Seeking a third Super Bowl crown in four years, the New England Patriots made an early start to their National Football League campaign yesterday in the American football season opener.
The Patriots return the nucleus of the club which defeated Carolina seven months ago, earning the right to host the NFL opener, this time against the Indianapolis Colts, the same club New England beat to reach the Super Bowl.
New England had added running back Corey Dillon, obtained in an April swap with Cincinnati after 8,061 yards in seven seasons with the Bengals. That gives the Patriots a top rushing threat they have lacked for years.
Another title at the Patriots could seal their spot as one of the greatest clubs in the sport's history.
"We don't really look that far ahead," Patriots linebacker Roman Phifer said. "It's a long season."
Quarterback Tom Brady, a two-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, leads a team that lacks stars but features outstanding teamwork.
"We feel like that's the reason for our success," Phifer said. "Why change? Why worry about individuals? Why worry about superstars?"
Should the Patriots start 4-0 they would set an NFL record for consecutive triumphs at 19. The record-breaker would come Oct. 10 against Miami, among several clubs who share the current mark.
And a 5-0 start would put the Patriots alongside the 1933-1934 Chicago Bears with the longest regular-season win streak in NFL history, 17 games,
"We really don't talk about streaks here," said Brady, who is 40-12 as a starter, including playoffs. "It's a new season and we're just thinking about the Colts. We're not thinking about anything else."
No boobs
NFL officials certainly are. They have monitored preparations for the pre-game concert to make certain there is no repeat of the "wardrobe malfunction" that revealed Janet Jackson's breast to television viewers at the Super Bowl.
The musical show will be aired with a 10-second delay.
Brady is 7-0 in over-time games and unbeaten in six playoff games. His first NFL start was a 44-13 romp over Indianapolis in 2001.
Adam Vinatieri, the kicker who has booted game-winning field goals in the final seconds in two of the past three Super Bowls, sparks a Patriot team that has won a record eight consecutive over-time games.
The Colts are led by Peyton Manning, the NFL co-Most Valuable Player in 2003 who signed a seven-year contract in the off-season worth US$98 million after throwing for 4,267 yards and 29 touchdowns last season.
But he has never been able to master the Patriots.
Manning is 2-8 against New England, including a 1-5 mark since Bill Belichick took over as Patriots coach. Manning was intercepted four times, three of them by Pro Bowl cornerback Ty Law, in the Patriots' 24-14 victory in January's American conference title game.
Colts receivers argued they were being held by New England defenders and the NFL has made enforcement of pass defense rules a priority in pre-season games. Defensive backs who hit receivers beyond five yards past the scrimmage line will be flagged.
"I wouldn't be surprised at all if I get one or two. It's probably expected," Law said. "I'm going to go out there and continue to play how I play."
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