nthfinity
12-30-2007, 02:26 PM
Pristine 16
Perfect Patriots just keep winning like a broken record, writes Dan Pompei
PATRIOTS 38, GIANTS 35
Dan Pompei
December 30, 2007
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- It wasn't a game so much as a coronation, an acknowledgment that the New England Patriots are indeed the perfect team -- at least for a regular season.
They defeated the New York Giants 38-35 Saturday night in a contest that meant nothing -- except whether the 2007 Patriots would have a place in history. There were no playoff implications for the Giants, who already had the fifth seed in the NFC playoffs secure, or the Patriots, who had the top seed in the AFC.
Yet it was a fiercely contested game played in a playoff atmosphere. Neither coach Bill Belichick nor counterpart Tom Coughlin gave a thought to pulling starters. The Giants moved to within three points with 1:04 remaining, but Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel recovered New York's onside kick to effectively end the game.
Afterward, Belichick quoted his old boss, Bill Parcells, when asked about the Patriots' approach to the game.
"A coach I worked for used to say, 'There are no meaningless games when you're playing in them,'" Belichick said. "I believe every word of it."
Years from now, we will remember the undefeated Patriots, the only team in NFL history to go 16-0 in the regular season.
Years from now, we will remember Tom Brady like he was Saturday night -- resilient, cool and deadly.
Years from now, we will remember Randy Moss flying past defenders as he was Saturday night.
Years from now, we will remember little Wes Welker confounding the opponent with tough catches and impossible elusiveness like he showed against the Giants.
The Patriots' 16th triumph came in the same stadium where they had their first victory. That game, a 38-14 victory over the New York Jets, was the beginning of more than a run of dominance. The Jets turned in the Patriots for videotaping their sidelines that day in Giants Stadium. The resulting "spygate" controversy marred the Patriots' accomplishments in the eyes of some but also gave wings to the Patriots' "us against the world" mentality.
The Patriots were videotaping again Saturday, except this time it was Brady with his personal camcorder, recording the moments for posterity. No one tried to confiscate the tape.
"Everyone is going to enjoy this one," said Brady, who threw for 356 yards and completed 32 of his 42 passes.
"This happens once every 35 years," he added, referring to the Miami Dolphins' perfect season in 1972.
After the game Belichick sought out Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, his old offensive coordinator, and greeted him with an embrace on the field. Those in the Patriots' locker room for the postgame private team meeting described a "touching" celebration in which a few tears were shed. It was an emotional night, with the Patriots falling behind 28-16 before clawing their way back into the game.
The Patriots finally let loose with some of the emotions they had been suppressing since September.
"That was some way to finish the season," Belichick said. "It's really something to be part of this team and what they accomplished today."
The Patriots even spoke of taking time to savor their feat before resuming preparations Thursday for their first playoff game the week after next.
"Right now, it's party time," said Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs, who intercepted Eli Manning in the fourth quarter.
The touchdown that turned the game around was historic. With 11 minutes 6 seconds remaining, Brady hit Moss for a 65-yard touchdown pass past safety James Butler. The touchdown was Brady's 50th of the year, which passed Peyton Manning's record for most touchdown passes in an NFL season. The touchdown reception was Moss' 23rd of the year, which passed Jerry Rice's mark for most touchdown catches.
The 65-yarder was the second touchdown of the night between the star duo, as Moss caught a 4-yard pass from Brady in the first quarter.
The Patriots had the No. 1 scoring defense in the league going in, but they gave up a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. The 21 points the Giants scored in the first two quarters were the most the Patriots allowed in a first half this year, and the performance raised some questions about the Patriots defense heading into the playoffs.
If Manning (251 passing yards and four touchdowns) gave the Patriots problems, what might big brother Peyton do for the Colts in a game that means something? Then again, will it matter, given what Brady and his offense are capable of?
Playing without the starting right side of their offensive line, the Patriots also had protection issues. Brady usually was savvy enough to compensate by avoiding pressure, throwing the ball away or dumping it off. But he was continually hit, hurried and forced to adjust with his feet and his throws.
The Patriots will need better protection -- and better defense -- against the better teams they will face in what might be a more dramatic postseason than many of us thought it was going to be.
"We can do better all across the board," Belichick said.
But this was a night to focus on perfection, not flaws.
I was talking to somebody last night about this win, and my words, to sum it up is that the win is basically a let down of sorts... an anti-climax. The perfect season for so many years has been a pipe dream... an unattainable goal. The patriots proved this "impossible deed" could be done. Years to come, they will be remembered as one of the greats football has ever seen in one team... and perhaps already have that to some fair degree... That is why I watched it.
I'm not a gridiron fan, and have a tough time watching the game, but I have tremendous respect for it as a sport.
Perfect Patriots just keep winning like a broken record, writes Dan Pompei
PATRIOTS 38, GIANTS 35
Dan Pompei
December 30, 2007
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- It wasn't a game so much as a coronation, an acknowledgment that the New England Patriots are indeed the perfect team -- at least for a regular season.
They defeated the New York Giants 38-35 Saturday night in a contest that meant nothing -- except whether the 2007 Patriots would have a place in history. There were no playoff implications for the Giants, who already had the fifth seed in the NFC playoffs secure, or the Patriots, who had the top seed in the AFC.
Yet it was a fiercely contested game played in a playoff atmosphere. Neither coach Bill Belichick nor counterpart Tom Coughlin gave a thought to pulling starters. The Giants moved to within three points with 1:04 remaining, but Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel recovered New York's onside kick to effectively end the game.
Afterward, Belichick quoted his old boss, Bill Parcells, when asked about the Patriots' approach to the game.
"A coach I worked for used to say, 'There are no meaningless games when you're playing in them,'" Belichick said. "I believe every word of it."
Years from now, we will remember the undefeated Patriots, the only team in NFL history to go 16-0 in the regular season.
Years from now, we will remember Tom Brady like he was Saturday night -- resilient, cool and deadly.
Years from now, we will remember Randy Moss flying past defenders as he was Saturday night.
Years from now, we will remember little Wes Welker confounding the opponent with tough catches and impossible elusiveness like he showed against the Giants.
The Patriots' 16th triumph came in the same stadium where they had their first victory. That game, a 38-14 victory over the New York Jets, was the beginning of more than a run of dominance. The Jets turned in the Patriots for videotaping their sidelines that day in Giants Stadium. The resulting "spygate" controversy marred the Patriots' accomplishments in the eyes of some but also gave wings to the Patriots' "us against the world" mentality.
The Patriots were videotaping again Saturday, except this time it was Brady with his personal camcorder, recording the moments for posterity. No one tried to confiscate the tape.
"Everyone is going to enjoy this one," said Brady, who threw for 356 yards and completed 32 of his 42 passes.
"This happens once every 35 years," he added, referring to the Miami Dolphins' perfect season in 1972.
After the game Belichick sought out Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, his old offensive coordinator, and greeted him with an embrace on the field. Those in the Patriots' locker room for the postgame private team meeting described a "touching" celebration in which a few tears were shed. It was an emotional night, with the Patriots falling behind 28-16 before clawing their way back into the game.
The Patriots finally let loose with some of the emotions they had been suppressing since September.
"That was some way to finish the season," Belichick said. "It's really something to be part of this team and what they accomplished today."
The Patriots even spoke of taking time to savor their feat before resuming preparations Thursday for their first playoff game the week after next.
"Right now, it's party time," said Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs, who intercepted Eli Manning in the fourth quarter.
The touchdown that turned the game around was historic. With 11 minutes 6 seconds remaining, Brady hit Moss for a 65-yard touchdown pass past safety James Butler. The touchdown was Brady's 50th of the year, which passed Peyton Manning's record for most touchdown passes in an NFL season. The touchdown reception was Moss' 23rd of the year, which passed Jerry Rice's mark for most touchdown catches.
The 65-yarder was the second touchdown of the night between the star duo, as Moss caught a 4-yard pass from Brady in the first quarter.
The Patriots had the No. 1 scoring defense in the league going in, but they gave up a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. The 21 points the Giants scored in the first two quarters were the most the Patriots allowed in a first half this year, and the performance raised some questions about the Patriots defense heading into the playoffs.
If Manning (251 passing yards and four touchdowns) gave the Patriots problems, what might big brother Peyton do for the Colts in a game that means something? Then again, will it matter, given what Brady and his offense are capable of?
Playing without the starting right side of their offensive line, the Patriots also had protection issues. Brady usually was savvy enough to compensate by avoiding pressure, throwing the ball away or dumping it off. But he was continually hit, hurried and forced to adjust with his feet and his throws.
The Patriots will need better protection -- and better defense -- against the better teams they will face in what might be a more dramatic postseason than many of us thought it was going to be.
"We can do better all across the board," Belichick said.
But this was a night to focus on perfection, not flaws.
I was talking to somebody last night about this win, and my words, to sum it up is that the win is basically a let down of sorts... an anti-climax. The perfect season for so many years has been a pipe dream... an unattainable goal. The patriots proved this "impossible deed" could be done. Years to come, they will be remembered as one of the greats football has ever seen in one team... and perhaps already have that to some fair degree... That is why I watched it.
I'm not a gridiron fan, and have a tough time watching the game, but I have tremendous respect for it as a sport.