The 10 (Professional, North American) Greatest (Sports) Dynasties! Ever! Part VI

Sorry, had to wait a few days to get out from under that Dick Clark Rockin' obligation.  And you will notice that, upon my lawyer's advice, I have incorporated all various caveats mentioned by the viewing public.

To continue!

Our story so far:

10. Chicago Cubs, 1906-1910.

9. Boston Red Sox, 1912-1918.

8. Los Angeles Lakers, 1980-1991.

7. New York Yankees, 1994-2003.

6. Green Bay Packers, 1960-1967.

5. Chicago Bulls, 1988-1998.

4. Montreal Canadiens, 1955-1979.

3. Boston Celtics, 1956-1969.

And now...

2. New England Patriots, 2001- ???  This choice is especially appropriate for this weekend, I think you'll agree, as we shall get a pretty good indication as to whether the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady era is finally over.

Or will we?  Both have been counted out before, and both have bounced back during their astonishingly long reign.

Can the Patriots make it to a fourth straight Super Bowl, and their fifth in the last six seasons?

It doesn't seem likely, considering how weak the team's offense has been this season, and letdowns such as last week's inexplicable loss at home to Miami.  Forced to play in the wild card week, even Darth Vader's Pats are only 3-3.  But never, ever count them out.

For the record, these Patriots have reached 9 Super Bowls and won 6 of them in the past 18 seasons.  Other dynasties have won more, even over so long a period—but none in a league that does so much to stop dynasties.

We're talking not only the draft, with the worst going first, but also the NFL's famous weighted schedules.  Yet somehow, they persisted.

They have persisted despite the untimely losses even of top players, such as Gronk, and Aaron Hernandez.  They persisted despite complete turnovers of the team...all save for Tom Brady, and his dark amanuensis at the the top.  (And even in the one year when Brady was seriously injured, 2008, they still went 11-5).

When the offense declines, the Pats still win.  When the defense goes south, the Pats still win.  They find a way.

Are they out of ways now?  Who knows?

Even though they seem to be flailing, don't forget that they won their 11th straight division crown this season, and 17th in the last 19th years.

Sure, it's a division that includes the Jets.  But still.  New England has won 10 games or more in 18 of the last 19 seasons, 11 or more in 15 of those years, and 12 or more in 12 of those seasons.

That's right:  in 12 years out of 19, they have won 75 percent of their games.  Belichick's overall record with the Pats is 237-83 in the regular season, or .741, close to the gold standard, Vince Lombardi's .754 with the Packers.

Subtract his first-season, 5-11 shakedown cruise and it's better:  .763.  And then there's his 30-10 playoff record.

The Patriots have also won 13 or more games 7 times, and turned in their famous, undefeated season in 2007.  (Well, undefeated until the Super Bowl, anyway, heh heh heh.)

The funny thing is that nearly all of their Super Bowls have been razor-thin affairs.  They could have easily lost all 9, or won all 9.

Anyway, credit where credit is due, even to the dark forces (and the cheaters).

Oh, and by the way:  this is the 3rd Boston team in the Top 10 Rockin' Dynasties.  For all the constant complaints, of their four major sports teams only the Bruins didn't make it.

I can only say the same thing I did after the Sox finally won it in 2004:  I thought all the whining would stop.  Apparently not.