New England Patriots · Franchise era 5 of 7
The near-perfect reinvention: the New England Patriots story
The story in one sentence
The 2007 Patriots went 16–0 before a Super Bowl upset, then the roster reloaded around two young tight ends and returned to the championship game.
An explosive offense chases another title
Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Rob Gronkowski gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for the second dynasty.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 2007
What came before
Brady replaced an injured Bledsoe and Belichick's adaptable teams won three Super Bowls in four seasons.
- 23TradeMarch 5, 2007
March 5, 2007
The trade that made Wes Welker Tom Brady's volume target
The Patriots were rebuilding one of the league's weakest receiver groups; Miami chose draft value rather than match a long-term offer.
To NE
To MIA20072NDround asset2007PICKround assetWes Welker to New EnglandNE receives Wes WelkerMIA receives 2007 2nd-round pick, 2007 seventh-round pick3 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade → - 14TradeApril 29, 2007
April 29, 2007
The fourth-round trade that unleashed Randy Moss and Tom Brady
The Patriots bet that winning and Tom Brady could revive one of football's greatest talents. Oakland accepted minimal value to end an unhappy partnership.
To NE
To LV2007PICKround assetRandy Moss to New EnglandNE receives Randy MossLV receives 2007 fourth · No. 1102 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade → 2008-02-03
Super Bowl: New York Giants vs New England Patriots
2012-01-22
Conference Championship: Baltimore Ravens vs New England Patriots
2012-02-05
Super Bowl: New York Giants vs New England Patriots
After 2013
What came next
New England won three Super Bowls in five seasons through goal-line defense, the largest comeback in Super Bowl history and another dominant defensive plan.
The core