The New England Patriots have a long and proud history under innovative head coach Bill Belichick as being the team that zigs when the rest of the league zags. Last season, as teams across the NFL emptied out their backfields and went four or five-wide with receivers and tight ends more than ever, Belichick and the Pats concentrated on developing a power-running game that could complement their stingy shutdown defense.
It might not have been as exciting as what spectators were treated to in dazzling spectacles put on by high-flying modern offenses like the Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and New Orleans Saints, but it got the job done.