Today, Patriots and perfection are synonymous

The Daily ItemHow fitting that two of the prime architects in this perfect New England Patriots season joined forces for a history play that sealed a historic game.Quarterback Tom Brady and receiver Randy Moss, officially the National Football League’s most prolific touchdown combo ever, perhaps saved their best for last Saturday night. They hooked up for a 65-yard scoring pass that brought the Patriots back from a 12-point third-quarter deficit and enabled the Patriots to beat the New York Giants at the Meadowlands, 38-35.The win gives the Patriots their perfect 16-0 season – making them the second team in 35 years to run the table. The Miami Dolphins did it in 1972.For a while, the Giants looked as if they’d spoil the party, going up 28-16 on their first series in the second half. At the same time, the Patriots defense looked helpless as Giants quarterback Eli Manning dinked and dunked his way downfield for three scoring passes.But as they have several times this season, the Patriots responded when the hour seemed darkest. They did it in Indianapolis, in Baltimore and Dallas, and they did it again Saturday.The Patriots responded to that touchdown by getting one of their own on an eight-play drive that culminated in a six-yard run by Laurence Maroney. During the drive, Brady completed five straight passes.”He’s everything you want in a leader,” said Moss. “No matter what happens, he thinks he’s going to pull through. We look to him to lead us down the field.”The Patriots defense regrouped after that, holding the fort and forcing the Giants to punt, and the quarter ended with the Patriots very much in the game at 28-23.As the fourth quarter began, the Patriots and Giants traded punts. Brady threw two incompletions, but it was the second that made everyone in the stadium groan. He tried a play fake to Maroney, and then heaved one to the right side of the field, which Moss had to come back toward him to catch. He couldn’t hang on.”I did my best to catch it,” he said, “but I just couldn’t.””I was thinking,” Brady said, “that I wish I’d thrown the ball longer for him.”Brady and Moss had already tied records set by Peyton Manning (2004) and Jerry Rice (1987) in the first quarter, and this looked like a golden opportunity to break them both.It was such a good opportunity that Brady tried again.”The play was designed for Wes (Welker),” Moss said. “it was third and 10, and all he wanted to do was get a first down.”But, Moss explained, the Giants trapped Welker at the line of scrimmage, hoping Brady would take the bait.”But Tommy made a good read,” Moss said, “and threw it long.””He’s the best,” Brady said of Moss. “What can I say. He makes it easy.”Moss never broke stride, catching the ball in full sprint and waltzing into the end zone. The pass gave Brady 50 touchdown throws for the season, breaking Manning’s record of 49; and the reception gave Moss 22 TDs, breaking the mark set in 1987 by Jerry Rice.Maroney’s two-point conversion made it 31-28. After Ellis Hobbs picked off a pass, the Patriots scored an insurance touchdown, with Maroney plowing in from the one.(Maroney may have only had 46 yards, but they were very productive).The Giants came out of the gate throwing – and throwing long. On his second play from scrimmage, Manning went up to to Burress, who was isolated one-on-one with Hobbs. Burress hauled it in, and set the Giants up with a first down at the Patriots 18. Six plays later, it was 7-0.Stephen Gostkowski got three of them back with a field goal that ended drive of 5:40, and the Patriots went ahead 10-7 when Brady found Moss for a four-yard score. Moss was flagged for celebrating excessively, bringing the kickoff back to the Patriots 15, Dominik Hixon ran it back for a score, and the Giants had the lead back. Another Gostkowski field goal brought the Patriots closer, but Manning completed a two-minute drill with a touchdown pass to Kevin Boss, which gave the Giants a 21-16 lead at the break.