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Brady and Moss set the records straight
By Jackie MacMullan
Globe Columnist / December 30, 2007
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Here's how you know you're destined to go down in history as something special.
You call your dream play - Randy Moss streaking down the right side of the football field while Tom Brady cocks his golden arm and throws it just about as far as he can - and the ball is just a little bit short, and Moss has to come back to it, and incredibly, unbelievably, drops it at the 18-yard line, with no one between him and the end zone.
Your quarterback appears stunned, agitated. He even puts his hands in his helmet for a split second before waving his team back into the huddle.
"I wish I could have made a better throw," Brady confessed when it was over.
So the quarterback regroups, and the Patriots design a short pass play for receiver Wes Welker, because its third down and 10 in the fourth quarter, and the clock is ticking down, and New England is losing 28-23, and after all, history is on the line, and both teams have played so hard, and even though both coaches probably would have liked rest their starters for the postseason, neither were about to blink in the midst of this electric football battle.
The Patriots step up to the line of scrimmage and Moss positions himself on the right side of the field, exactly where he was one play earlier, but he's not expecting the ball.
"I'm running the same thing as the last time - a 9 route - to clear out so Tommy can get the ball to Wes," Moss said. "Only the corner and the safety come over and trap Wes, and they are trying to trap Tommy into making a bad throw."
Brady looks at Welker, sees the coverage, and has a split second to make a decision. So he reacts to what he senses is his best option - and he heaves the ball down the right side of the field again, to the guy who is wearing No. 81 and the red gloves, the guy who had dropped the ball moments earlier, the one who has been his best option since the day he reported to training camp and vowed he would be nothing but a positive influence on this New England Patriots team.
You know, the guy running the 9 route.
This time, Moss strides down the field, 65 yards in all, as Brady lets it fly, watching in absolute glee as the ball floats over the head of safety James Butler and nestles safely in the outstretched arms of the best receiver the franchise quarterback has ever seen.
Touchdown. Game-breaker. Record-breaker.
And so it is done. The Patriots are 16-0 and have established a standard of excellence. Brady is the NFL season leader in touchdown passes and Moss is the season leader in touchdown receptions. New England once again proves it will bend, but it will not break.
Together, the Giants and the Patriots combine to provide America with the most exhilarating and exciting game that meant absolutely nothing in terms of playoff positioning, but was played with the passion and intensity of a Super Bowl.
The pursuit of perfection has been grueling, taxing, and last night was no exception. The Giants attacked this game as though their season depended on it.
For three quarters, they were more composed than their more-celebrated opponent. Their young quarterback Eli Manning was neither flummoxed or flustered by the Patriots' defense, as so many prognosticators forecasted.
The Patriots, quite frankly, were in trouble. Their defense was unable to contain Manning and his receivers. Brandon Jacobs literally ran over some of New England's top personnel, including team leader Rodney Harrison.
Offensively, New England moved the ball, but was thwarted from punching it into the end zone. The Patriots scored on their first four offensive series, but three of those were field goals.
They trailed, 21-16, at the half, 28-16 early in the third quarter, and 28-23 at the 12-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
There was nothing perfect about it.
But they have been here before, down to Dallas, down to Indy, down to Baltimore, and each time New England found a way to win.
Last night, the weapons of choice were familiar. It was Brady and Moss, now the two most prolific season scorers in the history of their respective positions.
There is only one pigskin to signify their incredible fourth-quarter connection. The 65-yard pass from Brady to Moss no only cemented the team's history, it cemented their milestones as well.
So what to do with the ball? Donate it to Canton, Ohio? Feed it to Jonathan Papelbon's dog? Cut it in half and share their historic moment?
"That's what I suggested, to be honest," Moss said. "But Tom said, 'Oh no, you keep it.' "
The quarterback is asked in the wake of this satisfying 38-35 victory what it means to him to surpass the totals of his friend and rival, Peyton Manning, who held the mark of 49 touchdown passes in a season.
"It's not as important as what I've experienced the last seven years - or tonight," Brady said.
Moss, whose checkered past left him bent on silencing his critics this season, claims he knew from the day he walked into the Foxborough locker room that success of historic proportions was possible.
"I had done my homework on why I wanted to be a New England Patriot," said Moss, citing coach Bill Belichick, Brady, and the chemistry in the locker room as the major components. "I love what I do. I love to play football. When I came here, I looked down the road and - I know this is hard to believe - but I predicted this."
It takes a supremely confident athlete to predict his team will not lose a game during the long, arduous NFL season.
Moss fits the bill. So does Brady.
No wonder they wound up perfect.
By Jackie MacMullan
Globe Columnist / December 30, 2007
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Here's how you know you're destined to go down in history as something special.
You call your dream play - Randy Moss streaking down the right side of the football field while Tom Brady cocks his golden arm and throws it just about as far as he can - and the ball is just a little bit short, and Moss has to come back to it, and incredibly, unbelievably, drops it at the 18-yard line, with no one between him and the end zone.
Your quarterback appears stunned, agitated. He even puts his hands in his helmet for a split second before waving his team back into the huddle.
"I wish I could have made a better throw," Brady confessed when it was over.
So the quarterback regroups, and the Patriots design a short pass play for receiver Wes Welker, because its third down and 10 in the fourth quarter, and the clock is ticking down, and New England is losing 28-23, and after all, history is on the line, and both teams have played so hard, and even though both coaches probably would have liked rest their starters for the postseason, neither were about to blink in the midst of this electric football battle.
The Patriots step up to the line of scrimmage and Moss positions himself on the right side of the field, exactly where he was one play earlier, but he's not expecting the ball.
"I'm running the same thing as the last time - a 9 route - to clear out so Tommy can get the ball to Wes," Moss said. "Only the corner and the safety come over and trap Wes, and they are trying to trap Tommy into making a bad throw."
Brady looks at Welker, sees the coverage, and has a split second to make a decision. So he reacts to what he senses is his best option - and he heaves the ball down the right side of the field again, to the guy who is wearing No. 81 and the red gloves, the guy who had dropped the ball moments earlier, the one who has been his best option since the day he reported to training camp and vowed he would be nothing but a positive influence on this New England Patriots team.
You know, the guy running the 9 route.
This time, Moss strides down the field, 65 yards in all, as Brady lets it fly, watching in absolute glee as the ball floats over the head of safety James Butler and nestles safely in the outstretched arms of the best receiver the franchise quarterback has ever seen.
Touchdown. Game-breaker. Record-breaker.
And so it is done. The Patriots are 16-0 and have established a standard of excellence. Brady is the NFL season leader in touchdown passes and Moss is the season leader in touchdown receptions. New England once again proves it will bend, but it will not break.
Together, the Giants and the Patriots combine to provide America with the most exhilarating and exciting game that meant absolutely nothing in terms of playoff positioning, but was played with the passion and intensity of a Super Bowl.
The pursuit of perfection has been grueling, taxing, and last night was no exception. The Giants attacked this game as though their season depended on it.
For three quarters, they were more composed than their more-celebrated opponent. Their young quarterback Eli Manning was neither flummoxed or flustered by the Patriots' defense, as so many prognosticators forecasted.
The Patriots, quite frankly, were in trouble. Their defense was unable to contain Manning and his receivers. Brandon Jacobs literally ran over some of New England's top personnel, including team leader Rodney Harrison.
Offensively, New England moved the ball, but was thwarted from punching it into the end zone. The Patriots scored on their first four offensive series, but three of those were field goals.
They trailed, 21-16, at the half, 28-16 early in the third quarter, and 28-23 at the 12-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
There was nothing perfect about it.
But they have been here before, down to Dallas, down to Indy, down to Baltimore, and each time New England found a way to win.
Last night, the weapons of choice were familiar. It was Brady and Moss, now the two most prolific season scorers in the history of their respective positions.
There is only one pigskin to signify their incredible fourth-quarter connection. The 65-yard pass from Brady to Moss no only cemented the team's history, it cemented their milestones as well.
So what to do with the ball? Donate it to Canton, Ohio? Feed it to Jonathan Papelbon's dog? Cut it in half and share their historic moment?
"That's what I suggested, to be honest," Moss said. "But Tom said, 'Oh no, you keep it.' "
The quarterback is asked in the wake of this satisfying 38-35 victory what it means to him to surpass the totals of his friend and rival, Peyton Manning, who held the mark of 49 touchdown passes in a season.
"It's not as important as what I've experienced the last seven years - or tonight," Brady said.
Moss, whose checkered past left him bent on silencing his critics this season, claims he knew from the day he walked into the Foxborough locker room that success of historic proportions was possible.
"I had done my homework on why I wanted to be a New England Patriot," said Moss, citing coach Bill Belichick, Brady, and the chemistry in the locker room as the major components. "I love what I do. I love to play football. When I came here, I looked down the road and - I know this is hard to believe - but I predicted this."
It takes a supremely confident athlete to predict his team will not lose a game during the long, arduous NFL season.
Moss fits the bill. So does Brady.
No wonder they wound up perfect.
- T.K.
appreciate and congratulate... the patriots is the greatest of all time... all teams try to gain an advantage...
they all have something negative to say... tek unuh beaten an kool... 
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