The best seat in the house is the view from the couch

Can we just call the Patriots a dynasty right now? This will be their third Super Bowl in seven years, second in the last three (Take that Jets fans, and by "Jets fans", I of course mean my buddy Vinny "The Chin").

But it's not just the fact that they're going to the big one. Every fan in New England has truly opened their hearts to this team. Had they lost today's game, no one would have faulted them for it. The Patriots always look like they're having fun, and the fans get to truly enjoy every moment of every game because the players are enjoying every moment of every game. We've all had a hell of a ride, and there's just one stop left.

When the Pats win, it's kinda like everyone is validated for another week. We all wish and hope so much for the team to do well, so that we can claim "I was a fan when...". Each win brings us closer to our ultimate goal of claiming membership in a championship fan club. More importantly, it brings every fan closer to every other fan. In New York, fans pelted players on both teams with snowballs. In New England, they gleefully threw them into the air in celebration of big plays. Every fan is turned back into a 10-year old kid idealogically and innoccently rooting for their favorite team or player every Sunday afternoon. And with this team, with this group of guys, we really feel like we, as fans, have accomplished something with them. We all know, no one likes to lose. And what this Pats team has done since late September has really lifted the city of Boston and all of New England to new heights.

The 2001 edition of the Patriots were special and unique to that time. They were the underdogs. No one gave them any respect. They were always fighting for their collective lives. Remember, two weeks into that season, 9/11 shocked everyone. I'm not about to truly compare a football season to a terrorist attack that took over 5000 innocent lives and its aftermath. But the Patriots' season from that point on really was a metaphor for the entire country at that time, at least for me.

Remember that in the first game back from the tragedy, the Pats played their bitter rivals the Jets at home, and were stunned when they lost their franchise player, their star QB, with a vicious hit that really came out of nowhere. Enter a much more innocent, untested player by the name of Tom Brady. He burst onto the scene as a complete unknown, and he left it on top of the football world, as a Super Bowl Champion and MVP. The whole season after Drew Bledsoe went down was of coming from behind, picking themselves up by their bootstraps and fighting through it all.

But this year's team, well they had expectations all season long. Last year was a disappointing year, a year when they were exposed, and perhaps a little complacent after their stunning Super Bowl win, much like the Buccaneers were this year.

Aside from the surprise release of Lawyer Milloy, there really haven't been too many times when, going into a game, Pats fans were worried. Nothing phases the team or their fans. In fact, the Redskins game was given away by the Pats more than it was lost. No real reason why the Patriots elected to go for it on 4th down rather than kick a game-tying field goal well within Viniateri's range. That may have been the only time that Patriots fans were disappointed by their team. But that was then.

Since late September, every game the Patriots play in they are expected to win. Or at least keep it close. I'm watching the NFC championship game right now, and I can't see any reason for the Pats to not be at least 6 point favorites come gameday. This team has found a place in every New Englander's heart. It took the anguish of Game 7 and wiped it clear to the back of everyone's memory. Honestly, before I just said Game 7, when was the last time you thought about it?

This Patriots team, win or lose, has done more for this region than any team before them. Now, with one more showing like today's, we'll all be winners, if only in team spirit.

posted by Big D @ 1:00 AM