Sayers on the Sidelines
Chasing Perfection
Tim Sayers
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: Sports
Next Sunday, the New England Patriots are going to try and do something that hasn't been done in 25 years, finish an NFL season undefeated.
Now, throughout the course of this season, the Patriots have been, in a word, perfect. But despite the records they've set, having the league's MVP as their quarterback and being one win away from securing their fourth Super Bowl in the last seven years, the most impressive aspect to me of the Patriots' season so far has been their acting job.
Any time a New England player, coach or even a water boy has been asked a question concerning the team's potential historical run this season, the response has always been the same, "It's a one week season. We're not even thinking about that stuff. We're just trying to focus on [insert name of next opponent here]."
Let's be honest. As an athlete myself, I know you have to stay in the present. I know if you get caught thinking too much about what's already happened or what's ahead in your future, you'll falter in the present. So, I understand the "one week season" mentality.
But I also know if you have a chance to do something great, much less something nobody has ever done before (like go 19-0), it is not going to be something you easily put into the back of your mind.
So, I for one am not buying this whole "we're not even thinking about it" act the Patriots have patented this season.
Rather, I'd say they're feeling the pressure more as they get closer and closer. This might explain why New England's margin of victory decreased by more than half from the first eight games (25.5) of the season to their last 10 games (13.1), including the first two games of the playoffs. The pressure is only amplified by the magnitude of the last game they need to win in order to complete this magical season, the Super Bowl.
Luckily, the Patriots will have two weeks to "not think" about making history and going undefeated before they play the Giants in the Super Bowl. Never mind that this team almost beat you in the last game of the regular season. However, it could be fitting the team the Patriots beat to polish off the first 16-0 regular season in NFL history could be the same team they beat to conclude the first 19-0 season, complete with a shiny, new Vince Lombardi Trophy. But this is still to be seen.
All we know is the Patriots are 18-0, they're playing the Giants and Tom Brady and Bill Belichick should be up for an Academy Award.
Reach Tim at TSayers@hillsdale.edu
Now, throughout the course of this season, the Patriots have been, in a word, perfect. But despite the records they've set, having the league's MVP as their quarterback and being one win away from securing their fourth Super Bowl in the last seven years, the most impressive aspect to me of the Patriots' season so far has been their acting job.
Any time a New England player, coach or even a water boy has been asked a question concerning the team's potential historical run this season, the response has always been the same, "It's a one week season. We're not even thinking about that stuff. We're just trying to focus on [insert name of next opponent here]."
Let's be honest. As an athlete myself, I know you have to stay in the present. I know if you get caught thinking too much about what's already happened or what's ahead in your future, you'll falter in the present. So, I understand the "one week season" mentality.
But I also know if you have a chance to do something great, much less something nobody has ever done before (like go 19-0), it is not going to be something you easily put into the back of your mind.
So, I for one am not buying this whole "we're not even thinking about it" act the Patriots have patented this season.
Rather, I'd say they're feeling the pressure more as they get closer and closer. This might explain why New England's margin of victory decreased by more than half from the first eight games (25.5) of the season to their last 10 games (13.1), including the first two games of the playoffs. The pressure is only amplified by the magnitude of the last game they need to win in order to complete this magical season, the Super Bowl.
Luckily, the Patriots will have two weeks to "not think" about making history and going undefeated before they play the Giants in the Super Bowl. Never mind that this team almost beat you in the last game of the regular season. However, it could be fitting the team the Patriots beat to polish off the first 16-0 regular season in NFL history could be the same team they beat to conclude the first 19-0 season, complete with a shiny, new Vince Lombardi Trophy. But this is still to be seen.
All we know is the Patriots are 18-0, they're playing the Giants and Tom Brady and Bill Belichick should be up for an Academy Award.
Reach Tim at TSayers@hillsdale.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Skylar
posted 1/24/08 @ 7:47 PM EST
Including the last two games of the playoffs? Of course they're going to have a smaller margin of victory -- it's the playoffs! Teams are better in the playoffs. (Continued…)
Post a Comment