In my column two weeks ago, I espoused the Pats as the "correct" team for the neutral fan to cheer on to victory.
In the weeks since, I vacillated back and forth between staunch belief in my pro-Pats position and fundamentally questioning its validity. What guided me to a final decision, however, was simple logic. As a disinterested fan, it behooves me to root for the team that simply cannot be beat -- the Patriots. It pains me to take this position, because I'm normally an "underdog" fan who derives a good deal of satisfaction from rooting for those who have the odds stacked against them. However, in this case, I don't see a point in getting amped up for a Giants victory that is not, under any circumstances, going to happen.
When I try to pin down the factors that guarantee a Patriots win, I find two broad reasons.
First off, as we all know, the amount of firepower the Pats bring to the table is unprecedented and unparalleled. Though this argument seems to prune when countered with evidence to the contrary (the Pats haven't dominated either of their playoff games), the Pats' surplus of mega-talent, along with the Chargers and Jaguars lack thereof, is the reason they are the AFC's lone remaining team.
Secondly, certain inevitable destinies exist in sports. There are times when, given the stage and implications, great teams are unable to fail. I can think of a few good examples from the past -- the '72 Dolphins, the Bulls during Jordan's final season with the franchise and the list goes on.
The Patriots are a superb organization -- one that is a cut above not only the rest of the NFL, but all professional sports leagues. They derive this status as paragons from the excellence they possess from top to bottom -- from players, to coaches, to executives. Unless you're a Giants fan, if you're under the impression the G-Men have a chance, you're sadly mistaken. And yeah, it sucks that one team was so much better than the others this year, but that's just the way it is.
After the Pats' victory on Sunday, perhaps the rest of the NFL can take a page out of their book and do a little catching up.
Now enjoy the game -- even though you already know the outcome.
