The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots faced a lot of controversy in the offseason following their victory over the Seattle Seahawks in early February. The controversy of course was over "Deflate gate," a media mayhem of accusations that the Patriots cheated in their 45-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC championship game. The Colts claimed that the footballs used in the first half were underinflated and that Tom Brady was responsible.

The NFL hired former FBI agent Ted Wells to conduct an extensive investigation, with the results being that it was "more probable than not" that Tom Brady was "generally aware" that the footballs were under-inflated. Normally, the penalty for a team having under-inflated footballs is a $25,000 fine and no where does it say their is disciplinary action for players involved. Instead, the Patriots organization was fined one million dollars and lost draft picks, as well as quarterback Tom Brady being suspended the first 4 games of the season.

How does that at all make sense? Especially when their was no definitive evidence that the balls were under-inflated, because it was 40 degrees and down pouring, so weather could have cause the loss of air. The media, especially ESPN reporter Chris Mortenson (who published an article about the Patriots cheating later proven to be completely inaccurate and false) immediately thought Tom Brady was guilty. Some even went as far as saying Brady should be suspended the whole season and should be stripped of his Super Bowl MVP.

Tom Brady obviously appealed the decision, and in late August, he won that appeal and was granted the right to play those first four games he had been suspended for. Brady never came forward and said it, but he was playing with a chip on his shoulder.

Brady started this season like an angry bull, and the NFL front office was the red flag. The Patriots started the season 10-0, and if it was not for a multitude of injuries they could have went 16-0. Brady did not throw an interception until week 6, and had the fewest interceptions by any quarterback this season (7). He led the league in passing touchdowns and passing yards.

With Julian Edelman back in the line up, Brady and company looked like they did when they were undefeated. The Patriots are undefeated with Edelman in the line up. Donta Hightower, Chandler Jones, Jamie Collins and Edelman, all stand outs for the Patriots, were healthy for the start of the playoffs. With key players back in the line up, the Patriots defeated the Chiefs in the divisional round 27-20 in Foxboro.

The Patriots are dangerous when they are near full strength, and with the winningest quarterback in post season history under center, you can never count the Patriots out.

The Patriots will face the Denver Broncos this Sunday in the AFC championship game, their fifth conference title game in a row. This is the seventeenth time that Brady has faced Peyton Manning, and with Manning not playing like he did in his prime and the Broncos barely squeeking by the injury depleted Steelers, home field advantage for Denver will not be a factor. Brady is playing better than he did in his prime, and with a lot of players returning from injuries, Vegas already has the Patriots as the favorites as the away team, and for the right reasons.

The Patriots defense was all over the Chiefs, and quarterback Alex Smith faced a lot of pressure. Peyton Manning is no where near as agile as he used to be, and pressure by the Patriots might be too much for Manning to handle. The league leading defense for the Broncos might make the game close, but I expect the Patriots to come out on top.

Prediction: Patriots 31 Broncos 21

Super Bowl: Patriots 24 Cardinals 20