Three years had passed since New England’s last trip to the Super Bowl; ten years since the team’s last world championship. And early on, the 2014 season did not look as if it would change this. However, after the Patriots’ 41-14 blowout loss in Kansas City in week 4, the team started to hit its stride and show its full potential.
The result was a 12-4 regular season, another division title and the top seed in the AFC playoff race. As such, New England hosted the Baltimore Ravens in a 35-31 divisional playoff thriller.