On the verge of greatness

One more to go and I think it's safe to say you could call the 2007 New England Patriots the greatest team ever.

Once again the Patriots failed to cover the spread (14 points) when they beat the San Diego Chargers 21-12, but the AFC Championship game showed why the Patriots have won 18 games this season. Their defense stopped the Chargers from scoring a touchdown the entire game and even though Patriots QB Tom Brady had an off day (he threw 3 INTs, the most he's thrown in a game all season), the team still found a way to win.

And for most of the season, the Patriots did not use their running game often because their passing game was so effective. But now in the playoffs where defenses are at their best, the Patriots have begun using their running game more (RB Laurence Maroney has had two consecutive 100+ yard games), which only adds to their arsenal and gives something else for opposition defensive coordinators to try and figure out.

The bottom line is that this is not a one-dimension team, and that's why they are undefeated.

Give the Chargers credit, though ... their QB, Philip Rivers, was playing on a bad knee and most people didn't think he would start yesterday, let alone play the entire game. It was a gritty performance, but not enough to overcome the Patriots at Razor Blade Stadium.

Meanwhile in the NFC, I was absolutely shocked to see this morning that the NY Giants beat the Green Bay Packers to advance to the Super Bowl. Going to bed last night at half-time of the NFC Championship game, I was sure Brett Farve et. al. were going to win. Wow. A very tight game for 60 minutes and the two teams go into overtime tied at 20 ... and the Packers win the coin toss ... and then Farve throws an INT which leads the Giants to kick the game-winning figgie. Amazing.

So, it's the Patriots and the Giants in Arizona on Feb. 3. I like the Patriots chances for two reasons: Bill Belichick has a habit of learning well from the team's mistakes when facing an opponent for the second time (especially in the same season) so you know he and the team will study every second of the last game of the regular season with a microscope. Also, the Giants have proven that they go the way their QB, Eli "The Other" Manning goes ... he has a bad game, the Giants don't stand a chance. And if the Patriots' D continues to play the way they have in the playoffs, then Eli won't know what hit him.

Should be fun!