The wait is over. The New England Patriots visit the New York Giants tonight, bidding to become the first NFL team to win all 16 regular-season games.
“We’ve got a lot of records at stake, the most important one being the 16-0,” quarterback Tom Brady said Friday. “I hope we achieve that. It’d be a great feat for the team. We’d go down as the only team to be 16-0, so that’s the goal I’ve got in mind.”
The last team to go undefeated was the Miami Dolphins in 1972, when they won all 14 regular-season games en route to a 17-0 record and a Super Bowl crown.
The Patriots’ historic run created so much interest that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell yielded this week and gave CBS and NBC permission to simulcast the game, which originally was to be shown only on the NFL Network.
Brady is two touchdown passes shy of breaking Peyton Manning’s season mark of 49 set in 2004. Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss needs one touchdown catch to tie Jerry Rice’s record of 22 set in 1987.
New England, which has not scored fewer than 20 points in any game, needs just six to break Minnesota’s record of 556 set in 1998. The Patriots lead the league in yards per game (412.7), passing yards per game (292.3) and first downs (366).
“The good thing about those records is all those didn’t come against us,” Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce said. “Those 551 points, those 15 wins, that wasn’t against the New York Giants. This is just one game. It isn’t our fault the guys before decided to give up all those points.”
The only question surrounding the Giants (10-5) this week has been whether they will rest players in what for them is a meaningless game. No matter what happens, New York will play at Tampa Bay next weekend in an NFC wild-card game.
“It has been a good test for 15 teams before us, so definitely it is a good test,” Giants defensive end Michael Strahan said. “It gives us an opportunity to play against the best team in the league right now and gives us an opportunity to see where we are going into the playoffs.”
Brady quipped this week that Giants Coach Tom Coughlin should give Strahan and defensive end Osi Umenyiora the night off.
Not likely.
“We can rush the passer,” Umenyiora said. “Any time you go up against an offense that likes to pass the football a lot, you also have to have a strong pass rush to match up well.”
• Safety Bob Sanders agreed to a five-year contract extension that will keep him with the Indianapolis Colts through 2012. The deal is worth $37.5 million and includes $20 million in guarantees, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press.
• The NFL has fined official Jim Quirk one game check for inappropriate physical contact with players, including Green Bay linebacker Nick Barnett. The fine totals $8,150, a spokesman said.
The decision came after Quirk grabbed Barnett by the neck and threw him to the ground while breaking up a scuffle during the Packers’ loss at Chicago on Sunday.
• Colts receiver Marvin Harrison will probably start Sunday against Tennessee after returning from a left-knee injury.
• Dave Rayner signed with San Diego to handle kickoffs Sunday in Oakland in place of ailing Nate Kaeding.
• New Orleans running back Reggie Bush won’t play Sunday at Chicago because of a left-knee injury.
• Receiver Terrell Owens (ankle) and cornerback Terence Newman (knee) were declared inactive for Dallas’ game Sunday at Washington.
• Former San Jose State player John Broussard’s season is over.
Jacksonville put the rookie receiver on injured reserve because of an ankle injury. Broussard caught four passes for 126 yards and one touchdown in eight games.
