It won’t.
You don’t believe me, dear reader. You’re convinced the Patriots’ run was unprecedented (save the Dolphins perfect season in 1972). You cannot imagine how the Patriots will be forgotten.
Give it time; they will. This has happened before.
Let me take you back to 1934. The Chicago Bears were 13-0. They had Beattie Feathers, the first running back in league history to rush for 1,000 yards in one season – averaging nearly 10 yards a carry (Hickok). They had the famous Bronco Nagurski. They were the defending league champions. They only had to defeat the 8-5 New York Giants in the NFL Championship game - and for three quarters on an icy Polo Grounds field, they were doing just that.
However, the Giants had one advantage – equipment manager Abe Cohen had borrowed several pairs of sneakers from Manhattan College’s basketball team. The sneakers arrived in the Polo Grounds by halftime; by the fourth quarter, the Giants’ advantage led to four touchdowns and a 30-13 upset (NFL history).
To the extent the game os remembered at all, it is known as the Great Sneakers Game. Hardly anyone mentions the Bears’ perfect regular season. Ditto the 1942 Bears, who went 11-0 in the regular season but lost the NFL Championship game to the Washington Redskins (John Troan).
And this Super Bowl? Plenty will remember the massive spread, Eli’s ungodly pass to David Tyree, the Giants’ defense, and the second Manning brother to win a title in two years. In time – a long time, yes, but in time – the “perfect season” will fade from view, and the Patriots will become just another Super Bowl loser.
What’s the opposite of immortality? Mortality. The memory of the Patriots 2007 season will grow old and die. Only the Giants will live forever (or as long as the NFL does).
February 4, 2008 at 12:16 am |
This defeat is an example how the NFL competition system has failed. The Pats just beat the Giants not so long ago and Giants is a poor team. NFL will share the same fate like NBA, where in a near future European NFL team will beat the hell out American NFL team.
The New York media attacking the Patriots just before the Super Bowl is SHAMEFUL. The Patriots is unfairly and deliberately being accused of nothing just before the Superbowl which must have caused the balance of the team and coach.
Giants is a poor team. For me Pats is the true Champion. The NFL system is as flawed as the US Election system. where Obama and Mc Cain can become the front runner.
February 4, 2008 at 12:23 am |
herbi,
With all due respect, you are a moron.
February 4, 2008 at 1:24 pm |
Herbi,
Basically, you are saying that the losing team was the winner. I am confused…how can this happen? The New York Giants won, and they proved worthy of the Super Bowl trophy. You are a sore loser by not letting the Patriots loss drop…it is just a game.