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The Patriots rallied from 10 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Colts, justifying all that hype for the game touted as the Battle of the Titans, Super Bowl XLI½, Game of the Millennium, Good vs. Evil ... and so on and so on ... you get the picture -- it was supposed to be a good matchup and it was.Today, no one's talking about how the Patriots ran up the score, mainly because they couldn't.
They were playing against a solid Colts team that matched them toe-for-toe talent-wise, coming up short really only on the scoreboard.
There's no denying the Patriots are a good team. And yes, I realize that may be the understatement of the year. The Patriots are better than good, right now they look unstoppable.
Tom Brady, Randy Moss & Co. didn't continue their bludgeoning NFL killing spree against the Colts, as the game was close, but they did edge out a win against a team considered to be their closest competitor ... on the road ... by coming back late in the fourth.
That's scary good.
Now everyone wants to talk about the Pats going 16-0, if not 19-0. After all, you're probably thinking "Honestly, what team can you say is going to beat the Patriots?" (And can you name that team with absolute certainty and confidence? Can you really?)
It's good to be a New England Patriot right now, but know this -- the Pats aren't getting their perfect season. They aren't going to be 16-0.
This isn't 1972. It's 2007 and football is a year-round sport. Players are better prepared for the rigorous season and despite, the fact that the Dolphins and Rams are allowed to play in the NFL, the league is competitive. Thanks to free agency, salary-cap system, scheduling formulas and realignment -- parity does exist.
Someone will eventually beat the Patriots.
On any given Sunday, any given team can win. If you recall, last season the 6-7 Dolphins handed the Patriots a 21-0 loss in Week 14.
It's the NFL, anything's possible. For example, the Detroit Lions, dare I say, look to be a legit contender at 6-2.
Anything's possible.
The Colts proved it's possible to slow down the Patriots high-octane scoring machine, mainly by keeping the ball out of Tom Brady's hands and executing a few clock-draining drives.
In the upcoming weeks the Patriots are going to face the Ravens and the Steelers, the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked defenses in the NFL. I don't think the likes of Ray Lewis will take too kindly to getting blown out of the water. The Michael Wilbon strategy may be employed against Brady and Randy Moss will get hit hard.
Furthermore, whether you think Bill Belichick is classless or without a heart, he isn't stupid. Sooner or later he will start to rest players to ensure he has a healthy competitive team for the playoffs.
16-0 is a hot record to own, but another Super Bowl ring is better.
What it ultimately comes down to is pride. The Patriots have obliterated almost every team they've played this season and have, in turn, been accused of "running up the score" and being "cheaters" -- all of which makes them Public Enemy No. 1.
Every team the Patriots play will try to make it their mission to wipe their cocky smiles off their faces and hand them their first loss.
Make no mistake; the Patriots are the team to beat in the NFL.
I'd like to think some team will.
Comments: (19)
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By: LIA on 11/05/2007 3:27PM
Stop Hatin Cheryl!! Cocky smiles? Please!! You show me an NFL team that wins and just sits back and shows no emotion. The Patriots are a damn good team, and whether they go 16-0 or 19-0 remains to be seen, but you need to give them credit. With the whole cheating situation following them around, they have a LOT to prove, and they're proving in every time they step on that field. For years the Patriots have been walked over, beaten and disrespected, now they're shining and some people.....like you...want to start hating on them. Give it rest!
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By: Cecil Jones on 11/05/2007 9:17PM
It's a long season and all football fans know that NE was defeated, but Indy didn't have any receivers. The key to defeating them is the pass rush. New England has a limited running game and the pass will only take you so far. I predict Buffalo will defeat NE and they will have 3 losses for the year.
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By: LIA on 11/05/2007 11:29PM
A win is a win Cecil, so stop alibing. You predict??? LOL....WHATEVER!! People "predicted" San Diego would beat us, and they "predicted" the Colts would beat us. Haven't you all caught on yet that the naysaying and doubting just pumps us up? All that negativity just puts the pressure on the other teams to beat us.
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By: lady j on 11/06/2007 1:08AM
Tom Brady is the greatest last minute man aroung so give him Moss and all the Patriots the credit they deserved they are team players that is what makes them.
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By: John H. Montgomery Jr. on 11/06/2007 1:23AM
THEY WILL CHOKE. THE ONLY REAL TEAM THEY HAVE PLAYED IS THE COLTS THEY HAVE PLAYED.WHEN YOU'RE 5 GAME AHEAD OF THE NEAREST TEAM IN YOUR DIVISION, THAT SAYS ALOT ABOUT THAT DIVISION. ESPECIALLY 40 POINTS EVERY GAME.
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By: tamanda on 11/07/2007 10:40AM
NE is a good team I'll give em that but if the colts would have had all thier starters the outcome would have been very different. Sorry NE stans
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By: Tee Knox on 11/06/2007 9:53AM
Granted the Pats are the team to beat right now. However, I don't think they will get to the Super Bowl.
In my opinion, the Colts are the better team and will
win it all. The reason I say this is that the Pats are
only 2/3 of a team. Had the Colts had all hands on deck.
You know and I know the situation would have been different. The Colts are the best team in the NFL period.
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By: Tee Knox on 11/06/2007 10:02AM
Granted the Pats are the team to beat right now. However, I don't think they will get to the Super Bowl.
In my opinion, the Colts are the better team and will
win it all. The reason I say this is that the Pats are
only 2/3 of a team. Had the Colts had all hands on deck.
You know and I know the situation would have been different. The Colts are the best team in the NFL period.
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By: melabbo on 11/06/2007 10:37AM
Im waiting on the Steelers to spank that ass later in the season.
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By: Isiah B. on 11/06/2007 11:27AM
Tee Knox but da rankings got da patriots at number 1. in da league. but anyways it doesn't matter if we go undefeated or not we will meet the colts in da playoffs in da afc championship if these other teams don't step up their defense because the pats have been running up the score on who they've faced... so... the pats are human just like everybody else and we proving everybody just becuz we was cheating in da jets game we don't need it... but moss deserves to be on da team he on he been in too long not to have a super bowl ring why can't yall let da patriots get they respect 4 wat they be doin... they didn't cheat to get all of that... da redskins coach didn't even wanna shake his hand when they whupped em i think 52-7....
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