Four degrees at game time? No problem. A town, a stadium and a parking lot in the midst of one of the coldest stretches of weather in its region’s history. Who knew?
Grills, pre-game talk, tailgating, radio shows, television shows, and of course, game day jerseys — everywhere.
For New England Patriots fans, Saturday night’s playoff match-up (and eventual 17-14 win) against the Tennessee Titans was quite simply another game to suit up and continue the home stadium’s sellout streak. The weather was a minor divergence, a small blemish in the fan’s quest to be a difference in the contest’s score.
For many, and perhaps most, the lack of snow was the biggest problem.
In memorable fashion, the Patriots won the first round of the 2001-02 divisional playoffs against the Oakland Raiders under heavy snowfall, with two last-minute field goals from kicker Adam Vinatieri lifting the team from near defeat.
Late in the season this year, the Patriots dominated the Miami Dolphins with a 12-0 score in the snow at Gillette Stadium, with the win (and touchdowns) celebrated by fans digging into the massive pileups of snow and throwing handfuls into the air.
Primetime in Foxboro has quickly become the biggest challenge in the NFL, with the Patriots adding to their undefeated home record and lifting their league’s best record to 15-2.
The NFL is of course, the hotbed for a large attendance, for passionate fans, game-talk and television and radio ratings. With just 16 games on every team’s schedule, eight at its own home stadium, fans cling to their home team and hope for big changes in a league that craves for parity.
One season a team may be in, and in the next one, it may be far out of the playoff picture. Just as often, a star player could be cut for financial reasons. It’s the new age of the NFL and with that comes hard work to be a winner.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick just may be the most informed of these facts, starting his season in surprising fashion by cutting All-Pro safety and captain Lawyer Milloy. Initially a shock to most fans, it was soon realized that Milloy was cut for financial reasons and that the Patriots would have to play on without him.
However, it was hard to ignore in week one when the Patriots traveled to Milloy’s (and former Patriot Drew Bledsoe) new home in Buffalo for a divisional match-up against the Bills. New England was targeted soon and early, suffering one of the worst defeats in the history of the franchise at 31-0.
But so began the story of the NFL’s season and the rallying cry for every fanatical fan from Connecticut to Maine, when the Patriots moved to 2-2, and then went onto a 12-game winning streak (and now 13), to capture the NFL’s crown for best record and top seed in the American Football Conference.
Still undefeated at home and still carrying a defense that shocks every offense it faces, the team continues to work in a team-only mode. Star power continues to be limited, and perhaps that is the way Belichick and his staff want it. New England continues to be looked at with a watchful eye around the league. At 14-2 at the season’s end and the owners of a long winning streak, the Patriots weren’t the all-consuming team in the NFL market that some others might have been.
For every Patriot fan, though, this much is true. The Patriots, led by NFL coach of the year Belichick, know their opponent. They know how to pinpoint a team’s weaknesses and they know how to carry out a victory. Quarterback Tom Brady, working with a team that has been 11-5, 9-7 and 14-2 in his first three seasons, continues to do the right things.
With New England fans on their back, with a passion and fervor that is close, if not equal, to any fan group in this country, the Patriots will be gunning for more success on Sunday.
— Jeff Powalisz is a freshman journalism major.
