Perfect Patriots: New England Finishes Regular Season Undefeated, Beats Giants
Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
A meaningless game never had so much meaning. And in such a football game that had no impact on the upcoming postseason, this was an instant classic. Quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots overcame their largest deficit of the season (12 points) and outlasted the determined, playoff-bound N.Y. Giants 38-35 to finish the 2007 NFL regular season undefeated at 16-0. They are the first team to finish a regular season 16-0 and only the fourth team ever to finish a regular season undefeated.
The first thing that came to my mind after this game was exactly what it took for the Patriots to get to 16-0. And without attempting to get into every detail involved to achieve something as monumental as this, you have to look at the team’s preparation first and foremost. Obviously having the talent in the locker room is key, but it’s getting that talent to work together toward one common goal that is the challenge. And that starts at the top with the coaching staff. As I said in an earlier post today, some perceive the Patriots as boring with their methodical, one-week-at-a-time approach, but it works. By focusing on the opponent at hand and not looking ahead, just as they did tonight, New England has been able to win all their games. Another point that must be mentioned is the play of Tom Brady. Looking at his numbers tonight, it’s not hard to figure out why this team has won all its games. Tom was 32 of 42 for 356 yards and two TDs. He didn’t make any critical errors and that’s absolutely vital to the success of any football team. He’s not only the team’s MVP, but the league MVP as well. Or at least he should be.
Of course, in the process of going 16-0, records were broken — three of them tonight and two on one play. New England became the highest scoring team in NFL history (589 points scored), breaking the mark previously held by the 1998 Minnesota Vikings. Tom Brady broke Peyton Manning’s record for most TD passes in a season (50). And Randy Moss broke Jerry Rice’s record for most TD catches by a wide receiver in a season (23). I should mention that Randy was a rookie with the Vikings during their high-scoring ‘98 season. These are incredible achievements that are almost downplayed by an organization that preaches team first.
From here, the Pats know they have work yet to do. They’ll enjoy this one for a day or two and then it’s time to get back to the task at hand, which is getting to and winning Super Bowl XLII. If the Patriots should fall along the way in the postseason, tonight will mean nothing. It really won’t. Even as great an accomplishment as this is, without a Super Bowl victory to complete the effort, the Patriots will consider this season a failure.
As far as the Giants are concerned, they went toe-to-toe with the best. This game should do wonders for their confidence next week against Tampa and beyond, assuming they are not too beat up to take advantage of it. The Giants were up for this game and if they haven’t spent everything they had, physically and emotionally, on this one, they’ll be a team to be reckoned with in the NFC playoffs.
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