Tom Brady

The AFC champion New England Patriots finished the 2011 season with a 13-3 record and became the third team in NFL history to win at least 10 games in nine consecutive seasons, joining the 1983-98 San Francisco 49ers (16 seasons) and 2002-10 Indianapolis Colts (nine).

"There is no word to use except for impressive," says former Patriots linebacker and ESPN analyst TEDY BRUSCHI on New England's continued success. New England also advanced to its seventh Super Bowl last season, the third-most in NFL history, trailing only the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers (eight).

Patriots head coach BILL BELICHICK, who is the first head coach in NFL history to lead a team to nine consecutive seasons with at least 10 victories, has certainly identified a successful approach week in and week out.

"I think every game is a big game," says Belichick. "Every time we get an opportunity to compete, we try to take advantage of the time leading up to that opportunity: the practice week, the preparation, the film study, understanding our game plan and our adjustments. You try to cover all your bases for that game, you play it, and then you start the process all over again with the next one."

The teams with the most consecutive seasons with 10+ regular-season wins in NFL history:

Patriots All-Star defensive tackle VINCE WILFORK (above), who served as a defensive captain for New England last season, says the team's continued success is a result of the entire organization working towards one common goal.

"The Patriots are all about team, family and smart football players," says Wilfork. "They try to get good people here from coaches to guys who work in the front office to guys who put on this uniform. I think everybody has to have one goal in mind, and that's to be together. When you get an organization together that is seeking one goal, you can be pretty successful."