The Pats' Season Ends Abruptly

Well, that wasn't as fun as Bostonist remembers it. There is no parade route in the planning this year, as the Pats were defeated Saturday night in Denver by the Broncos 27-13 (As you surely know by now). While the defending champs did have their chances, no team that turns the ball over five times deserves to (or should, really) win a playoff game in the National Football League.

Tough one for the hometown boys, who were down 10-6 but driving, until Tom Brady was picked off by Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey. Bailey returned the ball all the way to the Patriots' one yard line, where Pats Tight End Ben Watson caught up to him and knocked the ball out of his hands (and, ahem, "out of bounds" as the officiating crew saw it), basically handing Denver a touchdown. The officials didn't help the Pats earlier in the game when, on a deep third-down pass play, Asante Samuels succumbed to a phantom pass interference call, giving the Broncos first and goal on the one. Bostonist's cell phone and house phone rang simultaneously, and a text message came streaming in from fellow Bostonians... obscenity-laden rants about the legitimacy of the call, and how the game was being handed to the Broncos. One would figure the champs would be on the right side of these calls, but as the game went longer and longer into the night, any onlooker could, with ease, realize that this one was not in the cards for our New England Patriots.

Still, late in the game the Pats had a chance, even after four turnovers. Brady drove the Pats down the field with about eight minutes remaining and set up usually reliable Adam Viniateri with a 44 yard field goal. This time, Adam was not the man and missed. Belichick's body language said it all, as he cringed and turned away from the field. That was the same feeling we all had, wasn't it? That was the season right there... no more could be done. The Pats had another chance, but it was fumbled away by usually stalwart Troy Brown. That was it for the 2005 Pats and their dreams of a three-peat. But hey, at least our QB didn't throw our offensive line under the bus (cough, Peyton Manning).

True Bostonians were saying that "yesterday should have been a day that the fans come out in the cold to greet the Pats." And those true fans are right. It's really easy to root for a champion, but these guys are still our team and put together one heck of a run this year. We should thank them for it, as they provided much enjoyment on Sundays for Bostonist this year. Thanks Pats and congratulations on a fine season.

Contributed by Benjamin June/ Photo courtesy of patriots.com