(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
The fall of 2007 was a great time to be a Massachusetts’ sports fan.
The Red Sox looked poised to make a run and capture their second championship title in four years.
The Celtics acquired All-Star guard Ray Allen during a draft-night trade, and later, shipped off half the team to acquire future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett.
More importantly, the Patriots front office finally acknowledge Tom Brady’s request to provide the offense with more weapons that he could throw at for the first time in his illustrious career.
It was clearly a Boston sports’ heaven in the fall of 2007.
I was entering my junior year at Syracuse University during this period. To me, I could not ask for anything more. Not only were my three favorite teams arguably the best in their respective sports, but I was surrounded by New York fans that were constantly able to see my delight.
What could they say to put me down? The Bruins suck? Who cares?
Four weeks into the regular season, the Patriots were steamrolling opponents, putting up 148 points as their opponents managed just 48.
Game One of the Red Sox ALDS series against the Angels was going to start Wednesday. I could not have been happier.
The Patriots’ team seemed to be clicking on all cylinders. The addition of a potent receiver tandem–Randy Moss and Wes Welker–were paying big dividends, combining for eight touchdowns and 750 yards.
Comparably, at the same point in 2006, Tom Brady had only thrown for six touchdowns and 891 yards. I could tell this was going to be a fun year.
Week Six against the Cowboys was billed as being one of the biggest games of the regular season. Showcasing the two most prolific offenses in the NFL, the Patriots were able to coast by the Cowboys with Brady posting his first five-TD game of the year.
The Week Nine matchup was promoted as showcasing the likely AFC representative in Super Bowl XLII.
The game featured the modern day AFC debate: Colts or Patriots–Manning or Brady?
This Patriot victory was the first win of the year that made me particularly proud of them. I knew they could dominate teams, but this was the first game that illustrated the grit the squad possessed. It also helped that I despise the Colts more than any other team in the league.
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