BLOG 80: 15 DOWN AND 4 TO GO

Before we break down the Pats 15th consecutive victory of the 2007 NFL season, let's take a look at the other clubs coasting in the Boston sports scene.
Let's start with the bad. It was a horrendous week for the black and gold. Coming into the week, they had recently lost to New Jersey at home then got outplayed by Columbus despite winning the game. The week began with a big test; the 2nd-place Bruins welcomed the 1st-place Senators into town for a nationally televised tilt. In the end, the Bruins fell 3-2 and 8 points behind the Sens. Even worse, the 4 point swing pushed the B's further away from the top spot and are now 0-3 vs. the Sens this season.
Less than 48 hours later, the team had an opportunity to move past the loss with a win at home vs. the Penguins. Instead of getting aided by the return of starting goaltender Tim Thomas, the team came out flat and Malkin and Crosby did quick work and the B's found themselves down 4-0 in the 2nd period. The team battled back and eventually tied the game but fell in the shootout. Two straight losses at home to start the week was not what anyone wanted or expected.
The Bruins had the chance to put the week in better light when they welcomed in the Blues. No go. The team continued to not play a 60 minute game and the team gave up 2 late goals en route to a 4-1 loss on home ice on a Saturday matinee. Boos were a common theme throughout and rightly so. To add salt to the wound, ex-Bruin Brad Boyes had the game winner. The 0-3 week was not the end though. The following day the Bruins lost for the 2nd time of the week against Pittsburgh. Even a change of scenery backfired as a 1-0 lead in the 2nd disappeared and the B's fell 4-2. An 0-4 week and the team is without there best players- Aaron Ward(broken foot) Patrice Bergeron(concussion) Andrew Alberts(concussion) and Glen Murray(hip). This young team is slipping but getting int he win column after the X-mas break and right the ship.
The Celtics continued to cruise. Minded they lost a heart breaker at home versus the Pistons at home on national television. The C's blew a lead and had the ball late tied at 85. But Pierce missed a shot with 1 second left and the Pistons called a timeout. With 0.1 seconds left Tony Allen fouled Billups and he nailed the ensuing free throws. Game over. But the C's showed they can play with anybody. Moreover, they bounced back later in the week at home in double-digit victory fashion over the Bulls and Magic. They sit at 22-3 and own a 9 game lead in their division! They are currently 3 games up on the Pistons for the best record in the East.
Deep breathe. The Pats played too as they thrashed the Dolphins 28-7 in Foxboro. The Pats led 28-0 at the half thanks to 3 Brady TD passes( 2 to Moss 1 to Gaffney) and Maroney's
(14 for 156) running.
The 2nd half was so-so as the Pats had some turnover's and played poorly but the Dolphins simply stink. The final was 28-7.
Let's take a quick look at some stats. Welker now has a whopping 100 catches(check my blog from the pre-season where I predicted that) and can break Troy Brown's all time record next week. Brady has 48 catches which is 1 from tying Manning's record and 2 from breaking it. If the Pats score 6 points(it will happen) they'll break the NFL record (98'Vikings) for most points in a season.
The Pats have now scored 71 TD's, an all-time record. The Patriots have outscored their opponents 551-239. That is a +312 point differential on tap to break the record of +292 by the 42' Bears! Though the Pats have numerous times gone 5-1 in the AFC East, yesterday's win marked the 1st time ever they went 6-0.
Want more? The Pats have gained 6,190 net yards thus far, shattering the franchise record by the 78' Patriots of 5,965. During the win, they got their 349th first down, breaking the old 348 record of the 94' Pats. They shattered it as they finished the game with a whopping 366! The win gave the Pats their 15th straight regular season win to start a season- no other team in NFL history has accomplished that. Coupled with last season's late season wins, the Pats have won 18th straight regular season games, which ties a record they own from 2003-04.
Want more? The Pats have one game left. No team has gone 16-0 and the Pats hope to do so next week in the final game at NY Giants. They're favored by 2 TD's over the playoff bound
10-5 Giants. Moss enters the game with 21 TD's, one shy of Jerry Rice's NFL record of 22. Brady has passed on all of them, breaking the record for the most QB to WR TD's of all time.
Mike Vrabel has 11.5 sacks- that is the most sacks in one season in over 20 years. Welker will hopefully get a catch next week, which would break the all-time Patriot record of Troy Brown (101 catches) in 2001.
Thanks to the Patriots website for most of these awe-dropping statistics. Check back next weekend for the Pats final regular season game as they play for perfection. Go Pats!