Say Hello Too 16-0

Yesterday, the New England Patriots became the first team to finish the season 16-0, after defeating the New York Giants, 38-35.

Tom Brady said, the Patriots have been dealing with 16-0 all season, and facing the Giants was strange for them.

"We've been dealing with being undefeated all season," Brady said. "It was kind of a strange game. It really doesn't mean much to either team, but it means a lot."

Brady understood their chances of going 16-0, and he believes it's great for the Patriots.

"We know we have an opportunity to get to 16," said Brady. "That would be a great accomplishment for this team."

Brady was 32-42, with 356 yards, and 2 touchdown passes.

Brady broke Indianapolis Colts quarterback Payton Mannings record for most touchdown passes in a single season. Brady said it's great, but winning is more important.

"When you look back at the end of your career, you'll be excited about individual records," Brady said, "but winning's more important and I think that's really what everyone's concerned about."

Brady was happy, because they were able to defeat a playoff team. "What I'm most proud of is playing a playoff team on the road that was playing extremely hard," Brady said. "We found a way to come back and win. We did the same thing at Dallas. We did the same thing at Indy. We've been in some tough games. Everyone is going to enjoy this one. It happens once every 35 years."

Brady understands there will be competition in the post-season, and he's ready for the competitiveness. "We're down 10 or 11 (actually 12) in the third quarter, the crowd was into it, and we found a way to win," Brady said. "That's the way it's going to be down the stretch ... just hope we can continue to play this kind of football."

The Patriots are the second team to finish undefeated in the regular season. 1972 Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula says its a great accomplishment, but it's difficult to achieve.

"Going undefeated during the regular season is a remarkable achievement," coach Don Shula said. "I know firsthand how difficult it is to win every game, and just as we did in 1972, the Patriots have done a great job concentrating on each week's opponent and not letting any other distractions interrupt that focus. If they go on to complete an undefeated season, I will be the first to congratulate Coach Belichick and the Patriot organization."

Randy Moss had 6 receptions, 100 yards, and 2 touchdown catches. Moss said lots of people didn't think they'll be 16-0, and he thanks his team. "Hats off to us," said Moss. "I know a lot of people didn't think we were going to do it. A lot of people didn't want us to do it. In this game of football, it's hard to go 16-and-0. As a football player and a fan of the game, my hat's off to this organization."

Moss said the Giants were standing in their way, and the Patriots needed the victory. "We play the Giants next," Moss said. "They're standing in our way and we'll try to get a victory. We'll put 11 on the field and try to get a victory."

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said it's a great feeling, but he doesn't want to rush anything. "It's a great feeling," Belichick said. "Now is the time to take a day or two and appreciate what this team has done, but at the same time we have our biggest game of the year coming up. Pretty soon we need to turn the page and move on."

Belichick said this has been a distraction for the Patriots, and believes his team has done a great job dealing with the attention. "There have been things every week, different distractions every week that we've dealt with," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "I think the players have done a good job of staying focused in approaching the games, coming to work, working hard and paying attention, putting the team first."

Before the game started, Belichick said he just wanted to win. "I hope we can go on a one game-winning streak," Belichick said. "Just get ready, have a good week and be able to win on Saturday. ... There is maybe a time to reflect on that, but right now is not it."

Eli Manning was 22-32, with 251 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Manning said they didn't win, but everyone felt great. "We didn't win the game, but if you saw everybody in the locker room, everybody was excited," Manning said. "I never saw a locker room so upbeat after a loss because we played so well, did some good things and hung in there in a game where we didn't have to play. We wanted to. We wanted to come out and play well, and we did that."

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said this was a positive game. "There is nothing but positives," Coughlin said. "I told the players in playing this game everything would be positives, there would be no negatives and that is how I feel. I don't know any better way to be prepared for the playoffs than to go against a team that was 15-0."

The Giants want to win every game according to Coughlin, but said they can't improve. "We want to win every game, and we want our players to be as sharp as they can, but that having been said, I am aware of the fact that all the things you talk about are true," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said Monday. "We cannot improve our lot, etc. I won't be really painted into the corner on any of those things. I wish I had a more definitive answer."

Coughlin didn't rest his players, because the Giants wanted to win. "Of course you play every game to win, and so all of our thoughts are on that," Coughlin said. "All of our thoughts are on trying to figure out how we can be in a position to defeat a team that is 15-0 and a very, very good team."