Close To The Edge

Seasons will pass you by... Yes (pun intended), Messrs. Anderson and Howe, indeed they will. Our New England Patriots have had the 2007 season pass them by. They have gone undefeated, and now, here we stand, Close To The Edge. Those previous 18 games mean nothing now, because come Sunday, only one thing matters. Only one thing can validate what has come before it. Victory.

When (yes, I said when) the New England Patriots win their 4th Super Bowl in 7 years this weekend, I do not believe that anyone could deny them the title of The Greatest Team In The History Of The NFL. They will become the only team in the Super Bowl Era to go 19-0. Statistically, they will have beaten a much tougher schedule than the 17-0 1972 Miami Dolphins, and will join them as to be the only 2 undefeated teams in league history. The historical significance of this, coupled with the Patriots sheer dominance of the 21st Century, marks something perhaps not seen in sports since Jordan's Bulls. Or to more accurately reflect a team's dominance relative to the era in which it played, the Boston Celtics run of 11 Championships in 13 years from 1957-69. No matter how you look at it, clearly we are watching a team that will be forever considered one of the greatest of all time.

You'll note I've refrained from mentioning a single name here, and that is deliberate. I have taken my drink of the Kool-Aid and will remain true to the mantra that echoes from the halls in Foxborough. This is a team, through and through, 53 men deep, plus coaches, co-ordinators, trainers and everyone else whose contribution, no matter how large or how small, has propelled them to this high, very high indeed, pedestal. Come Monday, I will regale you with tales of individual greatness within the larger team greatness, but for now, Patriots Nation, we are One.

My superstition when it comes to sports is well documented, and I'll reveal now it is just that superstition which has kept these pages dark over the last month plus. How could I, as a self-repecting sports blogger, post anything without uttering the "U" word over that span? I surely could not. So just as we never uttered "no-hitter" while Clay Buchholz was on the mound back on September 1st, I did not dare post about it until it had come to pass. Now, it is all about validation. What has been done has been done, seasons will pass you by. I GET UP!!!!!!

And finally, predictions being that which serves to hold open the door for me to say "remember, you heard it here first", here you go: Patriots 37 - Giants 21.


Next week we'll look at the continuing journey towards The Greatest Year In Boston Sports History. Until then, I leave you with the following, which perhaps portends what we will see come late Sunday night. With thanks to the aforementioned prog-rockers:

Sad courage claimed the victims standing still for all to see
As armoured movers took approach to overlook the sea
There since the cord, the license, or the reasons we understood will be.




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