Patriots Passion: 14 Valentine's Day Reasons to Still Love New England

Sure they are 25-25 and without a single playoff win since Tom Brady left town. Last season they gutted us with inexplicable losses via lunatic laterals and last-minute fumbles. And oddsmakers don't exactly paint a rosy picture in 2023, giving them the worst chance of winning Super Bowl LVIII of any team in the AFC East.

But - whether past, present or future - there are still a bouquet of reasons to love the New England Patriots. On this February 14, we picked our favorite 14:

14. Delicious Draft - To the winners go the spoils; to the losers the high draft picks. With the 14th overall selection in the April 27 NFL Draft, the Pats should get a player that will make an impact as a Week 1 starter.

13. Robert Kraft - Might as well embrace him, because he - and his family - are apparently going to be around for a long time.

12. Matthew Judon - When you have only one representative in the Pro Bowl, better appropriately shower him with adulation.

11. Slam Dunk - While the offense was to blame for the 8-9 record, New England acted quickly to retain de facto defensive coordinator Jerod Mayo and maintain symmetry on the team's strongest unit.

10. Rookies Ready - Though last year's top overall pick Cole Strange leveled off after a strong start, draft choices Tyquan Thornton, Marcus Jones, Jack Jones, Pierre Strong, Bailey Zappe and Kevin Harris all showed flashes that they can contribute on a winning team.

9. Mac Jones - No doubt the quarterback regressed last season. But it's almost as if he's getting a mulligan after toiling under the (mis)direction of last season's offensive coaching staff.

8. No Status Quo - The offense was putrid in 2022. Matt Patricia was abysmal as play-caller. Credit to the Pats - pushed by Kraft, enacted by Bill Belichick - for addressing the squeaky wheel.

7. Zappe Factor - Mac Jones looking over his shoulder might be positive motivation heading into OTAs next Summer. And it's nice to know that with Zappe, in case of emergency, the Pats have two quarterbacks that can win games.

6. Rhamondre Stevenson - The inexcusable fumble that led to the crucial loss to the Bengals on Christmas Eve notwithstanding, he proved he is indeed a No. 1 running back ready to shoulder the load running and receiving.

5. Selection Stockpile - In addition to No. 14 overall, the Patriots are stocked with draft picks including an additional third-rounder from a 2022 draft-day trade with Carolina, an extra fourth-rounder from previously dealing Sony Michel to the Rams and two additional sixth-rounders from trades involving Stephon Gilmore and Jarrett Stidham.

4. Elite Defense - Led by Judon, Josh Uche and the play-making of athletic back-end players such as Jonathan Jones and Kyle Dugger, the Pats produced seven touchdowns and played at a Super-Bowl level last season.

3. Bill Belichick - Stoic. Stubborn. Down right surly. But under him, it's unlikely the Pats will totally fall off a cliff. The last time they finished more than two games under .500 - 2000.

2. Un-Eagles - Foxboro is, and always will be, classier than Philly. When their team lost last Sunday thanks in part to a controversial penalty, Eagles fans trashed an Arizona bar.

1. The Joy of Six - Despite the current drought, no NFL team has more Super Bowls than the Pats' six. The race to seven is likely a matchup of Mac Jones vs. Kenny Pickett. Game on.

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