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PART IV : FOXBORO |
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After a draining Sunday in Buffalo, we spent the night back in Syracuse - before heading East again on Monday to complete the 470 mile trip to Foxboro, MA. This leafy little town 30 miles south of Boston, is of course home of the Patriots, but this year the team will play in brand new Gillette Stadium. Old Foxboro Stadium is no more - and is now a parking lot! |
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The fans at Foxboro were absolutely great. Lots of good tailgating, and The Commissioner was on hand once again. This is us with Minuteman Mike, who is actually an Army recruiter. We weren't offended that he didn't make an attempt to sign us up! |
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Since the Steelers were in town, the Pats boys decided that a pre-game burning of a Terrible Towel was in order to create good vibes for this evenings game! Do not try at home kids. |
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Shuggie surveys the damage. The burning of the towel was a eerie premonition to how the Steelers secondary would play in a couple of hours. Burnt and burnt again! |
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We had a real upgrade from our usual nosebleed seats by going Club Class at the Big Razor. This involved a huge private bar (complete with piano) and restaurant, behind glass windows that looked out onto the field, where our nice leather seats awaited! No lines at the deluxe bathroom either. Plus pre-game cheerleaders! |
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The pre-game ceremony was rocking as the official opening of the stadium took place. Owner Robert Kraft made a speech, and then the light show began! Interestingly, the stadium was actually CMGI Stadium for a few months before their stock plummeted. All the road signs, concession cups, and stadium staff attire all still say CMGI Stadium! |
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And just to add icing on the cake was the fact that the Pats were celebrating their first Super Bowl win! So a huge banner was unveiled and the team came onto the field to a huge roar. The place was charged! How much better could it get? |
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With all the hoopla surrounding the game it was a tough ticket to get. Scalpers (if you could find them) were supposedly charging a fortune. This old gentleman had no bother though, as he just asked his son to fix it for him! |
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Standing in the way of the Pats was the team they beat in the AFC Championship Game back in January. Steelers QB Kordell Stewart was famously quoted as saying "sometimes the best team doesn't always win" and the Pats fans were eager to remind him about it. Kordell made sure he wouldn't have to repeat his quote on this night! |
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Pass attempt #2 from Kordell was picked off by Terrell Buckley (#22)! Pass attempt #3 from Kordell was picked off by Mike Vrabel (#50)! The Pats couldn't cash in the first gift from Kordell, but made sure they didn't waste the second ... |
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3 penalties on the Steelers D moved the ball inside the 5, where Tom Brady executed a perfect play action pass and found TE Christian Fauria for a 4 yard touchdown for the 1st TD in Gillette Stadium history! PATS 7 STEELERS 0 |
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If it's Monday Night it's got to be Melissa Time! Madden Who? |
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The Steelers fought back on their next drive thanks to a couple of Stewart to Hines Ward connections. On Ward's 3rd catch of the drive he eluded Ty Law and scooted down the left sideline before diving into the end zone for the tying score from 13 yards out! STEELERS 7 PATS 7 (end of 1st) |
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The turning point came in the 2nd Q. After driving to the Pats 1 yard line, a false start and a run for a loss moved them back to the 7 yard line. Stewart rolled out and found Plaxico Burress open at the back of the end zone, but he could only get one foot in! Then a personal foul on Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala after he had run to the 1 yard line, made Todd Peterson's FG attempt from 39 yards - which he hit wide left! |
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Brady then got in a groove and hit 5 straight passes moving the Pats into Pittsburgh territory before the drive stalled. That gave ex Amsterdam Admiral and SB hero Adam Vinatieri a chance to attempt his first FG since his SB winner. He duly made it from 45 yards, and even though it was just 3 points, more fireworks were set off! PATS 10 STEELERS 7 (HT) |
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The game was close at the half, but the Pats would blow this one open in the 3rd with their decision to go pass crazy paid off! In the 2nd and 3rd quarters Brady threw an amazing 25 straight passes to dissect the Steelers previously vaunted defense. We think the Oakland coaches noticed ... |
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It only took the Pats 4 plays to go 74 yards on the opening drive of the 3rd Q. Free agent signing WR Donald Hayes took a short pass and went 40 yards to paydirt. PATS 17 STEELERS 7 |
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Then after the Bus dropped his cargo and the Pats recovered, Brady got the Pats on the march again. This time it was rookie WR Deion Branch who got open and ran away from the Steelers secondary to the end zone for a 22 yard TD! PATS 24 STEELERS 7 |
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Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher tries to rally his defense but the damage has been done. Worse still for Cowher was what we'd see in 6 days in Pittsburgh ... |
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With Kordell struggling, the Patriots started to chew the clock with some seldom seen running plays. They tacked on two more Vinatieri FG's of 28 and 27 yards to stretch their lead further. PATS 30 STEELERS 7 |
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No truth to the rumour that this is Kordell's only fan left in America ...
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But let's give #10 his due. He did managed to lead a late TD drive, scoring on a 1 yard sneak on the games final play. FINAL PATS 30 STEELERS 14
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We'll give Game MVP to Pats QB Tom Brady who truly deserved it this time (unlike the SB where Ty Law got stiffed). But Most Valued Position had to be our club seating! No lines at the bar! Helpful staff! Clean bathrooms! Comfy seats! Great views! It is the anti-Hampden! |
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Monday Night games on the Eats Coast usually finish up just after midnight, and a lot of times you just head for a bar and then bed. But not in New England! We still had 4 hours more tailgating to do before the police would close the lot. We hooked up with Tim and his buddies and got some much appreciated liquor! |
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And if there's tailgating to be down in New England then there will be a Lobster Bake cooking somewhere. Some fishermen from Maine we met supplied the freshly caught seafood! And at 4am we struggled along the highway back to our hotel in neighbouring town Sharon. Thankfully a stray taxi rescued us, and yes we managed 7 people in it with the cops nearby! |
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