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Introduction

It's very appropriate now that Tom Brady was photographed wearing that New York Yankees hat. The New England Patriots are to football what the Yankees once were to baseball. The most dominant team whom every one expected to win; most despising them, many embracing them.

The Patriots are the modern day dynasty in the NFL. They have Super Stars like Randy Moss who exemplify the so-called "Patriot Way." They have a head coach who despises his peers and thumbs his nose at the NFL establishment. Their cockiness and arrogance is loved by their fans and hated by their detractors.

America's Team

I've been a Cowboys fan since I was a young kid. Back then, I couldn't understand why so many people hated them. Now, having lived in New England since the late 90's, I understand. It' fun to hate dynasties. I understand why so many people hated the Cowboys back then and how that hatred resonates to today.

The hatred for the Patriots by most football fans is now at least as strong as hatred for the Cowboys ever was. For that, I thank the Patriots. Now, I and the fans of other teams have a common enemy. For years, Bills fans and Steelers fans would come together against me and my Dallas Cowboys... but no more. Now, we all three can unite against the Patriots' fans who surround us. Finally, I can have a civil discussion with many of my fellow NFL viewers.

Unstoppable Patriots

The New England Patriots haven't been simply winning games, they've been dominating them. I've never liked Bill Belichick but this season has really taken the cake. Not only did he get a slap on the wrist for cheating, he decided to punish the rest of the league for getting caught.

I'm all for trying to score. I'm all for trying to win. But there is no honor in what Belichick was doing. I didn't really believe it when people said they were running up the score, even against the Cowboys. After all, it's professional sports. All the Patriots were doing was moving down the field and scoring.

Then, ironically, it was what they did to the Washington Redskins that moved me to hatred. The Patriots had been moving the ball down the field but were stopped at the Washington 7. The Patriots were up 38-0 and it was time for them to simply kick a field goal.

Instead, Tom Brady scrambled for a the first down and later fired a touchdown moving the score to 45-0. Later, the Patriots were again stopped on third down. Again they went for it on fourth down and later Matt Cassel did the same thing. That's when I bought in to the Patriots running up the score and finally began to legitimately hate the Patriots.

Their Luck Just Doesn't Change

Not only are the Patriots undefeated, it seems like the forces of the world are helping them out. They seemingly get every call  and almost every bad play some how turns itself around for them.

That being said, I feel that the Eagles, Ravens, and Colts all have themselves to blame for their losses. Their respective defenses held the Patriots vaunted offense down, for a while anyway. But their offenses just couldn't capitalize on opportunities. The Patriots defense did little to shut any of them down and they basically stopped themselves.

For instance, this past weekend the Ravens were pretty much dominating the Patriots. Willis McGahee just ran all over the Pats. Even when he wasn't running, Boller often simply dumped the ball off to him and let him use his feet to gain yards. However, when the Patriots finally started to stack the box the Ravens kept running. 

 Boller wasn't doing that bad and the Patriots have trouble covering the middle of the field. Tight Ends and slot receivers do fairly well against them so there's no reason why the Ravens couldn't have started to gain 5-7 yards through the air. Then when the Patriots started to cover that additional receiver/tight end again that's when you start to run again.

Instead, the Ravens defense would hold the Patriots to have their offense do absolutely nothing. When are teams going to learn, no lead is safe against the Patriots? If you give Tom Brady the chance he will lead them on a game winning drive. In order to beat the Pats teams have to do what the Patriots were doing earlier in the year: run up the score.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers still appear to be in the best position to hand the Patriots a loss. The Ravens and Eagles have carved up the defense the past couple of weeks but have failed to punch it in when it counts. The Steelers have the weapons to do that.

Willie Parker will have a good day against the Pats and if they start to load the box early Hines Ward and Heath Ward can cut them up in the middle while Santonio Holmes keeps them honest deep.

Meanwhile, on defense the Steelers are experts at getting pressure on the quarterback. They may have to rush 4 or 5 to do it but they certainly can. Troy Polamalu is, as always, the X-Factor on defense and will be pivotal to the Steelers defensive plan.

The problem is, the Patriots haven't preformed well in two straight weeks. The chances of it happening a third consecutive week are very slim. Another issue is that they're going to New England and that's always a tough place to play.

Jets and Dolphins

I'm just going to combine these two. The only way they win is if Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Laurance Maroney sit. Even then the games will be close. I can guarantee that the starters won't sit against the Jets as Belichick wants revenge on Mangenius for revealing that he was cheating. Against the Dolphins I bet they don't sit either just because Bill wants them to blow out two teams consecutively again.

New York Giants

I've never believed in Eli Manning and until further notice I will continue not to. However, at this point the first seed should be locked up for the Pats and they just would be down right stupid to play their starters.

Meanwhile, the Giants will be gunning for a playoff spot and playing their New York hearts out. I think the Giants win this game in a close one and the Patriots finish the season with one or two losses.

Playoffs

Once the playoffs start it's really any body's game. A healthy Colts team could defeat the Patriots but the Patriots will be at the top of their game come playoff time. Besides that, there are serious questions as to whether the Colts will be healthy. 

The Steelers could also beat them again but beating the Pats twice in New England will be hard. To beat them in New England during the playoffs will be almost impossible.

If we assume the Patriots make it to the Super Bowl then it's up to the NFC team to beat them.

It increasingly looks like either the Packers or Cowboys will be that team.

Conclusion

And this is where my story comes full circle. In a fantastic irony America could be relying on the once hated Dallas Cowboys to defeat the new Goliath of the NFL. Whether or not the Cowboys can do it is a different story.

DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis know how to put pressure on the QB and Dallas D has tightened up since they played the Pats. However, their coverage is still spotty and the Patriots look fully capable of scoring at will against them. Things could be a little different with a healthy Anthony Henry and Wade Phillips scheming to take Williams out of coverage and have him attacking the line of scrimmage.

Also, an important aspect could be a healthy Terry Glenn. If Glenn can come back close to 100% and play against the Patriots he could be a force. He'll stretch the field and open up options for Owens, Witten, and Crayton.

Is there hope for the good guys? A little bit. But the evil empire that is the New England Patriots appeared unbeatable and they seem more and more like a team of destiny.