Behind The Numbers 02.05.08: The Perfect Season

Posted by Chris Widner on 02.05.2008

I cheer for the Patriots and somehow 18-1 is the perfect season to me.

Sunday night, after the Super Bowl, I couldn't decide what I was going to write about. To be honest, I couldn't believe what I'd just seen. The fact that the Giants won wasn't what shocked me. I can't believe how they won the game. Eli Manning, of all people, led them to a 4th quarter comeback that we'll hear about for years. Somehow it's not even the way it went down that got to me the most. This was supposed to be a day of celebration. Sure, we knew the Giants were the worst case scenario for the Patriots, but certainly Bill Belichick was going to find a way to pull it off. We have quite a few choices on how we would enjoy the game. Friends and family were throwing parties at various places, so the real question came down to who we wanted to enjoy that moment with. It was a no-brainer, we'd go to her brother's house. This guy knows his football and, while I had to be prepared for the occasional jab for being a Cowboys fan, we've actually become friends. Throw in his awesome wife and my adorable niece and it had all the makings of a good time.

This Sunday started off like every other this season with church in the morning. Pot luck was canceled for the big game, and Pastor even made a fun little joke about how important the game was. We were all looking forward to this day. Could you imagine it, 19-0? Ry (my fiancée) and I went shopping to grab the snacks and went back to Jim's (her brother) to start preparing the food. I've learned to enjoy cooking this fall, so I even enjoyed helping her get everything going. It was going to be a good day. For the record we had to eat tacos, there was just no doubt about it. It's been Jim and Jaime's tradition for years. Plus it had worked for the other 3 Super Bowl victories, so like any good fan they had to do their part to will the team to victory. Ry was making guacamole dip, so I was more than ready to do my part with the tacos.

Jim's not much of a gamer, in fact his only football game is Madden 2004, which is pretty incredible considering how much he loves football. So we decided to pull out the PS2 for a quick round. Giants against the Patriots, why not? On a side note, have you ever tried playing the older versions of Madden or NCAA and screwed up because you're used to the advanced button layout in the 08 versions? I forgot the QB can't sprint with the passing icons available in 2004. Yeah, I lost after I botched an easy field goal 21-20. My niece was quite adorable, wearing a pink Tom Brady jersey, so Ry had to take pictures of the new family in their Patriots jerseys. That was going to be a fun picture to look at after the Patriots won. I was pretty excited about this game, considering the fact that the Cowboys weren't playing. Then kickoff happened.

Chances are if you're reading this you already know what happened from there on out. So let's skip to the 4th quarter. The drive when Brady his Moss in the end zone seemed like it had done the trick. It just felt like a Patriots' game clinching drive. Jaime's sister and her husband were there by this point and the room lit up like you wouldn't believe. They did it! Then Eli Manning grew up before our very eyes.

When Brady threw that last incompletion, the look on Ry's face said it all. The room was silent, nobody knew what to say. Jim decided to clean which meant he was pissed, and I couldn't blame him. I was upset enough, so I could only imagine how I'd feel if this happened to my beloved Cowboys. You grow up idolizing these guys and feeling like part of the team. I can definitely relate. Wait a minute, did I say that I was "upset enough" just then? It's not that I felt bad for Jim and every other Patriots fan that I knew, I was actually upset. At that very moment I realized something for the first time. This really was the perfect season. You have to go back a few years to understand why. Ry and I moved to New Hampshire in 2004 to be closer to her family since mine was spread out a bit. For the first time in my life I didn't really have any friends because I couldn't find anyone interested in the same things I enjoyed. Sports and video games... I never realized that was a tough combination. I hated the winters, hated my job, and had nobody to hang out with. I couldn't wait to move back to Texas.

In Texas I knew people that followed football. I grew up watching the Cowboys with my Mom or my Dad and almost every time we talked on the phone the Cowboys were mentioned. We'd share our dislike for Jerry Jones and the hopes we had for the Cowboys to get back to respectability. I'll never forget asking "Hey Dad, what's a 4th down?" when I was 5. He wasn't happy about it, and my Dad was usually pretty calm and relaxed, so it had to be a bad thing. I still remember when the 91 Cowboys lost to the Lions 38-6. I was 11 years old, but I still remember the feeling like it was yesterday. And believe it or not, I actually enjoy remembering it. Yeah, I couldn't wait to move back to Texas.

About six weeks ago this place felt like home for the very first time. Instead of watching games by myself because I didn't know any other sports fans, I had places to go. During the first part of the season we'd go to Jason and Bonnie's house (our best friends) and play with the kids. Then Jason and I would watch the game. Then my niece, Andrea, was born and we started to go to Jim and Jaime's to watch the game. Of course the big attraction was my niece, but they loved the Patriots so no complaints by me. I watched the game against the Colts with Jason and Pastor Dave, watched the week 17 game with a whole crew from the church, went to parties and talked about the Patriots, college football, video games, and life. Jim's Dad actually watches bits and pieces of college football with me when I'm visiting them. He's really gotten into the game since he went to a Patriots game with his brother-in-law and Jim. We've all made plans to go to a game or two next season. This place is finally home.

You see, this is exactly what being a fan is all about. It's something that connects us all, something we share. As a Cowboys fan you'd think I hate the Patriots. After all, if it weren't for them my Cowboys would be the team to beat. Instead, I enjoyed talking strategy with my family, friends, and co-workers. This season was a long ride and I enjoyed every minute of it. And in a strange way I enjoyed the fact that this loss upset me. While most Patriots fans are going to feel the sting every time this season is mentioned I'll be the only one that thinks that it was the perfect season.

"So you're a Patriots fan now son?" asked my Mom.

I'm still a Cowboys fan first and foremost, but yeah, rooting for these Patriots isn't half bad.