Krause: Patriots should focus on perfect record before dreaming of superstar statistics

As it turned out, the first half of yesterday’s Patriots-Dolphins game was for getting enough of a lead so that that Tom Brady and Randy Moss could continue their quest for NFL immortality in the second half.The Miami Dolphins had other ideas, however. As Brady and Moss gamely shot for the moon in the final two quarters of their 28-7 victory over Miami, they came up with goose eggs. Brady was also picked off twice, and while the game was never in doubt, it wasn’t the total blowout everyone expected it to be, either.Naturally, everybody denied what happened out there.”We were just trying to run our offense,” coach Bill Belichick said. “That’s all we did. We didn’t really have much of a tight end offense (especially since both Ben Watson and Kyle Brady were out with injuries). We eliminated that going into the game, and so we went with what we had.”But on a day when running back Laurence Maroney ran for 156 yards, it seemed obvious that Brady was trying to break Peyton Manning’s mark of 49 touchdown passes, set in 2004; and he was trying to lead Moss into smashing Jerry Rice’s record for 22 TD receptions, set in 1987.Brady threw for three in the first half – two of them to Moss. So, going into next week’s game against the New York Giants, Brady needs two TD passes, and Moss two TD receptions, to set new records.This, of course, means that there’s the football equivalent of a harmonic convergence going on. The Patriots are going for the first perfect record in a 16-game season Saturday night. And both Brady and Moss are chasing their personal glory.So ? what to do? Do you play team football and guarantee everyone’s place in history? Or do you concentrate on your own stats at the risk of upsetting the team concept?Everyone says the right things. Belichick’s mantra – which he only repeated about 100 times after yesterday’s game – was “We’ll do what’s best for our team.”What does that mean?”If we have to run, we’ll run; if we have to spread the field, we’ll spread the field. We’ll do what’s in the best interest of the team.”Moss made it clear where he stood.”As long as there’s a ‘zero’ next to the ‘L,’ I’m happy,” he said. “Records were made to be broken.”If I break Jerry Rice’s record, then I’m cool with it,” he said. “If I don’t break Jerry Rice’s record, I’m cool with that, too. It’s a team game, and I’d rather have the win. If it comes down to the record over the win, I’d rather have the win.”But does he agree with decisions to throw to him in double- and triple-coverage?”Hell, I’m Randy Moss, what do YOU think?” he said, before breaking out into a wide grin, and repeating that as far as he was concerned, he was more interested in winning.Yet at the same time, none of them act as if playing for a 16-0 regular-season record means anything at all.”The weeks kind of roll from one to the next, and it’s such a long season,” Brady said. “You get past one game, and already, you’re preparing for the next.”He did allow, however, that he looks at the schedule at the beginning of every season and “I see 16-0 all the time,” he said. “You always think you have a chance.”So, as it stands now, the only thing standing in the way of the Patriots and perfection – at least for the regular season – is Eli Manning and the Giants. And since the Jints wrapped up a playoff spot by beating the Buffalo Bills yesterday, there’s no telling how motivated they’ll be for their final regular-season game, so you have to like New England’s chances.There’s no doubt, however, the Patriots will be motivated. But it’s worth noting – in the records department – that Manning set his TD pass record in 2004, and the Colts lost to the Patriots in the AFC divisional round. Rice set his TD reception record in 1987 – and the Washington Redskins won the Super Bowl.The Dolphins had their perfect season in 1972 – and won the Super Bowl.Off those facts, you’d have to think the decision about what to do Saturday would be obvious: Make sure you win the game. And if you set the pe