Pigskin Destiny

Are the 2025 New England Patriots a team of pigskin destiny?

Those of us who live east of the Connecticut River tend to think of luck as a bad thing. This is the land of witches and curses and headless horsemen. And whether we'll admit it or not, we believe in those witches and curses and headless horsemen. For New Englanders, it isn't often that the words "good" and "luck" cross the synaptic void of our amygdala-driven lives into the same sentence. 

But here we are.

Not only did our pigskin heroes face an historically weak schedule on the way to a 14-3-0 record and #2 seed in the playoffs, but along that yellow brick road, they had their share of fortune's favors. They won a game when the kicker they cut out of training camp missed an extra point (besting the Falcons 24-23). Several times they faced a team missing key players with significant injuries (the Bucs missing all their starting wide receivers, the Bengals missing Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase) and while the Texans make their money on defense, it looks like the Patriots catch another break this Sunday as the Texans will be without their leading receiver, Nico Collins.

On top of that, it's looking like a snow game in Foxborough this Sunday, which could help slow down Houston's vaunted pass rush, negating the Texans' signature strength and the reason why some pigskin pundits and bobbleheads are picking Houston to win. I do think too much is made of changes in the weather, no matter how extreme (h/t Bob Dylan), but we do have a southern, dome team traveling to New England to play outside, like the trad kids of trad moms used to do. Is it enough to tip the field to the Patriots advantage? Probably not but I will say this: I live here and I don't want to go outside in this weather. Also, Chaos Theory argues that a single snowflake will make a difference in the outcome. But that's math, and math never beats magic.

It does seem unlikely the Fates would choose the New England Patriots as their team of destiny. They've historically backed the underdog and a team with six Lombardi Trophies that was once coached by Darth Hoodie and featured Tom Terrific at QB for two decades hardly qualifies.

Or maybe…

Maybe this is a tragedy and the only question left is how high the Gridiron Gods will lift up my Pigskin Heroes before their flaws finally become fatal, and they are made fortune's fools. On national television.

This Sunday? 

The AFC Championship? 

The Super Bowl?

Losing the Super Bowl sucks so hard.

What if the Fates are actually demons? 

I told you it was hard for New Englanders to think good thoughts.

Deep breath. Hold. Exhale.

Yeah. It's just a football game.

Isn't it?

Go Pats!