OUR DAY AT THE NFL: NEW ENGLAND v BUFFALO
Sunday November 29 dawned bright & sunny...we got up early, & started the 1.5 hour drive to Foxboro in Massachussetts. The drive north took us up along Interstate 395 which traverses the Connecticut coastline through to Rhode Island and thence to Masshussetts.
We were very excited after the previous game the Monday nite before when the Patriots had made a last minute drive to win the game vs. the Miami Dolphins, 26-23 also at Foxboro Stadium. This was at a time this season when the Patriots looked like being eliminated from the 1998/99 playoff race.
The recent announcement of the Patriots to move to Hartford, Connecticut in time for the 2001 season had everyone here very excited.
So we were a very excited bunch as we headed up the interstate towards the stadium. We arrived at the Stadium around 1pm, three hours prior to game time. The game itself was due to start at 4:15pm, so it was virtually going to be a nite game by kickoff.
It was to be a sellout crowd, the 50th straight for the Patriots (60,292 tickets were sold).
We arrived, parked our car in the carpark & unpacked our gear for the Tailgate party. This is one of the unique aspects of Football here. The fans arrive early to the carparks & set up BBQ's, Lobster pots, anything you can cook with & will cook (& drink) up a storm, talking about the forthcoming game, all the while keeping their eyes on portable car TVs & listening to radios monitoring the outcomes of other games across the US.
We got our cooker going & before long had 'Philly' cheese steak sandwiches, cheese, cracker, and chowder along with the obligatory drink. People came past all the time, selling programmes and other merchandise for the game & we took the opportunity to buy some.
Around 3pm we begam to pack up our gear & head towards the stadium, & as we did we passed parties that were still in full progress!
We got to the stadium gates and after having our tickets double checked and being searched we were in the stadium complex. We headed inside & went to our seats. There were already some 15,000 people already inside as we arrived.
We were seated on the 50 yard (halfway) line but fairly elevated which was good as we were close enough to feel the game but far enough away to still get the TV perspective.
We watched as the players, out on the field some 40 minutes prior to kickoff did their warmups, New England at one end of the field, Buffalo at the other. Once they completed their warmups both sides went back to their locker rooms.
The stadium filled as the countdown clock on the scoreboard clicked thru the minutes towards kickoff, and by 4:15pm the roar of the crowd was intense as the ball was kicked off...The game started at a real frenetic pace, and while no points were scored in the first 15 min quarter, the game went from end to end.
New England drew first blood 6 minutes into the second quarter after star running back Robert Edwards scored a 2 yard touchdown (hereafter called a TD). The TD was converted, making the score 7-0.
Paul took advantage of this to go downstairs and get beer & Hot Chocolate for all. The crowd was ecstatic clapping away, peoples cold breath from thier yelling making a small cloud above the crowd.
By this time it was dark, the only light coming from the six 1,500 watt lighting banks that surround the stadium.
Once they had the ball again, New England made the most of the opportunity, using a 4 minute drive to post another TD by reciever Derrick Cullors, again converted to make the score 14-0.
The game kicked off again and Buffalo had a chance to redeem with the ball and they did so, driving quickly downfield and kicking a field goal making the score 14-3, with 1:21 to half time on the clock.
On the kickoff the Patriots could not advance the ball and gave the ball to Buffalo in good field position for them, and they took advantage, booting another field goal right on half-time, the score 14-6 New England.
Half time was great. There was a punt pass & kick competition on the field for kids - every NFL team does this and the best kids in each age group get to go to the Superbowl to compete in the competition before the season's biggest crowd.
Paul tried to go downstairs to buy something during half time but it was way too crowded so he came back up as quick as he went down.!
The game kicked off, & it was the bills making the most of the of the play, scoring 5 minutes in with a 84 yd TD, making the score Patriots 14-12..at this point we were nervous wondering whether we would do it.
The Patriots however, rallied and from the kickoff and produced a wonderful drive downfield that was only stopped by some good Buffalo defence (sorry,"D-fence" as they say here) Patskicker Adam Vinateri kicking for a 'Pats 17-12 lead.
But Buffalo wern't to be outdone, using the last minutes of the 3rd quarter to drive downfield to the Patriots 22 yard line where they kicked a goal (17-15 Patriots). At this stage the feeling in the stadium was intense, we were all on the edge of their seats as the 4th quarter started.
The Patriots could not do anything with thier brief turn with the ball from the kickoff & so the Bills again brought their attacking game to the table, quarterback Doug Flutie getting Buffalo to within the Patriots 4 yard line before completing a short pass to a reciver in the New England end zone. The goal after was good,the score with 6:14 left in the game 21-17..
Yes, the boys in Blue needed to score badly, our faces were sombre at this point!!
The game was in the Patriots hands...Quarterback Drew Bledsoe, carrying a fractured finger from the week before, started a great drive downfield, the crowd living every throw of the ball from his hands now.
As the clock went into the last half minute, Three great passes got to the Buffalo 20 yard line...the first was a short pass to the Buffalo 16, with 5 seconds left.
As the clock ran out,the second pass was into the end zone but unfortunatly not completed and at this point our hearts sank...but the umpires conferred and ruled that a Patriots player was indeed held out of the play, and as time had run out, they were allowed one more play from the Buffalo 1 yard line.
QB Drew Bledsoe took the ball from the center snap, pulled his mighty arm back and threw into the corner of the end zone closest to us, and it was caught by Pats receiver Ben Coates, score Patriots 23, Bills 21.
Now to say the place went nuts is an understatement...the place shook as people in the stands started dancing in their seats and aisles.
Paul & Jennifer was jumping up and down everyone excited by the win. Buffalo had left the field, incensed by the referee's ruling and did not stay around for the kick after. Because of this, the Patriots ran a 2 point pass, into the end zone, caught by kicker Adam Vinateri making the final score 25-21 Patriots.
We were all so excited that we remained in the stands for some 5 minutes after the game, people turning to congratulate one another.
Finally we left the stadium proper and, as we were guests of one of the players, Patriots' Player Ed Ellis (Left tackle position) we went to the Patriots "End Zone" the post game hospitality area for selected fans.
Excited as we were, we were grateful to be in out of the cold. We got settled and got coffee and ate a little, watching all the player press conferences on closed circuit TV and also seeing some of the players as they came in.
We met with Ed Ellis who was intrigued at meeting an Australian ("did he come all this way for the game?"), also telling Paul he liked Foster's beer.
A great guy!!
Finally we had to leave. We said our goodbyes to our hosts, and made our way out of the tent, passing through the (still thick) crowd partying on in the now freezing capark and got our car. We left and were home again some 2 hours later.
A really great win and a really good time!!