When you look back at the Patriots' unheralded dynasty that spanned nearly two decades, the highs of six Super Bowl championships and nine Super Bowl appearances outweigh any lows.
But unfortunately, dynasties have their share of low moments. In the Patriots' case, the DeflateGate and Spygate controversies, Tom Brady's torn ACL in 2008, the locker room drama surrounding the 2009 team, and, of course, Aaron Hernandez.
Perhaps none were lower than Super Bowl XLII and David Tyree's helmet catch that was a factor in denying the Patriots a 19-0 record and a perch as the best team in NFL history. Three moments from New England's dynasty ranked in the Top 10 of CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin's Top 25 NFL moments from the last 25 years - Malcolm Butler's interception in Super Bowl XLIX and the 28-3 comeback in Super Bowl LI ranked sixth and second - but unfortunately, Tyree's catch was atop the list.
The best moment is the arguably the worst moment in Patriots' history
Benjamin called Tyree's once-in-a-lifetime catch "legendary," as he had Rodney Harrison draped all over him in snagging a ball that should've been intercepted. Every time any Patriots' fan sees that highlight, my guess is they look away or change the channel.
Divine intervention was clearly on the Giants' side, and you knew they were going to go down and score after Tyree made that catch, which they did, and the rest was history.
When you think about it, should that catch have even happened? Probably not.
Earlier in that Giants' drive, Asante Samuel had a game-sealing interception in his hands that bounced away. The Patriots' offense had chance after chance to break the game open but failed to do so. Numerous different Patriots probably should've sacked Eli Manning on the history-defining play, but Manning somehow escaped.
In the months and years to follow, other dominoes fell, including Brady getting injured in the season opener the following year, the locker-room drama that hindered the 2009 team, and, of course, the aforementioned tight end turned convicted felon.
For all the great moments the Patriots have had since the turn of the century - the 28-3 comeback and the surprising 2001 team that gave New England its first Super Bowl rank as my top two - there's always that one moment or two that feels like a punch in the stomach. And Tyree's catch is one of the knockout variety.