Think of how enjoyable this season would have been for the Patriots if, as in yesterday’s 13-10 loss to the Giants, they would have saved their best actions for the playing field. Think of how far they may have gone had they held the Eagles, Jets and Chiefs to 111 passing yards, as they did the Giants yesterday. This could have been a memorable season, rather than an ill-fated soap opera.
Don’t think that such thoughts didn’t cross the minds of the Patriots coaches and players who closed out their campaign by coming within a field goal of the biggest upset in the National Football League this season.
“We played with pride today, which shows that it was us who ruined the season all along,” said wide receiver Cedric Jones. “We made silly mistakes throughout the season and didn’t get the plays it takes to win.”
You might say the latter carried over yesterday as well. The Giants’ winning points, a 27-yard field goal by Matt Bahr with two seconds left in the first half, came after quarterback Tommy Hodson (12 for 23, 118 yards, 1 touchdown) fumbled a snap at the Patriots 25-yard line with 21 seconds left in the first half. The Patriots (1-15) had fought back from a 10-0 first- quarter deficit to tie the game in the second period on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Hodson to Irving Fryar and a 19-yard field goal by Jason Staurovsky. Had they chosen to go in at halftime with the score tied, who knows?
“Our whole idea is to score,” said Patriots coach Rod Rust. “If we don’t do it, it’s our fault.”
Hodson’s best chance at redemption came with 40 seconds left in the third quarter, when he threw a 48-yard pass to Fryar but had the ball picked off by cornerback Mark Collins -- who stepped in front of Fryar at the 1-yard line and made a nifty catch. The best chance at a tie was nullified when Staurovsky missed a 42-yard field goal with 1:30 left in the game.
“I thought we were going to win until they got that last first down,” said Fryar. “We gave it our best effort today.”
