Different QB, Coaches, and Defense…Same Dominating New England Patriots?

(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

The New England Patriots offense has pulled some pretty amazing feats over the past couple of years.

After winning three Super Bowls in four years by literally a field goal each, the Patriots came out on fire—and stayed that way throughout the season—in 2007, shattering all kinds of records and scoring 31 points or more in 12 of 16 regular season games, most of which were 20-point blowouts of their opponents.

The following year, after reigning league MVP Tom Brady went down in the first quarter of the season opener, the Patriots were left to figure out how they would ever replace such a high-caliber weapon on such short notice.

Oh, no problem…Here’s Matt Cassel. Sure, the Pats missed the playoffs, but by an extremely slim margin and a season made up of tough division play. A team with an 11-5 record hadn’t been shunned from the playoffs in nearly 25 years.

And 2009 has surely been similar to past seasons in that way.

Back to the drawing board, as they say.

Although New England traded step-in starter Cassel to the Kansas City Chiefs, a healthy Brady is back this season and ready for a return to the field. He has practiced and trained with the rest of his team and told Patriots Today he will soon be prepared to play and is just happy to be back.

“I’m feeling great and just excited to be out there on the field, training with my teammates,” he said. “It’s always fun being back in this competitive environment and working with these guys to try to make 2009 our best season. It's been fun to be back.”

It’s fun, but also necessary. Not only has Brady been away from the field for an entire season but his former quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, has found his way out of New England and out West in Denver as head honcho of his own heard.

McDaniels was the boss when it comes to New England’s 2007 record-breaking season and 2008’s productivity with a backup quarterback. He mentally led the way to the most points ever scored in an NFL season, as well as touchdowns scored and even most players scoring a touchdown.

Brady also threw 50 touchdown passes, breaking the record for most in a season, and was No. 1 in the league for both passing yardage (4,806) and passer rating (117.2). With Wes Welker bringing in a franchise-best 112 receptions that same season, it's scary to even imagine Randy Moss breaking the record of Hall of Fame legend Jerry Rice’s 23 touchdowns catches.

Moss also set a franchise record for yards in a season that year.

Don’t forget the running game, though. The Pats averaged 4.1 yards per game, a franchise best, and found pay dirt 17 times on the ground.

So what’s this all mean for the McDaniels-less Patriots now?

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