The Patriots are—without a doubt—easy to hate. Unprecedented success, mixed with a couple of scandals, is a recipe for the perfect NFL villain. And just when you though the Bad Guys were finally having a down season, they find a way back to the Super Bowl again.
To all you Pats Haters, I get it. It's probably just as much fun to hate the Evil Empire as it is to root for your own team. But this week, I urge you to take a moment and appreciate the unlikelihood of this run. Eight straight AFC championships games. Nine Super Bowl appearances.