The New England Patriots are in the Super Bowl. That sentence makes my stomach drop. How many times have we heard that line over the last two decades? Nine. That’s how many. After Tom Brady moved on and Bill Belichick traded the NFL out for college, I thought we were done. Unfortunately, that is not the case, and as a fan of the Indianapolis Colts, I’m just not sure I can tune in this year.
The 2015 Super Bowl appeared to be rock bottom as we witnessed Russell Wilson get picked off at the goal line to secure a fourth Patriot championship. 2017 said, “hold my beer” as the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history occurred when the Falcons lost a 28-3 advantage. After that, I didn’t watch the Super Bowl when the Patriots played. Yes, I missed out on the thrilling Philly Special, but I also didn’t have to watch the horrendous snooze fest that was the Rams losing 13-3.
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Sports is all about emotion, and I have nothing left to give the Patriots. For the early part of the 2000s, they terrorized the Peyton Manning led Colts, serving as the slamming door to Super Bowl aspirations. Those teams had issues with the Chargers and Steelers as well, but it was the Patriots that served as the ever present thorn. The pendulum swung back and the Colts got some revenge, but once Manning left, it was back to the old ways of losing.
Deflategate was the last nail in the coffin for the true rivalry between these two franchises, but the feelings still remain fresh. The players and coaches are totally different. I have no issue with Mike Vrabel and actually appreciate him as a coach. Drake Maye hardly ever enters my thoughts, but as sports fans, we root for and against laundry. That is how rivalries are built and sustained. The people on the field may change but the fan bases don’t, and this fan, from this base, can’t move on.
It’s a personal problem and may be mine alone, but it’s the reason I won’t be tuning in this year. My heart, soul, body, and mind can’t take another 28-3 comeback. It can’t take another, “that’s three” from Teddy Bruschi. I can’t stand to witness another Malcom Butler interception or Tom Brady hoisting the Lombardi. Call it ridiculous. Call it PTSD. I have enough memories of the Patriots winning Super Bowls to last a lifetime. I’m not sure I want to add another to the collection.
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