2008 BRADY'S LOST SEASON (PART I)
INTRODUCTION
In 2007, the New England Patriots stormed through the NFL, achieving a perfect regular season and outscoring opponents by an average of nearly 20 points per game. One game away from putting their stamp on history as the greatest team ever, it all blew up in with a shocking 17-14 loss to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
The Pats were poised to contend again in 2008. However, their season went up in flames when Brady blew out his knee in the first game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs. Although, they still finished 11-5 under backup quarterback Matt Cassell, they missed the playoffs and were never a serious contender for the Super Bowl. How might the season have evolved differently had Brady been healthy? This mythical series will explore the answer.
Week 1: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-0) VS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-0)
The Patriots overcame sloppy play to defeat the lowly Chiefs 28-10. New England struggled early, turning the ball over on their first two possession and holding only a slim 14-10 lead with 14:18 remaining in the game, New England scored on its next two possessions to put the game away, sealing a 28-10 win. Brady was a cool and efficient 31-40 for 346 yards and 2 TDs. Welker (11 rec., 107 yds.) and Moss (7 rec, 140 yds.), led New England’s receiving corps.
NEW ENGLAND 28 KANSAS CITY 10
Week 2- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-0) AT NEW YORK JETS (1-0)
The Patriots improved to 2-0 with a 26-16 victory over the New York Jets, 26-16. New England led 23-3 after 3 quarters. Brett Favre led two 4th quarter touchdown drives, while Steven Gostowski added a field goal for the Patriots to account for the final score. The Patriots were far from an offensive juggernaut (outgained 339-302 by the Jets) but performed well enough overall to win. New England is now 2-0, tied with the Buffalo Bills for 1st place in the AFC East.
NEW ENGLAND 26 NEW YORK JETS 16
Week 3- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-0) vs MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-2)
In what was, by far, their worst defensive performance of the Bill Belichick era, the Patriots defense was gashed for 309 rushing yards (544 in total). New England had no answers for Miami’s hybrid wildcat formation as the Dolphins jumped out to a 34-10 lead. Brady rallied the Patriots to 3 touchdown drives in the 4th quarter to make the final score closer on the scorecard that it was on the field. In the end, the Dolphins won 41-33. Based on this awful performance against a team that had lost 20 of its 21 previous regular season games, the Patriots status as a Super Bowl contender now has to be seriously questioned.
MIAMI 41 NEW ENGLAND 33
INTRODUCTION
In 2007, the New England Patriots stormed through the NFL, achieving a perfect regular season and outscoring opponents by an average of nearly 20 points per game. One game away from putting their stamp on history as the greatest team ever, it all blew up in with a shocking 17-14 loss to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
The Pats were poised to contend again in 2008. However, their season went up in flames when Brady blew out his knee in the first game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs. Although, they still finished 11-5 under backup quarterback Matt Cassell, they missed the playoffs and were never a serious contender for the Super Bowl. How might the season have evolved differently had Brady been healthy? This mythical series will explore the answer.
Week 1: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-0) VS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-0)
The Patriots overcame sloppy play to defeat the lowly Chiefs 28-10. New England struggled early, turning the ball over on their first two possession and holding only a slim 14-10 lead with 14:18 remaining in the game, New England scored on its next two possessions to put the game away, sealing a 28-10 win. Brady was a cool and efficient 31-40 for 346 yards and 2 TDs. Welker (11 rec., 107 yds.) and Moss (7 rec, 140 yds.), led New England’s receiving corps.
NEW ENGLAND 28 KANSAS CITY 10
Week 2- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-0) AT NEW YORK JETS (1-0)
The Patriots improved to 2-0 with a 26-16 victory over the New York Jets, 26-16. New England led 23-3 after 3 quarters. Brett Favre led two 4th quarter touchdown drives, while Steven Gostowski added a field goal for the Patriots to account for the final score. The Patriots were far from an offensive juggernaut (outgained 339-302 by the Jets) but performed well enough overall to win. New England is now 2-0, tied with the Buffalo Bills for 1st place in the AFC East.
NEW ENGLAND 26 NEW YORK JETS 16
Week 3- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-0) vs MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-2)
In what was, by far, their worst defensive performance of the Bill Belichick era, the Patriots defense was gashed for 309 rushing yards (544 in total). New England had no answers for Miami’s hybrid wildcat formation as the Dolphins jumped out to a 34-10 lead. Brady rallied the Patriots to 3 touchdown drives in the 4th quarter to make the final score closer on the scorecard that it was on the field. In the end, the Dolphins won 41-33. Based on this awful performance against a team that had lost 20 of its 21 previous regular season games, the Patriots status as a Super Bowl contender now has to be seriously questioned.
MIAMI 41 NEW ENGLAND 33