The New England Patriots have set a standard for mind-numbing consistency with Bill Belichick on the sideline and Tom Brady behind center.
They have won 75.4 percent of their regular-season and postseason games since 2001, Brady's first season as a starter. No other team has won better than 65.3 percent (Indianapolis). New England has outscored its opponents by 1,948 points in that span. Pittsburgh comes in second on that front -- an incredible 894 points behind.
So it should come as no surprise, really, to see the Patriots with only one defeat by more than seven points in their past 42 games, counting playoffs. It's what can happen when the right coach and quarterback are working for the right owner over an extended period. Here is the surprising part: Seattle is the only other team able to make a similar claim.