COMMENTARY
1. Let’s start not just with an appreciation of the accomplishment. Let’s also marvel at the ridiculous familiarity of the accomplishment. With a 36-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers — a worthy and overmatched foe at once — the Patriots advance to their seventh Super Bowl of the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era. They have participated in 11 conference championship games, more than any coach, more than any single player. If it seems like they are in this thing every year, well, it was their sixth straight appearance in the game. This is unprecedented.