My top 5 Patriots season openers
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| Keith Nordstrom/Patriots.com |
1. 2002 - first regular season game at Gillette Stadium and first Super Bowl banner raising
The Patriots opened defense of their first Super Bowl title at Gillette Stadium against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a game in which New England won, 30-14 on Monday Night Football. The game also marked the very first regular season game ever played at Gillette Stadium. The game was close until midway through the second half, when Tom Brady hit Donald Hayes and then-rookie Deion Branch for touchdowns. This ranks No. 1 on my list because the team and fans both celebrated its first championship for the final time, something no Patriots fan will ever forget.
2. 2007 - the start of the near-perfect season
The 2007 AFC Championship Game loss to the Colts hit me really hard, as it did with many other Patriots fans. That's why this season opener ranks so high, because the Patriots came out on the road against the Jets (which makes this 1,000 times better and one of the reason this ranks so high on my list) and almost instantly showed everyone that they weren't going to take any BS from anyone, and scored at will, basically whenever they wanted. The Patriots won that game 38-13, and my favorite highlight from that game was Brady hitting Randy Moss deep down the field in double coverage for a touchdown. The game set the tone for what nearly was.... Ugh.
3. 2004 - second banner raising
The Patriots celebrated their second Super Bowl championship by raising another banner in Week 1, and Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts nearly ruined it. Unlike the 2002 opener against the Steelers, this was a nail-biter all the way through. The Patriots trailed 17-13 at halftime, but would regain the lead in the third quarter when Brady found Daniel Graham and David Patten for touchdowns. With about a minute to go, and the Patriots leading 27-24, Peyton Manning drove the Colts down the field into the redzone. Willie McGinest sacked Peyton Manning well outside the 30 yard line to set up a 48-yard field goal attempt by Mike Vanderjagt, who hooked it wide left. Right before his attempt, he taunted the Patriots bench by rubbing his finger in a money-counting fashion, so bad karma hit him at the perfect time.
Side note: This marked the first time the Patriots opened a season on a Thursday night in their history.
4. 2005 - third banner raising
This season-opening game at Gillette Stadium almost became more about Randy Moss than it did about the Patriots' third banner raising. Moss, then with the Raiders, ripped into the Patriots defense, compiling 130 yards and one touchdown. But the Patriots had answers. After the Raiders opened the scoring with a field goal on the game's first drive, then-Patriot Adam Vinatieri answered with a field goal of his own, and Brady would go on to hook up with Branch and Tim Dwight for touchdowns. Corey Dillion also added touchdown runs of eight and two yards to give the Pats a 30-20 win.
5. 1999 at Jets
The Patriots got off to a 4-0 start during the 1999 season, the last under head coach Pete Carroll. That started with a comeback win against the Jets in the Meadowlands. Down 16-10 at halftime, the Patriots scored 17 points in the third quarter, but the Jets also had answers. Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde left the game in the second quarter due to a ruptured left achilles, so it was former Patriots punter Tom Tupa who came in and helped the Jets climb back into the game after the Patriots had staged that furious rally. The Patriots would end up winning the game, 30-28, on the strength of a last-second field goal by Adam Vinatieri.
Honorable Mention:
2011 at Dolphins
Who could forget Wes Welker's 99-yard touchdown catch?
What do you think of my rankings? Is there anything you would change? Follow me on Twitter - @JesseGaunce
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