As unbelievable as it was to see the Philadelphia Eagles and their backup quarterback win Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots, fans were likely just as surprised to see Tom Brady fail to complete a last-second Hail Mary considering his team's ridiculous run of success.
The Patriots' dominance in the AFC over the past 17 years has been unmatched, leading many NFL fans to scoff at the notion that the team could fall off anytime soon.
But with a slew of offseason changes expected, the Patriots may have missed their last chance to win a sixth Lombardi Trophy with the Brady-Bill Belichick duo in charge. Here's why:
Coaching staff is up in the air
The last time Belichick lost two coordinators in the same season was in 2004 after New England's Super Bowl XXXIX win, when Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel walk out the door for head coaching opportunities. It took the Patriots 10 years to win another Super Bowl.
Now, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is expected to leave after 14 seasons to coach the Detroit Lions, while offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who's spent 14 of the last 17 years in New England, is reportedly set to lead the Indianapolis Colts.
Not only will Belichick be losing his top two assistants, but other members of his coaching staff could potentially join Patricia or McDaniels with their new teams. And with several key players hitting free agency, the departing coaches could recruit members of New England's roster to come with them.
Free-agent decisions
After his surprising benching Sunday, cornerback Malcolm Butler made it pretty clear he may leave Foxboro despite starting 47 of the last 48 regular-season games since becoming the hero of Super Bowl XLIX.
Meanwhile, left tackle Nate Solder has started every game he's been healthy for since his rookie season, earning Brady's respect as his blindside blocker for seven years. But, like most players coming off Super Bowl seasons, he could command a higher salary than the $10 million he took home the last two years. Fellow offensive tackles Cameron Fleming and LaAdrian Waddle will also hit free agency, and all three could benefit from being part of the winning culture in New England.
Running backs Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead, who played big roles late in the season and throughout the playoffs, will also hit the open market and could find homes in Detroit or Indianapolis as neither team's rushing situation is ideal.
Receiver Danny Amendola will be looking for a raise after masterfully replacing Julian Edelman throughout the season, particularly in the playoffs where he collected 348 yards and two touchdowns on 26 catches.
Among the other soon-to-be free agents who could use their Patriots status to cash in are special-teams aces Johnson Bademosi, Matthew Slater, and Nate Ebner, along with veteran defenders James Harrison and Ricky Jean-Francois.
The Patriots generally have an edge in free-agent negotiations because of the chance to play with Belichick, Brady, and Co., but with reports of tension in New England, Rob Gronkowski being noncommittal about his return next season, and with Father Time creeping up, the franchise may no longer be so far ahead of the curve.
Tom vs. Time
After breaking his own record for the most passing yards in a Super Bowl, it can't really be argued that Brady was the reason for the Patriots' loss Sunday.
Still, while the veteran's attempts to avoid the effects of being a 40-year-old professional athlete have been more than admirable, even Brady has acknowledged the oddity of his success this late in his career.
Perhaps the loss will only serve as motivation for the three-time MVP, but after the team moved on from both Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett this season, a potential successor will likely be added behind Brady, which could cause more tension.
It seems like any time this Belichick-Brady dynasty has been questioned, it comes back even better, but the situation could be different this time heading into an uncertain offseason.
Considering all the question marks and with a devastating Super Bowl hangover coming, is this the beginning of the end for the Patriots' dynasty?
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
