As far as the media pundits are concerned this weekends matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets has already been decided. The Patriots will win by somewhere between fifty and one hundred points and the Jets will be duly punished for tattling on the Pats for videotaping their defensive signals last September. In many ways it was "Spygate" that was the catalyst for the Patriots epic 2007 season. Even at this past weekends game against the Pittsburgh Steelers someone paid to have a banner flown over Gillette Stadium putting the Pats titles in the same class as Barry Bonds' home-run record.

Patriots fans tailgating in the parking lots were shocked to see the sign in the sky, flying over their home turf, but slowly everyone began to realize it was just what the Patriots would need for the last bit of motivation to trounce the Steelers. In reality, Pittsburgh was the last true test that stood between New England and a perfect season. Imagine a Tedy Bruschi or a Rodney Harrison being told just before the game that the Super Bowls that they both endured so much to attain were now tainted because of something they had no control over. From that planes first pass over Foxborough the Steelers had no chance.

Continue reading "Spy Gate: Part Deux"

Happy Friday everyone. There are only three weeks of regular season NFL games left so enjoy them. Soon we'll be in "the void" between the Pro Bowl and Draft but until then we have the playoffs to look forward to, or should I say the race for second place. Three more weeks for the following guys to turn it around, if not Stick a Fork in them because they are D-O-N-E....

Eli Manning - okay he's probably played just well enough to get one more season but come on, this guy is not the quarterback you want leading your franchise. Just look at him, he doesn't exactly have "Leader of Men" written all over him or even near him. He looks more likely to tear up if you dumped his books then threaten to tell his older brothers. Must've been tough growing up in Peyton (and Cooper's) shadow and clearly he's never been able to live up to either of them. By 2009 he'll be backing up Peyton in Indy, might as well just get literally into his shadow as well.

Continue reading "Stick a Fork in Them"

The Patriots tied NFL history Sunday with a hard fought victory in inclimate weather against the New York Jets. New England became the second team in NFL history to start 14-0. Freezing rain and swirling winds grounded the Pats vaunted passing attack for much of the day, but second year back Laurence Maroney went for 104-yards with a touchdown to lead the Pats to a 20-10 win.

The Patriots answered two major questions today. First that their running game with Laurence Maroney is something that can carry the team in games where it's needed. Second that their defense has plugged up some of the problems that have haunted them for the last month. The run defense gave up only 90-yards on the ground, many of which were due to missed tackles in the sloppy weather. I give both sides passes on the mistakes due to the weather (That doesn't include your two false start penalties Logan Mankins). Richard Seymour had his best game of the season, consistently putting pressure on the Jets QBs (including a knock down that knocked Kellem Clements out of the game).

Continue reading "Pats Dispatch Jets: Move to 14-0"

This weekends match-up between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins took on a new dimension yesterday with Bill Parcells agreeing in principal to a four-year deal to be the VP of Football Operations for the Phins. Parcells rescued the Pats in the early 90's, giving them their first amount of respectability before leaving under turbulent circumstances just after Super Bowl XXXI. Clearly Parcells knows what he's getting himself into. Bill Belichick is believed to be signed through 2013, he's not going anywhere and seems focused on rewriting the history books. Belichick and Pats VP Scott Pioli have stated in the past that they have no intention of leaving New England. Parcells must know this as well since his daughter is married to Pioli. Either Parcells believes he has something to prove (seeing that he's never won a Super Bowl without Belichick on his staff) or he loves the challenge of facing a Patriots team twice a year that will have Brady and Belichick well into the next decade.

Continue reading "Bring it on, Tuna!"

Regardless of what happens next weekend against the Giants, one thing is certain for the New England Patriots. On the weekend of January 6th they will host an AFC Divisional playoff game. Then it won't matter if the Patriots finish 16-0 or 15-1. They will have to win or their historic season will end in unequivical disappointment. As to who the Patriots will play in the first weekend, it's still up in the air. The two most likely candidates are:

San Diego Chargers - they've been on a roll as of late but I still believe they contain enough fatal flaws (internal dissention, shaky quarterback) that the Patriots could put enough points up to beat them for a third straight time. They are defintely a better team than when they got blown out in Foxboro last September but it seems like it takes a whole lot of what the Chargers don't have to pull off a major upset in the playoffs... heart.

Continue reading "Pick Your Poison"

Well the Pats did it, a perfect 16-0. Of course this won't mean much if they blow it in the playoffs but it has been a fun ride. Being a Pats fan this year has already been a ton of fun. But how good are the Pats really? Let's look back at the sixteen games they won and see.
Game 1: NE 38, @ New York Jets 14This game looked a whole lot better when the Jets were still considered a playoff team. The Pats whooped them good and we got our first glimpse of the Brady to Moss bomb that would set records.
Game 2: @ NE 38, San Diego Chargers 14This was supposed to be San Diego's "revenge" game. They didn't realize that the Pats were roughly four times as good as when they upset the Chargers at home in the playoffs last year. The Chargers got better toward the end of the season and could give the Colts a game in the AFC Divisional game assuming they dispatch the Titans. Solid win for the Pats against a respectable AFC opponent.

Continue reading "Patriots 2007 Recap"