AFC’s 3 Biggest Contenders: Threats to the Seahawks’ NFL Crown

January 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots quarterback

(12) in the huddle with teammates against the Denver Broncos in the 2013 AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

#2 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The Patriots are going to be just as good, if not better than their AFC Championship run of 2014, again this season. With Bill Belichick and Tom Brady running that franchise, there’s absolutely no reason why they couldn’t meet Seattle or somebody else in Super Bowl XLIX.

It always seems like when the Pats aren’t in the Super Bowl they had a down year, doesn’t it? It did truly look like their age finally caught up to them in their final game last season, but they didn’t spare any expense this season knowing that their window for another championship is closing as Brady gets old. Once he retires, it’s likely Belichick would do the same in my opinion. Time’s running out on the once young and proud dynasty of the early 2000’s.

What we have all-but forgotten is that they were still a quarter away from greeting the Seahawks head-on last season. You can be sure they wouldn’t have been shaking in their boots and would have stood toe-to-toe with the now defending world champs.

Thanks to the aforementioned generous spending, the Pats may well be the best team in the AFC yet again. However they won’t get an opportunity in 2014/2015 to take on Seattle and try and avenge their 4th quarter loss a couple years ago unless both meet in the big one down the road.

Which brings us to the only thing that realistically stands in their way…