60-Minutes.....Tick...Tick...Tick...

With the Patriots, and Colts for that matter, playing meaningless games for the remainder of the season, it brings about the question of the two top teams in the AFC resting their starters.

The 2007 Pats and the 2007 Colts are two franchises looking in opposite directions. Indianapolis might be looking to rest guys, like Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Bob Sanders, because of the injury-plagued season they had this year. But the Pats on the other hand are trying to make history and become the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to go undefeated.

It has never been Bill Belichick’s way to ease up on opponents, especially this year. Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Asante Samuel are going to play all four quarters of Sunday’s game. Unless the Pats are up 45-0 at half-time then it might be different. But then again, last time they face the Dolphins, the Pats were up 42-7 at the half and Brady came out for the third.

After stripping the Patriots of their first round draft pick and making Belichick the league bully, the Pats have retaliated and punishing the NFL as payback. In the process, Brady and Moss have compiled gaudy numbers and are on pace to break the single-season records for touchdown passes and receptions.

Belichick is a football guy. He loves the game and he loves the history of the game. If one of his players can break a record he is going to let the player go after it. Look at Doug Flutie and the dropkick or Vinny Testaverde throwing a garbage time touchdown a few years ago on the last day of the season. When history can be made, Belichick knows it and will go for it.

If the Patriots are ahead 45-13 in the fourth quarter and Brady needs one touchdown to break Manning’s record, there is no doubt that Brady will still be in the game. Belichick wants to see him break the record. Records were meant to be broken.

Do not let any of the national football commentators fool you the Patriots are out to kill the remaining teams on their schedule. The Pats have a lot to play for. Belichick and Brady want that fourth Super Bowl ring. Moss wants his first. They are out to play and not sit on the bench. The Pats have come this far playing 60 minutes of smash-mouth football and they will continue to play for 60 minutes. There are no stopping these boys.

PATRIOTS 45
Dolphins 13

Brady ties Manning’s record and breaks it next week as well as Randy Moss breaking Jerry Rice’s receiving yards.

(I am currently working on a Patriots PowerPoint of statistics so write-ups might be slow the next couple of days but I promise you I will post as soon as I get the opportunity.)