For instance, quarterback Tom Brady isn't going to enter the huddle on a random third-and-7 in the second quarter Sunday and say, "You know what, guys, I'm pretty ticked off about Super Bowl XLII. Let's score a touchdown here."
Super Bowl XLII is over, and the remaining Patriots are smart enough to know they can't get it back. And they want to win Sunday for the simple fact that it's the Super Bowl, regardless of the opponent or the Roman Numerals that follow. Revenge won't help them on game day.
However, the loss in Super Bowl XLII should have helped Brady and his teammates in the 13 days leading up to the game. Each team's preparation — from the focus, to the practice, to the film review, to the wherewithal to take a mental break from time to time — always plays a role in the result of this game, and that's where Brady and the Patriots should have an edge.
Brady has seen championship preparation and runner-up preparation, and the sickening feeling from that loss four years ago should drive him to prepare like a mad man. And with that, he'll force his teammates to do the exact same because when he spells out an order, every player in that locker room takes it as the gospel.
Now, it's no wonder the Patriots have wrapped up their string of practices with the utmost confidence in their progress over the last two weeks. Their demeanor has been similar to what they displayed before the divisional-round domination of the Broncos, but the Patriots have put in even more work this time around.
Last week, while still in Foxboro, it was common for the players to stay at Gillette Stadium until 10 p.m. to watch film for extra hours. And this week in Indianapolis, they've spent their free time at the team hotel doing the same, save for a few trips to dinner or the mall to give their brains a break.
Just look at rookie tackle Nate Solder. When asked what surprised him most about his first trip to the Super Bowl, he didn't say anything about the media coverage or the celebrity sightings. Rather, he pointed to the fact that the team has been so sheltered from distraction this week. Even though they're only a mile from downtown Indy, they've been away from the hype and the hoopla, and their preparation has been diligent like any other week.
That's where Super Bowl XLII comes into play. Brady and the Patriots have been steadfast in their attempt to avoid the nasty feeling of defeat in the final game of the year, and they've done everything possible for nearly two weeks to put themselves in position to shower in confetti — first at Lucas Oil Stadium, and then on the streets of Boston.
They've still got to execute Sunday, and they'll have to outperform a very good Giants team. At this point in the week, though, they've worked to put themselves on track to do just that.
Have a question for Jeff Howe? Send it to him via Twitter at @jeffphowe or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.
