Al Zarilla said:
When you consider that nobody expected the Pats to win 36, and 38 and 39 were like so bang bang, and we were right there so close but no cigar for so many years since 39, it just might be. For sure it was the most win or be miserable for a long time of all the super bowls, at least for me. Like Brady said, if there were a game he most wanted to win, that was it.
This is kind of how I feel.
SB 20 - Just an epic disaster all the way around. First trip to the SB, beating hated Miami on the road in the AFCCG was sweet. But the SB itself....awful. Recovered the fumble early, couldn't convert the TD, and then got just crushed the rest of the way. Oh well.
SB 31 - Had a good chance to beat a superior team. Felt like this was a team on the rise. Lost, and then lost Parcells. So the whole thing left a sour taste in the mouth.
SB 36 - the dream come true. Opened the door for all the rest. Totally unexpected. Huge upset. Incredible experience.
SB 38 - Favored, coming off a great season. Beat a scrappy Panthers team. Made SB 36 even more legitimate.
SB 39 - Favored, the best team in the league, cemented this as a dynasty. Great win, felt we should have won it more easily.
SB 42 - The disaster. A chance for immortality in every way. The lead up being the Spygate stuff, and the Tomase story. After the Brady-to-Moss TD, I thought we'd see the 19-0 season. But Tyree, no flags, and Plaxico. Ugh.
SB 46 - The revenge game that wasn't. When the Pats went up 17-9 and Brady was slinging darts all over, I thought the Pats would win. But Manningham...ugh. Twice to the Giants.
SB 49 - The Deflategate nonsense. Beating the Ravens in stirring fashion in the Divisional round. Brady's third MVP against a great, great defense. The Pick by Butler. Just...unbelievable. In many ways, for so many reasons, the sweetest victory of them all. Ring #4 for Brady. His legacy cemented for all-time. An incredible game and an incredible performance agains a great defending champion. Watching Warner walk down the line as the Pats touched the Lombardi...priceless. In every way, unbelievably sweet.
What's amazing is that starting with SB 31, the Patriots have been to 7 Super Bowls in 19 seasons. They went: SB appearance (loss), four years missing, SB appearance (win), one year missing, SB appearance (win), SB appearance (win), two years missing, SB appearance (loss), three years missing, SB appearance (loss), two years missing, SB appearance (win).
So since 1997, this team has not gone more than four straight years between Super Bowl appearances. That's incredible.