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Terrible — but maybe fun? — Patriots might prove to be worth your time

COMMENTARY

It’s been 30 years since former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who was in his sophomore season in the NFL, threw an NFL-record 70 passes to help New England overcome a 20-point deficit and beat the Minnesota Vikings, 24-20. The Athletic ran an entertaining oral history of the win a few years ago– “Put the fricking kid in two-minute!”

After that game, I remember that I wasn’t alone in a youthful confidence that believed the 4-6 Patriots would whip off six straight victories and make the playoffs after having won only 13 games the previous three seasons combined.