For one of the few times this season, Tom Brady and Randy Moss weren’t on the same page.

Neither knew what to do with the football that helped both players and the New England Patriots make NFL history.

Brady’s 65-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Moss was the defining moment in Saturday night’s 38-35 road victory over the New York Giants. Moss, who had dropped a long pass from Brady on the previous play, didn’t make the same mistake twice. He zipped through sloppy double coverage to catch Brady’s bomb at New York’s 21-yard line and sprint untouched into the end zone.

The Patriots, which trailed by 12 points early in the third quarter, pulled ahead and went onto finish with the NFL’s first 16-0 regular season.

Moss briefly celebrated after scoring, pumped the football in the air and heaved it to a teammate for safekeeping. Where the pigskin goes from there is anyone’s guess.

It has both sentimental and historical value, being used on a play that set two NFL single-season records: Brady throwing his 50th touchdown pass and Moss making his 23rd scoring grab.

The two discussed splitting the football, with Moss suggesting one half go to his son and Brady give the other half to his. Brady simply wanted to let Moss keep it. That thought didn’t fly nearly as well as Brady’s passes.

“We both did it,” Moss said. “I really don’t know what we’re going to do with the ball.”

Maybe the two should donate it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Put it on display at Gillette Stadium for fans to admire. Or auction it off among the Patriots faithful, with the caveat that the football remain pristine and not get treated in the same irreverent fashion as Barry Bonds’ record-setting home run baseball. The money raised could be donated to the retired players’ fund or another charitable cause of their liking.

Regardless of what happens, such unselfishness reflects two things key to New England’s 2007 success: The strong relationship that has developed between Brady and Moss and the latter’s willingness to buy into New England’s team concept.

Neither was a given in April when New England traded a fourth-round pick to Oakland for Moss’ services. Some skeptics even thought the Raiders were getting the better end of the deal. Moss’ play had slipped in recent years. His attitude was even worse. There were questions about his potential productivity and whether the 10-year veteran was the right fit on a Bill Belichick-coached team.

Moss has dispelled all those doubts with a 98-catch, 1,493-yard campaign while never becoming an unwelcome distraction.

“I don’t think me breaking Jerry Rice’s record was special,” said Moss, referring to the previous mark of 22 touchdown receptions held by the future Hall of Fame wide receiver. “I think shutting (the media) up was really what made it special, all the negativity and all my critics. This really is a good feeling to be able to come in and have a good season like this, to have confidence in myself that I can still get it done.

“This was an opportunity I didn’t want to pass up: Becoming a New England Patriot and playing some real championship-caliber football at the beginning, middle and end of the season.”

Brady has spearheaded such brilliance with arguably the greatest regular season ever for a quarterback. It’s a given he will be named the league’s Most Valuable Player. The Patriots set an NFL single-season scoring record (589 points) despite fielding a spotty running game for much of the year. Brady completed 68.9 percent of his passes, threw for a team-record 4,806 yards and rarely made costly mistakes, tossing just eight interceptions. Brady’s intensity in games and practices raised the play of those around him.

Plus, Brady’s head never became too big for his helmet. Brady even deflected praise for his touchdown mark by complimenting those who helped make it happen and his team’s underrated defense.

“I’m just proud of the way we played more than any individual record, which to me is just not as important as what I’ve experienced in the last seven years and experienced tonight,” Brady said after the game. “I love throwing 50 touchdown passes because that means we scored 50 times … It’s been a great team to play for. It’s been a lot of fun.”

The joyride shows no signs of ending. And here’s something even scarier for the rest of the league: Moss says he and Brady can be more prolific in the playoffs.

“Now that the regular season is over, hopefully we can continue but at the same time pick up the pace a little bit,” Moss said.

If that happens, the NFL should make plans to halve the Super Bowl’s MVP trophy.

Article courtesy of http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7617672