found ways to win week in and week out. In Week 3, star safety Rodney Harrison was lost for the season with a knee injury. In Week 9, Pro Bowl linebacker Tedy Bruschi returned to the field after suffering a stroke earlier that year. And in the AFC Championship game, the Patriots lost receiver Deion Branch to injury, but still managed to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers and advance to the Super Bowl.

Offensively, the Patriots were led by Brady, who threw for 3,692 yards and 28 touchdowns. Brady spread the ball around to a variety of receivers, with Branch, David Givens, and Troy Brown each catching at least 30 passes. The running game was powered by Corey Dillon, who rushed for 1,635 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dillon’s success on the ground opened up play-action opportunities for Brady, who thrived in the Patriots’ balanced attack.

Defensively, the Patriots were dominant, ranking first in the NFL in points allowed per game (14.9) and yards allowed per game (288.3). The defensive line, anchored by Pro Bowlers Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork, disrupted opposing offenses and created opportunities for the linebackers and defensive backs. Linebacker Mike Vrabel led the team with 9.5 sacks and also caught two touchdown passes on offense. The secondary, led by Pro Bowlers Harrison and Ty Law, intercepted a combined 16 passes and limited opposing receivers to just 167.4 passing yards per game.

Perhaps the most memorable game of the Patriots’ historic season came in Week 6, when they faced the archrival New York Jets. Down 13-10 with under two minutes remaining, Brady led the Patriots on a clutch drive that culminated in a 17-yard touchdown pass to Givens with five seconds left.

The Patriots’ perfect regular season set up a playoff run that saw them defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Super Bowl XXXIX, the Patriots faced the Philadelphia Eagles, who were led by quarterback Donovan McNabb and a dynamic offense. However, the Patriots’ defense held the Eagles to just 21 points, and Brady’s two touchdown passes were enough to give the Patriots a 24-21 victory and their third Super Bowl championship in four years.

The 2004 season cemented the New England Patriots as one of the greatest teams in NFL history. Their perfect regular season and Super Bowl victory were accomplishments that may never be duplicated, and their resilience in the face of adversity was a testament to their cohesion and commitment to team success. The 2004 Patriots will always be remembered as a special and unique team that made NFL history.

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