1823 replies to this topic

[Sille Skrub]

Merry Christmas to everyone who reads SoSH!

In the history of the NFL, there are only five teams to win 15 games during the regular season. They are:

1984 San Francisco 49ers
1985 Chicago Bears
1998 Minnesota Vikings
2004 Pittsburgh Steelers
2007 New England Patriots

No team has ever gone 16-0 in the regular season. If the Pats do it this year (in the age of parity/salary cap and considering the schedule they had this season), it will be the most impressive regular season in the history of the league. When the last undefeated team loses their first game each season, members of the 1972 Dolphins celebrate that loss. They celebrate the fact that their team is the only team to go undefeated during an entire NFL season.

For the first season in 35 years, there will be no celebration for the 1972 Dolphins.

[Ferm Sheller]

Yes, Merry Christmas to everyone but the '72 Dolphins. Let them eat fruit cake. Mercury Morris, not only are they in your neighborhood, but they're coming right down your f'in chimney!

Edited by Ferm Sheller, 25 December 2007 - 09:05 PM.

[TheShynessClinic]

Yes, Merry Christmas to everyone but the '72 Dolphins. Let them eat fruit cake. Mercury Morris, not only are they in your neighborhood, but they're coming right down your f'in chimney to shit in your stockings and spit on your sleeping children!

I am unoriginal and unfunny. Please put me out of my misery you.

Edit: And Merry Christmas to you too, clever word filter.

Edited by TheShynessClinic, 25 December 2007 - 09:19 PM.

[CWiggum]

I am not a "Pats are being disrespected" kind of guy, but, for some reason there is not enough being made of the Pats being a game away from the perfect resgular season. This is something many thought could never be done in the salary cap era. Why? Possible rasons:

1. Lots of people have been anticipating this since they beat the Colts.

2. Since they beat Pittsburgh the last 2 games were predictable wins against awful teams.

Either way, 16-0 would be an amazing accomplishment. . . and I am not ashamed to say at this point with everything else that has gone on, I want it really badly.

Lets set some records, lets win the game, and lets make some history.

Go Pats.

[shawnrbu]

I am not a "Pats are being disrespected" kind of guy, but, for some reason there is not enough being made of the Pats being a game away from the perfect resgular season. This is something many thought could never be done in the salary cap era. Why? Possible rasons:

This may not be the proper place to get into this, but I will add that the perceived lack of hype could be attributed to the belief that 16-0 becomes empty if it doesn't eventually become 19-0. Nobody talks about the 116 win 2001 Seattle Mariners. Why? Because they failed in the playoffs and thus did not surpass the 125 win 1998 Yankees. With a win on Saturday night, the 2007 Patriots can claim to have achieved more in the regular season than the 1972 Dolphins, but the Lombardi Trophy is needed to seal the deal. Plus, the Pats are generally disliked by the MSM this season. They are not the lovable Colts nor the lovable Packers so don't expect the Bill Plaschke's or Karl Ravech's of the world to go ga-ga for them this week.

Edited by shawnrbu, 25 December 2007 - 11:23 PM.

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Is it official - in addition to the other records from the Patriots amazing 2007 campaign, is it correct that Skrubby now holds the record for most consecutive regular season gamethread starts? That's fucking impressive and the answer to future subforum trivia questions. Someone should wiki that shit.

[Seven Costanza]

theoretical question~ I have watched every game this season, every minute, from the confines of my own home. I have forsaken going out with my friends to watch the games (which is my usual M.O.) so that I may actually remember what happens during this amazingly historical season. I live right outside Hartford. I do not get the NFL network. The Patriots seem to have done well so far this year when I've been home. Is it right for me to be concerned about going somewhere else to watch the game?



WIN

[jacklamabe65]

those f us who followed them when Clive Rush and Phil Bengston coached them, who had to endure a 52-0 loss to the Dolphins in, ironically, 1972, and who saw firsthand how truly pathetic a team can be in the Rod Rust era, win this one for us.

Edited by jacklamabe65, 26 December 2007 - 07:49 AM.

[Norm Siebern]

those f us who followed them when Clive Rush and Phil Bengston coached them, who had to endure a 52-0 loss to the Dolphins in, ironically, 1972, and who saw firsthand how truly pathetic a team can be in the Rod Rust era, win this one for us.

You got that right. Aluminum bench seats, Al DiRogatis, "Super-foot," the Joe Kapp era, Phil Vilipiano and the Keith Sims bowl can all suck it.

16-0.

[TheoShmeo]

Shaun, my Pats fan experience begins a little later than yours and Norm's did, but I think that all of us who began rooting for this team during the Jim Plunkett era will reflect back on all of the goofball moments and near misses (Ben Dreith, I still hate your guts) over the years, and smile broadly on Saturday night at around 11:15 PM.

This lifelong Pats fan will be at Giants Stadium with a victory cigar in my pocket, just waiting to be lit as I walk out of there. I can't freaking wait.

[dynomite]

You don't need to go back that far, even.

The 1990 Patriots were a 2-point victory over the Colts away from 0-16. The Patriots were outscored by 265 points that season, including 37-13 and 42-7 drubbings by the Jets. Overall 181 points for, 446 points against... read that again.

Also, watching Scott Zolak start a playoff game against the Jaguars in 1998 (171 yards passing on 21-44 attempts, 35 yards rushing on 19 attempts) was the pinnacle of a craptastic stretch from the day after the Super Bowl in 1996 (well, I guess Jan 1997) until game 3 of the 2001 season.

Win this one for Robert Edwards.

[ibrewbeer]

Anyone going to the game?

Ticket prices are not that bad. I think with all the press about people selling them, more people put their tickets on Ebay...

I am thinking about making the plunge...

[AlNipper49]

The Pats are the odds-on-favorite to reach the SB (I am NOT saying they are.... just using the odds right now). if you're a Giants fan and your primary goal is to win the SB you're going to have to beat NE 2 of the next 5 games going by odds alone.

[Ferm Sheller]

The Pats are the odds-on-favorite to reach the SB (I am NOT saying they are.... just using the odds right now). if you're a Giants fan and your primary goal is to win the SB you're going to have to beat NE 2 of the next 5 games going by odds alone.

Not true. Giants only have to win once: the SB and not this weekend.

[TheoShmeo]

Public service announcement:

If you are coming to the game Saturday night by car,

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PRE-PAID PARKING PASS.

Failure to have one will consign you to parking way off site and getting bussed to the game. You will not be able to tailgate from that site, and the buses are crowded, slow and likely to get you to the game late. To be clear, I am not talking about the shuttle buses of yesteryear. Because they are building a new stadium next door, people without passes are forced to park way off site.

It still is not too late to buy one on EBay, Stub Hub or one of the other broker sites, and the last time I looked they were in the $75 range. Not cheap, but it's sort of foolish to shlep down to 16W and then have to put up with the off site parking deal.

[SoxScout]

Last week, the Patriots had full-pads practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, which was rare for this time of year. Today, the team is at the other end of the spectrum, holding a no-pads walkthrough practice inside the Dana-Farber Field House.

Part of the job of a head coach is managing the roster, knowing when to crack the whip or pull back. So after a hard stretch last week, the Patriots are taking a lighter approach today.

We don't have an attendance from the walkthrough, as players were in shorts/sweatpants, and weren't even wearing practice jerseys. The Patriots also won't submit an injury/participation report later today, as teams only do so when holding a regular practice.

http://www.boston.co...hrough_pra.html

[AlNipper49]

Not true. Giants only have to win once: the SB and not this weekend.

Ooops, sorry . Meant to say "play"

[Sille Skrub]

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PRE-PAID PARKING PASS.

This is excellent advice. A pass worked quite well for the opener against the Jets.

I would not go to the game without a pass if you are driving.

[LESDL]

Pats- Colts replay from week 9 is on NFL network right now, FYI.

[patinorange]

Pats- Colts replay from week 9 is on NFL network right now, FYI.

Thanks

It was even better the second time.

We are going to miss Colvin.

[CWiggum]

Thanks

It was even better the second time.

We are going to miss Colvin.

Colts will be without Freeney if they rematch as well.

Watching it again, the first 3/4 was IMO about as poor an effort as the Pats have played with a game still in doubt other than the Ravens game (2nd half of the Dolphins game was bad, but that was after they already had a 28-0 lead). They will need a much better effort in the playoffs.

[Old Fart Tree]

I will be watching this one from Tel Aviv, as it's on ESPN here. I'm going to get a six pack of Israeli beer and some kosher sausages and go nuts.

[mt8thsw9th]

Sunday will be the 17th anniversary of the Giants "home game" at Foxboro, December 30, 1990. They would go on to win the Super Bowl. Saturday, December 29, 2007 is looking to be Patriots' "home game" at Giants Stadium, lets see if they can win and win three more.

[ibrewbeer]

I just snagged my tickets.

Beerstud will be representing in an old School Tippet Jersey!!!

PM me if you are there and want to share an icey cold one

[Pork Fried Jim Rice]

Just got two midfield within first 20 row tickets in the 3rd Tier with a parking pass on Ebay for $250 total. Prices there are definitely pretty good compared to what I was expecting. I paid about the same price for worse seats and no parking pass to go to the first game of the season vs the jets.

Sounds like there might be a decent number of people going. Anyone want to choose a parking area to get a SoSH contingent at? Especially if someone has a grill, I'd be up for bringing food/beer.

[8slim]

Sunday will be the 17th anniversary of the Giants "home game" at Foxboro, December 30, 1990. They would go on to win the Super Bowl. Saturday, December 29, 2007 is looking to be Patriots' "home game" at Giants Stadium, lets see if they can win and win three more.

Wow. If anyone wants to put in perspective just how far the Pats have come as a franchise since that day in 1990, check this out:

http://query.nytimes...751C1A966958260

I know we had a great thread about this last year, but even after 3 Super Bowls and a 15-0 start this year, its still a little hard for me to believe my Pats are this good.

Edited by 8slim, 27 December 2007 - 03:28 PM.

[TheoShmeo]

I know we had a great thread about this last year, but even after 3 Super Bowls and a 15-0 start this year, its still a little hard for me to believe my Pats are this good.

I feel exactly the same way which is why I view the frequent bombast about Pats fans being like Yankee fans and bandwagoners to be such a stretch. The vast majority of Pats fans that I know invariably say every few months that they still can't believe that the freaking Patsies of the past are the consensus choice for best team of the decade and are perhaps the model franchise in professional sports. It blows my mind more than the fact that the Sox have won two titles in the last four years, which is also fairly hard to internalize. I'll probably get used to this when they start to suck again.

I'll be in Section 130 Saturday night.

[soxfaninyankeeland]

For anyone going to the game but lacking a pre-paid parking pass, I have one that I will not be using, and you are welcome to it. I'll be in the vicinity of Giants Stadium from about 3:00 on game day. PM me and we can work out details.

[Sille Skrub]

I'll take it if you have an extra ticket.

[soxfaninyankeeland]

Sorry Skrub, everything but the parking pass is spoken for.

[PseuFighter]

apparently the number of credential requests for this game is not surprisingly out of control.

[LESDL]

Pats-Ravens on NFL network at 8 ET.

[staz]

Pats-Ravens on NFL network at 8 ET.

Nice. Thank you. Love the NE/NYG countdown clock.

Oh, and fuck the Giants.

Edited by staz, 27 December 2007 - 09:09 PM.

[Freddy Linn]

Friday on the NFL Network (all times EST):

9:00 AM AMERICA'S GAME Re-live the story of the 1972 Dolphins through the eyes of Manny Fernandez, Don Shula and Larry Csonka. The 1972 Dolphins were voted as the greatest Super Bowl-winning team of all-time by a panel of football experts. Narrated by Alec Baldwin.
10:00 AM NFL REPLAY New England Patriots vs. Dallas Cowboys (10/14/07) - Tom Brady's career high five touchdown passes and 388 passing yards leads New England past the Cowboys in a battle of the undefeated.
11:30 AM NFL REPLAY New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts (11/4/07) - Patriots rally from a 20-10 fourth quarter deficit to remain unbeaten and hand the Colts their first loss of the season, claiming an important one-and-a-half game lead in the race for home field advantage in the AFC.
1:00 PM CLASSIC GAMES Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots (11/25/07) - Philadelphia gives New England a test, but Laurence Maroney's fourth quarter touchdown run puts New England ahead for good and preserves the Patriots perfect season.
12:00 AM CLASSIC GAMES Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots (11/25/07) - Philadelphia gives New England a test, but Laurence Maroney's fourth quarter touchdown run puts New England ahead for good and preserves the Patriots perfect season.

Saturday:

6:00 AM NFL REPLAY New England Patriots vs. Dallas Cowboys (10/14/07) - Tom Brady's career high five touchdown passes and 388 passing yards leads New England past the Cowboys in a battle of the undefeated.
7:30 AM NFL REPLAY New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts (11/4/07) - Patriots rally from a 20-10 fourth quarter deficit to remain unbeaten and hand the Colts their first loss of the season, claiming an important one-and-a-half game lead in the race for home field advantage in the AFC.
9:00 AM NFL REPLAY Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots (11/25/07) - Philadelphia gives New England a test, but Laurence Maroney's fourth quarter touchdown run puts New England ahead for good and preserves the Patriots perfect season.
10:30 AM NFL REPLAY New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens (12/3/07) - Tom Brady and the Patriots overcome an impressive performance by the Ravens to keep their perfect season intact.

[dividius]

One interesting thing about the Giants is that they have a better road record (7-1) then they do at home (3-4). In fact, they haven't won a home game since beating San Francisco on October 21, dropping their last 3 in the Meadowlands. (Excluding NFC East teams, their home opponents are a combined 28-32; road opponents total a 24-36 record.)

If the Giants came keep it close up to halftime, I think Coughlin has to leave in his starters. If it isn't close, we'll see their scrubs.

I don't think it will be a close game.

[Rasputin]

I'm kinda starting to get pumped. How about y'all?

[PedroKsBambino]

I don't know about you guys, but I think the Pats can win this game.

[hunter05]

Pumped and jacked

[patinorange]

those f us who followed them when Clive Rush and Phil Bengston coached them, who had to endure a 52-0 loss to the Dolphins in, ironically, 1972, and who saw firsthand how truly pathetic a team can be in the Rod Rust era, win this one for us.

When Tom Landry and the Cowboys came to Foxboro in the mid 70's and when I saw the great San Diego Chargers in Fenway Park in the late 60's, I was in awe of the uniforms and almost honored these guys would visit our little rag tag team.

It's nice to be on the other side of that equation.

Incompetent coaches and front offices, wacky ownership, wandering from stadium to stadium, homeless.

It's come full circle to one of the best run franchises in sports. Incredible.

I didn't think the undefeated team would mean that much to me, but after the Miami game, the excitement is building.

I am rooting hard for 16-0, and will be a nervous wreck through the playoffs.

No matter what happens, how can a sports fan not be grateful for what this team has done for us over the last 6 years?

I remember like it was yesterday the bitter feuds in Boston between Giant fans and Patriot fans ( the Giants being our local team on TV pre AFL) It was wild. It's kind of nice for us old timers that it comes down to the Giants.

[Gambler7]

Bob Ryan with a good article today...

But that's it. No more questions. It's time for Coach Bill to resume preparing his own little Patriots State of the Union address to an eager America, to be delivered at 8:15 EST, tomorrow night. Pick a channel, any channel. You'll catch it.

http://www.boston.co...ch_unflappable/

[WoburnDiaspora]

Right now, I am getting so pumped it's ridiculous. I simply cannot wait for this game. For the NE Patriots to be on the cusp of history like this is simply astounding.

I am officially impatient for this game to start.

[Gambler7]

http://sports.espn.g...erfection/index

This is just unbelievable. I know a handful of different people throwing a party for this game like the Superbowl. It will be broadcast on 3 different networks accross the United States. There is a SIX hour pre-game show on the NFL Network. I've had people calling me today just rambling about this team and this game and what might happen. As many have said the undefeated season never really sank into me untill right now. It just hit me and I am actually nervous as hell for an otherwise meaningless regular season game.

The beauty of it is this franchise has spoiled us so much that even if they lose, which would definitely suck...their fallback is a bye week with home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Again, unbelievable. Can't put it all into words.

[jsinger121]

The Patriots and Giants released their Friday injury reports:

Doubtful
TE Kyle Brady (foot)
RB Kyle Eckel (stomach)

Questionable
CB Willie Andrews (elbow)
OT Nick Kaczur (foot)
G Stephen Neal (shoulder)
TE Benjamin Watson (ankle)
G Billy Yates (foot)

Probable
QB Tom Brady (right shoulder)
S Rodney Harrison (thigh)

The Patriots did not hold a regular practice today, so there are no designations for not practicing, or having limited participation.

The Giants' report:
Doubtful
CB Kevin Dockery (hip flexor)
WR Sinorice Moss (back)

Questionable
RB Ahmad Bradshaw (calf)
DL Manny Wright (ankle)

Probable
WR Plaxico Burress (ankle)
RB Brandon Jacobs (ankle)

The Giants did not hold a regular practice today, so there are no designations for not practicing, or having limited participation.

http://www.boston.co..._report_66.html


I'm pretty damn surprised that Coughlin might risk a player like Burress who has been nursing an ankle injury for the last few weeks.

[Gambler7]

The video is nothing special but the speech fits pretty good...

Edited by Gambler7, 28 December 2007 - 01:35 PM.

[dividius]

From the "Are they serious?" department comes this:

And here it is: The Giants will not only cover against the Patriots, they will win the game and knock New England down to 15-1 on the season.

Note that it comes under the heading "NFL Best Bet Picks".

Picking against the 15-0 team is the best bet of the week? Really?

I'm intrigued by your ideas and wish to subscribe to your newsletter....

[Pork Fried Jim Rice]

From the "Are they serious?" department comes this:

Note that it comes under the heading "NFL Best Bet Picks".

Picking against the 15-0 team is the best bet of the week? Really?

I'm intrigued by your ideas and wish to subscribe to your newsletter....

Well to be fair, he's saying that the best bet of the week is taking the Giants and the points. If the Giants, win it makes him look like a genius, if they lose and cover he'll just claim he still nailed his bet. I don't think he's advocating taking the Giants with a moneyline, but maybe I'm wrong.

[Havok]

Antonio Pierce: "You Can't Call (Brady) King Until He Wins It All."

"He walks around like he's Prince Charles, like he's the golden boy," [LB Antonio]Pierce said... "I think that's a compliment. I don't see it as a negative, honestly," Pierce said with a smile. "Prince Charles has got the world at his hands over there where he's at. I think (Brady) has put up an MVP season. Right now he's the top guy in the league as far as making plays. You can't call him the king until he wins it all."

Well, he has won three Super Bowls and been the MVP in two of them. "This year. Everything has got to be present," Pierce said. "You can't keep talking about the past. For what he has done this year, he's like a prince."

- New York Daily News

Not only does Brady get his 50 TDs, he gets 60.

Edited by Havok, 28 December 2007 - 02:18 PM.

[Mystic Merlin]

Holy shit.

Any shot the Giants had via the karma-train just went out the window.

Brady gets the record.

[PseuFighter]

i just found out that i'm IN for tomorrow night.

[Ed Hillel]

3 O-lineman and 2 tight ends questionable or worse. Kind of a scary thought going against maybe the best D-line in football, although we still have our 3 best out there.