The game of the year turned out to be a pretty good game. The Giants gave the Patriots all they could handle, and even had control of the scoreboard at halftime. Of course there was little doubt that New England would shake off their semi-malaise in the second half and roll to victory. Brady's bomb to Moss down the right sideline was one of the season's highlights and one of the least-shocking plays you'll ever see. That one sealed everything the Pats had to play for - it virtually gave them the win, and it gave Brady the TD pass record and Moss the TD reception record.

What made that play really memorable, actually, was the play that happened just before it. Moss had gotten free of what looked to me like three defenders. Brady threw it short and Moss tried to come back for it but it bounced off his fingertips, and by the looks on both Brady and Belichick's faces, you knew they thought Moss should've had it. So on the next play what do they do? Go to Moss again; and this time Randy blows by the defender, catches it in stride and glides into the end-zone for the score that gives New England the lead.

That's sort of how it's been for the Patriots - even when they screw up, they don't screw up. When it looks like, at last, something has gone against them, and one of their star players has failed to make the play, they simply try it again, executing more precisely, and this time it works.

So, pats on the back all around for the Pats, the first team ever to run the table in a 16-game regular season. Congrats to Bill Belichick, the greatest leader of men since Hannibal crossed the Alps. And in the midst of all this Patriot huzzahing, let's not forget the Giants, who had nothing to play for in this game, but came out like their whole season was on the line. Kudos to Eli Manning for playing like a top-notch NFL QB as well. At the very least, this performance should give the Giants and their ticket-scalping fans a shot of confidence going into the playoffs. If New York plays against their first-round opponent the way they did against New England, they will be in the second round.

Now New England sets its own sights on the post-season. For the first time since the '72 Dolphins a team will enter the playoffs with an unblemished record, but don't think for a second that such a thing will weigh on the Patriots. They have veteran leaders all over that team, guys who've won multiple Super Bowls. It ain't gonna mean squat to them that they're on some kind of historic run. They'll keep an even-keel. They showed last night that pressure means little to them. History was bearing down on them, and they calmly pulled themselves together and beat a good team (I would say "beat a good team on the road" but the scalpers made sure that was practically a home game for the Pats). The Pats were clearly the Super Bowl favorites before, but now they're just about locks. No one - but no one - is going into Foxborough in January and beating that team. Not Peyton and the Colts. Not the rugged Jags. Not the resurgent Chargers. No one.

When it's all over, the Pats will be 19-0 and Super Bowl champs again.