Super Bowl Week Is Here

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Super Bowl Week Is Here

By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 27, 2008

Love 'em or loathe 'em, the unbeaten New England Patriots provide fans with a compelling story line heading into the Feb. 3 Super Bowl against the New York Giants.

A 2007 season that began with an unsavory Spygate episode, resulting in a $500,000 fine for Patriots coach Bill Belichick and the loss of a first-round draft choice, has evolved into a quest for the second perfect season in the NFL's 88-year history.

Only the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who finished 17-0 under Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, completed an NFL season with an unblemished record.

Led by league MVP Tom Brady, the 18-0 Patriots have been established as 12-point favorites against a worthy adversary in Super Bowl XLII at Glendale, Ariz. The 13-6 Giants beat three NFC division champions in the playoffs, all on the road, beginning with a 24-14 triumph that ended the Buccaneers' season.

New York has won 10 consecutive games away from home and Tom Coughlin's gritty club has been designated the road team for the 6:17 p.m. matchup, televised to 223 countries and territories around the world.

The Bay area will host the next Super Bowl, to be played at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2009.

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Super Bowl Week Is Here