Pats-7 vs Eagles

There are a lot of reasons to like the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. First, the whole reality of experience and familiarity. One observation that is clear when you are at a Super Bowl for an entire week are the demands placed on the players.

Whether it is the football aspect of meetings, practice, preparation or the demands of print, radio and TV, these are long days for the players. As much as it can be overwhelming, it can also be exhausting. Both are negative mindsets going into a championship game.

Having experienced this before is an advantage for New England. Not so much on Game Day, but during the week, in preparation for the game. The Patriots are masters of the cycle of preparation, execution and re-evaluation. Each element supports the others and improves the others and, in the world of football, it is a neverending cycle.

I also think that New England has played a higher level of competition throughout the year. In conference vs. conference games, the AFC won 44 games, against the NFC only winning 20. I wonder if Philadelphia would even be in the Super Bowl if they had to play Indianapolis and Pittsburgh rather than Minnesota and Atlanta.

I don't think New England is a physically tougher team than Philadelphia, but mentally and emotionally, I think the Pats have an edge. The best teams in football are the ones that are battle hardened. That is New England. Also, if you give Bill Belichick two weeks to prepare, he will find a way to diffuse your strengths and take advantage of your weaknesses. But, it is not just Bill Belichick. Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis, the defensive and offensive co-ordinators, respectively, work with what Belichick sees. This may be the best trio of coaches in modern football history.

When you look at the last Patriots-Eagles game, it was September 14 last year and the final score was New England 31 and Philadelphia 10. It was the highest point total scored on Philadelphia that year and third lowest point total for the Eagles. It tells me that Tom Brady can produce points against a Jim Johnson defense. Yes, it was a year ago and usually nothing relates from one season to the next but, considering the stability in personnel, this time it does.

Which brings me to my final New England advantage and that is Corey Dillon. Dillon's ability has offset injuries to Ty Law, Tyrone Poole and Richard Seymour. Dillon finished the season with 1,635 yards on 345 carries, for a 4.7 yard average, and 12 touchdowns. Curtis Martin, for the Jets, led the NFL with 1,697 yards on 26 more carries. If Dillon had not missed that Pittsburgh game due to injury, he probably would have won the NFL rushing title. Then you look at the two playoff games, and his solid performances in both games. Corey Dillon is an underrated and exceptional running back. Yes, I know, Philadelphia's addition of Jeremiah Trotter at middle linebacker improved the run defense, but I like Dillon to make an impact in this game.

In the last two games, New England beat the best offense in football, the Indianapolis Colts, then the next week beat the best defense in football, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Experience, competition, preparation and a previous game to me say, New England by nine.