Once paid for parking we headed to Gillette stadium, which seems to be pretty much in the middle of a forest. It was really buy and I missed the tailgaters, so was a little miffed. But Monday Night football has that extra bit of energy about it. Sporting my new woolly hat we made our way to the will call and then in the stadium.
The stadium is beautiful, there is a bridge between two of the stands that is glorious. There are huge mock fire towers, that have a digital patriots display, that looks like blue flickering flames.
We bought a pizza and a giant pretzel and hit the ramps towards the top of the stadium. We kept going high and higher and were right at the very top. There were so many people that stand at various points around the stadium. It seems many people get the cheapest tickets but just find a better place to stand and watch the game. Next time I will buy standing tickets, because with the Patriots you are always going to see a lot of points, despite the loss a certain Tom Brady.
Tonight was no different and the Patriots came out moving the ball. We watched the kick off from club level. I bought a program and we got to our section which was up by the floodlights. There energy was high but our section was oddly very empty even though this was a sell out. Instead of sitting in the very top row where we were supposed to sit we moved down a few rows. After 5 minutes a woman came by to tell us we were in her seats! Now true we were in her seats, but she really could have sat anywhere in the whole section, and she made us move.
The atmosphere was loud downstairs but not too loud in our section. I was going to meet Tony at half time anyways. The Broncos hardly moved the ball and after 2 field goals the Pats were up 6-0. In the second quarter the Pats came out blazing and scored two touchdowns.
After each score booming fireworks flew out of the scoreboards and the at each endzone there was 8 or so Patriots dressed like the olden days firing off their guns Gotta love America. Both sets of Patriots fired off their guns to each other. Not sure that would be allowed back home.
The second TD of the quarter was a Moss 13 yard catch. Moss has always excited me and although he can be arrogant at times, he is a special talent and still such a threat. My friend Syd Day, (100% Cheese Free) from the Vikings had been flown out to this game, in the hope that he would “catch” Randy after a Moss TD. I looked on the big screen but could not see Syd and Randy just ran around and did not do any kind of leap. They need to get him to score again and jump into Syd's arms like he used to at the Metrodome.
20-0 at half time and it all looks to be one way. Me and Izzy headed down behind one of the end zones where people can gather and watch the game. We met up with Tony and his wife, Erin. I apologised for missing their tailgate as they had prepared food especially for me. I missed steak and shrimp. “Shoot and darn” it as they say out there.
Tony and Erin were very friendly. Before we knew it was the end of the half time show and the teams had come back out. Still we all so engaged with the conversation that we ended up watching the second half on the big screen. Tony has been reading my blog for a while and it was really great that he was giving up watching the Pats to talk to me.
Randy Moss scored again. This time he ran over to Syd Davy and jumped into his arms. I told Tony about my friend Syd and he told me that Syd was sitting just a few rows in front of him. Tony gave me his pass to the lower section. I grabbed my camera and rushed own to the field. I had missed Randy but Syd was there screaming into the cameras and lots of people were jumping around him getting on the jumbotron.
I got near Syd but he was too focussed to notice me. His wife however spotted me, grabbed me and she pulled me right near her and Syd. She tried getting me and my shirt on the jumbotron but I think all I got was my chin, still better than nothing. The Patriots mascot made his way over and got in on the action and leapt up. Syd was brought over by an extreme Patriots fan, and we all had our picture taken. I heard the mascot from Patriots who was all dressed in foam:
“stop punching me!” I wasn't touching him but clearly others were, and I feel bad that mascots get a bit of a battering. I'm not exactly sure why that it is. It was surreal as the mascot's mask was s a huge smile but the voice coming out was of anger and pain.
Why would any one want to hurt the mascot?
After the high spirited Syd calmed down he gave me a big hug and told me: “I told you I would be here, now I have to get another tattoo!”and he pointed to is arm, where he has a tattoo of each team, where he he has caught Randy Moss. He really is an extreme fan. I'm a huge Bears fan, but getting a Bears tattoo is even extreme for me.
It was great to see Syd and his wife, I can't believe Tony had a ticket in the same section,what are the odds? I made my way back to Tony, Erin and Izzy. Where we met more fans and chatted to more fans. We met two very nice guys who were very intrigued by my trip.
One of the gentleman told me in quite some detail just how much he hates the Patriot's mascot. He told me he respected the actual patriots that fire the guns.
“Is because you like lots of gun powder and the shooting?” I asked.
“Well they are dressed up and they protect the team, the stadium, hell they are pure American, they protect the Country,what the hell does the mascot do? I would knock his head off!” hmm perhaps more people have this angst? I have never met anyone that dislikes the mascot. He told me he also didn't like the whole foam thing. Sure I can understand if someone does not like foam, as an OCD kind of thing, but to want to knock the head off a mascot is a tad extreme! I like the mascots, I think they are fun, they work hard and get kids into the sport.
The Patriots scored their 4th touchdown taking it to 36-0. Then I spotted Syd and his wife as they came up to the area were we in. With your face painted and wearing all that Vikings gear, you are going to get some attention. Everyone wanted his picture taken with me. Just like in Minnesota, Syd is actually very quiet, he is polite and gentle. Put a camera near him and the man changes into a Super fan, screaming and shouting. It is great that I have seen both sides. He was really happy to see me and I was happy to see him.
Finally the Broncos scored so they did not leave too embarrassed. After the game, myself, Izzy, Tony and his wife were still chatting so we made out way to their car, where they gave us some food and drink. Then they offered us to stay in their house. We took them up on their offer and headed into the forest. It was really great having someone with me at the game, as I could get lots of filming and pictures done.
Gillette stadium is an awesome place and I am mad at myself for missing the tailgate. So hopefully I will come back to this stadium so get a good grasp of their tailgate. We waited for the car park to empty out. I have not been to the toilet at any stadium, as I like to think I have an iron clad bladder. Izzy is concerned about this and forced me to go, which meant my first time in a portapotty. Not very nice!
We made the 40 minute drive through the forest to where Tony and Erin live. They pt us up in their beautiful home and I could not thank them enough. It was really nice of them. The drive to NYC would have been tough as a lot of the roads going back are through the forest and not well lit. Plus it was gone 1am, and I don't want to drive tired.
Despite no Tom Brady the Patriots destroyed the Broncos and the Broncos are a pretty good team. I wonder what the Monday Night home win record is for the whole of the NFL, because th fans get really into it. Tony told me the MNF games have a play-off feeling about them and everyone gets excited if their team gets one MNF in the season. This year the Patriots also have a Thursday night game, in November, so hopefully I can squeeze that game into the mix. I'm just scared of the traffic!
Thank you Tony and Erin. Go Patriots
Pre-game
Tom Brady will be looking to put another regualar season win to his name, while his team host the Broncos. New England play aggressive defense and with Brady and Moss on offense they are practically unstoppable.
Last season, the Pats were caught up in the "Spygate" scandal. It is hard to tell just how much that helped them, then again they only lost one game and that was the Super Bowl, then again it's not like they were a poor team to begin with.
The Giants finally cracked the Pats winning formula in last year's Super Bowl. The Broncos will be looking to play well and fight extra hard, as they have a bye the following week, so they can afford to go all out and get a big win at the Gillette Stadium...but it is not going to be easy for them!
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