The 2007 Patriots: Boston's Emotional Rollercoaster Of a Season

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Every media outlet, all day, simply dissects the two Super Bowl bound teams and offers their predictions on what will occur.  The Patriots were established at a 13.5 point favorite to win this game.  I do my best to avoid the Super Bowl interviews and analyses when my team is there, but unfortunately, I did happen to catch a few. 

“We’re only going to score 17 points?”  Why Tom, why?  That rebuttal statement to Plaxico Burress’ comments killed me inside. 

To me, this simply told the world that the Patriots were overconfident.  Not only were the Giants playing with a chip on their shoulder, being a NFC wild card team running the table, but Brady, the leader, the hero, the face of the Patriot franchise, was letting it be known that the team had become so confident that they felt that they were almost guaranteed a win.  I tend to overreact, so don’t completely antagonize me for believing in Brady’s overconfidence. 

The night before the Super Bowl, I could not sleep.  I was not surprised with this, as I really did not have faith in winning the big game even though every Patriot fan in the world was confident, and the media was picking the Patriots to be the landslide victors. 

As always, I put on my home authentic Laurence Maroney jersey and headed down to my favorite bar.  I always, always watch important games in solitude because I tend to throw things and scream obscenities for the most miniscule botched block. 

I am not a superstitious person, but we had gone 18-0 at this point, and, with the exception of the Bills game over Thanksgiving break, I had been at the same bar in Syracuse for every other game on our march to perfection. 

Before the game, I shook every Giants fan’s hand in the bar, with a cautious smile on my face.

After the game, I shook every Giants fan’s hand in the bar, with tears pouring out of my eyes. 

That night, I did not get a wink of sleep.

One year later, to the day, I borrowed my friend’s video copy of Super Bowl XLII and took out my pad of notes. 

I once again read all the great memories that I and the rest of Patriots’ nation got to share with the team in 2007.  I then turned the page and pressed play on the DVD player. 

Two hours and twenty three minutes later, I had double the number of pages I had written about the good times.  I scribbled down every missed block, tackle, and mistake the Patriots had committed during that game.  It felt good.  It was like taking a load off my chest. 

The 2007 Patriots were a team that I had never experienced in my life before. 

I felt as though I was a part of the team.  I felt that I had personally experienced the success, hatred, and envy which the franchise surely felt during their campaign to near perfection. 

Likewise, I experienced their Super Bowl defeat, like I, myself, had been defeated.  I have never felt such an emotional attachment to a team, nor do I ever expect to feel such an emotional attachment again.  

The personal emotional toll is simply too much.

The Red Sox are champions.  The Celtics don’t look half bad. The Patriots? Next year maybe.

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