Two things:
1. I think the Patriots are as consistently corrupt as any pro sports organization anywhere. To say that they have perfected a culture of cheating is an understatement, and the cohesion between owner, coach/GM and star player is undeniable. I don't trust any of them farther than I can throw them. They aren't likeable in the least, and there's plenty of reason to doubt that their success is legitimate over time given the wide range of stenches that have wafted from their headquarters for the past dozen years....
2. I think the irony of a team so clearly in love with itself and its "resilience" (which is code for having horseshoes inserted in every orifice of their collective bodies to snatch victory from the obvious maw of defeat against us two week ago) and how they do things the "right" way (despite repeating the very error that handed them their chance to play for the title) cost them what everyone knew was two Lynch runs from a second Lombardi trophy and gave it to a team they have been DYING to slam as cheaters for the past two weeks is delicious beyond measure.
I can't ever recall a team being as thoroughly arrogant as the Seahawks, and it's perfect that they watched their overconfidence kick them in the teeth. The whole thing was punctuated by Bennett's encroachment penalty, which eliminated any hope of a safety, and then the fracas after that where they went Beastmode with head slaps. They can trot out Richard Sherman and his Stanford-esque witticisms all they like- they're smug and self-possessed, and weren't ready to deal with a team who didn't crumble after the miracle catch to set up first and goal and stepped up to capitalize on a playcall that will go down for the ages as the most ill advised choice in football history.
I can't stand Marshawn Lynch, but even I would have called two runs to him. You have a time out left. Smash it once. Time. Smash it twice. The Patriots manged to stone him twice all game. I'm LOVING my odds. I totally loved how Tom Brady REFUSED to say anything when asked by the NFL Network team if he would have audibled out of that pass call to a run in Wilson's shoes. His silence told the only story anyone needed to hear.
It looks BRILLIANT on the Seahawks, and I can't wait to hear Marshawn trot out some punchline every press conference between now and the beginning of next season when he gets asked, over and over, how he felt about not getting the rock at the 1.5 yard line with a title on his shoulders having lead the league in TDs. Cause that's going to last.
If Pete Carroll can keep that group from splintering and from tuning him out, then he's a savant, especially with everyone on that roster due to become FA's...