As I sit here at my hotel desk typing away on my laptop, I can’t help but ponder what the final score will be after the most important 60 minutes of the season come to an end. You have to admit, as much as we all “know” that the Patriots will win their fourth Super Bowl, you can’t help but wonder about the unknown.

Listen, I don’t want to plague you guys with my guesses and personal turmoil, but a 19-0 campaign must come to fruition, or the most eventful and dominant season in the history of the National Football League by one team will be nothing more than the average snowflake in a New England Nor’easter. This year’s New England Patriots aren’t average, and they have one more game to prove that.

As we enter the final days of waiting across the country, media day passed with its usual excitement and almost predictable quirkiness. But one thing that stuck out in my mind today was New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress prematurely predicting that the Giants will beat the Patriots 23-17. Wow, people just don’t learn, bulletin board material is what the Patriots feast on for meals before big games.

As the Patriots’ 38-35 victory during Week 17 becomes a distant memory, one must remember the implications and crucial facts that oozed out of the hard-fought win. You see, on that bitter cold night in the swamps of New Jersey, the Giants almost took advantage of what was the Patriots’ worst defensive performance all season. Until that game, the Pats hadn’t given up more than 28 points in a contest all year. Not to mention, New England didn’t really exert themselves on the defensive side of the ball until the second half. Was Belichick holding back his best defensive schemes in preparation for a future Super Bowl matchup that he was confident would present itself on Feb. 3? Was Belichampion using the desperate Giants as a test subject for new and never before used formations? One will never know, but one thing is for sure, the Patriots weren’t at their best on that surprising Saturday night in Jersey. Which makes me wonder, why weren’t they?

During the regular season, New England’s offense finished first amongst NFL teams in total yards (411.3), 13th in rushing yards (115.6), first in passing yards (295.7) and first in points scored per game (36.8). On the other side of the ball, the Pats’ defense ranked fourth in total yards allowed (288.3), 10th in rushing yards allowed (98.3), sixth in passing yards allowed (190.1) and fourth in points per game allowed (17.1).

The Giants come into Sunday’s game with regular season statistics that resemble a team that should have had no business keeping up with the Pats during Week 17. Their offense ranked 16th in total yards (331.4), fourth in rushing yards (134.3), 21st in passing yards (197.1) and 14th in points scored per game (23.3). On defense, the Giants ranked seventh in total yards allowed (305.0), eighth in rushing yards allowed (97.7), 11th in passing yards allowed (207.3) and 17th in points per game allowed (21.9).

During the regular season at least, the Patriots were dominant. But now, like every year the Pats are in the Super Bowl, the team they face is the team of “destiny”. It’s beginning to be one of the most ridiculous and redundant statements that I’ve ever heard.

Listen, I’m not going to sit here and predict a score so my name can possibly be dragged through the mud in New York’s fine mainstream publications. But, one thing I will say is that the Patriots will come back to the chill filled air of New England with their fourth Lombardi Trophy hoisted high above their victorious heads.

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