Minus Espionage Tactics, Patriots Still Win

If you sat in a sports bar anywhere outside of New England last night, you might have heard a hissing sound, like air rushing out of an untied balloon.

When the bad guy wins, as the Patriots did against the Chargers, it can feel deflating.

There were no sideline cameras, no headset tampering, and no sign stealing this time. Just a good, old-fashioned rout.

As the spying controversy grew over the course of the week, there were those who openly wondered how New England's unfair advantage had altered the course of recent football history. Hines Ward, who isn't exactly a highly-regarded player in his own right, said he suspected foul play in 2002 and 2005 playoff games against the Patriots.

The Eagles, meanwhile, wondered if maybe they deserved the 2005 Super Bowl.

As the circus unfolded around them, though, the New England Patriots prepared to prove that they are still among the NFL elite. And given the opportunity against one of the top-rated AFC teams, the Patriots did just that.

For those of us who hoped that justice may have been somehow served, it was a disappointing outcome.

But it also confirmed the fact that with or without Bill Belichick's espionage tactics, New England has been and continues to be a premier team in the NFL. Why Belichick would feel the need to cheat to gain a competitive advantage is beyond me.

Maybe Barry Bonds could provide some insight.