PatsPropaganda

These next two games are huge and really, defining for the 2013 Pats.

First, comes a chance to clinch the division in Miami, a team that went on and offseason spending spree hoping to take the Pats down. If the Pats can end their season in person while sealing up another division crown it would be sweet.

Then comes the Ravens, who got the Pats twice last year, including a thorough second-half domination in the AFC Championship. There isn’t another team out there that the Pats owe a loss to than the Ravens.

If the Pats can win these two games on the road, given everything they’ve gone through this season, I’ll consider 2013 a success no matter what happens in the playoffs.

And yet another reason why the Super Bowl game itself is just the worst. The real games are the conference championships. They feature real fans and a real football atmosphere and most of the time the time feature good rivalries.

Super Bowls are exhibition games where everything is too long and overhyped. There’s really no way to fix it, it’s the biggest game on the planet and they’ll continue to make it a production not made for the teams playing and their specific fans, but as one big sterile corporate advertisement for the NFL.

Like most, I’m hoping for a heavy conditions game that really affects things. I know the Pats could muster a win there in February, but a lot of NFL teams would really be taken off their game by any weather issues.