Is Bill Belichick still alive?

The NFL is just like physics.

No, no, don't think that I'm going to get all Sports Science on this post and talk about the physiology of a Ray Lewis hit across the middle or how whenever Norv Turner is your coach in the postseason, Murphy's Law will apply.

I'm going to apply a much simpler law to the league: whatever goes up, must come down.

From 2001 to 2008, the New England Patriots were money.  In a span of four years from 2001-2005 they won 3 Super Bowls (two of which were back to back).  Although they lost in the '07 Super Bowl to the Giants, the Patriots were riding an 18-0 winning streak going into that game.  The duo of Brady and Belichick managed to have an NFL record 21 game winning streak from 2003-2004, including regular season and playoff games.  Even after Tom Brady was out for the season in 2008, they still scored an 11-5 record with Matt Cassell as their quarterback.


But ever since Brady's return, the Patriots haven't looked the same.  In 2009, they were bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Ravens, not to mention had one of the biggest collapses in NFL history when they blew a 17 point lead against the Colts.  This year started off strong with a simple opening win against the Bengals, but they got thrashed by the Jets in week 2.  Although they beat the Bills this past Sunday, their young and inexperienced defense allowed 30 points to a team with no quarterback.

This sort of downfall could be contributed to a number of reasons: bad drafting moves, Brady is still a little shaky after his knee surgery, the departure of too many experienced veterans (Asante Samuel, Mike Vrabel, Rodney Harrison), or maybe Belichick is getting a little too old and outcoaching himself.

We could come up with reasons till we are blue and red in the face, but one thing is certain: what goes up, must come down. Ask the Bills, Brett Favre, the Rams, Terrell Owens, the 49ers, or the Cowboys.

Until the Pats win another Super Bowl or Brady cuts his hair, it looks like the duo of Tom Bieber and his magical hoodie wearing coach has lost its luster and the Patriot dynasty is finally over, bud don't let Jared Larner hear any of this.

Check out Jared's take on the Patriots and how they are the greatest team known to man.