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Deflategate could have sidelined Tom Brady for the first four games of the season. In fact, it could have done a lot of damage to the New England Patriots.

Yes, they did loose two draft picks, were fined $1 million and suffered a hit in public perception for some, but they are doing just fine on the field, where they are making a run at back-to-back Super Bowls.

But how much does revenge play into New England's dominant start to the season? Answering a question like that goes against the "Patriot Way," but owner Robert Kraft did thank the ongoing saga for making an already motivated Brady even more so.

"They did us a favor," Patriots owner Robert Kraft told the Washington Post's Sally Jenkins for a recent profile of Brady post-Deflategate.

The rest of the NFL is finding that out the hard way.

Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images