6
Dec
2010
As the Jets-Pats rivalry goes, there’s never been a bigger one than this
Long simmering, the feud between the Jets and Patriots is set to explode Monday night. (Source: New York Daily News)
(Ed. note: This article was originally posted last week, but with the impending Monday night match-up on everyone’s mind today, we thought it deserved another look)
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The word “rivalry” is tossed around a lot in the NFL. You hear announcers, desperate for market share, describe a pedestrian Seahawks-Chiefs tilt as a rivalry. Who’s buying that? Most “rivalries” unfold without so much as a breadcrumb on the line.
The history between the New York Jets and New England Patriots is a messy, entangled war by contrast. With both franchises notched at 9-2 atop the AFC East, you have to go back to the 1990 Monday-night meeting between the 10-1 49ers vs. the 10-1 New York Giants to find a late-season prime-time bout with equal appeal.
The lifetime record between these two teams stands at 51-50-1 in New York’s favor. Records aside, the Patriots are the Goliath, having dominated the last decade with three Super Bowl wins under the leadership of a once-per-generation quarterback talent in Tom Brady.
The Jets, after years of struggle, are at the threshold — but the long-time Jets fanatic is still haunted by ghosts: “When will the other shoe drop? When will the S.O.J.s appear from behind the Wizard’s curtain?”
A season sweep over the Patriots would send a statement league-wide: These Jets are for real.
17
Nov
2010
Enter Drew Bledsoe and the 3-6 Megaton New England Patriots
In 1994, the Browns and Pats -- and their now-legendary coaches -- met in a classic post-season chess match. (Source: AP)
I want to get down to discussing a few things about this league we follow. The wife and I have a newborn and it’s been a challenge for me to get a lot of football posting done the past few weeks. We love having the little guy around — but he’s not afraid to let us know when he needs something.
Anyway, I’ve been thinking about the state of NFL teams sitting at 3-6, 2-7, 4-5 (maybe because, after the loss to the Jets, I saw the Browns’ playoff hopes move from “marginal” to “wicked-slim”). Entering Week 11, we’re starting to see teams slip away for good. Staring down a gun barrel with their season on the brink, a flock of lost squads are a step away from extinction — and they know it.
Sure, they’ll play for pride, they say, but when a team is deep-sixed before Thanksgiving, with key players hitting IR, where does it draw its hope… (Hold on. baby crying—————needs to be changed——————————–)
[17 minutes later]
Some teams, on the brink of elimination, suddenly rocket to life. The 2008 San Diego Chargers opened their season 4-8 before ripping off four consecutive wins and squeaking into the playoffs at 8-8. Once there, they bomb-blasted the 12-4 Indianapolis Colts in the Wildcard (only adding to my feelings of wild apathy for Peyton Manning, but that’s another column).
A memorable turn for San Diego, but I don’t see that scenario unfolding in… (Baby melting——-will be————————-back)
…in this year’s AFC race. The conference looks prepped to send nothing less than 10-win teams to the playoffs.
Looking at which teams can still mathematically win 10 games, the bleakest starting point would be 3-6.
Do we have examples of 3-6 teams winning out? If so, not many. By Week 11, three-win teams (often sitting at three wins because of a genuine lack of talent or debilitating injuries) don’t often transform into world-beaters.
Still, do we have any examples?
Yes. We do.
The best that comes to mind — the 1994 New England Patriots, coached by Bill…
(baby needs to be rocked and stilled into sleep using vacuum cleaner sounds———————-be back in 35 minutes or so—————-)
…Parcells, with a 22-year old, coming-of-age Drew Bledsoe, in his second season. The team got off to a rocky start but showed promise by playing with proven opponents nobody expected them to compete against.
This young Patriots team forged a rather non-Parcells identity down the stretch by throwing the ball all over the place.
People were surprised by Parcells’ — well — flexibility to embrace a team that relied on the air attack.
Sitting at 3-6, and knowing the season was on the line, Parcells shocked football land by utterly unleashing Bledsoe against an unsuspecting 7-3 Minnesota Vikings team. The Pats had nothing to lose and Bledsoe lit up the sky, completed 45 of 70 passes for a whopping 426 yards and three touchdowns, with zero interceptions.
It was transformative.
New England went on to win seven games in a row
That ’94 Pats team ultimately met the 11-5 Cleveland Browns in the AFC Wildcard.
The Browns, led by a raw, less-experienced Bill Belichick, allowed the fewest points in the AFC that season. The showdown between Parcells and his prized student had everything you could ask for in a playoff game.
9
Jun
2009
Bledsoe Residence: Phone Call from Trent Edwards
Drew Bledsoe: Hullo?
Trent Edwards: Drew! Drew it’s me, Trent Edwards, National Football League quarterback for the Buffalo club.
DB: Oh sure. I played there – wait, what time is it?
TE: Um… I think like 11 a.m. your time
DB: Good grief! I haven’t seen this side of noon since Dallas! It’s kind of nice. I hear birds.
TE: Listen Drew, you gotta help! Terrell is making me crazy!
DB: T.O.? What is that fellow up to now?
TE: He’s following me around the locker room! He keeps wanting to go over “the playbook”!
DB: What’s wrong with that? Could be worse… Hello Mr. Mittens! [ruffled sounds of petting cat]
TE: Yeah, but Drew it’s not the playbook! It’s an old issue of Highlights from like the late 80s!
DB: Highlights! The magazine for school children? Which issue?
TE: Which issue? Which issue?!? The issue is T.O. is a maniac! He gets himself all sudsy and then slides under the shower stalls while we are in them! He says that he is the “shower seal” and he “wants to see some fishies”! I mean… what is that? “Fishies”? It’s unnerving!
DB: Is it one of the theme issues? Like about animals? “Barnyard pals”!
TE: Barnyard…? Drew are you even listening? Oh no! There he is! [whispering] He’s wearing a sailor hat!
Terrel Owens: [in background]: Ahoy Matey! Let’s go over me playbook… Arrrrr!
TE [hissing]: Drew! Help!
DB: Say hello to T.O. for me, Trent! Okay, it’s time for Mr. Mitten’s breakfast! Hmmmm… does that sound good Mr. Mittens?!
TE: Drew?
TO: [in background]: Arrrr! Put down that modern conveyance, landlubber, it’s time to walk me plank!
TE [sobbing]: Drew please… he has a parrot.
Dial Tone: sustained.
31
Mar
2009
Drew Bledsoe’s Drive West IOWA 1997: Fictional Account
I am in Iowa. The sun is down and I just finished an 8 hour drive through America’s heartland. This has been a good trip. I saw some old friends along the way. In Pittsburgh I visited a friend from high school, the backup quarterback; he was living with his wife in a 3rd floor walk up apartment. His wife and kids were very nice to me. After dinner and they had gone to bed we had beers and talked about the old days.He wondered about the life of a NFL QB, we talked about Mary Summers my junior year girlfriend, apparently she is working in a sport marketing firm in Oklahoma – how strange – life takes us everywhere. We had a few more beers and stepped out into the night – we hit bars and drink canned beers that I have never had before like Iron City and Yuengling, we talked to men who had no idea who I am, some NFL fans recognized me and bought us Buffalo wings – people were friendly, very unlike Boston – in Boston I feel like a stranger. I miss the mist of Seattle – the west coast laid back vibe that seems to soften the blow of any wrong doing or hard feelings. I think about the choices I have made – where will they bring me – maybe I should have followed my dream and become a graphic designer, or maybe a shoe designer for NIKE – I was voted best artist in high school, best athlete ironically went to Marcus Ginty – a talented forward on our state championship basketball team – I wonder what he is up too? Later we stumbled back the apartment and when my friend went to bed I watched his wife’s VHS tapes of Sex in the City – what an interesting show – I don’t find Sarah Jessica Parker attractive at all – but I find her enchanting. Tomorrow I leave IOWA and head farther toward the ocean, the sun behind me in the morning, and in the evening it burns my eyes as I drive – I listen to NPR, I lose the station and find a new one, I think sometimes about Steve Grogan, I wonder about my future, my wife waits for me at home, I can’t wait to see her again – we will go to the farmers market first thing – make a huge breakfast, talk of my journey and plan for the things that make life worth living, a afternoon movie, beers with our parents, a long walk while the sun comes down over the Pacific – it is a good world and I am a peace –my choices are my own.
