Mike Celizic

Hype is what we do. It doesn’t matter when the game is or who’s in it.

Preseason games aren’t immune — we’re more than happy to bill them as Super Bowl replays or previews or battles of first-round draft picks or anything else we can think of.

I’ve often wondered why we keep doing it, because the hype so seldom lives up to reality. But every time I’m driven to despair by another string of matchups that don’t live up to the hype, along comes a game like Dallas-New England in Week 6 of the NFL season.

And, boy, did we hype this one. The undefeated Patriots and the undefeated Cowboys; America’s Team versus Satan’s Team; the Battle of the 81s, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens;, Brady against Romo; the Game of the Century — so far this year. ESPN devoted its entire week to the game, begrudgingly taking time out only to mention who won baseball playoff games.

And by the third quarter, you could be forgiven for thinking we didn’t hype it enough, because it was at that point even better than the hype. If only the Super Bowl could live up to the hype like this one did.

The atmosphere was electric, the fans were roaring, both teams were flying around with no regard for life and limb. It was exactly the way it was supposed to be — playoff football between the best in each conference in the season’s sixth game.

The Patriots scored on their first possession — just like they always do.

They scored on their second. The Cowboys came back, cut it to four at the half, took the third-quarter kickoff and rammed it into the end zone.

Randy Moss scored a touchdown. Terrell Owens scored a touchdown and staged the most remarkable end zone celebration of his career — he stood there like a statue and did nothing. The last thing we expected. A brilliant display of minimalism.

Okay, so it broke down in the fourth quarter, when the Patriots finally wore the Cowboys down to nubs and started piling on the points, including a final in-your-face score with 19 seconds to go when taking a knee would have done the job.

Free video   Patriots-Cowboys wrapup Oct. 14: The Patriots' Tom Brady delivered an aerial assault on the Cowboys in Big D. NBC Sports

But that didn’t ruin a thing. If anything, it made it better, because we came out of this with two of the pre-game hype lines confirmed.

The first is that the Cowboys look to be the best team in the NFC — or at least the best one south of Green Bay. The second is that the Patriots truly are the uber-team they looked to be in their first five games — and, they’re just as nasty as we thought they were. Plus, they don’t care what any of us think of them. They’re going to beat you and then rub your face in it, and if you don’t like it, tough.

Patriots 48, Cowboys 27 Brady tosses 5 TDs in rout  |    Not the best? Celizic: Lived up to hype  |  Best yet to come Opinion: Patriots still not perfect — yet NBC Sports: Brady's the best  |  Pats put on show Going OT: Patriots' one concern? Injuries Interactive: Who's better, Moss or T.O.?  |  Vote CHFF: Would ’92 Cowboys beat 2004 Patriots? Where does Brady rank among all-time greats? Life is great now for Jerry Jones

We used to celebrate the Patriots as the finest example of a true team.

They’re still that, but they’ve got an edge now that wasn’t so obvious before. They’re out not only for your blood, but for your very soul.

They’re 6-0 now, and they played that fourth quarter like Tiger Woods plays Sunday at Augusta and Roger Federer plays the finals at Wimbledon. In the championship quarter, they imposed their will on the game and the Cowboys with merciless efficiency. Like Woods and Federer, they’re playing a game with which the rest of the NFL is not familiar.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Golfing from the rough, college football openers, net gain for tennis, and more more photos

In three weeks, they play the Colts, who are also undefeated, and the hype for that game has already begun — and this time, I’m convincing myself it’s worth it. If both teams are still undefeated come their Nov. 4 meeting, it will be the second game of the century this year — and with eight weeks left in the season.

And if the Patriots win that one and are still undefeated — well, the rest of the year is going to be a hype fest for only the second undefeated season in NFL history. It’s way too early to talk seriously about it, but those 1973 Dolphins might want to start lining up their voodoo spells now — just in case.

But that’s going to be the hype line from here on in. Brady has 21 TD passes already in just six games. Can he break Peyton Manning’s record of 49? Can the Patriots keep scoring more than 30 points a game? Can Moss keep running hard on every play, even the ones in which he’s not the primary receiver?

Will Bill Belichick keep wearing that rag of a sweatshirt?

There’s so much more to hype and so much time to do it.

Ain’t it grand?

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 17 games TITANS 16, COLTS 10: Collins leads way after Young hurt BEARS 33, SAINTS 25: Chicago eliminates New Orleans REDSKINS 27, COWBOYS 6: Washington storms into playoffs BROWNS 20, 49ERS 7: Quinn makes debut; Cleveland must hope CHARGERS 30, RAIDERS 17: Rivers, L.T. lead S.D. to 6th straight TEXANS 42, JAGUARS 28: Davis returns 2 kickoffs for touchdowns BENGALS 38, DOLPHINS 25: Tuna era starts badly, Miami ends 1-15 PATRIOTS 38, GIANTS 35: Brady-to-Moss TD vaults team to 16-0 FALCONS 44, SEAHAWKS 41: Atlanta ends terrible year on high note PACKERS 34, LIONS 13: Green Bay rests key players, still rolls EAGLES 17, BILLS 9: Westbrook sets two records in victory BRONCOS 22, VIKINGS 19: Elam's field goal wins it in overtime JETS 13, CHIEFS 10: Nugent's FG in OT wins meaningless game PANTHERS 31, BUCS 23: Carolina sends Testaverde out a winner RAVENS 27, STEELERS 21: Pittsburgh plays it safe, rests stars CARDINALS 48, RAMS 19: Arizona has first winning season in 9 years

MORE FROM NFL

NFL Section Front

Hard to believe Bears were once Super Bears and Colts ready for Super reunion Favre era for Jets begins, against Pennington Opinion: Can Favre run from Father Time? Gimpy Brady to lead Patriots against Chiefs Packers' Rodgers in spotlight Monday night Around the NFL, quarterbacks under pressure Is Favre financial savior for the Jets? Novacek's Picks: Favre will win in Jets debut NBCSports' Madden previews Sunday's games NFL Section Front   Add NFL headlines to your news reader: