The game of the century is over…
ESPN – Manning’s late fumble seals deal for undefeated Patriots – NFL Football Recap Manning’s late fumble seals deal for undefeated Patriots INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — This time, the New England Patriots struggled to survive. But survive they did, staying on course for an unbeaten season as Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes in a four-minute span of the fourth quarter to overcome a 10-point deficit and beat Super Bowl champion Indianapolis 24-20 Sunday.
The game lived up to its hype in the sense that it was a close, hard-fought game, but not in the sense that we would see 40+ points scored by each team.
The Patriots come away from this game looking more like a gutsy, gritty street-fighting team than a robo-perfect offensive group. Brady matched his season total of interceptions (2) but still managed to throw 3 TDs. The main thing about this game that bugged me were the two pass interference calls against the Patriots, the first of which was just a bad call, the second of which was, to me, quite clearly offensive pass interference called on a defensive player. I have to wonder if the NFL referees aren’t secretly rooting against the Patriots. I mean those were two of the worst calls I’ve ever seen, and both gave the Colts first and goal.
A lot of people will say that this game might derail the coronation express for the Patriots, but in my mind this is the sort of game that shows the Patriots can win the tough ones where the ball bounces wrong, and the calls go against them, when playing the second-best team in the league. I think they go home with enhanced confidence, not reduced.
The rest of the league better watch out now. Oh, that’s right, they already were on notice that the Patriots were looking to run the table. I would say the odds just improved dramatically that the ‘72 dolphins won’t be drinking champagne this year. Thank goodness, I am so sick of that “ritual.”
Oh yeah, the Denver Broncos stunk up the place again. Phew! But the Saints won big! And the Cowboys still have the late game to go…
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Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackAnd the Cowboys bring it home. So much for the “road to the NFC Championship runs through Philadelphia” nonsense. I’m glad that Tony keeps earning all his big bucks.
I would say that this season for the Cowboys, the road to the NFC East title runs through the Meadowlands. The Giants got off to a slow start, but they are playing great football right now. Next weekend will be the real test for the ‘Boys. If they can find a way to beat the Giants in the Meadowlands, they will be 2 up with seven games to go. I figure the Giants are going to whup the Redskins one more time, and unless New England defies all predictions and sits out their regulars in their next-to-last game against the Giants, I would guess the Giants will lose to the Patriots.
So a win next week puts the Cowboys well into the driver’s seat against the rest of the NFC East and probably gives them a realistic shot at home field advantage through the playoffs.
But they better look out for those Packers….
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