The New England Patriots lost something the final month or so of the season. The steam in the Patriots' engine, the one that rolled NFL opposition like they were junior varsity the first batch of the NFL calendar, slowed down to where the rest of the NFL caught them in their sights, finally overtaking them a minute from perfection.

This New England Patriots team will go down as the team that "almost." Almost was perfect. Almost was 19-0. Almost won the Super Bowl. It looked for all the world like they had done it again, striking with just over two minutes left from Tom Brady to Randy Moss. The New York Giants bid farewell to the Patriots best-laid plans with a wicked, Elway-sian drive to crack the goose-egg in the Patriots loss column that had been hatched around Labor Day.

History will not look kindly on these New England Patriots, I can just feel it. The venom NFL fans spewed at the Patriots when Eli Manning registered a comeback for the ages, speaks of a team that was too arrogant for our American tastes. Our people are one of, "Be good...great even, but don't forget where you come from." The American public just loves watching underdogs peeling that kind of arrogance off that kind of team, very slowly, layer by layer.

These Patriots smelled of not remembering where they came from. Tom Brady, the untouchable quarterback with supermodel girlfriend. Randy Moss, a year removed from exile, slowly returning to obnoxious form at times, and Bill Belichick, Spygate guru. Coach-could you not have waited another five seconds before going off the field?

18-1 forever, steam running out one minute short of perfection.

Source: www.isnare.com