The Patriots aren't at the 19th hole yet - there's a trio of playoff games still on their Pursuit of Perfection docket - but their coach finally authorized his players to release some of the pent-up excitement that has been bubbling since it became apparent their football team had an opportunity to run the table in the regular season.
There was no champagne uncorked after New England held off the gritty New York Giants, 38-35, Saturday night, since premature celebrations of that nature are viewed as heresy (take note, Red Sox officials). But the Patriots finally were able to admit that by going 16-0 they have just accomplished something truly memorable and gratifying.
"We're hoping to savor this for the next couple of days," said tight end Benjamin Watson, "but we've been trained so much not to, it might be kind of hard."
Although New England did an admirable job plowing through its schedule with the singular mind-set coach Bill Belichick demands, the anticipation of a win Saturday night did appear to leave the Patriots a little more emotional, even reckless, than previous games.
There were claims and counterclaims of unsportsmanlike behavior from both locker rooms. Giants receiver Plaxico Burress declared the Patriots were delivering low blows and Patriots safety Rodney Harrison charged Burress was targeting his knees. There were scrums in the middle of the field and on the sidelines, with teams trading shoves, barbs, and insults. Offensive lineman Matt Light, who called the smash-mouth battle "a dirty game," said he refrained from responding to the trash talking he described as rampant among the Giants.
"I'm not really into that kind of stuff," Light said. "It's like arguing with a third-grader. But when you win games like that, it's a lot more satisfying."
And yet, the Patriots hardly were innocent victims of the verbal and physical skirmishes.
Veteran linebacker Junior Seau was flagged for holding Brandon Jacobs down after the whistle had blown.
Wide receiver Randy Moss embarked on a celebration dance when he caught a touchdown pass in the right corner of the end zone in the second quarter, for which the team was tagged with a 15-yard penalty.
