Three things the Redskins can learn from the New England Patriots
By Ian Cummings
The New England Patriots won their sixth Super Bowl of the twenty-first century on Sunday, setting a new precedent for how great franchises can be.
The Washington Redskins haven’t tasted such greatness since the days of Joe Gibbs, with their last championship coming in 1991.
Since 1991, the Redskins have won just three playoff games. The Patriots, meanwhile, have won twice as many Super Bowls.
The dichotomy is astounding, and it speaks to the discrepancy in how both teams have operated over the past two decades. One team is complacent, while the other is never satisfied. One team has been so habitually dysfunctional that no success is ever more than a fallacy, while the other has somehow maintained dominance of an entire conference for twenty years.
If they can put their pride aside, the Redskins brass has a lot to learn from the New England Patriots. There are some ways Washington may not match New England for some time. Bill Belichick could be the best coach in NFL history, and Tom Brady is in the conversation at quarterback. But for all their stardom and glory, the Patriots’ way can be mimicked. All it takes is self-reflection and relentless perseverance to rise above.