"We've been underdogs all year," cornerback Raymond Clayborn said a few days before the game. "I accept it. We'll go out and beat the Bears just like we beat everybody else. Do football players pay attention to the spread? We notice it. But we have confidence in ourselves."
The Patriots made the playoffs as a wildcard and beat the Jets, Raiders and Dolphins to reach Super Bowl XX. But Clayborn and the rest of his teammates were no match for the Bears, who trounced New England 46-10.
The Patriots headed into the game believing they could run the ball.