I love the Coughlin – Belichick storyline but not the recitations

The idea is to play up the threat, not play it down. I understand that. So to play it down just because all the articles play it up … in 2007, the teams played in the last game of the season. Rather than lie down and rest for the playoffs, the Giants and Patriots fought it out, with the Patriots winning by like 37-35. That loss lit the Giant fire, getting them focused for the playoffs. They won both of the playoff games on the road. Even then, it was familiarity with the Patriots that gave them extra in the Super Bowl. It’s hard to beat any team twice in a year, and very hard to beat a good team twice. In 2011, the blunter reality is that the Patriots weren’t expected to reach the Super Bowl. They weren’t that good, especially on defense. Now to play it up … the reason the Giant did well is that against the Patriots they didn’t screw things up. They did against other teams while Coughlin coached, but his super attention to detail style – being on time to a meeting is late to him – brought out focus against the Patriots. Hard to say why other than that as stakes rise and focus becomes more important then his teams did well. To play it down … Coughlin isn’t the coach. He’s only been there a year, and most of the roster by far was there already. It’s really the coach Doug Marrone. Look at his record: he did well his 2nd year in Buffalo and then opted out, joined the Jaguars, took over in December of last season and has done well this season with a roster that clearly underproduced last year. So can Jacksonville win? Sure: they’re one of the two teams playing. That’s why Tom Brady is comfortable saying they’re the best team he’s faced: they’re the only other team still playing in the AFC! It’s weird having this kind of silly stuff to think about: 7 straight year the Patriots have been in the AFC Championship Game. That’s almost another entire season! Add in the Super Bowls and it’s more than a season. So many players never get to the playoffs, let alone a Championship Game, let alone a Super Bowl, and they’ve been to 3 (out of the 6 played of the 7), and won 2. I saw today there are 19 players who started their careers with the Patriots – meaning never played anywhere else – who’ve never not been in the AFC Championship Game.