This One's Optimistic

We could start with the obvious. 12-2-0. The #1 seed in the AFC is theirs to lose. Tom Brady. Rob Gronkowski. That defense. They can rest Devin McCourty, Julian Edelman, Dont'a Hightower, Danny Amendola and Patrick Chung (five starters!) until the playoffs and still win out because Bill Belichick is always roster building.

I mean… Akiem Hicks? Joey Iosefa? Who? What? I'm already looking forward to Leonard Hankerson's first TD catch. And Steven Jackson's first 100-yard rushing game.

 

This week's game against the Jets is hardly a gimme but Ryan Fitzpatrick is bound to regress to his interception-throwing mean at some point so, why not this Sunday? This is a big game for the suddenly out of the playoffs Jets so Fitzpatrick could be pressing just a bit. Okay, wishful thinking on my part but not exactly beyond the realm of pigskin possibilities, either.

I always want to see the Patriots beat the Jets but I'm torn. The math says the Patriots will have the #1 seed with just one more win and – I know, I promised not to take anything for granted – Week 17 in Miami is a mortal lock. The Dolphins are done. They've bought plane tickets, booked their hotels and their bags are packed. So part of me doesn't want to see Hightower, Amendola, McCourty, Edelman or Chung this Sunday unless they're in street clothes on the sideline. Another part of me wants to see the Patriots beat the Jets.

I'd really like to see the Pats knock the Jets out of the playoffs without Hightower, Amendola, McCourty, Edelman and Chung. Hankerson and Jackson as instant folk heroes? Yes, please. Mostly, I'd like to see New England return from the Meadowlands without any more sprained knees (or worse).

This is why they hate us…

For the last six years, the Pats have finished as the #1 or #2 seed in the AFC playoffs. Six years! That's a lifetime in the NFL. Once again, assuming everyone gets healthy, New England is positioned for a Super Bowl run. 

Tom Brady is having another great year, one that we'll put in the discussion as 2007, 2010 and 2011. I know. 50 TD is a pretty strong argument for 2007 as is 5K in passing yards in 2011 but I like the 2010 season. 36 TD and just 4 INT. Nice. Tidy. More human than human.

Now in the midst of his 38th trip around the sun, Brady's  averaging a career-high 40.9 attempts per game. He's thrown for 35 TD with 6 INT; the 6 picks would be the 2nd best mark of his first ballot Hall of Fame career. This is the seventh time he's passed for over 4,000 yards – and his fifth year in a row. Left tackle goes down, electric 3rd down scat-back goes down, starting best friend wide receiver goes down, bell-cow running back goes down, starting All Planet TE goes down… Brady keeps getting it done.

Also good that Gronk came back as quickly as he did, of course.

How cool has it been being a football fan in New England over the last fifteen years? Total epic-level coolness, that's how cool. I'm getting a little pigskin woody just thinking about it. A shot at back-to-back Super Bowl wins. If the Patriots stumble in the playoffs I will feel sorry for the players but I won't feel sorry for myself. It's been better than growing up in Baltimore rooting for Johnny Unitas. Better than growing up in Wisconsin rooting for Lombardi's Packers. Okay, as good as, whatever. It's been one hell of a ride and it ain't over yet. So best.

Why players have Pro Bowl bonuses in their contracts…

The Patriots, as befits a 12-2-0 team, have put their stank on the Pro Bowl, with Brady, Gronk, Chandler Jones, Jamie Collins (a bit of a surprise, given how many games he missed), Malcolm Butler, Matthew Slater and Stephen Gostkowski.

Overall, sounds about right.

Getting way ahead of myself now…

My preferred Super Bowl opponents for the Patriots are…  

#1) Seattle Seahawks

To show the last one wasn't a fluke. I'd prefer a blowout this time. The last one was a stress test without doctor supervision. I'd like this one to be more like a hot stone massage. It's on my bucket list. Not the hot stone massage; a Patriots blowout win in the Super Bowl.

#2) Carolina Panthers

If undefeated. If Riverboat Ron rests his starters Week 17 and the Panthers lose then never mind. But if they're undefeated it's only fitting, perhaps even poetic, New England should end Carolina's bid for a perfect season. Songs would be written, busts cast in bronze, movies would be turned into books.

#3) New York Giants

Are they still mathematically in the hunt for the NFC East? Just once I'd like to see the Patriots beat these guys in a Super Bowl. This isn't going to happen, is it? Too bad.