Cursed To First - Sox and Pats forever.

The "L" Word

Everybody happy?

Don't worry. I know the answer is yes.

It's a unique feeling to know that your loss is everyone else's happiness, but I know no one cares. And I know I've done the same when it's come to other teams I've disliked, so I can't say much when the tables are turned.

In fact, I also know that most people coming over to this blog aren't even going to read this post, much less take it seriously. Most of you are probably here merely to vent your vindicated anti-Patriots spleen in the comments thread, and hey, more power to you.

But here's another question, for anyone still reading: can we stop now? With the sour grapes? And SpyGate? And searching, hunting, digging for ways to prove the Patriots' run over these last few years has been unfair in any way? Can we stop trotting out the pathetic former Eagles players who want to tell us it was the Patriots' videotapes, and not their puking quarterback, that cost them the Super Bowl three years ago? Can we stop with the Congressional inquests, the unnamed sources, the obnoxious asterisks? Can we stop looking for ways to denigrate what the Patriots accomplished in the regular season?

Suddenly, at 18-1, with as many postseason defeats as victories over the last seven years, the Patriots' "dynasty" doesn't look so impressive. So maybe we can stop with the envy, and the asinine things it has been making people say?

Because now we see: the Patriots can be beaten. Actually, the Patriots have been beaten the last three years in a row: once in the divisional playoff against the Broncos; once in the AFC playoff against the Colts, and once again tonight in the Super Bowl against the Giants.

So let me ask this: if the Patriots were truly a bunch of cheaters, if Bill Belichick's video tapes were what won games and not just the determined, dedicated effort of a very good football team, why would they have been beaten when it mattered most the last three years in a row?

The fact of the matter is that the Giants were successful this time around with getting relentless pressure on Brady. They sacked him four times in the first half alone, and knocked him down 10 times just after he released the ball. They played a tough, intense, physical and determined game. They figured out the right strategy, and they followed through with it against the Patriots for 60 minutes. And they won. Simple as that.

If we're to believe the Patriots are inveterate cheaters, that all their past accomplishments have been built on dishonesty and unfair advantage, why would they have picked tonight to stop? If there was ever a time to break out the videotapes, the top-secret signals, the spies and moles on the opposing sideline, it was in the fourth quarter of XLII.

And yet, here we are.

Slowly, the Giants ground down the Patriots--they did what no other team has done yet this season, and lasted with them through 60 minutes. Their defense was a match for a high-flying offense. I'm sure if I were to suggest, as a Patriots fan, that the Giants cheated, it would be dismissed as sour grapes.

So why isn't it identified as such when it comes from every other fan base in the league when the Patriots were winning? Why hasn't the inherent ugliness of casting about to find ways to discount a team's accomplishments been acknowledged in that case? Is it because this time the sour grapes have been shared by a majority?

Now, in a way, there's a silver lining to the Patriots' defeat: the haters find themselves in a difficult position. Doesn't it take away from the Giants' victory, if the Patriots have been built on sand the whole time? Is it truly the greatest accomplishment in the history of football to knock off the Patriots if the Patriots have never been that good in the first place?

So pick one. If you believe the Patriots are cheaters, then this victory must not have been that big a deal--just the inevitable exposure of a team without a legal means of sustaining its dominance. If you believe the Giants have just pulled off the greatest accomplishment in NFL history, then you must believe they did it entirely above-board.

Pick one.

If you ask me, I believe that the Patriots have been genuine, and I believe the Giants are genuine. They won a hard-fought game and put together quite possibly the most miraculous run of any team in postseason history. Give them credit, and give the Patriots credit, too; today, you can call them losers, but let's stop calling the Patriots cheaters.

Da Super Bowl

The preparation for Super Bowl Sunday begins weeks in advance. Who will be hosting (if here is not a set person that does this every year) who will prepare hot food, cold dishes and beverages.

This year I was hoping to go to Ernie�s, but was unable to get the time off from work to travel back home. Ernie�s chili goes great w my hot n spicy (with Rooster Sauce) wings � hhmmm!! Combine those dishes with Wachusett Winter Ale!

So instead I will be going to my buddy Leo�s place (a converted Pats fan!!), where a few people from work will be able to see their Boss (me!) jump and down and root for Da Bears!

After seeing so many years of poor Patriots, I usually root for the underdawgs. Although Peyton should be the personal underdawg with all the demon�s he has managed to chase away to get to the Super Bowl, Rex Grossman has been shredded throughout the season by fans and the media as the only reason why the Bears will not win the Super Bowl. So I have to support Rex as no one else outside his family and the Bears players seems to like him.

In the end the Patriots are not in the Super Bowl, so I am hoping for a good game and not a blow-out. This could be Peyton�s year or the year where Adam Vinatieri keeps his living legend status.

We shall see � so pass me another beer and more chili � please!

Super Bowl XXXIX: Key Matchups

WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL:

Key Matchup:
QB Tom Brady versus FS Brian Dawkins
Brian Dawkins is like a hawk and Tom Brady will need to watch and find where he is on every play before he snaps the ball. Dawkins is very similar to Brady's teammate Rodney Harrison, and will hit you hard if you cross the middle. He also has very capable hands so he'll be able to pick off a pass that is anywhere near him. I don't see Brady testing Dawkins too much, but he'd be able to beat him deep if he had a fast reciever going long, like David Patten or Bethel Johnson. Dawkins will also come to the line and blitz so the offensive line needs to be ready to pick the blitz up off the edge.

Other Matchups:

RB Corey Dillon versus LB Jeremiah Trotter

LT Matt Light/RT Brandon Gorin versus DE Jevon Kearse

WR Deion Branch versus CB Lito Sheppard

WHEN THE EAGLES HAVE THE BALL:

Key Matchup:
QB Donovan McNabb versus New England Linebackers
If the Patriot's secondary can keep the receivers in check, then McNabb might need to run. And the Patriots will need to contain him with ends Richard Seymour, Ty Warren and Jarvis Green, but more importantly with the linebacking core. There will be some spy plays--third and short, probably--and those will be important to try and contain McNabb and keep him in the pocket. McNabb will need to throw the ball to be effective, not scrambling every other play. The linebackers will need to keep McNabb from scrambling and see how he responds. He'll either find open receivers or become frustrated. The more frustrated McNabb is, the better chance the Patriots have to win.

Other Matchups:

C Hank Fraley versus NT Keith Traylor and Vince Wilfork

RB Bryant Westbrook versus Patriot's cornerbacks

TE LJ Smith versus Patriot's Linebackers

Prepare for Jacksonville

15 straight wins. The league's best defense. Six pro-bowlers. The offensive rookie of the year. Two of the best runningbacks in the league. Home-field advantage. One of the NFL's best coaching staffs. Undefeated at Heinz Field. But none of that can't compete with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.

Just like the week before when the defending Super Bowl champions played the Indianapolis Colts, the Patriots did what no one thought they would do. They not only beat the best defense in the National Football League, they made them look completely foolish. It was a slaughtering. It was embarrassing. It was typical New England Patriots football.

Let's put the Steelers in the past now. The AFC Championship is over and we're going to the Super Bowl for the third time in four years. It's so over-used it could be a cliche, but in the time of free agency, that type of achievement is almost impossible.

There is no reason to celebrate yet. We still haven't won the Super Bowl. Though a lot of columnists are jumping the gun and saying the Patriots should win, it isn't over until the clock hits 0:00 and we have a defined winner. Remember Super Bowl XXXVI? The Patriots weren't supposed to beat the Rams, but they did.

The season comes down to one game in Jacksonville against the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Donovan McNabb, Bryant Westbrook, and Jeremiah Trotter are just some names that come to mind when you think the Eagles. Another? Terrell Owens. But according to Dr. Mark Myerson who looked at Owens' ankle recently, he shouldn't be playing but still might.

Owens came to Philadelphia for one reason: to win the Super Bowl. Depending on Owens' mindset and how Andy Reid (Philadelphia's head coach) wants to handle this situation, a border-line ankle might not keep Owens out of the Super Bowl. But how will Owens play, if he does play, with an ankle that isn't 100 percent? Only five receivers have gone over 100 yards receiving against the Patriots since Ty Law and Tyrone Poole have been out. That isn't many considering receivers have been lining up against Randall Gay, Earthwind Moreland and Troy Brown since week 8.

Owens isn't the story though. The story is the New England Patriots looking for their third ring in four years versus the Philadelphia Eagles who, previous to this season, have lost in three consecutive NFC Championship games. Can Philadelphia get over the hump? Or will New England cement their name in the history books?

Answers to all your questions come February 6th in the biggest game in professional sports.