Despite all my friends and family knowing how much of a fan I am, I think only members of this board truly understand how special this championship really was.
I get so irritated anytime anyone ever tells me "it's just a game." It most certainly is not. I have invested so much time and passion into this team. I go to training camp every year, watch and rewatch games, and make highlights. I can't get enough Patriots. This one was particularly sweet because even though a ten year drought really isn't much in the sports landscape, it is wehn you consider that we've been knocking on the door in each of those years. To always come so close and lose is devastating, not to mentoin the years when we really were just a play away (Giants losses). To make matters worse, I have some people around me who actually gloat whenever they lose to me (ha ha, they'll never win again, Brady doesns't have the drive since he's met Gisele, all of the otehr Boston teams have won since the last time the Pats won, yadda yadda yadda).
Each year the losses have been devastating. I realize that we as a fan base are spoiled. After all, a divisional round or AFC Championship game appearance is a respectable finish for a team. Even though I tell that to myself I still can't help but be devastated. I've just wanted another one SOOOOOO BADLY. Just give me one to help erase the pains of the '06 AFCC or the '07 Super Bowl.
The fourth quarter started with a failed third down attempt followed by a punt. It cut to commercial,........I remember going into another room of my house (pacing). Bad thoughts were feeding into my head........"how is this happening?" ...."how can we be losing by 10 when we were so dominant in the first half?!?!"......"can I really endure another loss?"........"at the beginning of the day we had a 50% chance of winning this game, and now it's more like 10%"......"I love being a fan, but why do I do this to myself"...........then I collected myself and reminded myself there was still 13 minutes left to go and stranger things have happened.
The comeback started.......during the commercial break prior to the final Pats drive I remember going to the other room again and thinking "Ok, here we go. We have the ball with a chance ot tie or take the lead. I couldn't really ask for more than this. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE finsih the deal."
TD Edelman, I'm going crazy. "Oh man, we were almost dead 20 min ago and now we are on the verge of winning. Oh my god".
Kearse catch over Butler, "ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?!?, Losing is one thing, but LOSING LIKE THIS!?!? I mean, that is messed up." Words do not do justice to describe how I was feeling at that point.
Butler pick, WOW, oh my god, I saw him grab it, fall to the ground and oh man, I WAS OUT THE DOOR.......running down my street screaming followed up a jump into the snow. Oh man, a delirious laughter ensured. Oh man, that is the ultimate feeling......realizing your team just won the Super bowl. From absolute heartbreak to the highest of highs.
Oh man, I wanted this one. I wanted it BAD. and we got it.
In fact, in answering your question I've gone into some side rants. I can't even put into words properly how much this one meant to me.