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December 30, 2007

Game story: Pats 38, Giants 35

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – It was one throw.

One long, beautifully executed pass play.

But its completion, aside from being a thing of beauty, was historic.

In one pass from Tom Brady to Randy Moss, the New England Patriots staked their claim to the NFL’s first 16-0 regular season, Brady became the first quarterback in league history to throw 50 touchdown passes in a season, and Moss caught his 23rd score of the year, also a record.

And the 65-yard Brady-to-Moss bomb wasn’t intended for Moss when New England broke the huddle. Facing third-and-10 at their own 35 after Brady underthrew Moss a bit on a go route down the right sideline on the play before, the play called for Brady to hit Wes Welker for the first down.

But the Giants’ defense trapped Welker, and Brady checked to Moss, who was wide open this time, having run past safety James Butler and with corner Sam Madison apparently hurt on the play.

Pass, catch, run, touchdown, 16-0.

New England’s 38-35 win over the Giants last night was every bit as hard-fought as several of their wins were seemingly easy. New York travels to Tampa Bay next weekend for its opening playoff game, but the Giants had no intentions of taking the night off and letting the Pats waltz to their 16th victory.

New York became the first team this season to score on their opening drive of the game against the Patriots, and just the fifth club to get a touchdown in the first quarter. The Giants led the game at halftime, 21-16, and by 12 points with less than eight minutes left in the third quarter.

As they have done all season, however, New England made plays when it needed to, from hard-earned second-half touchdown runs by Laurence Maroney, to a timely interception by Ellis Hobbs, to Mike Vrabel’s recovery of New York’s onside kick after it drew within three points with 64 seconds to play.

The offensive line deserves a great deal of credit in this one too: without Stephen Neal and Nick Kaczur and facing a dangerous defensive line, the patchwork unit held up well, as Brady was sacked only once and hit twice.

“All the credit goes to the players,” Bill Belichick said. “They stepped up and made a lot of outstanding plays at critical times in the game, especially in the second half and in the fourth quarter. They came through like they have all year.”

While it was their 16th in 16 tries this season, the win was also New England’s NFL record 19th consecutive regular season win, eclipsing the mark of 18 they set over the 2003-04 seasons.

Belichick isn’t big on singling out players, but Moss is one player who has come through game in and game out. The 10-year veteran has cherished his football rebirth, and last night said he sensed great things from the moment he arrived in Foxboro.

“I’m very blessed and fortunate to be in this position, to do what I love to do, and that’s play football,” Moss said. “There are some opportunities in life that you don’t want to pass up, and I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to play for the New England Patriots.”

The formerly mercurial receiver began the season with four straight 100-yard receiving games, and with an even 100 on six grabs last night, finishes with nine overall, totaling 1,493 yards and the record 23 touchdown passes. His teammates started lauding him as a leader, and NFL observers scratched their heads – Randy Moss had never been described as a leader and good teammate.

But he knew, clearly, that even his worst day with the Patriots was better than his best with Oakland, where he spent two stormy losing years.

Last night, he spoke words most veteran Pats never would, but they rang true:

“Hats off to us. As a football player, as a fan of the game, my hat’s off to this organization.”

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:30 AM | Permalink