Does the New England Patriots’ loss to the Denver Broncos actually help them?

The New England Patriots lost on Sunday to the Denver Broncos. Could it be a positive in helping them retain the Super Bowl?

In a snowy Mile High Stadium, the Denver Broncos beat the undefeated New England Patriots with a clutch performance from a quarterback not named Peyton Manning. Brock Osweiler was the man who engineered the fourth quarter comeback and overtime victory for the Broncos, moving them to 9-2, but more significantly, ending the unbeaten hopes of New England.

Tom Brady and his offense have been sensational so far this year. They have swept by all in their path and have rarely looked flustered. However, they were unable to overcome a stout Denver defense, and although crucial injuries have diminished the potency of such an offense, many will be disappointed in losing a shot at the perfect season. However, could this loss be a positive for a Patriots side hopeful of retaining their Super Bowl crown?

The undefeated monkey is now well and truly off the Patriots’ back. Any added pressure of maintaining perfection has been removed, and perhaps this could aid Bill Belichick and his Patriots in their quest to defend their Super Bowl title. New England are already under immense scrutiny due to the expectations that Belichick has built over his outstanding tenure in New England, so any added pressure could hinder performances.

It is almost assumed that they will win the AFC East, make the AFC Championship and ultimately the Super Bowl every single season. This expectation must weigh heavy. When the possibility of matching the ’72 Dolphins in a perfect season is added to such intense pressure, it is easily conceivable to see how it could cripple a side. Even a side led by the unflappable Tom Brady.

Well, now perfection isn’t possible. While a loss is always disappointing, it can sometimes be a positive in the long run. Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs gave the Patriots an absolute pummeling in Week 4. This led to many questioning the future of Tom Brady at quarterback. Six months later, the Patriots were once again on top of the world, after Belichick’s famous “we’re onto Cincinnati” press conference. A loss can sometimes galvanize a side, like last season. In this case, it may well loosen up the Patriots down the stretch.

Brady is having an MVP year, once again, and like 2007 when he dominated the league with one of the greatest offensive seasons in the past 20 years, the Patriots were looking towards a perfect season before Sunday’s loss. That year, New England fell at the last hurdle. This year, they do not have to think so far, and may have the opportunity to rest players down the stretch.

With the AFC East all but wrapped up, Belichick will look to rest some crucial pieces in upcoming fixtures. That Patriots are extremely banged up right now. Brady has lost all but one of his best weapons, although Julian Edelman is expected to return later in the year, his best weapon has just suffered a knee injury which may limit his play. However, losing on Sunday night may well have been the best thing for this Patriots side due to the injuries that they have had to endure so far.

Not only has an air of expectation subsided now that they are no longer striving for perfection, but the loss gives Belichick a chance to get his players fit for the postseason. While they only have a one-game lead over Denver and the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, recuperating and recovering may well become the name of the game. If Edelman and Gronkowski return fully fit entering the playoffs, the Patriots will be highly fancied to retain their Super Bowl crown, the ultimate aim of the season.

The AFC East title is wrapped up, and the Patriots will hope to be able to secure the No. 1 seed in spite of resting some of their better players. If they have secured the No. 1 seed by Week 17, then like in previous years, many of their stars on both sides of the ball will be rested in preparation for the postseason.

However, Belichick may well choose to rest some players earlier in the year, especially if they are not 100 percent, as is likely in December.

On defense, the Patriots lost linebacker Dont’a Hightower to an MCL sprain on Sunday, and with Jamie Collins already missing four weeks with a mysterious illness, Belichick could be cautious with the fitness of his defensive stars. Hightower’s importance to the stout run defense was highlighted against the Broncos after he departed due to injury, and the Patriots will be eager to have him fighting fit heading towards the business end of the season.

New England have a kind schedule down the stretch, with perhaps the toughest match up coming in Week 14 when they travel to a resurgent Houston on Sunday Night Football. In weeks 15, 16 and 17 the Patriots face the Titans and then back to back away games against AFC East opponents in the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. If the Patriots come through the next few weeks unscathed, expect to see some stars rested in the final couple of weeks of the season.

For Bill Belichick, it is all about the postseason, and although losing to the Broncos will be of great disappointment to him, if the Patriots win it all again, it will pale into insignificance. The Super Bowl is the aim. It always was, and the loss on Sunday may well have helped them, rather than hindered.