Not a perfect season, but still a perfect team
The Patriots got beat. They didn’t choke, they weren’t robbed by the referees, they didn’t even get outplayed, they just got beat. When the last hail mary fell to the ground rather than in the hands of Randy Moss it was a rare feeling of pure disappointment. There is usually a bad call to blame, or a player who can’t handle the pressure, or a Grady Little who forgets how to manage, but not today. Today there was no anger, just disappointment.
And yes, this was the most disappointing loss in my sports life. In 2003, after a ‘roided out Aaron Boone hit the game winning home run, I would have contested this claim. But looking back now, with the championships of ‘04 and ‘07, that loss seems like nothing. I’d like to think that next year, or a few years from today, I will look back on the 2008 Super Bowl and think, “It’s too bad, but at least they made up for it since”, but the overwhelming odds are that it won’t happen.
We knew, even in 2003, that the Red Sox would have another chance to win the World Series. Do we know now that the Patriots will ever, in our life times, get another chance for a perfect season? Of all the football seasons left, from now until you die, next year is the best opportunity they have of winning that 19th game. And, if you had to bet right now, what are the chances of that? 10%? 5%? After that it gets even more unlikely. When you factor in the potentially once-in-a-lifetime run of New England dominance, what with the success of the Red Sox and Celtics, the loss seems all that more tragic.
But in the end, this tragic ending can’t be pinned on the Patriots. Even in their one loss, the Pats played as close to perfect a game as you can hope for. The coaching was great, Tom Brady was his usual mistake-free self, the defense was terrific. The team’s one glaring problem in this game: the offensive line. But even they weren’t blowing assignments or being penalized. They played as well as they could against a great Giants rush.
And the Giants played as well as they could. They too were near perfect. Were they the better team? No. In the end things broke their way. Sometimes, when you put yourself in a position to win, a receiver will make a catch with their helmet, and an interception which would end the game will be inches out of the cornerback’s reach. Today was that day, and the Giants deserve the win; nothing can be taken away from them for catching some breaks. Giants fans should be very proud of their team, a team that did something no one thought they could do. Just be aware, I hope your team makes it back to the Super Bowl next year, because the Patriots will be their waiting for you.
In the end, as disappointed as I am, it doesn’t take away at all from what I admire about the 2007 Patriot team. They strove for perfection, and worked their asses off to achieve it. They played as a team, and were humble to the end. The Patriots may not have a perfect record, but they are the perfect team. And, because they’re the perfect team, they’ll be back.