CHAPTER ALMOST PERFECT 1 ALMOST PERFECT Some teams seem to have it all star players savvy coaches teams seem to have it all star players savvy coaches talent at every position They’re heavy favorites to finish the talent at every position They’re heavy favorites to finish the season with a trophy in hand and a victory parade on the way season with a trophy in hand and a victory parade on the way But sometimes that big celebration day never arrives Sometimes But sometimes that big celebration day never arrives Sometimes another team stands in the way puts it all together and pulls off a another team stands in the way puts it all together and pulls off a massive upset And the greatest team goes home empty-handed massive upset And the greatest team goes home empty-handed That’s what happened to the 2007 New England Patriots From That’s what happened to the 2007 New England Patriots From 2001 to 2004 the Patriots had won three Super Bowls behind 2001 to 2004 the Patriots had won three Super Bowls behind quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick After coming quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick After coming up short the next two seasons the Patriots were ready to make up short the next two seasons the Patriots were ready to make another run in 2007 They signed star wide receiver Randy Moss and another run in 2007 They signed star wide receiver Randy Moss and took aim at perfection took aim at perfection New England embraced the challenge The Patriots set a flurry New England embraced the challenge The Patriots set a flurry of National Football League NFL records They scored 589 points of National Football League NFL records They scored 589 points Wide receiver Randy Moss shattered records in his first season with Wide receiver Randy Moss shattered records in his first season with the Patriots the Patriots
an average of more than 36 points per game Brady tossed a record 50 touchdown passes Moss hauled in 23 of them All of those were records The Patriots finished the regular season 16 0 and won two playoff games to reach the Super Bowl But the National Football Conference NFC champion New York Giants got the last laugh The Giants had lost to New England in the last game of the regular season and barely made the playoffs But quarterback Eli Manning got hot and led the team to three straight wins on the road in the postseason That put the Giants in New England’s path to perfection and they weren’t about to to perfection and they weren’t about to get steamrolled get steamrolled New York kept Brady in check New York kept Brady in check for most of the for most of the game But finally game But finally with less than with less than three minutes three minutes to play Brady to play Brady found Moss for a found Moss for a touchdown pass That touchdown pass That gave the Patriots a 14 10 lead gave the Patriots a 14 10 lead Perfection was in reach But it Perfection was in reach But it was not to be Down to one last was not to be Down to one last Tom Brady and the Patriots beat the Giants to finish the season 16 0 But the playoffs would be a different story
Tyree left holds off Harrison to make the big catch chance Manning escaped a pass rush near midfield and heaved the ball toward backup wide receiver David Tyree who was one-on-one with Patriots safety Rodney Harrison at New England’s 25-yard line Tyree jumped and pinned the ball to his helmet It was one of the most amazing catches in football history The Patriots were stunned The Giants took the lead four plays later and New England’s shot at 19 0 was gone Although the Patriots have won more championships since the one that got away still stings
