http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/getty/2007/09000d5d804876b9_gallery_600.jpgFOXBOROUGH, MA – The New England Patriots are headed back to the Super Bowl.

The Pats (14-0) announced Monday that they have accepted an invitation to play in the National Football League’s finale for the sixth time in franchise history.

“We are elated to land a team of New England’s caliber,” said David Saunders, Super Bowl spokesman. “Normally Super Bowl teams are determined through the NFL’s playoff system, but we wanted to make sure we locked the Patriots up, and, to be frank, did not see a need to delay the inevitable.”

New England will play an opponent from the NFL’s National Football Conference. The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers are believed to be the top contenders.

“Our entire team is excited to be headed to Arizona to win another ring,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said.

“The Super Bowl is a game made up of four quarters, fifteen minutes each,” added head coach Bill Belichick, appearing visibly irritated by the media presence. “The team with the most points is the team that wins.”

Not everyone was enthusiastic about the decision, however.

“I think the move is crap,” said Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning from the team’s practice facility. “New England has a fine football team, but to not even give us a shot to get back to the Super Bowl is a real kick in the groin.”

Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward is rumored to also disagree with the move, although onlookers at Steelers practice Monday only noticed him grinning creepily from ear to ear.

Super Bowl XLII is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2008, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.