New England Patriots - "My Team"

From day one of the season, all I got was crap about the Patriots from everyone.  Sitting in Giant's Stadium watching the pre-season game in my Brady jersey I was heckled by drunk slobs about "getting lucky", "one-year wonders" and other garbage.  Truth be told, I would've been fine losing all 16 games this season because last year was so amazing.  But I knew this team was better than anyone gave them credit for, and they proved me right by winning the first three games.  My playoff prediction seemed like a lock, and my new cries of 16-0 were justified.  And if any of you think I'm an idiot, think again.  The Pats were 8-0 when scoring 21 points or more this season.  I think expecting the Super Bowl Champs to put the ball in the end zone 3 times in 60 minutes isn't that far fetched.  But alas, the Patriots quickly fell into "Championship-itis" and stopped playing with heart just like the Avs did last year (I hate that).  At 3-4 we looked dead in the water, but this team proved why they were the Champions and got to 8-5.  As I said three weeks ago, and I was right, winning two of the last three would give us a playoff spot.  But that just didn't happen.  With the drop in pressure came a drop of intensity and disaster ensued.  With those final four minutes on the clock against Miami, it was the first time I admitted defeat all season. After the loss to the Titans, I wrote an article about how I love the Patriots and have to watch them even when the game is a blow-out.  Well, by playing with such lack of heart against the Jets, the Pats had brought me to the breaking point and I shut off the television with two minutes remaining.  The Patriots had one more chance to earn my respect against the Phins. 

We were on a family vacation yesterday, and I couldn't get the game on TV in Pennsylvania.  I was pretty mad at that, but finally found the game on the radio.  And so I sat in the car in a parking lot across the street from Tony Wang's Chinese Restaurant for three hours and listened.  When the four-minute mark struck I thought it was over.  Another heart-less loss - A shameful end to a Post-Championship season - Nothing but justifiable mockery from my friends on the horizon.  And then something happened.  I'd like to think the players used the finals specks of last year's supply of "magic dust" and sprinkled them on their jerseys.  The Patriots came alive.  The heart of a champion had blood rushing through it one last time.  A touchdown.  A two point conversion.  The Pats had put up their 21 points, coupling their 7-0 mark when scoring that much with the then 4-0 record when I listened on the radio.  My head was spinning, my heart was racing.  I kept yelling to the Pats "Don't do this to me!"  "Don't do this to me!".  My hopes had been raised, but there was still three points unaccounted for.  In what was one of the worst coaching decision in history, Dave Wannestadt threw the ball twice instead of going to Ricky Williams which gave us the ball back with plenty of time to kick a field goal and send it into overtime!

The Pats won the toss and the rest is history.  Adam Vinatieri once again drove the ball through the uprights to end what was a truly amazing season.  I must have looked like a fool to anyone walking through that parking lot, sitting in a Ford Focus screaming my head off.  But I didn't care.  If only for a moment, my Patriots were once again on top of the world.  By the time we got close enough home to tune into WFAN the Jets were leading 35-17 with six minutes to go.  The Patriots season was over.  But on the bright side, so was the Dolphins'.  Go ahead and laugh that the Patriots didn't make the playoffs.  We had just as good a record as some teams made it, and even beat some teams that are in.  Have all the fun you want mocking us because we lost the best-record-against-common-opponent tie-breaker.  I really don't care.  As Phil Collins' "Swing Low" echoed through my CD player, I reflected on the past 17 weeks, and came to this conclusion.  If we couldn't have the Super Bowl, this was how I would have wanted it to end.  You see, for 11 of the 12 playoff participants, the season is ending in disappointment - Not so for the Patriots.  Our season ended with fourth best game I've ever experienced with this team.  Pretty good considering the top three all happened last year. 

And so the Patriots and I graciously take a bow and wish the best to the remaining twelve.  It's most likely going to be an Oakland-Philly rematch since they've been the only ones barely consistent this year.  I'll pick the Raiders to win it.  But I'm rooting for a Jets-Giants game in San Diego.  Jets, congrats on taking the division.  Glad we could help you out by knocking down the Dolphins.  After all, we owed you for the 18 times you helped us out last year anyway.  And so in a shocker, I'm exchanging the stars and stripes for green and white over the next few weeks. I'll back up my I.C.G. and pull for his boys.  I had my vindication yesterday, and I'm content with that. I can't begin to write any words worthy to close the Patriots Championship with, so I'll just take the easy road and turn to Phil.  Thanks to "My Team" for an unforgettable season.

Day after day watching it grow, counting the time
In each and every way the pleasure is mine
Through all of the high times
Through all of the low times
The farther we reach, the farther we see
The farther we go...