and the lights go down...

big game last night. not only a division game for the Patriots (in which case division meaning rival) as they fight to move up to #3 seeding in the playoffs but also the end of a football era: Monday Night Football on ABC. after a 36-year run, MNF on ABC is no more.

in odd coincidence, the Jets lost to the Browns on the first ever MNF back in September of 1970 by a score 31-21...just like they did in the final ABC broadcast of MNF last night to the Patriots. the Patriots came out fired up, on a 4 game winning streak, allowing only 10 total points in the last 3 games.

though Brady didn't have a stat-blowing game, he was cool as ever. "smooth like a good drink" they called it--and while football announcers tend to annoy me more than anything else, that particular analogy suited Tom to a tee. it was a tough, hard-hitting, frosty football game--just the kind i love to watch (says the girl watching from the semi-comfort of a couch in a rented house that's not nowhere as comfy as my typical perch in the leather recliner but at least a far cry warmer than anyone in attendance at that game!).

unless the hard-hitting results in things like Tedy Bruschi, Asante Samuel & Bethel Johnson ending up on the sidelines due to injuries sustained. i know that football is arough contact sport & that's the way i like it best. i know that the Patriots are playing for a shot at #3 seed for the playoffs. i know they have been on a hot streak & want to keep up their momentum. but as a team plagued with injury all season that is just now getting healthy again & playing like defending Super Bowl champs finally...more injuries scare me. KEY injuries scare me. we have to protect our key players: Brady, Troy Brown, Vrabel, Bruschi, Johnson, Seymour, Samuel, Branch, Vinatieri, Dillon, Fauria, Faulk, McGinest...i'm not sure at what point you draw the line between keeping momentum & playing for seeding against making sure your top players are healthy for the playoffs when you need them the most, especially in a conference as tough as the AFC, where in my humble opinion, it's open season & anyone reaching the playoffs is a formidable threat this year.

that's not to say that the game wasn't filled with some highlights as well. like Mike Vrabel being the first lineman to get 2 touchdowns & a sack in the same game.

and a great feel-good moment for the Jets (which i could appreciate since my team was the one winning the game & it didn't threaten their victory lol). the game ended with the 2 oldest QBs in the NFL playing: 42-year-old Vinny Testaverde and 43-year-old Doug Flutie. late in the 4th quarter, Vinny threw for a TD which upon completion gave him the record for most consecutive seasons throwing a TD pass: 19. i like to see the veteran QBs have a time or 2 to still shine. i think they've earned it. just a moment to revel once more in the glory days. when it came down to the final few games of the season & he hadn't thrown for a TD yet, Jets' coach Herm Edwards said that he would be putting Testaverde in to give him a shot at the record, especially in front of his home crowd. he said he owed Testaverde something for offering to come out of retirement to help his old team when both the #1 & #2 QBs got taken out for the season & the #3 was a green rookie with no experience. Vinny said the team didn't owe him a thing--he had gotten that one last chance to walk out on the field & that was enough for him to get back into the thrill of the game. but Edwards said he owed Vinny this opportunity & he gave it to him. i have a lot of respect for that & i've always liked Herm Edwards. he is soft-spoken & makes no excuses for his team, and still finds reasons to be proud of them even in a season as disappointing at the 2005 one turned out to be. so for Vinny, the last TD on ABC's MNF was his. =)

as the curtain falls, i feel a little nostalgic. i know that there will be more Monday night games. they'll just be on ESPN. but there won't be anymore John Madden on Monday nights with his goofy commentary & his horse trailer. no more Hank Williams Jr & "are you ready for some FOOTBALL?!" and no more of the telltale MNF soundtrack that announces the return to the game. for true football fans...i think you know what i'm feeling as the picture fades for the last time.