The future came quickly for the New England Patriots. This time last year, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady were celebrating another Super Bowl victory. Brady hadn't posted big numbers in the Super Bowl, and Rob Gronkowski was weeks away from retiring, but there was little to be concerned about in New England. As long as the Patriots had the ageless Brady at quarterback and the peerless Belichick planning out what was to come, the future seemed bright for the greatest sports dynasty of this century.
Things have changed. Brady, 42, struggled mightily after a hot start to the 2019 season, and while he was left with a middling offensive line and an injury-hit group of receivers, he looked old for the first time in years.