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January 28, 2004
Patriots shrugging off new role as favorites
THE BALTIMORE SUN
HOUSTON
Despite playing in their second Super Bowl in three seasons, the New England Patriots are treading unfamiliar ground.
In 2002, the 14-point underdog Patriots shocked the football world by upsetting the St. Louis Rams. Now, instead of donning the Cinderella slipper again, they are carrying the weight of being a seven-point favorite on their shoulders heading into Sunday's showdown with the Carolina Panthers.
This role reversal from a team that shouldn't win the Super Bowl to one that shouldn't lose is a product of a New England run bursting with historic overtones.
The Patriots are riding a 14-game winning streak, the second longest in a single season in NFL history next to the 1972 Miami Dolphins (17-0). Their defense has dominated the league's co-Most Valuable Players (the Tennessee Titans' Steve McNair and the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning) in consecutive weeks. And their offensive leader, quarterback Tom Brady, has yet to lose in five playoff games.
"We don't care about favorites or underdogs. That doesn't mean anything," Coach Bill Belichick of the Patriots said. "I mean nobody is going to put those (seven) points on the board. You have to go out there and earn it."
The Patriots haven't trailed in a game since Nov. 23.
Many reporters have already anointed New England as the winner, asking players about a budding dynasty.
"Two years ago, we were trying to prove something," Brady said. "Being a favorite, I don't think Carolina cares much where they are or where we are. They are the toughest team we've played all year."
Like the New England team of two seasons ago, Carolina came out of nowhere to reach the Super Bowl with a quarterback who started the season as a backup. It's an eerie similarity that hasn't gone unnoticed by Panthers receiver Ricky Proehl, who played on that St. Louis team in the Super Bowl.
"We're a bunch of no names," Proehl said. "We've been underdogs all year. No one gives us a chance. No one expects us to win, but everyone in this locker room believes in each other. So I think there are a lot of comparisons."
If the Patriots avoid following the Rams' unfortunate footsteps, it would continue a trend.
In the 20 Super Bowls in which the spread has been seven or more points, the favorite has won 16 times.
"We don't really care about that," Belichick said. "Carolina has a great football team. They're strong in all three phases of the game. We know this is going to be our toughest game of the year and that's what we're preparing for.
"We represent the AFC and I think we're playing the best team in the NFC. We'll find out Sunday, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Panthers."