What is it about the post-season that destroys the New England Patriots? For the second post-season in a row, the Pats fail to advance after being in one playoff game. Granted this year’s loss was not as horrendous as the one to the Baltimore Ravens, but come on, the team with the best record in the NFL doesn’t make it out of the Divisional round – why? Plus losing to the New York Jets – ugh!! The sign that this was not going to be New England’s day came early when Brady had a pass intercepted in the first quarter – breaking his streak of three hundred forty passes without an interception. Although the Patriots end the first quarter with the lead, it was the only time they did.
This Sunday at Sonny’s had started out so promising. Met a fellow Sonny’s patron, Jason, on the bus, but he had to spend the day at UCLA (to think I felt sorry for him!) and arrived around 9:30 a.m. at the bar. Since the game did not start until 1:30 p.m., I was going to spend the morning doing some work on my computer. But first I had to get the new Wi-Fi password for Sonny’s from Grant, the new owner. No more Red Sox reference password. Jenny was working, but I didn’t see Andrew. While Sonny’s filled up with Pats fans, I managed to do some long overdue editing. Glad to see Stacie later in the morning – she’s doing well and looks so happy. Her Math teacher from high school is visiting from Rhode Island, so she and some friends are hanging out on the other side of Sonny’s. Before it became impossible to easily move around, I talked to Rich at the bar where, lucky for him, someone had saved him a place. The consensus on the game was that it would be a closer game than the Pats 45 to 3 rout of the Jets over a month ago, but that New England would win. If only it turned out that way.
Meanwhile, back at the booth, I was joined by two women and two men. One of the women was named Brittany, who works for the NFL, and I never got the other woman’s name. And the two men were both named Steve. Neither man had been to Sonny’s before and they were happy to be at the booth. During the first half of the unhappy game, learned that the CPA Steve from New Hampshire was visiting graphic character (Zen) creator Steve from Pasadena. Also while the Jets were taking the lead (never to relinquish it), a man I hadn’t seen in a long time, Roman, was here. What a surprise! Couldn’t really talk over the noise of the crowd and the table between us. Gather he is now living in Long Beach. Anyway, gave him the e-mail address and the site addresses for the blogs, but forgot to ask if he was on Facebook. Oh well, it was nice to see Roman again. Gave a wave to Steve B. (yes, another Steve) who came to watch the game before his evening shift. And we come to halftime, with the Jets leading the Pats by a score of 14 to 3.
Hope comes alive in the third quarter when the Patriots score a touchdown and complete a two-point conversion! However, between the sacks of Brady in particular and New England’s lackluster defense in general, hope dies in Sonny’s. The end of the New England Patriots was not the expectation of the day and its reality was numbing. Although the Pats score again in the fourth quarter, the hope is buried when the Jets score as well. Before the end of the game, the two Steves and a little later the two women leave the booth and Sonny’s disappointed. As usual, I stayed to the very end. The final score is the New York Jets 28, the New England Patriots 21. Despite the one touchdown difference, the game was never as close as the score indicates. It was the Jets all the way. Slowly pack away my computer and the peripherals and depart Sonny’s in disbelief. As I go out the door, I say good-bye to Jenny and I realize (barring anything special) I probably won’t back at Sonny’s until April – when another New England sports team begins its season. Next time - “Play Ball!”
AFC Divisional Playoff Game – Sunday 16 January 2011 – Patriots lost – Home
This Sunday at Sonny’s had started out so promising. Met a fellow Sonny’s patron, Jason, on the bus, but he had to spend the day at UCLA (to think I felt sorry for him!) and arrived around 9:30 a.m. at the bar. Since the game did not start until 1:30 p.m., I was going to spend the morning doing some work on my computer. But first I had to get the new Wi-Fi password for Sonny’s from Grant, the new owner. No more Red Sox reference password. Jenny was working, but I didn’t see Andrew. While Sonny’s filled up with Pats fans, I managed to do some long overdue editing. Glad to see Stacie later in the morning – she’s doing well and looks so happy. Her Math teacher from high school is visiting from Rhode Island, so she and some friends are hanging out on the other side of Sonny’s. Before it became impossible to easily move around, I talked to Rich at the bar where, lucky for him, someone had saved him a place. The consensus on the game was that it would be a closer game than the Pats 45 to 3 rout of the Jets over a month ago, but that New England would win. If only it turned out that way.
Meanwhile, back at the booth, I was joined by two women and two men. One of the women was named Brittany, who works for the NFL, and I never got the other woman’s name. And the two men were both named Steve. Neither man had been to Sonny’s before and they were happy to be at the booth. During the first half of the unhappy game, learned that the CPA Steve from New Hampshire was visiting graphic character (Zen) creator Steve from Pasadena. Also while the Jets were taking the lead (never to relinquish it), a man I hadn’t seen in a long time, Roman, was here. What a surprise! Couldn’t really talk over the noise of the crowd and the table between us. Gather he is now living in Long Beach. Anyway, gave him the e-mail address and the site addresses for the blogs, but forgot to ask if he was on Facebook. Oh well, it was nice to see Roman again. Gave a wave to Steve B. (yes, another Steve) who came to watch the game before his evening shift. And we come to halftime, with the Jets leading the Pats by a score of 14 to 3.
Hope comes alive in the third quarter when the Patriots score a touchdown and complete a two-point conversion! However, between the sacks of Brady in particular and New England’s lackluster defense in general, hope dies in Sonny’s. The end of the New England Patriots was not the expectation of the day and its reality was numbing. Although the Pats score again in the fourth quarter, the hope is buried when the Jets score as well. Before the end of the game, the two Steves and a little later the two women leave the booth and Sonny’s disappointed. As usual, I stayed to the very end. The final score is the New York Jets 28, the New England Patriots 21. Despite the one touchdown difference, the game was never as close as the score indicates. It was the Jets all the way. Slowly pack away my computer and the peripherals and depart Sonny’s in disbelief. As I go out the door, I say good-bye to Jenny and I realize (barring anything special) I probably won’t back at Sonny’s until April – when another New England sports team begins its season. Next time - “Play Ball!”
AFC Divisional Playoff Game – Sunday 16 January 2011 – Patriots lost – Home
New England Patriots: 3 0 8 10 - 21
New York Jets: 0 14 0 14 - 28
Total game points equal 49. Patriots 42.86% of the points. Jets 57.14% of the points.
The New England Patriots 2010-2011 season has ended.
New England Patriots logo is from the website wikipedia.org
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