The Patriots opened as 2-point favorites as they travel to face the Giants in the final game of the preseason.
I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I cannot watch this game. I realize that this revelation is a stark reversal from my usual modus operandi of ogling every snap of Patriots football as if it’s a Kardashian-on-Kardashian-on-Kardashian sex tape (coming to video stores near you in 2014 when that brood starts to come to grips with their precipitous loss in public interest … just wait and see). But I know that just as I am settling into this game and dissecting what players might be on the roster bubble based on their playing time and performance, that analysis will be rudely interrupted by replays from February that we’d rather not see. ‘Tis better to pretend this game never happened than have my still-beating heart ripped from my chest all over again. It’s too early in the year for that sort of stress. That can wait until at least Week 3.
Speaking of pretending that a game never happened, that has been Belichick’s philosophy in the final preseason game over the past seven seasons. The Patriots are 2-5 in the fourth preseason game, and they really tend to mail it in when they play meaningless games on the road. The score in this game couldn’t matter less. This matchup is all about evaluating players to fill out the roster and avoiding injuries. If we see starters, it will be for a maximum of two drives, and I find even that possibility remote (if we throw Brady out there and he gets hurt, I’m pretty sure half of Patriots Nation will hurl themselves into a volcano).
I’ve picked against the Pats in each of the first three preseason games with great success. Why stop now? I’ll take the Giants and the points.
2012 Record 3-0
2010-11 Record 76-66-4
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