On Nov. 7, the Herald ran a lengthy obituary for the Patriots [team stats]’ long-running dynasty following their 24-20 loss to the team they will meet again Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Super Bowl XLVI, the New York Giants. They had just lost their second game in a row in a way that seemed to make clear everything had changed for the most successful franchise in the league over roughly the last two decades (1994-present).

It was a game of turnovers (four), missed opportunities and a defense that couldn’t hold, allowing the Giants to travel 80 yards in 81 seconds for the winning score as time was running out. That loss ended a 20-game home winning streak in a way that led to the following conclusion:

“Dynasties do not end in spectacular collapse or fiery conflagration. They end from the corrosive effect of winning, eaten bit by bit until the edge is no longer on your side of the line of scrimmage . . . That’s how the good old days become the good old days — one small mistake at a time until your edge is gone and what is left is one dogfight after another. “That is who the Patriots are now. They are a team doing its best, but not always enough. They are not a dynasty any more. They are a team running with the pack: closer to the head of it than the rear but headed in the wrong direction.”

Thus inspired by yours truly, the Patriots didn’t lose another game. They won 10 straight to reach their fourth Super Bowl in the past 11 years under the direction of Tom Brady [stats], Bill Belichick and Bob Kraft, and I’m glad I could help. These Patriots won the AFC championship in just the kind of nail-biting dogfight that earlier column alluded to, but when you win those types of games, as the Patriots did so often this season, it means the dynasty is not over regardless of what happens Sunday.