As the prepare to take the field for Super Bowl 60, the parallels between this squad and the 2001 team that launched a two-decade dynasty have become impo sible to ignore. Much like that original championship group, these Patriots have transformed from a last-place team into a title contender in a single calendar year, defying long odds and low expectations to emerge as the AFC's newest power. As the organization stands on the precipice of its first title in the post-Belichick era, the feeling in New England is about the rebirth of a familiar culture that the NFL world became way too used to. Here's more on the similarities between the two teams as the Patriots get ready for Super Bowl 60. MORE SUPER BOWL William Contreras Jersey 60 NEWS: 2001 and 2025 Patriots comparison Feature 2001 Season 2025 Season Previous Year Record 511 413 Regular Season Wins 11 14 Starting Quarterback Tom Brady (2nd Year) Drake Maye (2nd Year) Pa sing Touchdowns 18 31 Defense Rank (Points) 6th 4th Postseason Culmination Super Bowl 36 Super Bowl 60 There are tons of similarities between the young Patriots of both eras. The most striking mirror image lies under center, where Drake Maye has captured the league's imagination in his second season. While Maye po se ses way more mobility than Brady did, the core philosophy remains the same: a young, gifted quarterback operating within a system that prioritizes efficiency, accuracy, and poise under fire. Even the path to the championship game carries a sense of dj vu. This years run was defined by an improbable 14-3 regular season and a snowy, low-scoring defensive battle in the AFC Championship that felt like a direct callback to the franchises early postseason heroics. Both teams won the AFC Championship game on the road, and both teams had to win a playoff game in heavy snow. The 2001 Patriots had just one All-Pro, punt returner Troy Brown, while this season's Patriots have just two in Maye and DB Christian Gonzalez. Bill Belichick was in his second year with the Patriots after being fired in his first job by the in 2001, and Mike Vrabel is in his first year with the Patriots after getting fired from his first job with the . Very few players on both teams had playoff experience before their Super Bowl run. MORE: Tom Brady vs. Drake Maye stats Statistic Tom Brady (2001) Drake Maye (2025) Regular Season Record 113 143 Pa sing Yards 2,843 4,394 Pa sing Touchdowns 18 31 Interceptions 12 8 Completion % 63.9% 72.0% Pa ser Rating 86.0 113.5 Rushing Yards 43 450 Super Bowl Result Won Super Bowl 36 TBD (Super Bowl 60) While Mayes regular season was far more statistically explosive than Bradys 2001 campaign, their postseason paths have been remarkably similar in one key area: neither has been asked to carry the heavy lifting. In 2001, the Patriots' defense and special teams famously propelled the team through the playoffs, including the "Tuck Rule" game and a defensive mastercla s in Pittsburgh where Brady actually left the game due to injury. He reached his first Super Bowl without throwing a touchdown pa s in the two playoff games, serving as a steady hand while the veteran roster around him dictated the results. It's similar to Maye's 2025 postseason run. Through three playoff games, Mayes completion percentage has dipped significantly from his regular-season average, and he has leaned heavily on his rushing ability and a suffocating defensive unit that has outscored opposing offenses at times. MORE: Jesus Chirinos Jersey