(This article is dedicated to my son Tyrique, who has been a Philadelphia Eagles fan for the last few years, and if I can make my ends meet, he'll be going to his first Super Bowl with me.)

This Super Bowl match-up has been in the making since 2001, but the Philadelphia Eagles haven't been able to get it done for four years in a row.

2003: The Eagles lose to the Carolina Panthers in a game in which QB Donovan McNabb's receiving corps dropped more passes than my five-year old drops full glasses of Sunny D, and that's a lot since my son carries the moniker "Spill Boy." This set up a Super Bowl match-up between the New England Patriots and Panthers.

2002: The Eagles fell prey to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who get the "cold weather" monkey off of their backs to set up a Tampa Bay vs. Oakland Super Bowl.

2001: The Eagles lose to the St. Louis Cardinals and sets up the scenario for the Pats first Super Bowl victory.

2000: The Eagles lose to the NY Giants in an upset, setting up a Baltimore Ravens-Giants Super Bowl match-up.

If Terrell Owens can return for this game, then the Pats may have a decent battle, but right now the Eagles don't match up well in my book, especially without WR Chad Lewis.

I also don't want to drop any rain on their parade, but this year the AFC is so much more dominant than the NFC. AFC defenses have smothered NFC offenses all year, stopping their running attacks and their passing games.

This week is media week, and maybe they'll give the Pats some of the respect they deserve. But, I don't see that happening if Owens does return, and as former Patriots Lawyer Milloy said two weeks ago on "WEEI" that the Pats like flying under the radar, and out of the media's eye.

By the end of this week we will see, and I will be giving adoring fans my thoughts on the match-up before Friday.

Earlier this past week a friend of mine sent me this joke, and inspired me to write this article, which may seem somewhat on the religious side, but I may have my proof that GOD -- that's right, GOD -- is a Patriots fan. So before I get into my ramblings, I'm going to let you in on the joke that had me get spiritual this weekend. Here it is?

Peyton Manning died after living a full life and when he got to heaven GOD himself decided to show him around. After a few hours, they came to a modest little house with a faded Indianapolis Colts flag in the window and GOD said, "This house is yours for eternity, Peyton... This is very special; not everyone gets a house up here." 

Peyton felt special indeed, and walked up to his house. On his way up the porch, he noticed another house just around the corner. It was a three-story mansion surrounded by a blue and red sidewalk. On the lawn there was a 50 foot tall flagpole with an enormous Patriots logo flag, and in every window, a Patriots towel. Peyton looked at GOD and said, "GOD, I'm not trying to be ungrateful, but I have a question. I was an all-pro QB, I held many NFL records, and I even went to the Hall of Fame." 

God was puzzled and asked, "So what's your point Peyton?" 

"Well, why does Tom Brady get a better house than me, he asked.

God chuckled, patted Peyton on the back and said, "Peyton, that's not Tom's house, it's mine."

So after that little funny I bet you all are wondering how I am going to turn the Patriot's successes into spiritual thoughts. Well, it's easy and is IMO (in my opinion).

We all remember September 11, 2001. It was a tragic moment in American history and had it's effects on everything from entertainment to sports. For one week the nation mourned, and the NFL season was postponed.

The week that the NFL returned, all eyes were on the NY Jets-Patriots match-up. NY fans needed a release, and the Patriots were flying America's colors.

It was at this game that QB Drew Bledsoe went down, sending in QB Tom Brady from Michigan. After the loss to the Rams later in the season I knew something was building, but it really wasn't until the Snow Bowl that I began to solidify my feelings.

The Raiders had come to town for a wildcard meeting and were met with low temps, and nor'easter conditions. These guys were not playing on the left coast.

Sports history was made, and the Pats went on to defeat the Rams in the Super Bowl, as America's colors and a team who's mascot represents a big part of American history was victorious at a time America needed to be strong and unified.

Two years later we go to war with Iraq, the Patriots roll through the season needing a win over the Miami Dolphins to keep home field advantage. The Dolphins came to town on the day a blizzard dumped almost 20 inches of snow upon us and got destroyed.

The Tennessee Titans and their co-MVP QB Steve McNair were somewhat used to cold weather in the 20s - 30s, but got -15 when they came here for their game. After the Titans loss, the Colts came to town, and once again it snowed with windy conditions. The Pats trounced the Colts and went on to defeat the Carolina Panthers.

Once again the team, with America's colors, they took home the trophy -- seeming as if this team won one for those troops fighting overseas for freedom. The same thing the historical Patriots were fighting for.

Now it is the present. We still have troops overseas, and Iraq has just had it's first vote showing freedom in their country. So which two teams are in the Super Bowl this year?

The New England Patriots, who defeated the Colts in the snow once again, and the Philadelphia Eagles who defeated the Atlanta Falcons in low temp weather.

Both of these teams can represent this country at a time when our troops are still overseas. Philly has a lot of American history, and their mascot represents this nations bird.

Who does the GOD factor work for in this game? No one. This game will be decided in 68 degree weather on neutral ground. It will come down to the strength, determination and hard work of the players and coaching staff.

The prize... To be GOD and America's team!