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All Eyes On Patriots' Pursuit Of Perfection

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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 29, 2007

Updated: 12/29/2007 12:17 am

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - New England's pursuit of perfection represents such compelling theater, it takes three networks to cover tonight's regular-season finale.

While New York fans debate whether Coach Tom Coughlin should rest his regulars before heading to Tampa for next week's opening playoff round, New England supporters realize Bill Belichick faces no such dilemma.

There's history in the offing.

"I think we all realize what a win would mean," said Tom Brady, the NFL's top-rated passer who can set the NFL's single-season record for touchdown passes tonight. "Being 16-0 regular season would be a very special achievement, one that no other team has ever achieved, and we're finally at that point."

With an opportunity to enter the postseason undefeated, the marauding Patriots are also only six points away from succeeding the 1998 Vikings as the highest-scoring club in NFL annals.

Brady keeps finding Wes Welker for third-down completions and Randy Moss for touchdowns behind an offensive line that has yielded only 20 sacks.

New York's fierce pass rush will be tested at Giants Stadium, where Patriots fans have paid top dollar on eBay this week for a chance to attend a momentous occasion.

"You want to sell your tickets? Sell your tickets," Giants veteran defensive end Michael Strahan said. "It is their tickets, let them sell them, let them get the money, let them pay for their tickets for the next year and the year after. I still believe they are our fans, so I'm not going to worry about that."

Giants supporters who peddle their tickets now have more options to watch the game in the comfort of their home, while a light rain could be falling at the Meadowlands.

The matchup originally was slated to air only on the NFL Network, but the league orchestrated an unprecedented three-way simulcast that includes CBS and NBC.

"I'm excited that the fans across the country and in many countries can watch the game," NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci said. "It's a game that has a great deal of meaning and importance."

While the Patriots seek to join the 1972 Dolphins as the only perfect teams in the NFL's 88-year history, the Giants (10-5) are locked into an opening-round playoff game at Tampa as the NFC's No. 5 seed.

Coughlin surely wants to enter the postseason with maximum momentum, but several Giants, including big-play wide receiver Plaxico Burress, are nagged by injury and could use the rest.

"There is only one way to play the game," Coughlin said of his team's approach. "I've been asked a million times about these kinds of questions and quite frankly, they don't sit well with me. They have a quarterback that's playing as well as anybody's ever played it and we're the 16th team on the schedule for the Patriots. We're excited about having an opportunity to line up on Saturday night."

Despite indications the Giants intend to go all out, New England could reward its fans with another in a series of lopsided wins.

New York has won only three of seven home games and the Patriots boast an astounding average victory margin of 21 points.

"I don't see the Giants beating them," CBS analyst Shannon Sharpe said. "The Giants have a few guys banged up and they won't play all their guys. New England is really focused. They have a single-minded approach and have been that way since Day One. It's going to take a special effort for someone to beat them."

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