Top Five Regular Season Games of the Decade

Starting tomorrow, The Grey Hoodie will begin to unveil the top five regular season games of the decade. With the 2009 season and the end of the decade just around the corner, it's time to fondly look back on the decade that was.

The 2000s were an interesting time for the New England Patriots. Starting with the beginning of the decade and the hiring of Bill Belichick, the Patriots were caught in mediocrity. Following a 5-11 season in 2000 and an 0-2 start in 2001, there did not seem to be much light at the end of the tunnel for the Patriots. Following a life-threatening injury to franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe, the Patriots suddenly turned a corner, led by sixth-round draft pick Tom Brady. Brady led a blue-collar Patriots team to stunning upsets over the Raiders and Steelers in the playoffs before the ultimate upset; a Super Bowl XXXVI victory over the Greatest Show on Turf, the St. Louis Rams.

The Patriots suddenly had turned into a dynasty. Behind Belichick and his team-first, defensive mindset, the Pats had gone from laughingstock to champion in a matter of a year. The Patriots won back-to-back championships in 2003 and 2004 and were the blueprint for the modern NFL franchise. Following disappointing finishes in 2005 and 2006, the Patriots swung trades for Randy Moss and Wes Welker, spurring a 16-0 regular season in 2007. Unfortunately for the Pats and their fans, the team fell one win short of perfection, losing Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants.

Going into 2008, the Patriots looked to rebound from a shocking and disappointing loss in the Super Bowl. However, eight minutes into the season, Tom Brady tore his ACL, ending his season seemingly before it started. Despite such a stunning loss to the team's on-field performance, backup quarterback Matt Cassel took the reigns, and the Patriots barely missed the playoffs after an emotionally wrenching 11-5 season.

Through the past nine seasons, the Patriots have had many nail-biting regular season games. What were the best? Stay tuned with The Grey Hoodie, as we debut the list starting tomorrow!