Having won five Super Bowls since the turn of the millennium, the New England Patriots are the most successful pro football organization of the 21st century. Naturally, a team like that — a polarizing one due to its success paired with a somewhat secretive approach and unsubstantiated rumors about nefarious infractions — has a target on its back week in and week out. The Patriots have made plenty of enemies along their way to becoming a dynasty.
This, in turn, has led to the creation of an interesting theory: teams play harder when they face the Patriots but drop off after beating them.