Ack! Patriots Go 16-0
How many times has this happened now? Somebody plays well for a while, we think there's a chance the Patriots might lose, and then the other guys just crumble in the face of the Patriots' relentless competence.
The New York Giants led 28-16 going into the fourth quarter, but New England scored three touchdowns -- including a 65-yard third-down pass to Randy Moss -- in the fourth quarter and won 38-35.
Both teams played their starters all the way, which is a credit to both teams because the game's outcome couldn't effect either team's playoffs standing.
The game turned on that third-and-long bomb to Moss, who was all alone up the sideline ... and then on an Eli Manning interception on New York's next possession.
That enabled the Patriots to take a 38-28 lead. The Giants scored in the final minute, but they were down to one timeout ... and when Mike Vrabel covered the onside kick, that was it.
Curious concept, of course, the way the game was televised on three networks -- the NFL, CBS and NBC. More than one network showing an NFL game ... hadn't happened since Super Bowl I, which even I am barely old enough to remember clearly.
The only downside to the game was Bryant Gumbel doing play-by-play. I don't mind Bryant for most stuff, especially Olympics topics, but he seems out of touch and out of place doing the NFL. He was fairly annoying.
Also annoying ... that the Patriots are 16-0. I don't like Bill Belichick, I don't like the Patriots' dink-and-dunk passing game and I think Boston has had way too much success of late.
But we have to concede that's a pretty special team. To take everybody's best shot, especially late here in the season when they had wrapped up the division title and even the home field, shows great focus and serious talent.
Now, for the playoffs. They need to win the Super Bowl to make their case for Best Team Ever ... but even at 16-0 they already have made history.