In my entire life, only four football games have given me chills. The first was in January of 2002, when when the New England Patriots came back in the snow against the Raiders in a game that will be known forever as the "Tuck Game". The second was less than a month later, when those same Patriots defeated the heavily favorited Rams 20-17 in Super Bowl XXXVI, thanks to a last minute drive by Tom Brady and a game-winning field goal by Adam Vinatieri as time expired. The third was in February of 2004, when Tom Brady once again lead his New England Patriots into position for a last second field goal courtesy of Adam Vinatieri to win their second Super Bowl in four seasons.
The fourth, and last time i felt "the chill" while watching a football game was in September of 2007. You know, that game where the lethal combination Brady and Moss was unveiled? That 38-14 domination of the New York Jets that set the tone for the rest of the season? I remember thinking that Sports Illustrated stole my line when they said that the Patriots sent a "shiver down the spine of the NFL". The way the Patriots effortlessly scored on a helpless Jets defense, it made you think that this offense could put up 50 points every game with ease. I knew in that moment that the season to follow would be special.
That team steamrolled the competition, like a 12 year old man-child in Little League mows down overmatched batters (don't lie, you had a kid like that in your league, everyone did). They went 16-0 in the regular season, setting offensive record after offensive record. Spygate only fueled the fire. They put up a grand total of 587 points that season. 587 points! Are you kidding me? Nobody could beat them. Even in the Super Bowl, when the offense was held to a mere 7 points entering the fourth quarter and trailing by 3, Brady engineered a touchdown drive to take the lead with 2 minutes and 53 seconds left in the game. Then the rest is history. Asante Samuel lets an INT go right through his fingers. Eli Manning is swarmed by what seemed like the entire Patriots front seven, somehow escapes and heaves a prayer that little used receiver David Tyree somehow snatches on the back end by clutching it to his helmet while Rodney Harrison is trying to punch it out (probably one of the most impossible plays in sports history, and it makes me sick to my stomach every time I watch it). Then rookie safety Brandon Merriweather can't hang on to one of Eli's "I have no idea where this lob is going" passes. And the death blow, Ellis Hobbs getting physically dominated by Plaxico Burress on a goal line fade to the endzone (by the way, why was Hobbs covering Burress? Don't you put your best cornerback on the other team's best receiver in that situation?). 17-14 Giants. Perfection over.
After losing Super Bowl XLII, 2008 was supposed to be the Year of Revenge. It was going to make up for last season's failure. The Patriots were going to win the Super Bowl. It was a fact. Then, two drives into the season, Bernard Pollard fell into Brady's knee. Silence. The air was sucked out of the stadium. At home watching on TV, I sat on the couch, staring dumbfounded at the screen. Then the wave of text messages rolled in. My friend, who was at the game, said "Dude it's so quiet right now." Every single Patriots fan was in shock. Tom Brady, the hero of 3 Super Bowl championships, was down for the count. Even though he was severely injured, Brady still walked off the field, assisted by the trainers, which gave us hope. Unfortunately, he wasn't. Tom was done for the year, and Matt Cassel, though solid for the rest of the season, was no Brady, and the Patriots missed the playoffs (despite an 11-5 record).
But all that ends this year. You know why? Brady's back, and all is right in New England once again. When Brady steps onto that field on Monday Night Football on September 10th, the crowd will be ready and cheering. The offense will be seemingly unstoppable, the Patriots seemingly unbeatable. And me? I will get "the chill". Look out NFL, the Pats are back. And this time, they will be not be denied of that 4th Super Bowl banner. That's right, I'm guaranteeing that the Patriots will win Super Bowl XLIV. Revenge Tour: Take II begins now.
No comments:
Post a Comment