Per the Globe: “Randy Moss caught a long pass from Tom Brady for his second touchdown of the game.” Excellent Globe Staff Photo by Barry Chin.
Per AP: “The Pats got their perfect regular season, but it wasn’t without a fight. New England rallied from 12 points down in the second half to beat the Giants, 38-35, and finish the regular season 16-0.”
Please share widely!
… Manning would have to play one of his best career games (in poise if not in stats) to even come close. History records thats exactly what happened, he played as such and came close (but no cigar).
but he really did fade in the second half. At halftime I predicted Eli would throw an interception near the beginning of the 4th quarter to take the wind out of the G-men.
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p>Sure enough…
…Coach Coughlin of the Giants. He bet the farm, and likely lost.
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p>He lost two important players to injury, and his team is entirely, utterly spent. If the Giants stagger and fall next week in the playoffs (when it actually matters), he will be Public Enemy One among Giants fans. Had he played this game with subs, he’d have been castigated roundly and his team would have suffered. The man was in a no-win situation.
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p>As for the game, any configuration that keeps Phil Simms off of my TV is worth it.
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p>2. Jints runners are well-rested – no wear & tear there
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p>3. Madison’s not so great; Bucs haven’t thrown well anyway
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p>4. The backup tight end is better than Shockey
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p>5. Small thing, but by playing last night, Giants get an extra day of rest
To anyone that doesnt find it unusual to turn on their TV and find the exact same program on every station … here’s to you.
I assume that everyone would much rather see the Pats win the Super Bowl than go 16-0 in the regular season but suffer a loss in the playoffs. But it just seems like the trend is in a worrisome direction. Except for the 4-point win vs. the undefeated-at-the-time Colts, every game before the bye was a blowout, including against some very good teams (Chargers (10-5), Browns (9-6), and Cowboys (13-2)). Post-bye, though, three wins have been by a scant 3 points, including against the 7-8 Eagles and the lowly 4-11 Ravens. They didn’t come close to beating the spread against the miserable Jets (though weather was a factor). And they were solidly outplayed in the first half of last night’s game.
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p>Another way of looking at it: as of now, the overall W-L of their opponents before the bye is 70-65. Overall after the bye it’s 42-64. That suggests that the opponents were better teams pre-bye, yet the wins post-bye were much closer.
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p>To be sure, so far they have always come back in impressive fashion to win, as they did last night (helped by Eli Manning’s peculiar collapse). But in general, they’ve looked more vulnerable in the second half of this season than in the first. And they didn’t play some of the strongest teams at all (in the AFC, Jaguars (11-4) and Titans (9-6), and in the NFC, Packers (12-3), Bucs (9-6), and Seahawks (10-5)).
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p>So … would it have been “better” if they had lost last night, gotten a serious reality check/wake-up call that they are not in fact unbeatable, and headed into the playoffs without the pressure of keeping up the “perfect” season, but instead just focused on winning the Super Bowl?
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p>Anyway, it should be a very exciting post-season!
This is not a choking-type team. They can handle the pressure, I think, even thrive on it. Plus, it is more fun to win. I definitely agree with your numerical analysis. But consider it this way: they came jolly close to losing, and had to play at their best to win. That’s about as much of a reality check as one can get.
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p>I think the fact that the team has a week off, combined with the massive adrenaline rush they collectively experienced in the second half, are about as good a set-up for the playoffs as one could hope for.
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p>Most important, the winds of fortune are behind this team. That second-attempt completion to Moss for two NFL records — the very same play (and I don’t care what the coach said later) as one that had just failed — was an amazingly gutsy move, and is a very good omen.
It’s really our D that is decent but not stellar.
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p>In all the close games, opposing offenses moved the ball in the air. We’re generating little pass rush.
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p>It starts with Seymour, who used to command 2 blockers; now just 1 and still doesn’t get there.
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p>Adalius Thomas is no McGinest or Colvin from the edge, still seemingly not fully comfortable. Hobbs and Sanders are competent but no more. Bruschi adds huge team energy but is now below average LB b/w the lines.
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p>We’re now a “shoot-out” team. But with Faulk, Welker, Moss all essentially uncoverable, I like our chances.
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p>I expect to see hurry-up from Minute 1 in playoffs.
Still bizarre to have the Pats as an offensive team that outguns the other side. I’m not aware of any linebackers we have on the bench right now who could move into the places occupied by Bruschi and Seau. Figure they have maybe 2 years left, and you want one year for them to get used to the scheme, I hope we pick up some LB talent during this summer.
about the ‘trend’ because:
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p>While the Pats were blowing out some opponents early on (pre-bye week), they had to use second half comebacks to beat both Dallas & Indy, on the road. Ditto Baltimore & the Giants.
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p>As the season progressed, the spreads were getting ridiculous.
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p>I would disagree that they were solidly outplayed in the first half last night. The special teams TD for the Giants was huge, but otherwise the Pats dominated time of possession and settled for 3 field goals. Credit the Giants who came out fast, but hardly dominated.
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p>Bad weather affected the Pats passing game a few times down the stretch, especially windy, rainy weather. Last nights weather was good, big game for TB & the offense.
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p>When the Pats played Pittsburgh in week 14, the Steelers came in at 9-3 and the Pats buried them.
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p>The teams that played over their heads (Ravens, Eagles, Giants) against the Pats were throwing everything they had at the Pats and gambling to try and break the undefeated streak. Even the Giants, with arguably the best pass rush in the league, couldn’t stop the Pats, who played without starting offensive line members Kyle Brady, Neal & Kaczur.
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p>You couldn’t ask much more of the Pats. I didn’t expect them to blow out every opponent by 21 points, never mind win every game. I think that they’re well aware that they’re not unbeatable, and a regular season loss wouldn’t have changed that much one way or another.
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p>IMHO, the defense of the Pats will determine how far they go in the playoffs. Seymour is regaining his form, and the secondary is healthier/deeper than at any time I can remember.
This was the most hyped regular season game possibly ever. Even the Superbowl is only broadcast on one network. The unprecedented coverage by three networks, the weight on both teams of the potential to go down in history, and the fact that the game was close and competitive for three quarters made it one of the best games this season (our win over the Colts notwithstanding).
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p>What worries me is exactly the point David brought up, this was the first time I have seen the Pats really truly celebrate and acknowledge this potential, and I am hoping they are not too distracted by breaking minor records and yes even by the perfect regular season, because winning a Superbowl, especially in the wake of Spygate, is the only way to truly cement the legacy of what might have been the best team to ever grace the sport.
I recall a fair number of missed tackles last night.
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Love the Pats, but what the Celtics are doing right now is arguably superior.
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p>Best NBA record ever is 72-10 (95-6 Bulls); Celtics project right now to 73 wins.
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p>Okay, it won’t happen. But still.
I remember when the Pats wore red shirts, looked like goofballs, weren’t generally very good (some heroes notwithstanding), and played in Schaeffer Stadium. Now look at them. Anything is possible!
He went to Pats-Jets games so he could have a shot at getting Namaths autograph (he failed). The stadium was awful, half full, and the team was nearly as bad. We had a few playoff runs in the late 70s and my dad had to watch the Bears kill us in the 86 Superbowl with a bunch of Bears fans (from New England!).
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p>So regardless of all the bs I have to hear back at school from Bears, Steelers, Vikings, Colts, and other haters I am glad we are where we are cheating allegations notwithstanding.
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p>Oh and someone mentioned how awesome the Celtics are, this could seriously be a banner year for Boston sports and I am very excited about all of them. If only the Bruins could get their act together…
Imagine…the NBA, MLB, and NFL titles all in the same city. Ahh….
Finally something we can all agree on Im sure Go Boston!
Too bad the Revs are the Buffalo Bills of the MLS! It would have been nice to have another title to wave in the faces of the Boston haters.
Must just be me but I can imagine that the Stop & Shop raising the price of Alpo by a nickle would have more far significant consequence for most of us than wether some collections of bumbling billionairs is able to play a game with balls and win … Have some coffe with your propoganda and then pull up your chair and dig in to the latest round of advertising made just for you!
Are you a killjoy all the time or just here on BMG? If you don’t like sports, don’t read the thread.
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p>Everyone needs a break from the weary world. Even I admit that, despite my lack of interest for most sports (Patriots notwithstanding).
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p>Get over it already. People like sports. It’s better than gladiators killing each other for entertainment, don’t you think?