The 2013 Patriots regular season is arguably the best coaching performance under head coach Bill Belichick.  Through the trials of injury, inexperience, and misfortune, the Patriots have managed to defy their critics and make an outstanding playoff progression.  Their impressive 12-4 record has proven that despite these setbacks, they were able to hang with the best in the league.

“I thought there was no way that they would get this far, mostly because the offseason filled with talk about Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski,” Applied Arts and Technology teacher Patricia Riley said.

“I didn’t think the Patriots would make it this far, not after Gronkowski was injured,” senior Liz Comeau said.

This was supposed to be the year the Patriots franchise crumbled.  After all they do have a roster full of cast-offs and no names.

But in all honestly isn’t that just what Bill Belichick does: turn unqualified athletes into household names.  Give Belichick a naive lanky gunslinger and he’ll turn him into a lock for the Hall of Fame on his first year eligible.

“I believe the team’s biggest strength is to be able to recover in games and on the depth chart,” senior Joshua Carroll said.

One of the biggest surprises this season was the emergence of LeGarrette Blount.

“Our biggest strength this year was the run game, with that Blount Force Traum,” freshman Drew Despres said.

Six months ago he was written off as an overweight liability that had anger issues and was remarked as not being as good teammate.  Now he is regarded as the key to a playoff team’s success and becoming the buzz of a busy NFL.

Many believe he is the reason the Patriots have gone to the playoffs.

“Obviously Blount is the biggest surprise to me this year, but I have also noticed the emergence of Logan Ryan,” Despres said.

With many stars leaving the organization, the fan base has noticed new impact players.  Rookie Cornerback Logan Ryan is a player that truly embodies what this team is.  This team is a bunch of guys that get better every week, have great technique, and play with confidence and perseverance.

Though Algonquin is full of true Patriots fans, some could not care less about their success.

“My favorite part of the Patriots season was when they lost to the Dolphins.  I believe they are cheaters and I did not think they would make the playoffs,” Miami Dolphins fan, Sam Danberg said.

Following the Patriots playoff triumph over the colts, the Pats playoff hype was at an all time high among Algonquin students.

“I knew the Patriots would beat the Colts because the Colts have a weak front seven and the Patriots have a good power running game,” sophomore Jared Woislaw said.

Although faith in the Pats has been recently rekindled, many doubted that the Patriots would make it this far.

“No I didn’t think they’d [the Patriots] make it this far.  I thought they’d stink,” senior Duncan Palmer said.

Although the Patriots have been this year’s expected underdogs, they didn’t make it this far on luck alone.

“Stephen Gostkowski and Julian Edelman have really pulled their weight this season,” senior Jake Turner said.