Here are some Patriots Basics that will help you to sound like a knowledgeable fan, even if you've missed all 18 wins. If you really want to sound authentic, brush up on how to talk like you're from Boston with this guide to Boston pronunciation from Boston Online.
The 2007-2008 Patriots Season
The Patriots are headed to Super Bowl XLII (42) after defeating the San Diego Chargers 21-12 on Sunday, January 20, to win the AFC (American Football Conference) championship. This victory capped a phenomenal season. Here are a few highlights:
- The Pats landed in the hot seat early in the season when they were accused of videotaping the Jets' defensive signals. The Spygate scandal resulted in severe disciplinary action from the National Football League: the Patriots were fined $250,000 and forfeited a first-round draft pick, and coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000--the largest penalty ever imposed on a coach.
- Talk of the potential for a Pats "perfect season" began as early as mid-September, when New England's team beat the talented San Diego Chargers 38-14 in Week 2.
- Spygate may have actually fueled the Patriots' winning streak, as the players sought to prove that they certainly didn't need to cheat to win.
- Many fans feared they would not have an opportunity to see the Patriots' final regular season game against the New York Giants, which was supposed by be shown exclusively on the subscription-based NFL network. At the last minute, a deal was struck to simulcast the game on two network stations, as well, and an estimated 34.5 million people watched the Patriots close out their perfect season.
- The only other perfect season in NFL history was achieved in 1972 by the Miami Dolphins, who won 14 regular season games on their way to victory in Super Bowl VII.
- The Pats broke a slew of NFL records en route to the Super Bowl including most points scored in a season (589), most touchdown completions thrown in a regular season (50 - Tom Brady), most touchdown receptions in a regular season (23 - Randy Moss).[]li]
- This will be the Patriots' fourth Super Bowl appearance in seven years. If they win, they'll add another record to the books. No NFL team has won four Super Bowl titles in a decade.
All About Bill Belichick
Many analysts give Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick a lot of credit for his team's continued and consistent success. Belichick has been with the Patriots since 2000 and has led New England's team to three Super Bowl victories this decade. With the current competitive level of the NFL, that's already considered a "dynasty." A fourth Super Bowl win will cement the team's place in history.
Learn More About Bill Belichick by visiting these sites:
- Bill Belichick Profile from Patriots.com
- All Things Bill Belichick
- Bill Belichick's Coaching Record from Pro-Football-Reference.com
All About Tom Brady
You have to give a lot of credit to Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady once again, too. During the 2001-2002 season, Brady (#12) started the season as the team's third-string quarterback and ended the year as the Super Bowl MVP when the Patriots upset the St. Louis Rams 20-17. Named the League MVP this year with 49 of 50 votes cast in the Associated Press balloting, Brady's stats this year have secured him a Hall of Fame spot.
Learn More About Tom Brady by visiting these sites:
- Tom Brady Profile from Patriots.com
- Tom Brady Fan Site
- Unofficial Fan Site of Tom Brady and the NFL Patriots
All About Randy Moss
Patriots Wide Receiver Randy Moss (#81) is another player to watch in Super Bowl XLII. Moss was acquired from the Oakland Raiders at the start of the 2007 season, and the veteran--Brady's go-to guy all season long--has really reignited his career. Moss appeared to have left his "bad boy" reputation on the left coast, but a Florida woman's recent allegations and pursuit of a restraining order against Moss have made headlines. Moss's performance in the playoffs was less impressive, but hopefully he can shake off this distraction before the Big Game.
Learn More About Randy Moss by visiting these sites:
All About Super Bowl XLII
That's Super Bowl 42 for the Roman Numeral challenged! The Big Game will be played on Sunday, February 3, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Kickoff time is 6:18 p.m. EST, and the game will be televised by FOX.
The Patriots' opponent is the New York Giants, who gave the Pats quite a run in the final game of their regular season. If you ask me, though, they don't stand a chance!
According to CBS, 93.15 million people watched the Super Bowl last year. Nielsen Media Research estimated that 139.8 million viewers tuned in to a least a portion of the broadcast.
The cost of air time for a 30-second ad for the 2008 Super Bowl is $2.7 to $3 million. That's as much as $100,000 per second! And that doesn't include creative development and production costs.
American Idol winner Jordin Sparks will sing the National Anthem. The Halftime Show will star Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Learn more about Super Bowl XLII by visiting:
