Throughout the second half of the NFL season, I’ve been hearing and reading about what it would take to defeat the New England Patriots and the many weaknesses just waiting to be exploited.

. That the Pats’ didn’t have a championship-caliber running game because Sammy Morris was injured and all Laurence Maroney could do was dance around in the backfield behind an offensive line more concerned with pass blocking for Tom Brady.

. That the aging linebacker corps couldn’t hold up against either short passing attacks or relentless rushing offenses.

. That the secondary was susceptible to the big play because Asante Samuel takes too many chances, Rodney Harrison is too old and Ellis Hobbs isn’t good enough.

. That we still don’t know how good kicker Stephen Gostkowski is because he has been protected from facing the really big kicks by coach Bill Belichick’s tendency to go for it on fourth-and-short.

I guess it’s what people do when a team is pursuing perfection, try to be the one who comes up with the magic blueprint to bring the giant down.

I’m here to say all that examination and pontification is wasted energy because nothing’s bringing these Patriots down this year. They simply do what they need to do to win and are 18-0 for their efforts.

The long-yardage passing game of early season has been replaced during the cold of winter by a rushing attack featuring Maroney that’s both bruising and breathtaking and a short passing game with Wes Welker and the invaluable Kevin Faulk playing lead roles rather than the explosive Randy Moss.

It’s an offensive juggernaut that has rendered such statistics as yards allowed and time of possession slightly less relevant. And while the defense may yield yardage, it is reluctant to give up touchdowns, vindication for the likes of elder statesmen such as Harrison, Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau.

There’s little reason here to think anything will change in Super Bowl XLII.

The Patriots already have beaten virtually all of their top NFL rivals – Green Bay is the only major exception, but that matchup went the way of an errant Brett Favre pass in overtime last weekend.

One victim along the way was the New York Giants, the Patriots’ Super Bowl opponent.

In hindsight the Giants are the most deserving NFC representative in the big game because of the way they approached their Week 17 regular-season clash with the Patriots.

While other teams rested players, the Giants understood the meaning of the word competition and the historic significance of that particular game – and gave a complete and inspired effort before the Patriots rallied for a 38-35 victory to cap off their undefeated regular season.

The Giants now present one final roadblock in New England’s quest for postseason history, with a defensive front capable of challenging Brady and his perhaps injured right leg and a bruising ground game able to churn out yardage while controlling the clock.

But Patriots fans should not be worried.

Weather is no longer a factor, the chilly climate of the Northeast replaced by Arizona warmth.

And if Brady was seriously injured, he wouldn’t be spending his down time on the sidewalks of Manhattan.

The Patriots simply will do what they have done 18 times already this season, capitalize on the Giants’ weaknesses and make the necessary halftime adjustments.

And win again – 35-20.

eclark@bangordailynews.net

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