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5 players who deserved to win a Super Bowl with Patriots but never did

By Andrew Desino

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 20: Wes Welker #83 of the New England Patriots reacts after missing a catch against the Baltimore Ravens during the 2013 AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium on January 20, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 20: Wes Welker #83 of the New England Patriots reacts after missing a catch against the Baltimore Ravens during the 2013 AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium on January 20, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 18: Aqib Talib #31 of the New England Patriots breaks up a pass intended for Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 18, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 18: Aqib Talib #31 of the New England Patriots breaks up a pass intended for Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 18, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Aqib Talib completely altered the mantra of Patriots defense

In 2011, New England had one of the worst defenses in the league in terms of yards allowed, but was around the middle of the pack for points allowed. One could say they were a “bend, don’t break” defense.

However, that motto changed when New England traded for Aqib Talib in the 2012 season. They were able to shift away from the soft shell zone coverage they were forced to play because of the personnel they had in the secondary. They were now able to put Talib on the offense’s best guy and shadow him for the game.

It allowed Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia to cast more exotic defenses and made the 2012 Patriots into a formidable Super Bowl-destined team. Had it not been for Talib’s thigh injury in the AFC Championship Game against Baltimore, New England might’ve been headed to a Super Bowl that year.

Talib and New England had a chance the following season to get back to the Super Bowl, but once again, Talib took a hit from a former teammate — and a man on this list already — Wes Welker, and it pulled him out of the game with a knee injury. From that point onward, Demaryius Thomas torched New England’s secondary, which looked absolutely helpless, en route to a 26-16 loss.

Talib, despite his injuries, was crucial to changing the philosophy New England had on defense. In fact, it was the loss of Talib in free agency the following season that sparked New England to sign Darrelle Revis, who won a Super Bowl in 2014 with the team.

Undoubtedly, Talib was the best defensive back New England had in many years. He did get a Super Bowl ring himself with Denver in 2015.

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