NFL: The Power of the Chip Inside

This is why I hate Boston fans, by the way.

But, no, the cheating scandal isn't going away. All the winning, all the justification in the world, doesn't erase that stain on what's otherwise a sterling resume.

The fact remains, though, that the Patriots are winning and winning big when they've hopefully curtailed any unsportsmanlike activities thanks to the fear that the league - and others - are watching like hawks. I mean, okay, they got caught, everyone in the league has some area where they're skirting or bending the rules, but the Patriots would be really stupid to keep doing it now. But even without the undue competitive advantage, they're clobbering their opponents. Undefeated on the season. Outscoring their opponents by a ridiculous margin. My man Brady set to shatter all sorts of passing records.

Heading into this weekend's showdown with the Colts (My money is on the Pats, if I were betting, that is. It's the revenge factor at play. The chance to avenge last season's end. But I expect it'll be a lot closer than New England's previous games. And an awesome game. Like a huge college football game. Doesn't matter that it's in the middle of the season, this one's for half the marbles. Until the rubber match in the playoffs, anyway.) it's amazing what they've accomplished. You'd have thought, in the wake of that fateful Jets game and the scorn heaped upon them that the Patriots were due to crash and burn. That the stress, the shame, would be too much.

Instead, the Pats are going out and scoring F-U after F-U to the rest of the league. Running up the score, showing up the other team, all to send the clear message that they don't care. They don't care about what everyone else thinks about them. They don't care about playing by the rules. All they care about is winning. And until someone can stop them, no one can complain - you don't like them ringing up the scoreboard like a pinball machine then play some defense and stop them, otherwise shut the fuck up. They aren't just playing good ball at this point. They're on a mission. Out to prove a point and go down in the history books.

And if the question is why, I think the answer is obvious. They're playing with a huge chip on their shoulder. That a sports team feels disrespected and uses that as motivation to succeed is a cliche at this point (And, really, when you're getting paid millions of dollars to play are you really being disrespected? What do you want people to do, bow down at your feet and shower you in accolades?), overused by writers and athletes alike as an explanation, a rationalization, for their victories. But, in this case, I think it's really in play. The Patriots were disrespected. Slurred by sundry and all as cheaters, as thieves, as not really deserving of their rings and records and vaunted status.

Instead of letting that fester and tear apart the team, they've used it as a rallying call. As something to gather around, to bind themselves together, and steady themselves against the onrushing forces arrayed against them. The players, the coaches, the staff, want to go out and prove that, yeah, they cheated but they didn't have to. That it doesn't matter. That they are, in fact, just that damned good. Every game, every week, that's what's pounded into their heads and rushing through their veins. And that desire for payback can be one of the most powerful motivating forces of all.