New England Patriots
The 2014 New England Patriots won the franchise’s fourth Super Bowl after one of the most questionable play calls in Super Bowl history. Tom Brady had another Pro Bowl season with 4,109 yards with 33 touchdown passes. The Patriots, who averaged over 29 points per game while allowing under 20, won the AFC East with a 12-4 record. In the playoffs, Brady lifted his performance further in a 35-31 win over Baltimore (367 yards passing, 3 TD passes); a 45-7 victory in the AFC Championship against the Colts (226 yards, 3 TDs) and a 28-24 Super Bowl win over Seattle (328 yards, 4 TDs). In that final game, Brady led a late fourth quarter drive that was capped by TD pass to receiver Julian Edelman. When many expected Pete Carroll's Seahawks to hand the ball off to RB Marshawn Lynch, Malcolm Butler sealed the game with an interception at the Patriots goal line with under 30 seconds remaining. During the regular season, Edelman (92 receptions, 972 yards) and tight end Rob Gronkowski (82 catches, 1,124 yards receiving, 12 TDs) were Brady’s main two targets.