2008 Woodie Awards
Another Superbowl Sunday means big things for Pats Fans
Matt O'Brien
Issue date: 2/5/05 Section: Sports
"They're the good-looking, cocky, confident blonde with an ample cleavage who just finished a modeling tour with Hawaiian Tropic. They say things like "I've never had a problem getting a date" and "Honey, if you think I'm worried about trash like you, you have another thing coming." They don't need to dress like a slut. They don't need to flash anyone on the dance floor. They refuse to kiss the trophy until all the other contestants are eliminated. They're just grinding out the date, acting like pros, avoiding any turnovers and expecting to get chosen in the end. And if you trash-talk them, you end up paying for it." - Bill Simmons "The Sports Guy", ESPN.com page 2
If you are not a fan of the Patriots, then you hate them. Not because they are a dislikable group, but because you are flat out jealous of what they have accomplished. Good luck trying to bash them, because you won't come up with very much. Since their dream ending to the 2001 season, the Patriots have dominated the National Football League like no other team in the modern era. Two Super Bowl victories, a 33-3 record since an opening 31-0 loss to Buffalo to start the 2003 season, and on the brink of a dynasty if they can defeat the Eagles Sunday in Jacksonville on Sunday in Super Bowl XXXVIV.
After last season when the Pats rolled off 15 straight wins on way to their second Super Bowl title in three years, it wasn't enough to convince the criticizers. People accused them of not dominating enough, saying that their coach was the most valuable player on the team. They weren't really that talented. Belichick just ran defensive schemes that always seemed to shut down the opposing offense. It seemed like a blizzard hit Foxboro every time that there was a big time playoff game. Every call seemed to go their way. Luck was on their side, again. They were going to have to prove themselves all over in 2004-05.
Not only did they maintain their core coming into 2004, but they also went out and got an All-Pro caliber running back in Corey Dillon to turn their biggest perceived weaknesses into one of their many strengths. They beat the Colts in week one on a Thursday night to begin their dynasty campaign. They won their first six games, breaking the NFL record for most consecutive wins. After they lost to the Steelers in week eight (without Dillon), they were supposedly exposed. Pittsburgh was suddenly the team to beat, and Peyton Manning and the Colts were getting all sorts of buzz while running up big numbers against the league's weakest teams.
If you are not a fan of the Patriots, then you hate them. Not because they are a dislikable group, but because you are flat out jealous of what they have accomplished. Good luck trying to bash them, because you won't come up with very much. Since their dream ending to the 2001 season, the Patriots have dominated the National Football League like no other team in the modern era. Two Super Bowl victories, a 33-3 record since an opening 31-0 loss to Buffalo to start the 2003 season, and on the brink of a dynasty if they can defeat the Eagles Sunday in Jacksonville on Sunday in Super Bowl XXXVIV.
After last season when the Pats rolled off 15 straight wins on way to their second Super Bowl title in three years, it wasn't enough to convince the criticizers. People accused them of not dominating enough, saying that their coach was the most valuable player on the team. They weren't really that talented. Belichick just ran defensive schemes that always seemed to shut down the opposing offense. It seemed like a blizzard hit Foxboro every time that there was a big time playoff game. Every call seemed to go their way. Luck was on their side, again. They were going to have to prove themselves all over in 2004-05.
Not only did they maintain their core coming into 2004, but they also went out and got an All-Pro caliber running back in Corey Dillon to turn their biggest perceived weaknesses into one of their many strengths. They beat the Colts in week one on a Thursday night to begin their dynasty campaign. They won their first six games, breaking the NFL record for most consecutive wins. After they lost to the Steelers in week eight (without Dillon), they were supposedly exposed. Pittsburgh was suddenly the team to beat, and Peyton Manning and the Colts were getting all sorts of buzz while running up big numbers against the league's weakest teams.