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A couple weeks ago, after the NFL divisional championships, I ran into a friend and our conversation fell, of course, to the upcoming Super Bowl.
"I don't have anyone to cheer for," my friend groused.
The vestiges of 18-0 euphoria hadn't worn off for me yet, so I didn't give much thought to our conversation for a few more days, but once I considered my friend's comments, I realized he had a good point.
This year's Super Bowl prospects have to be pretty drab for the Pacific Northwest, especially following Seattle's bitter defeat in the bitter cold at Green Bay during round two of the playoffs. Unless you hail from the Northeast or have adopted one of the teams, is there much of a reason to watch the game?
But before you give up on the Super Bowl completely, take a few moments to consider the following.
First and foremost, think about the historical implications of this game. It's been 36 years since the Miami Dolphins played their undefeated season, and since the NFL increased the number of regular season games from 14 to 16 in 1978, no team has gone 19-0.
Until now.
The New England Patriots stand on the cusp of that history, one game away from perfection. A loss now would be a tragedy.
They've shown themselves to be a highly versatile team, nurturing a powerhouse defense and arguably the best offense in the NFL. Moreover, the dynamics within the team itself are incredible. When the defense has a bad game, the offense can step up and compensate and visa versa. The Patriots are easily one of the best disciplined teams in the league and this discipline shines every time the team steps onto the field.
After all, the Pats have shattered record after record throughout the season. They're currently the NFL's top scoring team (589 regular season points), boast the quarterback with the highest number of touchdown passes (Tom Brady - 50) and the wide receiver with the most touchdown receptions (Randy Moss - 23).
And while the Pats are currently 12 point favorites in Sunday's game, don't discount the New York Giants. If the allure of history isn't enough of a reason to watch, what about the potential for the biggest upset since the Miracle on Ice?
Or at least since Appalachian State beat Michigan back in September.
The Giants are the little team that could, overcoming a miserable 0-2 start to clinch a coveted NFC wild-card spot. And once they hit the playoffs, they've been unstoppable, becoming the first team to topple a No. 1 NFC seed in the second round in 17 years. They've continually defied the experts' expectations and are 10-0 on the road.
The Giants also have the distinction of being the only team to score more than 30 points on the Patriots defense this year. The Pats-Giants rematch is another reason to tune in to the game. The first time these two met in late December, the Giants nearly brought the Pats' pursuit of perfection to a grinding halt, leading the game well into the third quarter. How appropriate that the Giants once again stand in the way of the Pats' quest for 19-0.
Both their quarterbacks define these teams, and the showdown between the pair alone ought to be enough to flip on the game.
The Pats' Brady is the league's Golden Boy, a record-breaking phenomenon with an incredible arm. His passer rating for the season was 117.2; the NFL average is 83.5. He averaged about 300 yards per game and led the league with 4806 yards for the season, well over the NFL average - 1388 yards. Perhaps most impressive of all is his record in the Super Bowl: 3-0.
Not bad for a sixth-round draft pick.
The Giants' Eli Manning is a bit more of an enigma, a quarterback who can throw 34 incomplete passes one game and look like his brother, the Colts' Peyton Manning, the next. Though he lacks Brady's ability, Manning is a capable quarterback.
Assuming that he doesn't get the yips in his first trip to the Super Bowl.
So, you see, though most of the country is sadly underrepresented in the Super Bowl, there are still several reasons to watch the game. If the Pats win, you'll have a great story to tell the grand kids. And if they don't, you might have an even better story.
Of course, if you still aren't convinced, there's always Tom Petty and the commercials.
