Image courtesy of Apple TV+

I’m a little late to the party, but finally got to sit and watch the first two episodes of The Dynasty on Apple TV this weekend.

Admittedly having lived through the dynasty days and seen every DVD and read every book possible, I thought this might be just a recap of everything we all already knew. But, the first two episodes were outstanding and provided some footage and commentary that we all would have killed for 25 years ago when all this was just beginning.

It also struck me watching this how many similarities there are between the current state of the Patriots and the state of the team in 2000.

Throughout the release of each episode I’ll be doing sort of an observation type thing (think sights and sounds during training camp) for each one. There’s a lot to get to already…

EPISODE 1

-When RKK officially buys the team, he says “The pressure was really on.” It’s interesting to hear that mindset then and think of where they are now. It’s not nearly as dire, but that sense of urgency has certainly returned for ownership 30 years later.

-There’s also a sign in the old Foxborough Stadium crowd that says ‘Thank you Krafts for saving the Patriots.” People forget just how close this team was to becoming a St. Louis or Connecticut franchise.

-I think over the years we’ve all grown to understand just how serious Bledsoe’s injury after the Mo Lewis hit was, but when you hear he had two pints of blood removed and you see the behind the scenes footage of him being stretchered out, I just think back to that time and how little we knew without social media. Like, we knew he was hurt, but we would have known within minutes just how bad it actually was. He also doesn’t get nearly enough credit for the toughness he showed throughout his career (remember the pin in the throwing finger?)

-Also interesting to hear Drew say he woke up with a tube in his chest and one of his first thoughts was “Hopefully the team can hold down the fort.” This guy truly believed he was just stepping right back in after nearly dying on the field.

-I’m not sure we ever knew Brady made a speech to the team along the lines of “believe in me” once Drew went down. Damien Woody says “that took a lot of balls” and my very first thought was ‘Mac would never.” You can just see how much that belief in the guy running the show matters. Interesting to see them in that spot then and now whether it’s Mac, Zappe or a rookie, someone’s got to make that locker room believe.

-Willie McGinest saying “we can’t give up points” heading into the Indy game (the Bryan Cox hit on Pathon game) sounds awfully familiar. The 2024 defense might be in a similar spot – it most certainly was in 2022 and 2023 – funny how things stay the same the more they change, even 30 years later.

-We forget just how much of a beast Antwan Smith was. Bruising running back who was extremely hard to bring down 1-on-1. Guy carried the offense that season and again, similar to this team, the ground-and-pound first philosophy is probably the route the 2024 team needs to go with someone managing the game under center.

-The story of Brady humming controllers against a wall when losing video games should warm everyone’s heart. Who have us hasn’t snapped losing a game of Madden against a buddy? It’s the most frustrating game on the planet, this was just his version (Techno Bowl) in the early 2000’s. Glad to hear we’re all like TB12.

-Every time I saw a 90’s clip all I could think was BRING THE ROYAL BLUE JERSEYS BACK. The red throwbacks are cool but we’re 30 years removed from the initial change, let’s start acknowledging those as the real throwback jerseys. After all, the fortunes of the franchise changed in them.

-The story of Law and Milloy scoffing at Brady saying “he’s not giving it up” when referring to the starting job at dinner one night is interesting. Those vets were all very loyal to Bledsoe which made Brady’s job even more difficult having to win them over. That defense – much like this one – ruled the room and once again, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

-Imagine if Bledsoe did just retire? He said he was contemplating it and “screw these guys,” but that means we never would have gotten the drama of him going to Buffalo or playing for Parcells again in Dallas. Is Brady as motivated if Drew taps out? Probably, but we’ll never know.

-I did not remember AT ALL the fact there was a presser with Drew and doctors clearing him. That’s like, one of the biggest pressers in Pats history. No recollection (I was 13) of that but man, it was a packed house in that room.

-RKK having Drew’s back and saying he felt he was treated unfairly was eye-opening. The fact RKK went to Bill, but ultimately let him stick with his decision is fun to think about given what we now know about how things ended here. RKK was Team Drew, yet still let BB make the final call (as he should). Not every owner would have let the head coach make that choice.

-Pioli’s warning to BB was very interesting. “We need to be careful,” he said. “If we don’t handle this right we’ve seen that movie before,” referring to the Kosar decision in Cleveland just goes to show how enormous this decision was. The Dynasty almost died in November of 2001. That’s crazy to think about.

-Pioli also adding “we knew it was the right decision, but we didn’t have an answer to the problem,” referring to Bledsoe/Brady is pretty much the exact issue the team faced here once Brady was pushed out the door. You’d think BB would have learned his lesson, but instead went with Cam Newton and Mac Jones after TB12. Incredible lack of foresight on this that’s still mind boggling even four years later.

-Another one from Pilot: “If we don’t succeed our career with the Patriots is probably over.” EVERYONE in that building was on notice. Was it the same this time around post-Brady? It feels like the fire wasn’t nearly as hot as it was in 2001, but man, it’s wild to think BB had the same thing happen 20 years apart and he got it wrong the second time.

-I thought the Rams Sunday night game – the last game the 2001 team lost – was misrepresented. It was a ho-hum, Brady was terrible type portrayal and that’s it. That team hung with the Greatest Show on Turf and lost by a TD. That game is THE reason they felt like they could hang with St. Louis in the Super Bowl.

-RKK closes out the first episode saying “decision we were going to make would affect football in New England for the the next 20 years.” Sound familiar?

EPISODE 2

-The BB presser the week of the Saints game in 01 where he declares Brady the starter was more light-hearted than I would have remembered. He was smiling and was also adamant that TB was going to be the guy unless he got hurt. That type of conviction in that moment with his job on the line two years in is impressive as hell.

-Seeing Chris Collinsworth, Jerry Glanville and Dan Marino on a round table type show was laugh-out-loud funny. Don’t remember that one, but I’m sure it was infinitely more entertaining than anything ESPN has ever put on its air.

-The Ernie Adams stuff was pretty good. Him saying “there are some experts in New England on football and they’re on the Patriots coaching staff,” and “if you’re not in the building you don’t really know,” just reiterates how highly everyone at 1 Patriot Place thinks of themselves – or at least how highly they did when BB was around.

-Ernie saying “Drew looks like a wild beast under attack,” is the most accurate description of Drew ever.

-Fascinating line from Pioli on Brady that absolutely still applies to the QB’s the last couple seasons and heading into this upcoming draft if they decide to take one…”we felt confident because we had the time to truly learn who he was.” Throwing a rookie or young guy in before he sits is a dangerous, dangerous game. The Pats knew they could win with TB12 because he had been in the building. Cautionary tale for Mayo and co. if they do go QB at No. 3.

-I was at that Saints game in the pouring rain that started the winning streak. I’ll never forget absolutely despising Brady because I was a Bledsoe guy. I also sort of miss those old metal bleachers in Foxborough Stadium and am glad I was able to experience it a few times. Going to games there with the troughs in the bathrooms was just a different world.

-Mark Edwards was the most full back’s full back ever. Go back and watch him. This team needs a dose of that meathead fullback in this offense again. 

-I miss the old Buffalo Bills red helmets and blue unit. Also, that old astro turf was the best, teams should bring it back (I know it’ll never happen, that stuff was basically painted concrete). The hit Brady took in that Bills game late in 2001 is still burned in my memory too. Most QB’s today don’t get up and they’re definitely in concussion protocol the rest of the game.

-Going back to that veteran defense talking trash to Brady in practice and leading the team/stepping up…the defense now is in the exact same boat. There’s probably not many Law’s, Milloy’s, McGinest’s or Vrabels, but there’s enough in that locker room to pull the offense along as long as they can be serviceable. Once again, funny how the more things change the more they stay the same.

-When Ernie says “The weather gods dialed it up for us,” talking about the blizzard for the Raiders game, all I could think of was Kansas City today. The Pats dynasty was largely built on good fortune to go along with all the talent. KC has that same mystique now and continues to develop it. Crazy how things happen when you just keep winning.

-Brady saying “we didn’t write the f’n rule,” is literally the same defense fans used for like 10 years after that game. Crappy rule? Yup. Right call? Absolutely.

-BB asking Ernie “what happened” on Vinatieri’s 45-yarder to tie the game is a cool little nugget.

-The postgame footage from the locker room after the Snow Bowl was awesome, don’t think I’d ever seen anything from that night before. Also found it interesting just how confident that team was, breaking down with “champs!” on three before they even beat Pittsburgh in the AFC title game. Also had guys yelling “this is our year!” still gave me chills.

All in all, the first two episodes were excellent and really do provide stuff that we’ve never seen or heard before. Given how many books and documentaries have been made about this dynasty, it’s impressive that they’re already able to keep people engaged. Can’t wait for episodes three and four!