Is Bryant Gumbel the worst play by play guy, or is it just me?
He has the ability to make a great game boring to watch. I still cant figure out how this game is making history though?? Its been done before, has it not? And the Dolphins went all the way...sooo?
+1 on Gumball. That was a tough game to listen to. The NFL Network seems to pretty much suck.
Giants got a gift with that bogus personal foul "celebrating" call. That ref was ready to throw the flag before the catch was finished. He actually had his hand on the flag as the ball was still in the air. Backing the kick-off up 15 wasn't totally responsible for allowing NY to return the kick, but it sure the hell made it easier.
Later Brady loops a nice pass to Moss in the end zone and hits the snoozing Giant defender on the back of the head. That should have been 7. That's 14 points right there.
In the first half the Pats were trying to stop the run (they did) and beat the pass on coverage (they didn't). Burris is a better receiver than Hobbs is a defender. It was only a matter of time before they figured out that they were going to have to put some pressure on Manning. Once they did, he looked like a little girl running away from them in the back field. That was the Eli we have seen all season. Even managed to throw a nice interception once the game was on the line.
I don't think anyone expected the Giants to come out and contest the game that aggressively. Why on earth did they? If you ask me it was just stupidity on the part of the coaches. They have a playoff game (that actually matters to the franchise) to play next week while the Patriots can watch TV. What did they care if the Pats went undefeated in the regular season? What happens if they get knocked out in the first round now?
The "record" is that this was the first 16 game undefeated regular season. Back when the Dolphins went undefeated is was a 14 game season. If the Patriots don't make it to, and win, the Stupor Bowl the record will be meaningless. That was about the only thing Collingsworth got right last night. The biggest risk to that happening will be whether the league (via the refs) wants to hand it to Indy again, like last year. At least this time they'll have to do it at Foxboro.
[Edit] - forgot the "other" records:
PATRIOTS SET NFL ALL-TIME SINGLE-SEASON SCORING RECORD
PATRIOTS SET ALL-TIME NFL RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE REGULAR-SEASON WINS
TOM BRADY SETS NFL ALL-TIME SINGLE-SEASON TOUCHDOWN PASS RECORD
RANDY MOSS SETS NFL ALL-TIME SINGLE-SEASON TOUCHDOWN RECEPTION RECORD
TOM BRADY SETS PATRIOTS SINGLE-SEASON PASSING YARDAGE RECORD
WES WELKER SETS PATRIOTS SINGLE-SEASON RECEPTIONS RECORD
RANDY MOSS SETS PATRIOTS SINGLE-SEASON RECEIVING YARD RECORD