2004 NFL Playoffs Preview
As Patriots fans we have witnessed a four season run of the most incredible football this league has ever seen. We've seen a young star rise to greatness. We've watched an old star fade away. We saw our team captain get cut. We said goodbye to our old stadium in the middle of a snow storm. We opened our new one as champions. We've been swept away on a 21 game winning streak. We've watched in awe as our kicker won us two Super Bowls in the final seconds. If this were a sports movie, everyone would criticize it for being too unrealistic. After all, if you told me all that happened to this point at the beginning of the 2001 season, I would have never believed you. I still can't really grasp how one of the most pathetic franchises in this league's history goes from bottom feeding one day, to being the premiere franchise in all of sports the next.
This team is a story for the ages. It's one I'll be telling my grandchildren years from now. And I could think of no better way to end it, than with a win in Jacksonville on February 3rd. That would give this team their third title in four years, something that's only been accomplished once before. It would also inarguably establish this this team as a true dynasty. It would forever cement their place in the annals of football as the greatest team of their era. It's something that's very important to me as a fan, and something that I'm sure is important to every player in the Patriots locker room. Off the top of my head I can't tell you who won Super Bowl XIII, but if I hear someone mention the 70's I automatically think of the Steelers. It's the same for the 80's and the 49ers and the 90's and the Cowboys. Thirty years from now I want people to hear 2000 and think New England Patriots.
If that subconscious correlation is to appear in the minds of football fans, the Patriots must find a way to make it to Jacksonville and claim the Lombardi Trophy once again. The three games needed to win that trophy are in essence their date with destiny. The Patriots are not simply playing to win a championship, they are playing to earn a legacy. And it will take everything they have within them to claim it. The AFC has never been stronger. They have never been as injured heading into the postseason. In all probability, they will have to defeat a quarterback who just completed the greatest season in history with a patchwork secondary. They will then have to face an undefeated quarterback in the stadium where their 21 game winning streak was snapped. That game will be followed by a clash with the NFC Champion who will be undoubtedly fired up at their shot of dethroning the defending world champions. All in all, it promises to be a grueling three games, if they can even make it that far.
Their two best defenders may be injured. Their coordinators may be distracted. Their offensive players may have to play defense and vice versa. Their chances of repeating may be slim. But as long as my coach is Bill Belichick, my quarterback is Tom Brady, and my kicker is Adam Vinatieri, I'll take any chances I can get.
Thanks for an amazing season!
Pre-Season Predictions:
NFC: Vikings, Rams, Panthers, Cowboys, Redskins, Saints
Results: 1/6 ...Ouch! But I did call the Seahawks wouldn't be a super-power, that T.O. would find a way to screw things up, and the Panthers and Saints were right there.
AFC: Patriots, Colts, Chiefs, Bengals, Jets, Jaguars
Results: 3/6 A little better. Nobody saw the Steelers and Chargers coming. And the Jags were also right there at the end.
Total Results: 4/12 = 33.3% - Ok, so I'm no genius. It's true that if I jumped on the Eagles and Seahawks bandwagon like everybody else I'd have a better rating. But they were just as wrong in assuming that they would finish as serious title contenders. And the Panters, Saints, and Jaguars were right there at the end. So that 33.3% is a little deceiving. Let's see if I can go 11 for 11 in the playoffs...
Predictions:
NFC PLAYOFFS:
Wildcard Round:
Packers over Vikings, Rams over Seahawks
Divisional Round:
Packers over Falcons, Eagles over Rams
NFC Championship:
Packers over Eagles
AFC PLAYOFFS:
Wildcard Round:
Colts over Broncos, Chargers over Jets
Divisional Round:
Patriots over Colts, Steelers over Chargers
AFC Championship
Patriots over Steelers
SUPERBOWL XXXIX:
Patriots over Packers
A Super Bowl XXXI rematch. I've been waiting VIII years for this!
