
Nothing like a little drama before the inevitable. The New York Giants, like the Colts, Eagles and Ravens before them, put up a valiant effort. But in the end, well, the Patriots were just too much. That and Eli Manning realized he was Eli Manning, throwing a costly interception midway through the fourth quarter with New York trailing by three points.
On New England's go-ahead touchdown -- which had just as much to do with Giants safety James Butler going coverage-optional on Randy Moss as it did with a great Tom Brady pass -- both Moss and Brady set single-season touchdown records. Moss for receptions (23), and Brady for throws (50).
After Laurence Maroney punched it in from five yards out, the Patriots led by 10 points with just under five minutes to go in the game. Manning threw a touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 1:04 on the clock, but the onside kick failed. And that was that.
Credit to Manning for playing a near flawless first half, but unfortunately for the Giants, football games are 60 minutes. And, obviously, congrats to the Patriots for going 16-0. Now there are only three things left to be decided in 2007: Will Bill Belichick win Coach of the Year (Peter King says yes!) Can New England win it all? And how will Mercury Morris cope?
New England Patriots 38
New York Giants 35

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-29-2007 @ 11:49PM
mann said...
Is it just me or something smells fishy what happened to all aggressive Giants in the fourth quarter may be somebody whispered in to the Head coach of the Giants to pull back because Patriots Suppose to win for good TV rating.
I love football but that turned me off
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12-30-2007 @ 12:04AM
DR said...
How can you put the loss on Eli only playing one half.? He played a great game with one poor throw. Our secondary gave up almost 400 yards....point the finger there
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12-30-2007 @ 12:13AM
john said...
What secondary..DR?..I saw none in Aug..Sept...Oct...Nov...Dec....I will look again in Tampa...Let me know if someone finds one ok?
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12-30-2007 @ 12:24AM
The Miami Dolphin said...
Way to go Patriots! 16 - 0 is one hell of a mile stone. But now comes the hard part. I just hope all you TRUE pats fans enjoy your relaxation for the time being. As a miami fan; i guess that champaign will have to wait. I really hope you all do not get to confident though; cause the road the the super bowl just got a lot harder. I still cannot believe NY threw that game away. How hard was it to run a 2min. offense? NY was still in the huddle under 2mins. you got to be kidding me. As for now. But the the perfect SEASON, and the '72 dolphins are still a mile away. Good luck in the playoffs Brady. It is a long fall now.....so hold on for dear life "PHINS FOREVER!!!"
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12-30-2007 @ 12:28AM
NYGFan333 said...
yeah what was manning thinking letting moss run right by butler like that? you gotta be kidding me to put this loss on eli. not that butler should be put completely on the hook either but manning, really?
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12-30-2007 @ 12:31AM
Morton said...
I guess the phrase "cheaters never win" no longer applies to the NFL. LOL!
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12-30-2007 @ 12:34AM
TAN said...
Pats are a beatable team. And most the teams in the AFC playoffs have the running game you need to make it happen. Control the clock and you need your QB to play turnover free ball.
It's unfortunate the Steelers lost Willie, cause they could have done it also... But even without them, Colts and Chargers have the offense. And I could see the Jags playing competitive ball as well. This is just getting started.
In fact I'm calling in the Colts here and now, Dungy and Manning are go back to back on the sneak tip. Shhhh.
Oh wait, Colts lost Freeney. Forgot about that. That sucks.
In any event I'm happy for Randy Moss. He's the GOAT.
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12-30-2007 @ 12:36AM
Jim paglione said...
This in from Denver, Colorado. Of course you are going to hear and see comments from FANS ? Here in Denver we had one of the very best quarterbacks to play the game " JOHN [THE DUKE ] ELWAY. Even with the outstanding things he did to lead the team the way he did he had MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKS AND DETRACTORS. HEY YOU PEOPLE OUT THERE GET A FRIGGING LIFE. BE MAN ENOUGH TO SAY AND FEEL WOW, ADMIRATIION, AWE, CONGRATULATIONS FOR A SUPERB WELL DONE. ONLY TOM BRADY, JOHN ELWAY, DAN MARINO AND THE COUNTLESS OTHERS REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH HARD WORK YOU HAVE TO DO TO ATTAIN THE LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE THAT THESE SUPERB ATHLETES HAVE PUT IN. TO COME BACK WEEK AFTER WEEK EVEN WHEN YOU ARE LOSING IT TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF COURAGE. TOM BRADY AND ASSOCIATES DESETVE ALL OF THE ACCOLADES THAT MEN LIKE ME CAN HEAP ON THEM. THE NEW ENGLAND PATS ARE NOT TOM BRADY, BILLL BELICHICK, RANDY MOSS THEY ARE THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS A SUPERB FOOTBALL TEAM .
LETS ALL WISH THEM THE VERY BEST . THEY DESERVE IT.
THANKS FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK NY MIND. JIM PAGLIONE
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12-30-2007 @ 1:03AM
woodeie said...
When will the Pats' coaches bench both Sammuels and Hobbs. They are the worst defensive backs in the NFL. I really give credit to the Pats for winning 16 games with no help from the 2 twins (#27 & #22)
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12-30-2007 @ 1:12AM
Paul said...
Thank You Jim,
John Elway was a great quarterback.
This 16-0 regular season is still a surprise to most of us in New England, but it is a nice accomplishment that will always be remembered.
Although, I still can remember the Pats 1990 1-15 season clearly too.
For the Patriot Bashers: Yes, any team can beat any team, on any given day, and the playoffs are full of very good teams.
Most Pats fans have nothing against you or your teams. I like our chances in New England, but I wish you and your teams the best in the playoffs. May the best team win. Happy New Year!
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12-30-2007 @ 1:34AM
GreatR said...
How much longer do we have to wait before Eli learns to run the hurry up offense. Its maddening to watch them act like its the first quarter when there are only two minutes left in the game.....poor quarterbacking and a piss poor coach.
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12-30-2007 @ 1:54AM
primrod said...
I am so grateful to be a Pats fan, to see Brady go to Moss for a TD right after the drop was unfu*kingbelieveable. I have never seen anything like that in my life, the magnitude of that play, the historical value of that pass, outweighs anything I have witnessed in modern sports. How can you haters not like the Pats, have you seen your team do anything like that, most of you I assume the answer is no.
Don't hate, appreciate.
16-0, mission accomplished. SB I think so.
GO PATRIOTS!!!
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12-30-2007 @ 3:08AM
Gary said...
Yes..Congrats to the awesome pats...They are diffently up there with the best ever...The 85 bears...80's 49er's and the 70's, 80 cowboys. Different times..Hard to say who was the best. I wish them the best and they deserve to go all the way. The team and there coach doesnt have to cheat anybody. Sure other teams have done things like that before too...Pats just got caught. Nothing wrong with something positive (16-0, soon to be 19), happening in such a negative world. Love watching them play. They are a classy bunch of tough dudes that play the game great and with excellance and class. GO PATS....
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12-30-2007 @ 4:49AM
Ben said...
Does anyone have a comment regarding some fishy penalties called on the Giants? What was the penalty in the fourth quarter on the sidelines? I didn't hear that one explained by either the referee or the announcers. And did Eli drop those passes to Smith, Jacobs, and Burress?
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12-30-2007 @ 6:31AM
al coholic said...
That official in the end zone who called that chicken**** interference penalty against the Giants at just the right moment was the Pat's MVP. Maybe he could star in the next Bud Lite commercial.
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12-30-2007 @ 7:06AM
Joe King said...
You have more than a share of paranoids today. They should lighten up. The Patriots won and are a great team. Period.
Joe King
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12-30-2007 @ 8:38AM
joe said...
people really need to get over this spy gate thing, as the mighty brett favre stated " a team still needs to go out and execute" and excute is what the patriots are about, yes therier were some lucky moments, i agree, but that's the way the ball bounces. congrats to tom brady, he deserves all the acolades, a true professional in every sense of the word; and yes congrats to coach belechik, he is one of the greatest coaches of out time
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12-30-2007 @ 9:06AM
MR LEE said...
STOP HATING, IT WAS A WELL PLAYED GAME
!. YOU HAVE TO LOOK BACK FOR THE WIDE OUTS WHEN YOU ARE ON COVERING
2. ONE PLAYER DID NOT STOP THE GIANTS, NOR DID ONE PLAYER WIN THE GAME FOR THE PATS
LET'S GIVE ALL THIER DUES, GIANTS DID NOT JUST ROLL OVER AND GIVE IT TO THE PATS, THE PATS SREPPED UP WHEN THEY HAD TO
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12-30-2007 @ 9:22AM
stix said...
pats 16 and 0 ???? noooooooooooooooooo baltimore beat them
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12-30-2007 @ 9:26AM
big daddy said...
coming from a steeler fan..... the baltimore ravens beat new england and you all know how steeler fans feel about the ravens
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