All eyes on Patriots' pursuit of perfection

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey: The New England Patriots will try to complete the first 16-0 regular season in National Football League history on Saturday when they visit the New York Giants in their season finale.

The Giants are the last team standing in the way of the 15-0 Patriots, who could join the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only teams to complete a perfect regular season.

Those Dolphins won 14 regular-season games, then went on to win three postseason contests as they lifted the Super Bowl crown.

"A win is always important for us and we've prepared pretty hard over the last four months, as every team prepares pretty hard," Brady said Wednesday. "Being 16-0 would be a very special achievement, one that no other team has ever achieved, and we're finally at that point."

The contest was originally slated to be aired only on the NFL Network, which is unavailable in many US households.

On Wednesday, however, the NFL announced the game would be simulcast on both the NBC and CBS networks.

It is the first three-channel simulcast in the history of the NFL, and the first simulcast of any kind since Super Bowl I.

"We have taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "We appreciate CBS and NBC delivering the NFL Network telecast on Saturday night to the broad audience that deserves to see this potentially historic game. Our commitment to the NFL Network is stronger than ever."

Viewers can expect coach Bill Belichick's Patriots to be in full force against the Giants, with their explosive offense led by quarterback Tom Brady and receiver Randy Moss.

Brady has 48 touchdown passes this season - tied with Dan Marino for second all-time and one short of the record of 49 set by current Colts quarterback Peyton Manning in 2004.

Two of Brady's TD passes against Miami last weekend went to Moss, moving him to 21 for the season and within one of matching the record set by Jerry Rice in 1987.

The Patriots have 551 points for the season and need six on Saturday to surpass the single-season record of 556 set by the Minnesota Vikings in 1998.

"We've got a lot of records at stake, the most important one being the 16-0," Brady said. "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."

For Giants coach Tom Coughlin, the question of how much to risk the key players on his playoff-bound team could be tricky.

The Giants are locked into the NFC's fifth seed and will visit Tampa Bay in the first round.

Coughlin says that the Giants' objective "is to win", and sidestepped the question of whether some starters would be rested or see limited playing time to boost their chances against the Bucs.

"I think I have made it clear - the best interest of our team will be focused on always," he said. "But we are going to prepare and play as hard as we can.

"The 45 guys that dress will play as hard as we can and try to win a game," Coughlin said.

"No one in here is screaming 'Let's rest', I can tell you that," said Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, whose sore ankle could use some rest. "Guys want to play. It's the last regular-season game and it's home. Guys won't want to sit down."

Running back Brandon Jacobs, who missed five games earlier this season with knee and hamstring injuries is another Giant who could theoretically use some rest before the first round of the playoffs.

AFP

(China Daily 12/28/2007 page23)