Don't expect much suspense in Arizona

FOXBOROUGH, Mass -- Tom Brady's hair was perfect, even if his game wasn't. The New England Patriots are perfect, too.

And if this was as bad as they'll ever be, the only mystique left in Arizona will be finding a crown big enough to fit Bill Belichick's head.

This magical season wasn't going to come to an abrupt end Sunday in chilly Foxborough, even with Brady throwing to the wrong guys and Randy Moss running routes like his thoughts were elsewhere. The New England Patriots easily beat Spygate and 17 other opponents, and the gimpy and mostly L.T.-less Chargers weren't going to ruin this celebration no matter how many field goals they kicked.

Perfection doesn't come along often, and it never comes easy. If it did, the 1972 Miami Dolphins would have cracked open far fewer bottles of champagne over the years to celebrate the demise of yet another unbeaten pretender to their record.

These Patriots might just be the best football team ever assembled, and if the ease at which they stormed to wins most of the season didn't prove that, the way they won when they weren't at their best might have. They're now in uncharted territory, the only team in NFL history to win 18 games in a season without a loss, and their Super Bowl matchup with the New York Giants seems to shape up as more of a coronation than a contest.

Full-time linebacker and part-time philosopher Junior Seau seemed to understand that, even if his coach will probably make him run laps for admitting it. If this is truly a team of destiny, it is now only one game from fulfilling that destiny.

"Separating is key in history," Seau said. "We have a chance and that's all we ever need."

True perfection is now just two weeks away, but it seems as inevitable as Belichick throwing around coaching cliches after the game. The only difference is that this time he really meant it when he said the Patriots will be taking it one game at a time -- one really big game that will not only decide the NFL championship but the Patriots' spot in sports history.

More than just winning the close ones, Brady wins the big ones. He's an amazing 14-2 in playoff games and is heading for his fourth Super Bowl, where he's undefeated in three previous appearances.

He's the game's biggest star heading once again to the game's biggest showplace. Arizona awaits.

Expect the hair to be in place, as well as his game. Brady had barely gotten out of the postgame shower Sunday and he was already talking about redeeming himself in the Super Bowl, as if he had something to prove.

He doesn't because things are already about as perfect as they can get.