If you thought the New England Patriots, in this final regular season game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon, would take it easy with nothing to play for as the #1 playoff seed in the AFC, you just don't know a Bill Belichick-led squad. Simply put, the Patriots cremated a Dolphins team that just didn't show up, by a score of 38-7.
It was the eighth win in a row for the Pats and it put them at 14-2 for the year and 8-0 at home in Foxboro for the second straight regular season. They are a machine, and a nearly unstoppable one at that.
Both teams were missing key players (Wes Welker, Deion Branch and Aaron Hernandez, among others, were smartly made "inactive" for the Pats), but one team continued to show its depth of talent while the other (7-9 Miami squad) displayed it doesn't have much at all and didn't play like it was trying to potentially save the job of its head coach, Tony Sparano.
With the exception of some penalties and Danny Woodhead fumbling the ball (after being roughed up) for the first time in his Pats career and then leaving the game with an injured head, it was a nearly perfect day once again for the Pats, who incredibly keep blowing out team after team and proving without question they are the NFL's team to beat no matter who plays and who doesn't.
Brady and Belichick Make History
Tom Brady ended the regular season on Sunday adding on to his NFL record of pass attempts without throwing an interception, which now stands at 335. He has now won 28 consecutive regular season games at home, which is also an NFL record, as is the fact that with 38 points against Miami, the Pats have gone eight straight games with 30+ points. Total domination, indeed.
From the official Patriots Facebook page comes some other noteworthy and mind-blowing stats, including that Brady finished the season with an 111.0 passer rating, which is fifth best all-time.
New England's franchise quarterback is the sixth quarterback in NFL history to throw at least one touchdown in every regular season game, and according to the Extra Points blog, this was the ninth week in a row he threw two TDs without an interception. Overall, it was the 11th game in a row with no interceptions thrown, which is absolutely unheard of these days.
The Pats also set an NFL record-low 10 turnovers in 2010. With Brady throwing only four INTs (to go with a league-leading 36 TDs) on the year, it's not so surprising. I chalk that record low amount of turnovers not just to the brilliance and talent of Brady but to Belichick trading the fumble-prone Laurence Maroney, not bringing back the talented but shaky hands of tight end Ben Watson, and trading Randy Moss.
Article comments
1 - John Kohl
Many out there get offended when the Pats don't let up on opponents. I for one, am not a Pats fan by any stretch, but that is a winning attitude that wins championships. Like it or hate, respect it or stop it. In football, every game and even every play is a fight and great fighters always stay in peak condition mentally and physically. That means play up, never down to your opponent and keep up the heat!
2 - Frank2011
I simply love the game. I don't pick any team better than another.I like seeing their best play every time i watch.
3 - Charlie Doherty
It can change every week (who the best team is). For now, I am enjoying this run by the Pats. Let's hope they can finish the job this time (unlike three years ago).
Thanks for commenting John and Frank!
4 - Mike Berlo
Why should anyone get affended by a proffesional team coach, and staff for letting up on opponents when the Pats are extremely well conditioned and coached, just like every other team out there should be. The game is 48 minutes and no matter what the score is the Pats practice and work ther ass off to play that game every week for 48 minutes. When we have a great lead and we are still passing the ball and running plays to score more points at that time we still have time left on the clock and we can practice some plays we don't get to do often, and of cours anything can happen in football and we have seen it. The fans that think that about the Pats are just jealous they don't have the luxury to do what we do alot because we work so hard and study so hard that we play each game as if it were the SuperBowl because if you don't you won't make it to the SuperBowl. Our fans used to pray for a little better then a .500 team and hope we make the playoffs but now it's different Brady is a natural who learned from the best and he make receivers look so good, we are just fortunate these past ten years but if a team was beating us you best beleive Bill would make his team play each play like just like any other time you got to fight for 48 minutes. To answer the question is absolutely not are the Patriots running up scores , they are just going by their game plan and playing for 48 minutes and they would do the same on the other side an not even complain otherwise you will never be a champion who can say that he gave his all every play of his career.
5 - Charlie Doherty
Well said Mike, but I think you mean "60" (not "48") minutes.