Foxboro, Mass. – Here in the Commonwealth, the big topic of discussion, right up there with “Can our Red Sawks repeat?” is, “Who’s going to call the plays for the Pats?”
With offensive coordinator Charlie Weis off to Notre Dame, and coach Bill Belichick seemingly more concerned with stopping opponents than scoring, the populace feared this could be the season opponents might rough up pretty boy quarterback Tom Brady’s face, not to mention stop New England from reaching a third straight Super Bowl.
But in the end, the answer to the pressing query, at least on the night of the NFL’s 2005 season opener, was, “It doesn’t really matter” – especially when Thursday’s opponent was the work-in-progress Oakland Raiders, whom the Patriots defeated 30-20.
While the Silver and Black’s offseason decision to concentrate on offense was evident – newcomer Randy Moss had a 73-yard touchdown reception and another addition, running back LaMont Jordan, added more than 100 yards total offense – in the long run, someone in Raiderville perhaps should have had the idea of actually stopping opponents when all the money was spent.
In a tableau that may just play out often over the next 15 games, Oakland’s defense was just porous enough and the team made just enough mistakes on both sides of the ball Thursday to create an untenable, and ultimately unwinnable situation.
And, when granting a second chance to a team in the midst of a shaky start, chances are you would want it to be someone other than the Patriots. The visitors’ largesse helped turn a potential upset into just another ho-hum victory in New England’s title defense.
“There’s a reason why they’re the champs,” Jordan said. “One of the things you have to do to beat them is take advantage of every opportunity they give you.
“That was one of the disappointing things about tonight. We’re considered a high-powered offense. Well, the last time I checked, high-powered offenses don’t get held to 20 points.”
It was hard to say which team was under the most pressure at the game’s start. Of course, the Patriots were beginning a season they ultimately hoped would end with a third straight Super Bowl championship, an unprecedented feat.
Before the game there were mini-concerts and a pregame ceremony honoring the Pats’ 2004 championship, which brought a snarl to the face of New England coach Bill Belichick, who frowns upon any acknowledgment of accomplishments.
Asked at a Tuesday news conference how he would react to the banner-raising, Belichick said, “Whatever we’re supposed to do, we’ll do. We’re coming here to play the Raiders. That’s what we’re here for. We have a very tough football team to play. It will be very competitive, and that’s what we’re here for. We’re not here for the concert. We’re not here for fireworks.”
Meanwhile, the Raiders, still clinging to past glories as the NFL’s “Team of the Decades,” despite a 9-23 record the past two seasons, and a 22-29 mark since they lost to New England in the infamous “Tuck Game” in 2002, felt they were ready to erase such painful memories.
In the offseason, Oakland acquired Moss and Jordan. That duo, along with holdovers Jerry Porter and Kerry Collins, were expected to propel the Raiders to heights unseen since, well, the days of Darryl Lamonica.
And, in a sequence sure to send chills down the spines of its AFC West foes, on the first drive of the 2005 season, Oakland proceeded to march 72 yards for a touchdown.
