Maybe it's because I slept through the second half of the Super Bowl, after a first half that, to me, had looked like New England was holding its own on defense, giving up no touchdowns, just the smaller points.

Maybe it's because the Patriots had a better season than they had had since the Brady years, so they had already exceeded (my) expectations. 

Maybe it's because both teams ended the regular season 14-3 and it seemed every sports commentary I heard or read Super Bowl week was giving Seattle the edge.

Maybe it was because I was just about as interested in the Winter Olympics that had started.

Or maybe the sometimes hard to watch national news of late has rightly gotten more air time than a football championship. 

Whatever the reason or reasons, when I heard Seattle had won, it didn't really feel as disappointing as I had thought it would. I had expected the Patriots to prevail, only because they had continued to impress all season and post-season, getting the job done one way or another, in other words, through workmanship.

So, good year, Patriots; if this was another "building" year of sorts, I look forward to the potential for a strong 2026-27 season and post-season.