2008 Woodie Awards
Pats squeak by Ravens, remain perfect
Nathan Hoffman
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Wow. At this point one has to wonder; what it will take to beat the New England Patriots? This is a part rhetorical question from a boastful Patriots fan, and part legitimate question from a lifelong observer and fanatic of professional football. The Monday Night Football game was supposed to be the one. After escaping Foxboro with a narrow victory over the Philadelphia Eagles the previous Sunday night, it was very evident that the Patriots were mere mortals. Last Monday night, the Patriots took their undefeated record into Baltimore.
The game was there for the Ravens.
They controlled most of the game and had numerous opportunities to prematurely send the Pats packing for I-95.
The Patriots opened up the game with a strong drive and had a first and goal, yet only came away with a field goal.
The Ravens used this small victory and built momentum from here. The Ravens imposed their will on the Patriots, something that has yet to be seen. Willis McGahee, the self-proclaimed best back in the game, gave the Monday Night audience some food for thought. The Patriots did not have an answer for him. The Ravens' offensive line were truly the MVP's of the game. They created hallways for McGahee to run in, and gave Kyle Boller so much time that he was beginning to look like the MVP quarterback, not the guy across the sideline. On the other side of the ball, the Ravens managed to limit Randy Moss to four catches and stunt the Patriots running game. Tom Brady looked surprisingly human for most of the game.
First of all, and most importantly, the Patriots created their own luck. They made a key interception in the fourth quarter and prevented the Ravens last four drives of the game from ending with points. The Patriots' last drive was absurd though, and on several occasions came frighteningly close to losing the game. On a fourth and one with the game on the line, the Ravens stopped Tom Brady on a QB sneak, seemingly putting the game in the bag. The only thing stopping the game from ending was the Ravens sideline, who screamed for a timeout just before the snap. On the next snap, again on fourth and one, the Ravens stopped Patriots' fullback Heath Evans again. However, before the snap, Patriots' right guard Russ Hochstein moved early, therefore making it a fourth and six, which the Patriots converted. It was the best false start in the history of football.
The game was there for the Ravens.
They controlled most of the game and had numerous opportunities to prematurely send the Pats packing for I-95.
The Patriots opened up the game with a strong drive and had a first and goal, yet only came away with a field goal.
The Ravens used this small victory and built momentum from here. The Ravens imposed their will on the Patriots, something that has yet to be seen. Willis McGahee, the self-proclaimed best back in the game, gave the Monday Night audience some food for thought. The Patriots did not have an answer for him. The Ravens' offensive line were truly the MVP's of the game. They created hallways for McGahee to run in, and gave Kyle Boller so much time that he was beginning to look like the MVP quarterback, not the guy across the sideline. On the other side of the ball, the Ravens managed to limit Randy Moss to four catches and stunt the Patriots running game. Tom Brady looked surprisingly human for most of the game.
First of all, and most importantly, the Patriots created their own luck. They made a key interception in the fourth quarter and prevented the Ravens last four drives of the game from ending with points. The Patriots' last drive was absurd though, and on several occasions came frighteningly close to losing the game. On a fourth and one with the game on the line, the Ravens stopped Tom Brady on a QB sneak, seemingly putting the game in the bag. The only thing stopping the game from ending was the Ravens sideline, who screamed for a timeout just before the snap. On the next snap, again on fourth and one, the Ravens stopped Patriots' fullback Heath Evans again. However, before the snap, Patriots' right guard Russ Hochstein moved early, therefore making it a fourth and six, which the Patriots converted. It was the best false start in the history of football.
Be the first to comment on this story