Flashback....1972. Me, a fan of a team of losers, with a young qb named Jim Plunkett, a WR named Randy Vataha, and RB Josh Ashton. In Montana, there was not ONE Patriot fan that I ever found in my youth, no one routed for them.
I remember the cheap Jack Tatum shot on Daryl Stingley, shocking the football world in the mid 70s when they won their first 6 of the season after losing for years, and the plethora of draft picks including John Hannah, Sam Bam Cunningham, Michael Haynes, Steve Grogan, Raymond Clayburn, Sugar Ray Hamilton, Tim Fox, and the list goes on.
I was shocked when they made the Superbowl against the Bears in 86, and really didn't care if they won or loss. They had gotten there. Steve Grogan, IMO the greatest all-around qb in the history of the Patriots, was the Cam Newton of his day. Sadly injuries took their toll.
Then came the 90s, and the frustration of having Drew Bledsoe, all that talent but made dumb decisions. A couple more 2-14 seasons, and still no Superbowl. Then Bledsoe goes down, and a legend is born. There is a new America's team...and they finally win. It seemed a let down because I hate the new uniforms, much prefer the patriot on the helmet.
Belichek, like him or hate him is a genius. He takes teams with minimal talent and every year gets them to perform above their talent level.
Will they win today? I would be just as happy seeing the Falcons win their first ever Super Bowl.