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If you followed football at all in 2007, then you probably are aware of the New England Patriots’ record breaking success during the season. The Pats became one of the few teams in NFL history to have an undefeated regular season finishing 16-0 and, easily, clinching their fifth consecutive AFC East division title. The Pats were compared throughout much of the season to the 1972 Miami Dolphins who are the only team to ever go undefeated during the regular and post season clinching the Super Bowl title. However, the Patriots fell one win short in 2007 losing in a rollercoaster-type game against the underdog New York Giants. The season leading up to the final Sunday bash was thrilling. Beating the 16 teams looked easy for the seasoned Patriots. Arguably the best quarterback in the league, Tom Brady found Patriots newcomer Randy Moss, formerly with the Minnesota Vikings and most recently the Oakland Raiders, to connect on a 51-yard touchdown pass to seal the game in the third quarter against the New York Jets. Brady also had fun throwing to his other newbie’s including Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker, and Ellis Hobbs. Hobbs opened up the second half with a 108-yard kickoff return putting him in the record books for the longest kickoff return in NFL history. After the game winner against the Jets, Belichick and the Patriots came under fire when they were accused of video taping defensive signals by the Jets’ coaches. Belichick would go on to make several public announcements and written statements defending his franchise but he was ultimately charged with a 0 thousand fine while the team was charged 0 thousand and a first round draft pick. The public scrutiny didn’t bother the team and they went on to win every game, most of them by a mile. The win against the Cincinnati Bengals marked the first time a team has won the first four games by more than 20 points since 1920. Brady was elated when he threw a career- high five touchdown passes against the Dallas Cowboys, but was even more stunned just one week later when he threw six touchdown passes against the Miami Dolphins. This game marked the first time the Patriots had gone 7-0 on a season and the first time the Dolphins had gone 0-7. Moss had a few fiery games himself recording a career-high four touchdown receptions against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots closest game to a loss was against the Baltimore Ravens when the Patriots were able to capitalize on fourth-and-sixth with just 44 seconds on the clock. The Patriots would go on to become the first team ever to go 16-0. By the final game of the regular season, where the Patriots knocked off the Giants, the Patriots set several records. They now hold the NFL single season record for touchdown passes. Moss holds the single season record for touchdown receptions and the team holds the record for the most points scored with 589. The unbelievable season gave them an easy birth into the playoffs with home field advantage. They knocked off the Jacksonville Jaguars in game one with Brady completing 26-28 passes for record breaking percentage of 92.9. The Patriots then dominated the San Diego Chargers to clinch the AFC Conference Championship and a place in the Super Bowl, their fourth in the last seven seasons. Although they lost in the championship game to the Giants, the Patriots franchise has a lot to be proud of. Can the Patriots powerhouse do it again in 2008? Be there for every game in your red, silver and blue cheering on the unstoppable New England Patriots.
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