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Quick Take: Patriots (15-0) at Giants (10-5)

Published: Dec 26, 2007 at 02:11 PM

Last meeting
In Week 6 of 2003, the Patriots intercepted Giants quarterback Kerry Collins four times and came away with a 17-6 victory.

Streaks
New England leads the all-time series with the Giants, 4-3. Check out the complete head-to-head breakdown.

Last week
The Giants defeated the host Bills 38-21 and clinched a playoff spot. The Patriots kept alive their quest for a perfect season by beating Miami 28-7.

At stake
The only thing on the line for the Giants, who are locked into the NFC's fifth playoff seed, is their ability to keep the Patriots from making history as the first team to go through a 16-game regular season undefeated.

Key matchup
Patriots WR Randy Moss vs. Giants CB Sam Madison.
Expect to see Tom Brady air it out to Randy Moss from beginning to end. Judging from last week's game against the overmatched Dolphins, the Patriots appear intent on breaking every record within reach. Moss is one touchdown reception away from tying Jerry Rice's single season mark of 22 set in 1987. Brady is just one touchdown pass away from tying Peyton Manning's record of 49.

The task of preventing these accomplishments falls to Madison. After struggling against Washington's Santana Moss in Week 15, Madison played much better against Buffalo. He will have to be at his absolute best, though, against the league's top receiver, who will be targeted often by the league's top passer.

Did you know?
The Giants have not beaten the Patriots since a 13-10 victory in 1990. ... The Patriots have won 18 straight regular-season games; the only other team to win that many games in a row was the 2003-04 Patriots. ... The Patriots' 551 points are five shy of the NFL single-season record of 556 points by the Moss-led Vikings in 1998. ... Only two teams since the 1970 merger have led the NFL in scoring offense and scoring defense (1972 Dolphins and 1996 Packers), and both won the Super Bowl. The Patriots also go into the season finale tied with Tampa Bay for fewest points allowed. ... Wes Welker needs one more catch to pass Troy Brown (101 in 2001) for the Patriots' club record for receptions in a season. ... The Patriots have scored an NFL-record 71 touchdowns this season, breaking the record set by the 1984 Dolphins.

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