But this is also a team that came back from its own 1-3 start, and that’s where defensive captain and spiritual leader Derrick Brown went back to in the moments after this loss. When they were reeling after a 42-13 loss to the Patriots, they turned around to win three straight, creating a sense that something real was happening here.
And when they lost, they’d proceed to immediately follow with a win, alternating long enough to put themselves in position for the division title. That included beating the Packers on the road, the Rams here, and the four-time division champion Bucs in Week 16.
“That was where the team kind of found itself, I feel like,” Brown said, going all the way back to New England. “This is a tough, tough business, and you’re going against the best every single week. So man, I’m just so proud of our team for, you know, just showing the will to fight, bouncing back after losses, going out and beating teams that we weren’t that we were said that we weren’t supposed to beat.
“So I mean, man, I’m thankful for this team, thankful for this opportunity, you know, that’s all I can say.”