Perfect Patriots

By Garth McLennan

be had their doubters, critics, and
skeptics, but the New England Patriots
didn’t let anything stop them on their
way to the NFL’s first perfect regular
season since 1972.

The Patriots made the NFL
their playground this season, going 16-0,
and for the most part, utterly dominating

their outmatched opponents.

Tom Brady established himself
as the league’s best player after a
tremendous campaign in which he set
an NFL record for touchdown passes,
throwing two in the final game against
the New York Giants to finish the season
with 50, eclipsing Peyton Manning’s

mark of 49.

Randy Moss vaulted himself
back into the league’s list of best receivers
as he set a new touchdown catch record
of 23, including two in the last game. He
breaks Jerry Rice’s 1987 record of 22,
set with the San Francisco 49ers.

There were a number of
remarkable Patriot acts this year. The
franchise set a number
of NFL _ records,
including most wins
in a season, most total
points scored, most
team touchdowns,
and most consecutive
wins. New England
has now won 19
straight
season contests going
back to last season.
They bested their
own record of 18
from 2003-2004.

While they managed to burst
through all obstacles this year, there
were a number of distractions and close
calls.

regular

There was the now infamous
“Spygate” incident in September, in
which a New England video assistant
was caught illegally filming the New
York Jets defensive signals during the
opening game of the season. Head coach
Bill Belichick was fined an NFL record
$500,000 penalty, while the Patriots

“They are Just
the fourth
team ever to
accomplish

the feat.”

January 14, 2008
franchise was handed a stiff $250,000
fine. Furthermore, the Patriots were
stripped of their first round draft choice
in the upcoming 2008 NFL entry draft,
with their pick going to the Jets.

While the Patriots blew most
teams out of the water this season,
they were nearly upset by the underdog
Baltimore Ravens, having to win in
dramatic fashion with
seconds remaining on
the clock. In the final
week of the season,
New England
down a season high
12 points against the
Giants before storming
back to win the game.

New England
now joins the exclusive
perfect season club.
They are just the fourth
team to

Was

accomplish

the feat, joining the
1934 and 1942 Chicago Bears and the
1972 Miami Dolphins as the NFL’s only
perfect teams.

New England’s 2007-08 legacy
is still to be determined. They must
triumph in the playoffs for their historic
season to be truly complete. Only a Super
Bowl victory will satisfy the fans and
critics alike. However, judging by their
amazing regular season, it’s safe to say
that no one will bet against the Patriots
in the postseason.

 

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