A subject closer to home.

The Superbowl XLIII MVP is Matt Cassel, Quarterback, New England Patriots.

2 weeks ago this statement would sound as ludicrous as the St. Louis Rams winning the Superbowl this year.

2 weeks ago, Matt Cassel was in danger of being cut and the PFW blog said they received over 300 emails on the QB situation and every single one was for Matt Gutierrez to keep his place in the 53 rather than Mr. Interception himself.

Why has everything changed in such a short time.

3 little letters, one tackle and a scream of pain.

A tackle from KC Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard on Tom Bradys knee caused the Quarterback to fall to the floor, as TV cameras followed the ball to Randy Moss who collected the ball and then fumbled, a scream of pain brought the camera back to the future HOFer Quarterback who laid stricken on the floor having torn his left ACL. The Razor was silent as he limped off and down a tunnel with the Patriots hopes of a return to the Superbowl slamming shut with the door.

So after the Chiefs' 3-and-out a new figure returned to the field after a punt to the Patriots 2 yard line. Matt Cassel wearing Number 16, the crowd cheered him so highly onto the field that Randy Moss said he thought Brady had come running up the stairs out of the tunnel and he looked over before the play. Cassel handed the ball off to 2nd RB Sammy Morris twice in a row, first being taken back to the 1yd line and then inches away from a Safety. Now Cassel facing 3rd and 11+ a few inches, had a play to make his career. After not starting a match since highschool and barely playing in College or as a NFL player, the first meaningful snap in years went into his hands. The OL held back the blitzing defense and Cassel launched a pass perfectly into the hands of the waiting Randy Moss, who almost took it to the house but was taken down around halfway. The drive was completed for a Touchdown and the outlook of a season had dramatically changed in about 4-5 minutes.

Cassel and the Patriots completed the win and are now unbeaten in 20 regular season games.

Why do I think the Patriots can still win the Superbowl, when they are no longer favourites to win either their Conference or their Division.

In 2001, the Patriots suffered an injury to Drew Bledsoe and Belichick allowed Brady to lead the team to their first ever Superbowl. Yes, Brady was better than Cassel is now, but there is one big difference. The team then had very few quality players and relied on Defense to win games 10-3, 7-3 etc. Teams knew that they had to stop the Patriots scoring too many as it was so difficult to break the defense down.

The pressure on Brady was deflected by other players to allow him to settle into his new starters job.

Fast forward 7 years and Matt Cassel is in. The defense is definitely weaker with a secondary that is inexperienced and lacks depth. But they have All-Pro players and pro-bowlers in Rodney Harrison, Teddy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas just to name a few. They have first round draft pick Jerod Mayo who adds youth and pace to the aging linebacker corps. They have a great front 3 who stopped the run so admirably against the Chiefs.

But, this defense will not keep a team like the Colts, the Chargers or the Cowboys from scoring 21-30 points+. But, the Patriots have a relatively easy schedule this year and should get to the playoffs without having to beat the Colts or the Chargers and when you are in the play-offs they are a lottery.

The main difference between 2001 and 2008, is the Offense. There were few bigname players in the 2001 team compared to now. Randy Moss and Wes Welker the best WR combination in football. One is there for the big plays and one is there whenever you need him.

A 5 man backfield of Maroney, Morris, Jordan, Faulk and Heath Evans. All have varying parts to the Offensive game and can release the pressure on Cassel to throw and Faulk is a vital weapon on 3rd down.

And the best Offensive Line in the game. 3 probowlers and two couldbe probowlers. Even without Stephen Neal, they give enough time and space for a QB or an RB to gain yards down the pitch.

As with Brady, Cassel is having alot of the flak deflected away from him by senior players. Randy Moss is taking over alot of the media coverage in his role as one of the captains and without Brady his role is bigger on the offensive side. And with the games best head coach in charge of him, who would doubt Moss being bigger and better before and making Cassel look like a superstar

I know a lot of you will think this is all homer talk and as they are my team I would say this, but when the media write off the games best coach in Bill Belichick, the team are going to fight hard for the Lombardi Trophy and with the NY media acting the way they are with Brady, I wouldnt want to be a New York Jet this coming Saturday. I wont focus on the Pats as much anymore during this blog but there was alot for me to put so if you are still reading then thanks.

Matt Cassel will be a free agent and sailing off into the open market as a Superbowl MVP.

They are my reasons for believing that the New England Patriots and Matt Cassel will be lifting the Lombardi Trophy in Tampa on February 1st 2009.