You may not have noticed due to lack of media coverage, but the Patriots just finished the regular season and did not lose once. That’s right, an undefeated regular season. And it was kept pretty quiet by the media, right?

OK, maybe it wasn’t so quiet. But here at the Land Of Patriots, we actually have left this story alone. Call it superstition, call it bad juju, whatever–it is one of those things I just don’t think you talk about until it is right up on you. You don’t touch the Stanley Cup until you win it, you don’t talk about a perfect game with the pitcher until the final pitch, and you don’t talk about an undefeated regular season until the regular season is over and there’s a zero in the loss column. I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t thinking about and looking at the schedule for potential stumbling blocks, but you just don’t talk about it.

And before all you Pats haters and doddering members of the 1972 Dolphins start saying the Pats have not done anything unless they win their next three games and take home the Super Bowl trophy–you are absolutely right. But as Randy Moss said, let’s take 24-48 hours to enjoy this, then get back to business. And if you don’t think each and every member of the Patriots doesn’t know they need to win it all to truly have a perfect season, you have not been watching them for that long.

I go into every week thinking the Pats can win. Once the game starts I see how the team is playing and I sometimes start to think; “OK, they can still do it, but this one will be tough.” I’m that kind of fan; but this season, I can probably count on one hand, no, one finger, the times I though they might actually lose a game. And that was in Baltimore, right up until they converted that 4th down after the Ravens time-out call. Sometimes you need a little luck, but from that point on, I knew they were going to pull it out and then run the table.

Haters and fans alike should take a minute to think about what we all just witnessed. A lot of things had to break right for this undefeated season, but make no mistake, the Patriots sit alone as the only team to win 16 games in a season because of their hard work, talent, and phenomenal coaching. Everything about this organization is about winning, and if football and winning are not important in your life, then you don’t stick around for long.

This season started an almost perfect storm driving them to the point we are at now. Given the way the season ended last year, the core of this team had to have been motivated to start training camp. The front office had addressed the weaknesses that led to their defeat last year, bringing in Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Adalius Thomas, and others. And they all contributed in some way during the season. And then as the final touch, the team received one last bit of motivation in the form of the whole taping controversy to start the season. Add it all up and you have a very talented group of people with a laser-like focus on winning the next game in front of them. And heading into the playoffs, they will continue to play them as they have all year long; one game at a time.

Some quick thoughts:

Laurence Maroney runs hard. If you think he dances too much, or is not productive enough, watch his two touchdown runs against the Giants. If he can work on his blitz pick up and pass catching he will be a devastating player in this league.

Kevin Faulk might be the best third down back I have ever seen. He doesn’t touch the ball a ton, but when he does, he produces. He is an excellent blocker in the back field, runs hard and quick, and is as reliable as death and taxes on the third down pass. How many times did he convert a third down last night? I lost count.

Wes Welker is going to achieve Troy Brown-like fame in New England if he hasn’t already. If Faulk wasn’t converting a third down, the ball was going to Welker. He shares a lot of the same skills as a young Troy Brown, and is an tremendous football player in all phases of the game; check out his block on Maroney’s second TD. I continue to marvel at his running ability after the catch. He is a tiny guy and once he gets the ball he manages to get even lower to the ground and seems to be impossible for the first person to tackle.

Randy Moss is not the Randy Moss you thought you knew. He certainly has not lost his speed. He has been a model citizen in New England, and has re-established himself as the best receiver in football. And when he is not getting the ball, he can block, run decoy routes, and do anything else you ask of him. And when the ball is coming his way, you get the feeling he is going to catch it no matter what the defense does to try and stop him. Both Moss and Welker have become integral parts of the offense. They each seem to make the other better, and their skills are almost the perfect complement to the other.

Tom Brady is the best quarterback to ever walk the planet. I did not see Starr, Unitas, or even Tarkenton play, but you can have your guy, I’ll take Brady. For a long time I used to say Joe Montana was the best ever, at least the best I ever saw. But after this season, there is no more argument. We are watching a transcendent player here. Think about this: Brady has won three Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVPs with offensive talent nowhere near what he has had this season. The argument used to be he was more a game manager than pure talent, and then he started to put up some impressive numbers. Then people wondered what Brady could do with surrounding talent like Peyton Manning’s. How about 4806 yards passing, 50 TDs, and eight interceptions. Think about that last number. And if you really want to think about it, go look at some film. I know three to four of those were tipped balls and not necessarily bad throws. A truly staggering season.

I am still having trouble processing what has happened here and find myself thinking back to last night’s game throughout the day. This has been a fun season to watch and I hope it just keeps getting better.

*For those of you that don’t get the NFL Network, title stolen from their latest Joe’s Diner commercial.

When the TV is on in our house, there is a good chance it is tuned to the NFL Network. And this week, if you didn’t know any better you would think it was the Super Bowl being played this Saturday night. The hype machine is running on all eight cylinders and churning out story after story. Each night we have seen a replay of a Patriots game from this season; Cowboys, Colts, and Ravens. We have top ten lists all over the place: top ten Randy Moss catches, top ten defensive plays, top ten Brady postgame outfits, you name it. On Saturday, the coverage starts at 1 PM, for a game that kicks off at 8:15.

I know the special holiday edition Kool-Aid is flowing free at Gillette and they are all fully aware that while the win would be great and has more meaning than your average win, there are potentially three more games to play, and they all mean quite a bit more. From a pure talent standpoint, the Giants are up against a team with very few holes. Yes, the Giants defensive line is very talented and capable of bringing pressure on Brady, but their secondary can’t hold up their end of the bargain. And on offense, well let’s just leave it at two words–Eli Manning.

I would expect the Pats and Giants to hold back their dinged-up players in this one. The latest injury report is here.

Quite a few records could be set in this game for New England. Brady and Moss each need two TDs to break their respective position’s single season record, and the team needs one TD to break the single season scoring record. Mike Vrabel is one sack away from tying Andre Tippetts’ team record for a season. Wes Welker is tied with Troy Brown at 101 catches for most in a season by a Patriot. Two of the more impressive feats in sight belong to Tom Brady. He may very well set the record for TD-to-interception ratio, currently held by Peyton Manning at 49 TDs to ten interceptions. Going into the game Brady has 48 TDs and eight interceptions. The record for completion percentage is held by Ken Anderson, set in 1982 for the Cincinnati Bengals at 70.55%. Brady is currently at 68.8% for the season, so he will need to be sharp to get this one.

All this won’t mean a hill of beans once the postseason starts. But for now, enjoy the history.

No more worries, Patriots fans, if you don’t have the NFL Network. Their broadcast will be shown nationally on both NBC and CBS live on Saturday night. I guess when history is potentially in the making, a sense of fair play really does trump money. Here’s the full release from NFL Media:

NFL Arranges For NFL Network Telecast Of Patriots-Giants Game To Be Simulcast By NFL Network, CBS And NBC
12/26/2007

NFL ARRANGES FOR NFL NETWORK TELECAST OF PATRIOTS-GIANTS GAME TO BE SIMULCAST BY NFL NETWORK, CBS AND NBC

The NFL has arranged with broadcast television partners CBS and NBC for an unprecedented three-way national simulcast of the NFL Network telecast of Saturday night’s New England Patriots at New York Giants game when the Patriots will try to become the first NFL team to go 16-0 in a regular season, NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL announced today.

“We have taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans,” Commissioner Goodell said. “What we have seen for the past year is a very strong consumer demand for NFL Network. We appreciate CBS and NBC delivering the NFL Network telecast on Saturday night to the broad audience that deserves to see this potentially historic game. Our commitment to the NFL Network is stronger than ever.”

CBS and NBC will carry the NFL Network feed of the game with BRYANT GUMBEL and CRIS COLLINSWORTH in the broadcast booth. The game also will be televised by WCVB-ABC (Channel 5) in Boston, WMUR-ABC in Manchester, New Hampshire (Channel 9) and WWOR (Channel 9) in New York. The telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET with kickoff set at 8:15 p.m. ET.

This will be the first three-network simulcast in NFL history and the first simulcast of any kind of an NFL game since Super Bowl I in 1967 when CBS and NBC both televised the first meeting of the champions of the newly merged National Football League and American Football League. CBS was the network partner of the NFL at that time and NBC televised the AFL. In that first Super Bowl – in which the NFL Green Bay Packers beat the AFL Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 15, 1967 – Ray Scott, Jack Whitaker and Frank Gifford called the game for CBS while Curt Gowdy and Paul Christman broadcast the game on NBC.

Against the 10-5 playoff-bound Giants, the 15-0 Patriots on Saturday night will seek to become the first NFL team to complete an unbeaten regular season since the Miami Dolphins went 14-0 in 1972. The Dolphins proceeded to win three more games, including Super Bowl VII, to finish 17-0 for the only perfect season in NFL history. The NFL regular season was expanded to 16 games in 1978.

The Patriots also are aiming for their record 19th consecutive regular-season victory dating back to the 2006 season. With six points, they also will become the highest scoring team in one NFL season, breaking the Minnesota Vikings’ total of 556 in 1998. Individually, quarterback TOM BRADY (48) is in position to break PEYTON MANNING’s NFL record for most touchdown passes in a season (49 in 2004) and wide receiver RANDY MOSS (21) will set a new league mark if he catches two touchdown passes to surpass JERRY RICE’s 22 in 1987.

NFL Network is currently available on 240 cable systems, including Cox, plus satellite television providers DirecTV and Dish Network, and the telephone company TV services of AT&T U-VERSE and Verizon FiOS. But a few of the largest cable companies have refused to carry NFL Network on their most broadly distributed and affordable packages.

“NFL Network is a programming service of great interest to fans and should be broadly distributed by the cable industry,” said NFL Network President and CEO STEVE BORNSTEIN. “The only channel devoted 24/7 to America’s favorite sport is not programming that should be relegated to a poorly promoted, pay-extra sports tier that takes advantage of our fans’ passion for the NFL. A few of the biggest cable operators have refused to negotiate. We call on them to do what’s right for their consumers and negotiate agreements for NFL Network that make sense for everybody.”

This was a game of two halves for the offense, as they were downright surgical the first half and just plain disjointed the second half. Lucky for them, Miami offered little or no resistance and pretty much laid down, still cruising off the sweet taste of victory last week. A few random notes from the game:

Tom Brady and Randy Moss each moved to within one touchdown from tying their individual position records for touchdowns in a season. Unless they don’t play much next week, I think they will both at least tie the records.

Lawrence Maroney ran hard and ripped off two long runs and finished with 156 yards and a TD. Hopefully his performance will keep those who say the Pats can’t run the ball quiet for a little while. He is a very good running back and can really make a difference. However, like most backs, he needs the carries to show what he can do. It is hard to get into a groove if you only get 5 or 6 carries in a game.

Brady was his usual deadly self in the first half, but looked out of sync in the second, trying to force the ball into Moss several times. The 48-yard TD to Jabar Gaffney was a thing of beauty. I think Lance Schulters is still trying to figure out how he didn’t intercept that ball. I’m not sure how long the pass actually was, but Brady put some serious heat on that ball. I think it may have singed Schulters’ hands on the way by.

Seeing Troy Brown out on the field and the standing ovation he got on the first punt return was great. The guy is the essence of what a New England Patriot should be, and I’m glad he got to play in front of the home fans. His play was up and down, but remember, it was his first game back. I am hereby submitting my vote for Brady’s record-breaking 50th TD to go to Troy.

The defense played a great game. The front line was able to put a lot of pressure on Cleo Lemon and held the running game largely in check. Granted, the Dolphins may have less offensive talent than the USC Trojans, but the defense did their job and didn’t make many mistakes.

Speaking of the defense, rookie safety Brandon Meriweather got a bit of action and was up and down. His coverage skills are not quite there yet, but he can definitely bring the lumber when he tackles.

One more game to go and it is a short week. I’m sure Bill will sit down with some eggnog and game tape and be ready to serve up some holiday special humble pie when the team gets back to business.

Here’s hoping you all have a safe and merry holiday and the man in red brings you what you want.

This game had some more interesting subplots before the Ravens laid down and died to give Miami their first win. I was looking forward to the symmetry of an undefeated team squaring up with a team that just can’t win. So much for that. Now the Dolphins come to town, no doubt all fired up and feeling streaky. I’m not sure if Cam Cameron has stopped crying after the win, or perhaps he started crying again after he realized he’s not facing the Ravens this week.

Seriously, even though this is a mismatch on paper, there are all sorts of reasons not to take Miami lightly. The Pats historically have had problems playing the Dolphins. They have split the series most years, even when the Pats were clearly the better team. That said, I have no doubt the Pats are going to be prepared for this and Bill has been guarding against a let down. He had the team in full pads three days in a row and by all accounts they were physical, tough practices.

Bill is a student of football history and he knows what is at stake. More importantly, he knows how to keep his team on track for their ultimate goal.

This joke was forwarded to me today…

Three quarterbacks, Manning, Romo and Tom Brady, go to heaven to visit God and watch the Celtics play a game. God decides who will sit next to him by asking the boys a question…

God asks Peyton Manning first: “What do you believe?” Peyton thinks long and hard, looks God in the eye, and says, “I believe in hard work, and in staying true to family and friends. I believe in giving. I was lucky, but I always tried to do right by my fans.” God can’t help but see the essential goodness of Manning, and offers him a seat to his left.

Then God turns to Tony Romo and says, “What do you believe?” Tony says,”I believe passion, discipline, courage and honor are the fundamentals of life. I, too, have been lucky, but win or lose, I’ve always tried to be a true sportsman, both on and off the playing fields.” God is greatly moved by Tony’s sincere eloquence, and he offers him a seat to his right.

Finally, God turns to Tom Brady: “And you, Tom, what do you believe?” Tom replies, “I believe you’re in my seat.”

The most my Christmas-harried mind can come up with right now is a list, in no particular order:

1. The Steelers became the third team to lose their next game following their meeting with the Patriots. The Eagles lost to the Seahawks, 28-24; the Ravens lost to the Colts, 44-20; the Steelers lost to the Jaguars, 29-22. I started paying attention because the Eagles and the Ravens really battled the Pats, but couldn’t bring as much fight the following week. The Steelers didn’t seem to leave it all on the field in Foxboro, so I thought they might break the streak here, but no. They lost anyway.

2. Miami won! Break out the champagne so it doesn’t go to waste! On a related note, how bad do the Ravens suck?

3. I’m not sure if it’s stranger that the Browns beat the Bills with a score of 8-0, or that it’s not the first time in NFL history that a game has had that score (last time: Nov. 10, 1929, Chicago Cardinals over the Minneapolis Red Jackets). And am I the only one who sees that odd score on the ticker and starts going through the possible permutations? Hmm, two field goals plus a safety? TD, missed PAT, plus a safety? Football math.

4. This is from last week, but who’d have thought Nick Sabin could have been out-Sabined? Bobby Petrino took care of that, though. His former players are calling him a coward and a liar, and really, you can’t argue with them one bit. A coward, a liar, and the most tactless SOB in football.

5. Can we stop fretting about the Patriots’ running game now? You have Tom Brady and the second-best receiving corps in the NFL (just ask Anthony Smith, right?) and if the pass is working, well, what’s the problem? When they needed to rely on the run a bit more, it got the job done. Mike Reiss breaks down some numbers on the running game here.

6. I don’t care if Romo has a bad game every time his girl du jour comes to watch her honey play some football. I’m more offended by the pink jersey she was sporting. I’m female, and I wouldn’t allow a pink jersey in my house, never mind on my body. It’s football. The only time pink should be seen is if somebody’s bleeding and there’s snow on the field.

That’s all I got tonight. My chances of actually getting to see the flexed-to-4:15 Dolphins-Pats game might be slim, since somebody has to cook for the 15 people coming over on Monday. Since cutting a hole into the kitchen wall so I can see the TV seems kind of drastic, I’ll settle for the melodious tones of Gino and Gil.

The NFL announced the rosters for the 2008 Pro Bowl today, and as expected, there are plenty of Patriots. The full roster is here.

New England sends eight players to Honolulu, seven of them named as starters. Brady, Moss, Light, and Mankins are starting on offense, and Dan Koppen is the back-up center behind Jeff Saturday. Wilfork, Vrabel, and Asante are starting on defense.

All I can say is, it is about damn time for Mike Vrabel to go to Hawaii. This guy has been an absolute stud since he came to the Patriots. There have been years where maybe he didn’t have the stats, but he has always been one of the best players in the linebacking corps.

Koppen, Light, and Mankins are all having great years and deserve the trip. Koppen and Mankins should become the type of guys that end up going every year. They are young, talented, extremely smart, and some of the best at what they do.

Vince Wilfork may not get the numbers, but he is having the best year of any interior defensive lineman not named Albert Haynesworth. Wilfork is a monster in the middle and clogs things up. Recently he has been getting into the backfield and making big plays too. And he should get some points for the intimidation factor as well. How would you like to see this guy blowing up your offensive line and getting a clean shot at you?

A couple of guys who maybe should have had a shot but didn’t make the cut are Wes Welker and Adalius Thomas. I’m not sure where he fell in the voting and it is tough to not include the guys that made it, but Wes is having a huge year. AD does not have the sack numbers like he had in Baltimore, but when he was playing inside he swallowed up runners, and now that he is outside, he is starting to show the big play ability we saw last year.

All and all, it is nice to see the individual recognition on a team full of guys who care more about winning than stats. That said, I think they all want to be catching a flight direct to Hawaii via Arizona and not Foxboro.

Tom Brady has been named Sporting News 2007 Sportsman of the Year. The article asks you to go ahead, imagine the NFL without Tom Brady.

Should I pass you the smelling salts now? I don’t like to imagine that, either.

We know we owe you a post-game on the Jets-Pats game. (Do those coaches not like each other? I think I heard something about that last week…?) For now, I’ll say, “Good game. Awesome.”

And congrats, once again, to Tom Brady.

I honestly don’t know what to say about this game that has not already been said. While I would love to watch the Pats completely dismantle the Jets and leave Eric Mangini whimpering in the fetal position by the third quarter, the weather may not make that possible.

We are expecting a winter storm full of snow, rain, and wind on Sunday, so the Patriot offensive onslaught could turn conservative. Not that I mind; football is meant to be played in the elements. I will never understand why teams like Minnesota or Detroit opt to play in a dome, when their division rivals boast a frigid home field advantage this time of year. It’s football– go outside and play.

I’m not sure how much motivation there is for the players to beat the Jets into a pulp. I think they are more concerned with getting the win and keeping their perfect season intact. The beef between these teams is between the coaches, not the players. Not to say this could not get ugly. The Jets just don’t have that much talent. Their run defense is porous and this could be a game where Lawrence Maroney finally gets consistent carries. And I think if he gets the ball a healthy dose, we will see the runner we saw last year–hard charging and hard to tackle. If the passing game struggles in the weather, the Maroney option is not a bad one. I still think the Pats will be able to move the ball through the air, but maybe not as much downfield as they would like.

On defense, the Pats will get their first look at Kellen Clemens. Clemens has been up and down, but has some talent. New England usually likes to show all sorts of looks to young QBs and Sunday should be no different. The Jets run game has struggled, but Thomas Jones always runs hard. The Pats have not been what you would call stout against the run these last few weeks but this could be a week where they get back on track.

We’ll close with a good read on NBCSports.com. Former Providence Journal Patriots beat writer Tom Curran sits down with Bill Belichick. Click here and get a peek under the hoodie.