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The New England Patriots are sitting halfway through the year with an unblemished 8-0 record. This is only the second team in franchise history to remained undefeated through eight games, so this is fairly uncharted territory for Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
One thing we do know is that this team doesn't lose during their final eight games of the year.
The worst record that Brady and Belichick have posted over the back half of the year is a 4-4 season in 2009. The second worst record is a 5-3 season in 2002. Those are undeniably the two weakest seasons in the Brady/Belichick era.
No other Brady/Belichick team has gone worse than 6-2 since 2001 and the average Patriots team has earned an 82.7% winning rate, for nearly an average 7-1 record.
| Year | W | L | W-L |
| 2001 | 7 | 1 | 87.5% |
| 2002 | 5 | 3 | 62.5% |
| 2003 | 8 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 2004 | 7 | 1 | 87.5% |
| 2005 | 6 | 2 | 75.0% |
| 2006 | 6 | 2 | 75.0% |
| 2007 | 8 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 2009 | 4 | 4 | 50.0% |
| 2010 | 8 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | 100.0% |
| 2012 | 7 | 1 | 87.5% |
| 2013 | 6 | 2 | 75.0% |
| 2014 | 6 | 2 | 75.0% |
| Total | 86 | 18 | 82.7% |
If the Patriots post a 6-2 record or better over their final eight games, it will be a good sign for their postseason success. In nine out of 11 seasons with a 6-2 record or better, the Patriots have at least made the AFC Championship game.
If the Patriots post a 7-1 record or better, that's an even better sign. Five of the seven seasons have reached the Super Bowl, and a sixth has reached the AFC Championship game.
New England has their work cut out for them during the final stretch, but head coach Bill Belichick will make sure that the team is approaching the season one week at a time.