This just in people: The New England Patriots did not lose to the Steelers, as the jaw-jacking back-up safety Anthony Smith so cleverly predicted. Oh, I’m sorry, guaranteed.
Not only did they once again step in the face of adversity and come out the winners, but they did so with the kind of confidence we have never seen. And what’s so wrong with that? When Tom Brady stepped toward Anthony Smith after his touchdown throw late in the game, he was met with onslaughts of insults from the Steelers defenders, as well as later criticism from reporters and people all around the league, calling him classless. Classless? Give me a break. These are the same Patriots who were abandoned by the NFL after the infamous “Spy Gate”, and now the league and everyone else is paying for it. That’s not classlessness. It’s payback.
I don’t think teams understand what they’re doing. And I don’t think reporters do, either. They’re waking a sleeping giant, and routinely pissing it off. This is an offense that is so potent with their air attack (Brady has 45 scores to 5 interceptions) that they don’t even bother mustering together a running game. And don’t buy into the thought that they can’t run it. Because they can. Take a look at the Green Bay Packers. They were moving the ball at will all year with Brett Favre until people started complaining they couldn’t win without a rush offense. What did they do? They started a little guy by the name of Ryan Grant and look where they are now (Grant leads the league in rushing since week 8).
So why don’t the Patriots follow suit and prove everyone wrong, that they can run the ball? Because it’s not sexy. It’s not as strong as throwing all over teams. It doesn’t light up the scoreboard. This team is coming from behind, winning close games, and blowing teams out. They’re doing what they want, when they want, and wherever they want to do it.
The other thing people are ignoring is that this isn’t all about Bill Belicheck and his disdain for the league and everyone else who labeled his hard working Super Bowl teams as possible cheaters. It’s not even about Tom Brady, who was a late round draft pick (which is enough reason to have a chip on your shoulder) and has been said to not have a great arm, or has supposedly benefited from being on great teams his entire career. And no people, it’s not about Randy Moss. Or Wes Welker. Or anyone else on the offense.
It’s about sticking it to the league, doubting fans, and disrespectful opponents. Even when teams like the Ravens or the Eagles get close but fall short, they can’t walk away and feel good about almost beating quite possibly the best team ever. They have to cry and complain about missed calls or bad calls. Because there’s no way they can blame themselves for losing to a team like that.
You don’t hear that from Tom Brady or any of the other Patriots. They’re not the ones starting the trash talking. They’re just the one’s finishing it. They’re the guy with his girlfriend at the bar, just trying to get through a game of darts and a beer before he heads home. But when some losers starts hitting on his girlfriend, how do you expect him to react?
These Patriots are not without class, folks. They are without patience. And as the season comes to a close, we will surely see that they also are without mercy.