NFL: 30 of the biggest what-ifs in NFL history: 5. The Patriots get it done
With all due respect to the 1972 Miami Dolphins but the 2007 New England Patriots were clearly about to surpass them. Outside of that Dolphins squad, no other team in NFL history has ever gone undefeated in the regular season and capped it off with a Super Bowl ring. The Patriots were just on the cusp of obtaining immortality had it not been for the New York Giants.
During the season, the Patriots steamrolled the competition. Quarterback Tom Brady easily walked away with the league MVP after throwing for 4,806 yards, 50 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Wide receiver Randy Moss officially solidified himself as the best at his position with over 1,423 receiving yards. The 23 touchdowns he hauled in still stand as an NFL record for a receiver in a single season. And as for the rest of the team, they were all flat-out studs as well.
With each win, the Patriots grew closer and closer to being considered the best team of all time. Yet, Eli Manning and his Giants would hear none of it as they took down the Patriots in the Super Bowl. While Brady has gone on to win countless other Super Bowls, the 2007 season meant so much to him that he said he’d be willing to fork over two Super Bowl rings to have that one. He might be considered the best player of all time but he doesn’t have the same stranglehold on the best team of all time.