Perfection Part One

The Result

The New England Patriots are the first team in 35 NFL seasons to finish the regular season undefeated as the beat the New York Giants, 38-35 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford NJ behind a record setting performance by Tom Brady and Randy Moss.

First I want to say to the Giants and their fans I’m glad they decided to play. It means more that the opponent not only left everything they had on the field but they tried to win a game that meant nothing to their season and they gave the Patriots a battle. I’d much rather see New England win by 3 points as they did then by 33 over a team that gave up by half time. The Giants staff and players should be commended for not rolling over when they had every reason to do so and no one would have blamed them. It was unfortunate to see their players Kaweka Mitchell, Sean O’Hara and Sam Madison suffer injuries but it was all in the flow of the game. The NFL should be proud of their teams tonight.

I just hope that Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy took notice and he and his team and staff give their entire effort tomorrow and don’t rollover against Tennessee in a game that has playoff implications for the Titans and the Cleveland Browns.

This game was a back and forth battle all the way but yet had almost an anti-climatic feel to it even with the individual and team records that were set. The Giants got on the board first when they became the first New England opponent to score on their opening possession all year when Eli Manning threw a 7 yard TD pass to Brandon Jacobs.

It had some of that uh-oh feel to it as the Patriots took a short lived 10-7 lead with a Stephen Gostkowski field goal and the first TD pass by Tom Brady to Randy Moss. The G-men and the Pats played a game of back and forth as the Giants went up 14-10 only to see the Patriots take a 16-14 lead but Manning’s second TD pass of the night put New York up 21-16 just before the half.

After the half the Giants took an 12-point lead when Manning threw to Burress for a 28-16 lead and it was New England’s largest deficit of the season. The previous high was 10-points to Manning’s brother, Peyton and the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9.

But after that the New England defense helped produce the games turning point as they held the Giants to two punts and an Ellis Hobbs INT on the next three possessions while Brady and the offense showed why they score points at will. The Pats then proceeded to put up 22 unanswered points on three TD’s (two rushing by Maroney and 1 BOMB to Moss) and a 2-point conversion also by Maroney to give them a 38-28 lead. That was pretty much the game even though the Giants scored with 1:04 left to play for the final margin but their onside kick attempt went awry and Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots put their name in the record books.

Lost in all this was the fact that it was Brady’s 28^th time overcoming a 4^th quarter deficit to win a game. It was the 4^th time this season that he accomplished that feat doing it at Indianapolis, vs. Philadelphia, at Baltimore and tonight against the Giants.

It was also the Patriots 19^th consecutive regular season win breaking the NFL record of 18 set by the 2003-04 Patriots.

I hope Patriots fans everywhere realize how special this team is and this season was. I also hope football fans everywhere realize how great a player Tom Brady is. You can have any other quarterback that has ever played, go ahead take Manning, Montana, Unitas, Bradshaw, Aikman, Stauback, Starr, Favre, Young. I’ll take Brady anytime, any place, anywhere and I’ll take him twice over anyone else when a game is on the line.

This is the end of perfection part one. Part two and finishing 3-0 is next.

Scoring Plays

New England	3	13	7	15	38
NY Giants	7	14	7	7	35

1^st Quarter

• NYG – Manning 7 yard pass to Jacobs – kick good – Giants 7-0
• NE – Gostkowski 37 yard FG – Giants 7-3

2^nd Quarter

• NE – Brady 4 yard pass to Moss – kick good – Patriots 10-7
• NYG – Hixson 74 yard kick return – kick good – Giants 14-10
• NE – Gostkowski 45 yard FG – Giants 14-13
• NE – Gostkowski 37 yard FG – Patriots 16-14
• NYG – Manning 3 yard pass to Boss – kick good – Giants 21-16

3^rd Quarter

• NYG – Manning 19 yard pass to Burress – kick good – Giants 28-16
• NE – Maroney 6 yard run – kick good – Giants 28-23

4^th Quarter

• NE – Brady 65 yard pass to Moss – Maroney 2 pt conversion – Patriots 31-28
• NE – Maroney 5 yard run – kick good – Patriots 38-28
• NYG – Manning 3 yard pass to Burress – Patriots 38-35

Offensive Players of the Game

Patriots QB Tom Brady was 32 of 42 for 356 yards and 2 TD passes and Patriots WR Randy Moss 6 catches for 100 yards and 2 TD’s.

Defensive Player of the Game

Patriots CB Ellis Hobbs had 5 tackles, 1 assist, 1 pass knocked down and 1 INT

Turning Point(s) of the Game

The defense stood up after the Giants scored on 1^st drive on 2^nd half and forced two punts and an INT as the Patriots scored 22 points after the defensive stands.

Offensive Leaders/Notes

In addition to Brady and Moss, Patriots WR Wes Welker had 11 catches for 122 yards.

1^st play of 1^st drive Tom Brady threw to Randy Moss for 16 yards to NE 401^st and 10, Brady throws 15-yard pass to Wes Welker to NYG 45

TE Ben Watson drops a swing pass on 2^nd and 10 from NYG 45

4^th and 2 from NYG 37 Brady 5 yards to Moss for 1^st down at NYG 32

9 yard pass to Welker for 1^st down at NYG 21

Watson drops 2^nd pass of drive at NYG 15 with Brady under pressure

On 3^rd and 8 at NYG 19 Brady over throws Moss in end zone Patriots will go with FGA

Maroney dropped for a loss on 2^nd drive for 4-yard loss at NE 46. Brady was then sacked at NE 38. Play erased on an illegal contact penalty by Giants Corey Webster giving Patriots 1^st and 10 at NYG 49.

Brady to Donte Stallworth for 12 yards to NYG 37

Brady to Welker for 20 yards to NYG 17

On 2^nd and 10 Brady goes to Faulk to NYG 6 for 1^st and goal

Maroney carries 2 yard to NYG 4 for 2^nd and goal

Brady to Moss 4 yard TD pass. Pass sets new NFL scoring record, Brady ties TD pass record with 49 and Moss ties TD catch record with 22.

On 3^rd drive Maroney runs for 13 to NE 46

Welker gets a 12 yard catch to NYG 28 for 1^st down, consecutive plays for loss give NE 3^rd and 14 at NYG 32. Faulk gets 4-yard catch NE goes for FGA.

On 4^th drive 1^st and 10 at NE 20 Maroney runs for 10 yards, Moss gets 8 yard catch on 2^nd and 2 Maroney gets first down at NE 41.

Brady throws 21 yards to Watson to NYG 25 for 1^st down.

Brady’s pass to Moss knocked away in end zone on 3^rd and 4 from NYG 19 will go with FGA. That broke a sting of 12/12 for Brady in completions/attempts

— half time —

Patriots go three and out on 5^th drive

On 6^th drive Brady gets a first down to Watson on 3^rd and 8 at NE 45

Welker gets a 36-yard pick up to NYG 29

On 2^nd and 4 Welker takes pass to NYG 16 for 8 yards

Brady throws to Moss in end zone and he is interfered with giving Patriots 1^st and goal at NYG 1

Brady over throws Mike Vrabel in end zone, illegal formation makes it 1^st and goal at NYG 6

Maroney runs 6 yards for TD

On 7^th drive Maroney dropped for 5 yard loss on 2^nd and 4 at NE 19

On 3^rd and 9 Faulk gets 10 yard catch

3^rd and 11 at NE 28 pass broken up for Moss Patriots will punt

on 8^th drive Moss dropped a pass at NYG 15 he was wide open but ball was under thrown a bit

Brady then goes back to Moss for 65 yard TD the pass sets the record for TD passes and catches in a single season.

On 9^th drive 1^st down from NE 48 Brady throws to Stallworth for 1^st down at NYG 36, Reggie Torbor then sacks Brady at the NYG 45, Brady throws 8 yards to Welker to NYG 37.

On 3^rd and 11 Brady hits Faulk for a 1^st down at NYG 23

On 2^nd down Maroney dropped for loss on 3^rd and 9 Brady throws to Welker for 1^st down at NYG 9

Maroney scores on 2^nd and goal from the NYG 5

10^th drive Patriots kneel down and run out the clock on an undefeated season.

Defensive Leaders/Notes

In addition to Hobbs, Patriots rookie DB Brandon Meriweather had 6 tackles and 1 assist and Patriots safety Rodney Harrison had 6 tackles and knocked down a pass.

Long pass on games second play from Giants QB Eli Manning to WR Plaxico Burress on Ellis Hobbs for 52 yards to NE 18

3^rd and 10 NYG gets first and goal at NE 8 with pass to Burress

Nice stop by NT Vince Wilfork on Brandon Jacobs after a 1 yard gain

Giants score on 2^nd goal from the NE 7 Jacobs catches a screen pass

DE Ty Warren stuffs Jacobs on 2^nd drive 1^st and 10 at NYG 21

LB Junior Seau and DE Richard Seymour drop Jacobs for a 1-yard loss to NYG 20, Giants forced to punt after an Amani Toomer drop on 3^rd and 11.

Manning gets 17-yard pass to TE Kevin Boss for 1^st down at NE 47 on 3^rd drive

Jacobs stuffed on 1^st down by Wilfork for no gain

On 3^rd and 7 from midfield Rodney Harrison knocks down a pass for Boss forcing a punt.

On 4^th drive Boss catches 22-yard pass for 1^st down at NYG 37 after Manning was chased from the pocket and nearly sacked.

Toomer grabs 20-yard pass to NE 43, Jacobs on 1^st down runs for 1^st down to NE 26

Jacobs and Seau get into after a play Seau held Jacobs down resulting in a delay of game, Wilfork then went after Jacobs too poking him through his facemask. Giving Giants 1^st down at NE 14

Manning runs for 1^st and goal at NE 3

Hobbs breaks up pass for Burress in end zone on 1^st and goal

Manning throws TD pass to Boss

— half time —

Jacobs runs for first down into NE territory at the 40 on 5^th drive

On 2^nd and 8 from NE 38 Jacobs runs to NE 20

Manning 19 yard TD pass to Burress

6^th drive Jacobs drops pass for what would have been a big pick up on 1^st down

Manning completed to Toomer for 1^st down at NE 43

Adalius Thomas comes up with a huge sack of Manning for loss of 17, Giants have to punt

7^th drive Manning fumbles at recovers at NYG 29 for 2^nd and 11, pass tipped away by James Sanders to force 3^rd and 11. Giants stopped at NYG 32 forced to punt.

8^th drive on 2^nd and 7 from NYG 25 Hobbs picks off Manning at the NE 48.

9^th drive Rodney Harrison gets a personal foul penalty and puts Giants at NE 44.

Manning to Steve Smith for 1^st down at NE 27

After 9 yard pass to Jacobs, Manning sneaks for 1^st down at NE 16

Manning throws to Smith for 1^st and goal at the NE 4

1^st down pass incomplete to Burress

2^nd down pass to David Tyree for loss of 2 to NE 6, NE offside penalty

3^rd down and goal at NE 3 Manning throw to Burress for TD

Special Teams Notes

Patriots Antwain Spann stops KR Domenik Hixson at NYG 21 after a 12 yard KOR

After Moss TD Hixson return KOR 74 for TD. Set up by group celebration penalty after the NE TD forcing a further KO.

— half time —

NYG attempt on side kick with 1:04 to play Vrabel recovers for NE

Coaching Decisions

• NYG – Challenge the incomplete pass at NE 4 on 1^st drive’s 3^rd play -upheld
• NE – 4^th and 2 from NYG 37 Brady throws 5 yards to Moss for 1^st down
• NYG – Onside kick attempt with 1:04 to play, Vrabel recovers for NE

Injuries

• NYG – LB Kaweka Mitchell knee injury, will not return – 1^st qtr
• NE – WR Randy Moss hit to the chin, returned – 1^st qtr
• NYG – C Sean O’Hara leg injury, will not return – 2^nd qtr
• NYG – CB Sam Madison abdominal injury, will not return – 4^th qtr

The Officials

Tonight’s referee was Mike Carey. This crew also officiated the Patriots-Cowboys game in Week 6.

Made correct call on dropped pass at NE 4 in 1^st quarter that was challenged by NYG

Failed to flag Seau, Jacobs and Wilfork during skirmish they were in danger of losing control.

Game Notes

The Patriots win their 19^th consecutive regular season game setting a new NFL record. The Patriots of 2003-04 held the old record of 18.

The Patriots are the first team in NFL history to win 16 regular season games, the previous record was 15 held by several teams.

The Patriots are the 4^th team in NFL history to finish the regular season undefeated.

The Patriots played without starting OG Stephen Neal (shoulder), starting OT Nick Kaczur (foot), TE Kyle Brady (foot), CB Willie Andrews (elbow), RB Kyle Eckel (stomach). Other inactives for the game are WR Chad Jackson and WR Troy Brown.

Giants were without CB Kevin Dockery, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, LB Tank Daniels, OT Adam Koets, DT Manny Wright, WR Sinorice Moss and TE Jerome Collins.

The Patriots signed CB Antwain Spann off of the practice squad. He takes the open roster spot created when the team released LB Chad Brown on Thursday.The Patriots have scored on their first possession in 13 of their16 games. (8 TD’s/5 FG’s)

The Giants scored the first points of the game on their first drive. They were only the third opponent to score the first points in a game all season. It was also the first red zone TD the Patriots have given up in the opponents last ten trips into the red zone.

The Giants became the first opponent to score on their opening drive all season.

The Patriots are 45/46 this season in red zone scoring opportunities. Their only red zone failure was a missed Stephen Gostkowski field goal.

The Patriots are 15/21 in 4th down conversions this season.

Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker set team record for receptions with his first catch on the game for 15 yards. It was his 102^nd catch of the season breaking Troy Brown’s team record of 101 set in 2001. He had 11 catches tonight to finish with 112 catches on the year.

Patriots QB Tom Brady set the NFL record for TD passes with 50.

Patriots WR Randy Moss set the NFL record for TD catches with 23.

A 65-yard TD by Brady to Moss in the 4^th quarter both NFL single season records.

Patriots set single season scoring record on with their first TD to get to 561 points, breaking old record of 556 set by Minnesota in 1998. They finished with 589 points.

21 points by Giants is most allowed by Patriots in the first half of any game this season.

Tom Brady is 30-5 in his career when a game is decided by a touchdown or less.

Post Game Press Conferences

See what head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady had to say about the record setting win.

Post game press conferences via patriots.com

Things To Work On For Next Week

Fine tuning for the playoffs and Super Bowl and winning their fourth championship in 7 years and finishing 19-0 and making Mercury Morris shut up.

Next Week’s Opponent

Bye Week