Pats build on NFL’s tradition

They are Green Bay East now, and is the NFL ever fortunate. The New England Patriots will head into Super Bowl XXXVIII (the only time besides their use on old clocks that Roman numerals live) as the odds-on favorite against Carolina. More than that, they have become the retro team of the league while still being the team of the day.

The NFL thrives on image. No image captures a pro football fan’s enthusiasm like the unique, hero-building shots captured by NFL Films back in the “good old days.” You’ve seen them.

The hooded, gigantic linemen standing on the sidelines of a frozen field, nostrils flaring in the cold, their breath crystallizing in front of their faces. Ah, such an image to sell, and sell it has.

The NFL came of age in 1958 in perhaps the greatest game ever played. It was without question the most important game in NFL history. The Baltimore Colts, on an Alan Ameche 1-yard run, beat the New York Giants in overtime 23-17, the first NFL Championship game broadcast nationwide on live television.

It was a monster game of grinding defenses, slashing runners, and a winter day outdoors.

The next year Giants assistant coach Vince Lombardi was hired as head coach of the Green Bay Packers and the legend began. The frozen tundra of Lambeau Field became the cathedral of what the NFL was about: Tough men playing a tough sport in tough conditions.

It was the offensive line led by Jerry Kramer, pulling right, then pulling left. Behind them came Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor. Just try and stop this.

In 1967, Green Bay defeated Dallas 21-17 in the playoff game that sent them to the first Super Bowl. It was a game of historic proportions.

That NFL Championship “Ice Bowl” game was played in Green Bay. The temperature was 13 below. Bart Starr won the game on a 1-yard quarterback sneak.

The Pack won the first two Super Bowls in 1967 and 1968 and to this day live off the images caught and promoted in those Lombardi/Super Bowl years. So has the league grown with those images.

Now it’s all back. The Pats have continued the tradition of the ice bowl, with the snow bowl and the freezing cold bowl, in this year’s trek to the Super Bowl. Tough games under tougher conditions and winning 14 in a row to head to a warmer climate, unfortunately, for the finale.

One commentator said last week that for New England to make it to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years in this day and age of football parity, the Pats should be considered a dynasty.

That can be left for the ages, but there is no question this team is a winner. Indy coach Tony Dungy said this week of the Pats, “They carry a nice swagger. They believe they are going to make plays, and this year they’ve made them.”

Like the Lombardi era for the Pack, the Pats are led by a man, Bill Belichick, who would rather win than be seen.

Win or lose this Super Bowl, the Pats are a team of today with the throwback confidence of the Pack, and with cold weather wins to prove it.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and NBC sportscaster.