Only one team in pro football history ever finished undefeated and the Patriots already have won more games than the 1972 Miami Dolphins (17-0).
"I'm happy we could win this at home, with all of you," Patriots owner Bob Kraft told the sellout crowd as he hoisted the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the final whistle sounded early last night. "We did what has never been done before."
Ever-stoic Patriots coach Bill Belichick told the fans, "All the credit goes to the players. The players played great all year and they did today. I'm really lucky to coach this team. Now we can look ahead."
Looking ahead is what the Patriots studiously avoided since early September. As they piled win upon win, they were asked about their place in history and always they stopped the music and recited the mantra: "We're just thinking about the next game."
Finally, the next game is the big game, the game that can seal their place in history.
Veteran linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who has been around since Bill Parcells took the Patriots to Super Bowl XXI against the Packers after the 1996-97 season, said, "If there was a time I felt any pressure this year it was before the final game against the Giants. We realized [a 16-0 regular season record] was possible to be achieved. There was history on the line all year."
History walks hand-in-hand with these Patriots. They have won three Super Bowls since 2001-02, but no NFL team has finished 19-0.
Since closing the regular season with a 38-35 win over the Giants at the Meadowlands, the Patriots have faced the prospect of an ignominious ending. Losing any playoff game, particularly one before the Super Bowl, would have made them targets of ridicule. The September Spygate episode and a succession of games in which they ran up the score made the Patriots the target of jealous fans around the nation.
