If any NFL team in the new millennium can come close to perfection it has to be the New England Patriots. For years now New England has been the most consistently powerful team in the AFC, winning the Super Bowl three times and almost invariably taking their place in the AFC Championship. From the onset of 2007 the Patriots appeared destined for perfection. Early in the year they literally powered over the San Diego Chargers 38-14, ripped the Dallas Cowboys 48-27, and put paid to the Indianapolis Colts 24-20. Seemingly unstoppable, New England rolled through the NFL’s first undefeated regular season in decades.

The steamroller continued in the playoffs. Easily winning the AFC East, the Patriots handled the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round. The San Diego Chargers were next, and New England made them pay for their trip to Gillette Stadium with a 21-12 thrashing, earning their trip to the Super Bowl once again. Hailed as 14 point favorites, New England had every intention of capturing their fourth Super Bowl in the Tom Brady era. The New York Giants had other ideas. In the end it was the Giants, and the ‘72 Miami Dolphins, raising the toasts, and the Patriots experienced the bitter sting of defeat in University of Phoenix Stadium.