Will the New England Patriots–and Mitt Romney–do better in 2012?

Four years ago, Mitt Romney paused during a fundraising swing in Nashville, in the middle of his campaign with John McCain for the Republican presidential nomination, to watch his home-state New England Patriots play the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Confident the previously undefeated Patriots would coast to an easy victory, Romney and his aides distributed Patriots caps to reporters. A touchdown in the final minute of play handed the Giants a shocking championship and resulted in this photo of Romney and his senior adviser Eric Fehrnstrom looking bummed as reporters, including Time's Michael Scherer, cheered the Giants in the background.

On Feb. 4, the Patriots and Giants will meet again—just as Romney is in yet another tough fight for the Republican nomination. Will the Patriots—and Romney—fare better in 2012?

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