This story originally ran in The Standard-Times on Feb. 4, 2008.

By Nick Tavares
Standard-Times correspondent

GLENDALE, Ariz. — To say the least, Randy Moss was at a loss for words.

"I don't even know what I'm feeling right now," the Patriots' star receiver said. "I mean, I know, physically, that I just played a football game, but, mentally? I mean ... I'm stuck for words."

But, there were comments that could, also at the least, haunt Moss's offseason. "I mean, I think the Giants just had a better game plan."

A better game plan? Really?

"Well, it was just their intensity. They came more ready to play today, and that surprised me. From the beginning snap to the end of the game, their intensity was higher than ours, and we just couldn't match that.

"When things like that happen, the only thing that you can do is lick your wounds and try to come back at it next year."

Certainly, it was slow going for Moss and the rest of the Patriots just about all night.

It took until there was 1:47 remaining in the first quarter for Moss to see a ball thrown his way. With 28 seconds left, Brady hit Moss for 18 yards to take the ball to the NY 44. But after another sack of Brady, the Giants took over when the ball came loose from Brady's hand.

Moss, interestingly enough, had a chance to make the highlight reel at the end of the first half, as he came into the game as protection against the Hail Mary play. Manning hurled the ball to the right side of the end zone, directly to Moss. But Moss mistimed his jump, and Giants' rookie wide receiver Steve Smith nearly came down with an incredible catch that would have given New York the lead going into halftime.

Moss himself went into halftime with one catch for 18 yards.

Before the game, Moss made it a point to note that he never cared about his own numbers.

"I am not really too worried about statistics," Moss said. "What I am worried about is winning this game. The past two games, I have caught two balls. The good thing about catching those two balls is that we won those two games."

But the Patriots wouldn't come out winning this one.

It's been an unselfish year for the troubled receiver, and on the biggest of all Sundays, that trend continued. Welker tied Deion Branch's record for receptions in a Super Bowl, but New England couldn't string those receptions into much of anything.

Brady went deep to Moss with six seconds left in the third quarter, but it was to Moss's wrong shoulder. No reception there.

Brady found Moss for another first down late in the fourth, and later in the same drive found Moss again, this time on play action, for another first down.

And then the touchdown came. After overthrowing Moss on first and goal, Brady found Moss on a slant and in the end zone. At the 2:42 mark of the fourth quarter, Brady and Moss began clicking again, reclaiming the magic they exhibited all season.

"It was a simple fade, and it was a crucial play. I made it, and I thought that would give us the momentum we needed, especially considering how well the defense was playing. But it wasn"t enough."

Indeed, help came too late. And Moss and the Pats were left to just stand and watch.

"Nothing really matters now," Moss said. "This season was exciting, don't get me wrong, but we're definitely disappointed."

All that's left, new for the Patriots, is next year.

"Sure, this (loss) will fuel us," Moss said, "but how is it going to fuel us? Hopefully we can take this into next season and finish it and do it right, but ... this is something that we did not expect.

"The Giants are champions, and you just have to take your hat off to them."

Contact Nick Tavares at nick@staticandfeedback.com