This 'nothing' was something

Wait a minute. Nothing? After whipping the Buffalo Bills, 31-0, yesterday, the New England Patriots finished the regular season with an 8-0 Gillette Stadium record, the franchise's first undefeated season at home. The Patriots now have won 12 games in a row, more than any other team in the NFL this season.

Here is the unvarnished truth: Your Patriots are the best team in football.

By virtue of their 14-2 record, they will enjoy a first-round bye, then play every playoff game leading up to the Super Bowl at home, preferably in the snow, even more preferably in bitterly cold temperatures. Although nothing was official late yesterday, word began to filter out that New England's powerful owner, Robert Kraft, twisted the arms of his considerable television connections and had all but secured a Saturday night tilt -- Jan. 10. Such an agreement would surely benefit the networks, since New England represents the biggest television market in the postseason.

You have been studying this defense, this totally revamped secondary, and a collection of about the grittiest and most relentless linebackers you could hope for, and you can't imagine a team scoring a big touchdown on them. You can't imagine it, because it hasn't happened in weeks. When New England has needed a goal-line stand, someone -- be it Ty Law, Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, or Willie McGinest -- has delivered. They have banded together to form the best clutch defense in football, but good luck finding someone to admit it.

"It's premature to say that," said McGinest. "We've been good, but now that we're in the playoffs, it's all even. You lose one game, and it's over, so records don't mean anything. When it's all said and done, let's see who the best defense is."

Part of the philosophy of the best team in football is to stay zeroed in on the team in front of you. No looking ahead, no looking back. Once the Bills were dispatched yesterday, they were history. It's easy to poke fun at coach Bill Belichick's stone-faced one-game-at-a-time drone, which he faithfully espouses week after week, but not only has the coach convinced his players to recite the mantra, he's got them believing it, too.

In the afterglow of yesterday's thrashing, Belichick was predictably understated. Asked how good his team was, he answered: "I think we had a good regular season. We were 14-2, and 5-1 in the division. That's not bad. But right now we're headed into the second season, and everyone is 0-0. It's how you fare from here that matters."

You'd think a coach who led his team to the best record in franchise history might enjoy a congratulatory dose of Gatorade in the wake of the victory, but nobody considered (or dared?) performing the traditional victory salute as the seconds ticked down yesterday.

"I never even thought of it," said defensive end Richard Seymour.

There is no room for such frivolity in the Belichick handbook, and you know what? That's probably good.

You applaud this football team that's all business, that refuses to look ahead, because you know from experience having the best team doesn't mean you will win the Super Bowl. The best team two years ago was probably the St. Louis Rams, with its golden armed quarterback, and fleet of electric receivers, but that glittery group was upended by a band of no-name upstarts wearing red, white, and blue. Nobody gave the Patriots a chance in 2001 to win the Super Bowl, but they did anyway, without home-field advantage in the AFC Championship game.

You suspect -- no, you know -- these 2003 Patriots are better. Even if they won't admit they are good, they act like it every week on the field.

"Anybody in this locker room who tells you we're not good is lying," said Damien Woody. "But we do know there's a whole different beast ahead of us."

Belichick and his players are correct to be wary of their new favorite son status. The Bills were the only team they blew out during the 12-game win streak. While their defense has been impenetrable, their offense has not always held up its end with the same consistency. A battle with Baltimore, which also relies on defense, should scare you. So should a rematch with Tennessee. The best team in football is hardly dominant, and the players know it.

"I don't think we have very grand illusions of ourselves," quarterback Tom Brady said. "I don't think we put ourselves on this pedestal of being unbeatable, or being great players. I think we pride ourselves on our humility, on being a good player, and contributing in whatever your role on the team is.

"And, because of that, nobody is ever satisfied."

Brady stressed the 2003 Patriots have laid no claim to being the 1985 Bears or the '72 Dolphins, yet his Patriots team does share a distinction with those undefeated Dolphins of more than 30 years ago: They are the only teams to finish a season with 12 consecutive wins. By the way, the Dolphins went on to win the Super Bowl. Miami bought what Don Shula was selling, much in the way this Patriots team is willing to purchase Belichick's wares.

"Any time someone gives you directions, and you follow those directions, and good things happen, it's a lot easier to stick with it," said Vrabel. "If someone is giving you directions as a player, and it doesn't work out, that's when you might have second thoughts, or question the mind-set.

"We haven't experienced any huge adversity. We've made big plays. We've followed the blueprint, and it's worked. You can't start questioning it now."

The Patriots players laughed when asked what negatives their coach possibly could pull from a 31-0 win. They suspect special teams might be mentioned, since Antonio Brown ripped off a 75-yard kickoff return to start the third quarter.

"We'll hear about that," said Seymour, smiling. "It's always something. It will be interesting to see what he picks out."

Yesterday, the New England Patriots were 14-2. Today, they are 0-0. They haven't done anything yet, but that's just fine.

The best team in football likes it that way.