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Guide to the New England Patriots and Super Bowl XXXIX for Non-Fans |
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Everyone is a football fan on Super Bowl Sunday! Or at least that's what they tell the advertisers who pay millions of bucks for commercial spots. If you haven't been watching the Patriots all season, it's catch up time! Here are some Patriots Basics that will help you to sound like a knowledgeable fan. If you really want to sound authentic, brush up on how to talk like you're from Boston with this guide to Boston pronunciation from Boston Online. The 2004-2005 Patriots SeasonThe Patriots are headed to Super Bowl XXXIX (39) after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 41-27 on Sunday, January 23, to win the AFC (American Football Conference) championship. This victory capped another phenomenal season. Here are a few highlights: - The Pats started the season as defending Super Bowl champions after defeating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII. - On October 10, 2004, the Patriots set a new NFL record for consecutive wins--19--with a 24-10 win over the Miami Dolphins. - The winning streak reached 21 games before the Patriots lost 34-20 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Halloween. - The Patriots' only other defeat this season was a surprising 29-28 road loss to Miami, one of the worst teams in the league, on December 20. - The Pats fell one touchdown short of setting a team single-season scoring record. - New England has the longest home winning streak in the NFL. The Patriots have not lost a home game since December 22, 2002 against the Jets. - This will be the Patriots' third Super Bowl appearance in four years. Only the Dallas Cowboys have captured three Super Bowl titles in four years. All About Bill BelichickMany analysts give Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick a lot of credit for his team's continued and consistent success. Belichick has been with the Patriots since 2000 and has led New England's team to the Super Bowl in three out of the last four years. With the current competitive level of the NFL, that's already considered a "dynasty." Learn More About Bill Belichick by visiting these sites: Bill Belichick Profile from Patriots.com Bill Belichick's Coaching Record from Pro-Football-Reference.com All About Tom BradyYou have to give a lot of credit to Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady once again, too. During the 2001-2002 season, Brady (#12) started the season as the team's third-string quarterback and ended the year as the Super Bowl MVP when the Patriots upset the St. Louis Rams 20-17. Last season, Brady proved that his rise to elite status in the NFL is no fluke. He was named MVP again after the Patriots' victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Learn More About Tom Brady by visiting these sites: Tom Brady Profile from Patriots.com Absolute Brady (fan site) Tom Brady Online (fan site) All About Corey DillonPatriots Runningback Corey Dillon (#28) is another player to watch in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Dillon was acquired from the Cincinnatti Bengals at the start of the 2004 season, and the Patriots' only two losses this season came when Dillon was not in the game. Learn More About Corey Dillon by visiting these sites: Corey Dillon Profile from Patriots.com Corey Dillon: A Most Valuable Asset for Patriots from Patriots Insider All About Ty LawPatriots Cornerback Tajuan "Ty" Law (#24) was the receiver to watch in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Unfortunately, he sustained a foot injury in the Patriots' Halloween loss to Pittsburgh and was unable to return in time for the postseason. Learn More About Ty Law by visiting these sites: Ty Law Profile from Patriots.com Ty Law Player Page from ESPN.com All About Super Bowl XXXIXThat's Super Bowl 39 for the Roman Numeral challenged! The big game will be played on Sunday, February 6, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Game time is 6:30 p.m. EST, and the game will be televised by FOX. The Patriots' opponent is the Philadelphia Eagles, who have not been to a Super Bowl in 24 years. If you ask me, they don't stand a chance! According to Nielsen Media Research, 89.6 million people watched the Super Bowl last year. Other estimates say a record 144.4 million viewers tuned in to a least a portion of the broadcast (likely thanks to Janet Jackson's antics). The average cost of air time for a 30-second ad for the 2005 Super Bowl is $2.4 million. That's $80,000 per second! And that doesn't include creative development and production costs. Alicia Keys headlines the pre-game show, which will also feature Gretchen Wilson, Black Eyed Peas and John Fogerty. Glee Clubs from the nation's military service academies will sing the National Anthem. The Halftime Show will star Paul McCartney. Learn more about Super Bowl XXXIX by visiting: Super Bowl Coverage from football.about.com Related Resources: |
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