Why the Patriots Are Legitimate Super Bowl Contenders

After starting the season 2-2, many would say it is foolish to consider the New England Patriots Super Bowl contenders. Fresh off of a 41-14 drubbing in Week 4 at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football, critics roasted quarterback Tom Brady, calling him washed up and questioning if the superior reign of the Patriots was in fact, well, over.

Since that night, all the Patriots have done is go 9-1 and secure their 12th AFC East title in 14 years.

Now, the Pats shift their focus to home-field advantage, and if history has any telling of how that will benefit New England in its quest for a fourth Super Bowl championship, Patriots fans should be very happy. 

As long as Brady is under center and Belichick is at the helm, it's tough to argue against the Patriots being a contender every year.

But this year's team might be the most complete team Belichick has had since his last title in 2005. There are a couple of factors, though, that separate this year's team from not only past Patriots teams but from the rest of the pack in this year's postseason.

Darrelle Revis

All Darrelle Revis has done this season is become the focal point of the Patriots defense. Revis came aboard as a free agent in March after Aqib Talib bolted for Denver. The upgrade for New England has resulted in some shakiness at times from Revis (see Week 1 against Miami's Mike Wallace), but the upside has been far better for Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.

Game	Receiver	Receptions	Yards	Touchdowns
Week 5 vs. Bengals	A.J. Green	5	81	0
Week 7 vs. Jets	Eric Decker	4	65	0
Week 8 vs. Bears	Brandon Marshall	3	35	0
Week 12 vs. Lions	Calvin Johnson	4	58	0
Week 14 vs. Chargers	Keenan Allen	2	3	0

Stephan Savoia/Associated Press

Quarterbacks are a combined 31-of-73 for 455 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions (one tipped to Devin McCourty) when targeting Revis this season.

New England is known for its offensive attack, which is why Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski will receive most of the praise, but the addition of Darrelle Revis might be the most valuable asset the Patriots have going into their playoff run.

Gillette not so nice to visiting opponents

The Patriots have enjoyed 15 straight wins at Gillette Stadium and a 10-4 record at home in the playoffs. In other words, the Pats want to be home come January, especially for a potential matchup with the Denver Broncos, a team the Patriots lost to in last year's AFC Championship game in Denver.

The Pats currently own the tiebreaker over the Denver Broncos with two to play. The team is currently 7-0 this season in Foxborough, and with Buffalo coming in Week 17, odds are it will be two straight seasons with 8-0 records at home for the Patriots.

The Patriots have one of the best home-field advantages in the entire league. Even Peyton Manning, whose Broncos are seen as the only team that can take down the Patriots in the AFC playoffs this season, has had his troubles playing at Gillette. The brutal New England weather is not something No. 18 has been able to get his hands around.

Emergence of Brandon LaFell

Newcomer wide receiver Brandon LaFell has provided Tom Brady with a weapon that No. 12 has not had in recent years. LaFell is no Randy Moss, but he doesn't have to be. In his first 14 games with the Patriots, LaFell has 63 receptions for 819 yards and seven touchdowns.

His emergence has allowed someone not named Gronkowski or Julian Edelman to be on the receiving end of a pass from Tom Brady, which has made New England's offense stronger.

Tom Lynn/Associated Press/Associated Press/Associated Press

LaFell had just 10 catches in the Pats' first four games combined. Starting in the tail end of the loss to Kansas City, when he racked in six balls for 119 yards and a score, LaFell has been a reliable option for Brady.

It is hard to say that LaFell is the reason behind New England's turnaround, given the production from Brady, Gronk and Edelman. But the introduction of LaFell as a reliable offensive target means there is something else for defenses to worry about when playing the Patriots. Scary.

Gronk, Gronk, Gronk

Find a bigger defensive mismatch in the NFL than Rob Gronkowski. There is none.

It's hard to judge this year's Rob Gronkowski through the first four games. It's tough to judge this entire Patriots team before the Week 4 blowout. The season really did not get started for the team until Week 5, so that is a good spot to start with Gronk's 2014 production.

Gronk has three games this season with 100-plus receiving yards.

All three of those results? Blowouts to the Bengals, Bears and Broncos, respectively. It's hard to argue that this offense ticks with Rob Gronkowski. His receiving yards the first four games? 40, 32, 44 and 31.

Gronk has been an animal since that Week 4 loss, which is a huge factor in the Patriots' offensive spike. Do not forget: The Patriots have not had Rob Gronkowski in the playoffs since Super Bowl XLVI—three years ago. His presence alone is enough to list the Patriots as Super Bowl contenders in 2014.

Plus, it's kind of fun to see this.

Above anything, the Patriots have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, which is enough to classify them as Super Bowl contenders.

But this season, they have more than what they have had in recent playoff pushes. They have a shutdown corner in Darrelle Revis, who has taken opponents' top targets out of the game plan more than Aqib Talib ever did.

They have a wideout who can provide another target for Tom Brady besides Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski. Speaking of Gronk, he is healthy, which is enough to put the Patriots over the top.

Package all of that together and give them home playoff games, and the Patriots are in great shape to be hoisting their fourth Lombardi Trophy this February.