2003 first round pick was a defensive tackle (Ty Warren)
2014 first round pick was a defensive tackle (Dominique Easley)
Right before the start of the 2003 season, Bill Belichick parted ways with a strong, veteran locker room leader who was a starter AND Tom Brady's close friend in Lawyer Milloy.
Right before the star of the 2014 season Bill Belichick parted ways with a strong, veteran locker room leader who was a starter AND Tom Brady's close friend in Logan Mankins
The 2003 season started off 2-2 with an opening day loss to a division opponent (vs. Bills), a dominant win against an NFC team in week 2 (the Philadelphia Eagles), a seven point win against an AFC team in week 3 (New York Jets), and a loss thanks in large part to a multi-interception game by Tom Brady (vs. Washington Redskins).
The 2014 season started off 2-2 with an opening day loss to a division opponent (vs. Dolphins), a dominant win against an NFC team in week 2 (the Minnesota Vikings), a seven point win against an AFC team in week 3 (Oakland Raiders), and a loss thanks in large part to a multi-interception game by Tom Brady (vs. Kansas City Chiefs).
There was a lot of questioning of Bill Belichick early in 2003, led by Tom Jackson of ESPN saying the team "hated their coach."
There was plenty of questions around Bill Belichick regarding his personnel decisions and if he gave Tom Brady enough weapons to work, led by strong remarks from ESPN's Trent Dilfer saying "they're not good anymore...they're weak."
In 2003, there was a quality week 5 win against a strong AFC opponent that would make the playoffs in the Tennessee Titans.
In 2014, there was a quality week 5 win against a strong AFC opponent that would make the playoffs in the Cincinnati Bengals.
In the 2003 season, the Patriots finished with the number one seed in the AFC.
In the 2014 season, the Patriots finished with the number one seed in the AFC.
The 2003 playoffs started with a frigid game, 4 °F, in which the Patriots would barely squeak by the Tennessee Titans, thanks to a late incompletion from Steve McNair to Drew Bennett.
The 2014 playoffs started with a frigid game, 20 °F, in which the Patriots would barely squeak by the Baltimore Ravens, thanks to a late incompletion on a Hail Mary from Joe Flacco.
In the 2003 AFC Championship game, the Patriots beat the Indianapolis Colts by multiple possessions and it was Tom Brady's fourth win over Peyton Manning.
In the 2014 AFC Championship game, the Patriots beat the Indianapolis Colts by multiple possessions and it was Tom Brady's fourth win over Andrew Luck.
After the AFC Championship game in 2003, there were complaints that the officials did not properly call illegal contact, defensive holding, and pass interference calls on the Patriots defensive backs (later resulting in the league instructing the officials to strictly enforce these penalties).
After the AFC Championship game in 2014, the infamous DeflateGate controversy came to life and is currently an ongoing investigation.
In the 2003 Super Bowl, the Patriots took on a pretty strong defense (10th) with a defensive-minded head coach in John Fox as they faced the Carolina Panthers.
In the 2014 Super Bowl, the Patriots took on a very strong defense with a defensive-minded head coach in Pete Carroll as they faced the Seattle Seahawks.
The Patriots 2003 Super Bowl opponent, Carolina Panthers, had played in a overtime game which they won with a touchdown pass (double-overtime vs. St. Louis Rams in the divisional round).
The Patriots 2014 Super Bowl opponent, Seattle Seahawks, had played in a overtime game which they won with a touchdown pass (overtime vs. St. Louis Rams in the divisional round).
In the Super Bowl in 2003, Tom Brady had a third down pass picked off (by Reggie Howard) in the end zone.
In the Super Bowl in 2014, Tom Brady had a third down pass picked off (by Jeremy Lane) in the end zone.
Late in the Super Bowl in 2003, there was a blunder made by the Panthers when John Kasay kicked the ball out of bounds, setting up Tom Brady to lead a game-winning field goal drive.
Late in the Super Bowl in 2014, there was a blunder made by the Seahawks when they called a pass play from the one yard line that was picked off by Malcolm Butler to give the ball to Tom Brady to run out the clock.
In 2003, Tom Brady set a record for completions in a Super Bowl with 32 en route to being named the MVP of the game.
In 2014, Tom Brady broke his own record for completions in a Super Bowl with 37 en route to being named the MVP of the game.
BOTTOM LINE IS IN 2003 AND IN 2014, THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WERE SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS AND ON TOP OF THE FOOTBALL WORLD.
