With Tom Brady in attendance, the Patriots move further away from the standard he set

Foxborough, Mass. - From the six shining Lombardi Trophies that greet you the moment you step out of the elevator and into the team offices, to the New England Patriots Hall of Fame just outside the stadium's main entrance, to the giant banner in the south end zone, the six championships in just 17 years The Standard" is everywhere in Gillette Stadium, reminding people of the Super Bowl they won six times in just 17 years.

And on Sunday, Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. who embodies The Standard was on hand to be celebrated for the memories, victories, and occasional miracles he has provided.

But at halftime,Brady told the crowd,"What is certain, what will never change, is that I am a Patriot for life."

The Patriots welcomed the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles to Gillette for their season opener, but fell behind by three scores early, losing 25-20. New England is now three seasons and one game under .500 (25-26) since Brady played for the Buccaneers for three years before leaving for Tampa Bay after the 2019 season and retiring for good earlier this year.

Time has passed since his last game with the Patriots, but everything about Brady remains familiar to fans, and much of what he did here remains familiar to him. As his warm-up entrance song, Jay Z's "Public Service Announcement," began to play, Brady unzipped his navy blue windbreaker to reveal his now iconic No. Brady took off his navy blue windbreaker to reveal his now iconic 12 No. jersey, and sprinted (well, jogged, in this case) toward the Super Bowl banner, as he always does when he runs out onto the field for the first time at his home stadium.

He loved it, as his wry smileshows. They loved it.

Not as lovable as that: the post-Brady Patriots couldn't put up enough points to win or consistently win close games in a league that had shifted heavily to offense. drafting Mack Jones in 2021. Since then, New England is 0-11 as a starter when an opponent scores 25 or more points. Jones also has only one fourth-quarter comeback and one game-winning drive in 33 NFL games.

That is not the standard. The once-vaunted "Patriot Way" was at one time an idea so frequently used that it has become obsolete.

On Sunday, Jones was tagged with a pick-six on New England's first possession, a pass intended for Kendrick Bone was high and a bit wide; Bone butted the ball up and Eagles corner Darius Slay happily caught it, weaved his way downfield for a 70-yard score to make it 10-0 Philadelphia.

As soon as the Patriots got the ball back, this time veteran Ezekiel Elliott fumbled and turned it over again. Five plays later, a touchdown was scored for Philadelphia.

Brady capped a successful six-play, 75-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Bourne with just under four minutes left in the game, bringing the score to five.

But after a hard hit by Jabrill Peppers caused a Jalen Hurts fumble on the Eagles' next play, the Patriots did nothing to move the ball.

"You have to do your best in the most critical situations. Penalties and different things during the game. We have to get better," said center and captain David Andrews. 'It's hard to beat a good football team when you're trying to beat yourself.' [It's unfair to blame Jones for everything that has happened the last few years. For the quarterback who took over Brady's long-term mantle in New England, it was always going to be a near impossible situation, and last season, with career defensive coach Matt Patricia and career special teams coach Joe Judge as co Bill Belichick's gut-wrenching decision to hire him as offensive coordinator was inexcusable.

That choice, along with the Patriots' regression to mediocrity,led to reports that Belichickis on thehot seatthis year.

Brady's sustained success is unusual. It's one of the reasons Brady is so respected: to have 10 years of greatness in the NFL is incredible; to have 20 years worth is basically unprecedented; to play with Brady as an active Patriot, as the NFL's turnover rate is, and to be on the game field, practice field, and classroom with him only nine people have had a front-row seat to his greatness.

He demanded a lot from those he played with, but he also demanded a lot from himself.

On Sunday night, Jones sounded a little like Brady when he blamed himself for the loss, reasoning that it was his fault the Patriots fell behind early. Linebacker Matthew Judon was not heard saying that the QB was a "dog."

"We did pretty well, but not well enough to win," Peppers added.

At some point, the frustration of close games, close losses, and not winning when the defense wasn't very inspired has to end.

Not only is that The Standard brought to New England by Brady, but it is the standard if you want to win in the NFL. In the 51 games since Brady left the Patriots, the team has struggled to keep it up.