Patriots move to 13-0, Dolphins to 0-13
The New England Patriots are 13-0 after a 34-13 win over the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers tonight -- and with the 3-10 Jets and 0-13 Dolphins coming to Foxboro the next two weeks, it looks extremely likely that Tom Brady & co. will be 15-0 when they head to the Meadowlands for their December 29 regular-season finale against the 9-4 Giants.
P.S. As we marvel at the Patriots' run toward the second unbeaten season in NFL history -- and the first 16-0 season -- let's not give short shrift to the aforementioned Dolphins' run at the first 0-16 season in NFL history. (Tampa Bay went 0-14 in 1976. No other team has gone winless for a full season in the modern era.)
Miami was routed 38-17 by Buffalo today, and is now three losses away from going 0-16. And the second of those games, as noted above, is at undefeated New England. The others are at home against Baltimore (4-9) next Sunday and Cincinnati (5-8) in three weeks.
The bitter irony for Fins fans, of course, is that it was the Dolphins who went an undefeated 14-0 in 1972, the very accomplishment the Patriots are now trying to surpass, even as the Dolphins try desperately to avoid the polar-opposite "accomplishment." If Miami comes to Foxboro with a 0-14 record to face the 14-0 Patriots in two weeks -- each having already tied the record, and looking to break it (or looking not to break it, in Miami's case) -- that historical coincidence will be a major topic of discussion. Especially once Tom Brady throws five touchdown passes in the first quarter, leaving the announcers with nothing to do for the rest of the game but wax nostalgic and talk about historical implications. Heh.
The December 29 game will not be televised to much of the country since it is on the 'NFL Network'...rather than on one of the other networks (eg. ESPN, Fox, CBS, etc.) The largest cable companies (eg. Comcast and Time Warner) do not carry that channel though I understand it is available on some cable services and also on Satellite services. The game will be broadcast "locally" in New York City and in Boston...however, since apparently Maine is not considered part of New England by the NFL, it will not be broadcast here.
Posted by: Ken | Dec 9, 2007 7:54:40 PM
the giants will be resting pretty much all of their starters as they will have likely clinched a playoff spot but will have no chance of catching dallas for the nfc east title. this game will likely be a dud.
Posted by: yea | Dec 9, 2007 9:42:59 PM
Can hardly wait for the Jets.
Belichick/Brady: Oh, we cheat, do we? Well how's this taste, you squealers!
Posted by: texasyank | Dec 9, 2007 10:18:42 PM
Well, there's still the playoffs to hope the Pats lose in. It is funny how many 16-0 bids have had Miami in the 15th game, though. Chicago was 14-0 and lost in Miami, and the Broncos were 13-0 before dropping to the Giants the week before they were going to Miami.
Posted by: Mike's brother Matt | Dec 10, 2007 12:03:27 AM
Wouldn't it be something if Miami somehow figured out a way to beat the Patriots?
The only way I see a team beating the Patriots is playing in conditions similar to what the Ravens had in Baltimore...windy and cold. The Patriots really don't have much of a running game. If the weather can help shutdown the pass, the opposing team has a shot.
As for the NFL Network, Comcast carries it. You just have to be willing to pay for the digital cable package. One bitch I do have about the NFL Network. Last season you were able to see the hour-long Rewind games for free on Comcast's On Demand. This year, you have to pay extra for NFL Network On Demand. Sorry, but that is just being too greedy.
Posted by: Angrier and Angrier | Dec 10, 2007 10:52:41 AM
I saw Stanford beat SC, so anything's possible, and it would have to be the same thing: lots of third- and fourth-and longs converted by the Phish, plus a carnival of turnovers.
BTW: going back to last year . . . the last team Miami beat?
The Patriots.
Posted by: Texasyank | Dec 10, 2007 11:54:17 AM
I love this irony (now that, as a Steelers fan, I have gotten over that drubbing). If the Steelers were to lose, I was kind of hoping for this symmetry - it is the perfect way to end the record. Now, I'd like to see New England go perfect, only to lose in the playoffs.
Now, if Brady throws 5 TD passes against Miami, they won't just be talking about the 16-0 Patriots. They will also be talking about the new single season TD passing record being set, with Brady 5 TDs away from breaking it (shoot me now, please).
Posted by: B. Minich | Dec 10, 2007 10:28:37 PM
The Dolphins will beat the Patriots.
Posted by: Brian Foster | Dec 11, 2007 8:45:08 AM