What was the NFL going to do when NE refused to be introduced individually? Have NE forfeit the game?
I have to preface this with the obvious admission that I would not trade what's happened or our success this century for anything.
I simply seek to point out facts which reveal that we've been good at professional football in New England for a long time, and opportunities for greatness - championship greatness - have been there for us, just not taken advantage of until Belichick was hired.
The similarities of Grogan and Brady's sophomore seasons here are numerous and striking, and you can safely say that the only difference between them is Ben Dreith and Walt Coleman.
But Doug Flutie's first shot at regularly starting in the NFL also has much in common with Tom's, the major difference being the head coach.
Patriots' Record:
1988: 1-3, 6-5; Flutie 7-3; Home 5-0
2001: 1-3, 6-5: Brady 14-3: Home 7-1
Team Defense:
1988: 5th in NFL in yards and points
2001: 24th in yards, 6th in points
Team Offense:
1988: 27th in yards, 24th in points
2001: 19th in yards, 6th in points
Both the Bengals and Bills had 12-4, division-winning seasons, but zero playoff experience, which the Patriots had in abundance. Stephens was better than Thomas or Woods, and did not fumble. The difference is Flutie.
Berry's decision to once again insert the mediocre at best Tony Eason who hadn't played all year, who consistently ended our 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 seasons by losing, when all we had to do was defeat a lousy Bucs team and a sub-.500 Broncos team to get into the playoffs, remains as astonishingly stupid today as it was then.