In sports, you are always remembered by your last game. It’s probably not fair because you are judged on your last body of work rather than an accumulation of work.

But that’s the way it is.

The New England Patriots have just finished off a record-setting 16-0 regular season, the first team in NFL history to win 16 regular-season games.

However, if they don’t win the Super Bowl, they will be considered chokers.

There are certainly concerns if you are a Patriots fan.

They have allowed at least 24 points in three of their last six games and won each of those games by three points.

They made three mediocre quarterbacks: Philadelphia’s A.J. Feeley, Baltimore’s Kyle Boller and the New York Giants’ Eli Manning look like Dan Marino.

But the bottom line is they won.

If they are to win their fourth Super Bowl in seven years, they will have to generate a better pass rush and find a way to shut down the opponents’ running game.

They will have to overcome the loss of Roosevelt Colvin, their best pass-rushing linebacker.

A team like Jacksonville with stellar running backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew and mobile quarterback David Garrard could really pose some problems for them.

If the Pats get by Jacksonville, Pittsburgh or Tennessee in their first playoff game – and Pittsburgh would also provide a tough challenge – they would probably meet defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis in the AFC title game and that would be a dandy.

But those narrow wins over Philadelphia, Baltimore and the Giants should benefit the Patriots.

They were able to rally and they needed tests to prepare for the playoffs.

The Pats won 10 games by 20 or more points.

They exhibited their ability to handle adversity and they will face some in the playoffs.

Their record-breaking offense will rack up points. Nobody has been able to shut them down. There are simply too many weapons, including a revived running game featuring Laurence Maroney.

But the defense will have to play better.

The defensive unit has been able to come up with pivotal fourth-quarter stops or create turnovers in close games and will have to make more plays in the playoffs.

Special teams will also be crucial, and the Pats do have a trump card up their sleeves: coach Bill Belichick, who can be counted on to make the necessary adjustments.

NHL serves up a winner

Hats off to the NHL and their Winter Classic game, which was played outdoors at Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium Tuesday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in a shootout in front of 71,217 fans.

There were intermittent snow showers.

The NHL will never attain respectable TV ratings because hockey is a regional sport, but games like this and the outdoor game between Montreal and Edmonton in Edmonton in 2003 at least give the league and the sport some important exposure.

Outdoor hockey games have done very well.

The Edmonton-Montreal game drew 57,167, and two college games – Michigan at Michigan State in 2001 and Wisconsin-Ohio State at the Green Bay Packers’ Lambeau Field in 2006 – drew 77,554 and 40,890, respectively.

They give the sport a well-deserved shot in the arm.

lmahoney@bangordailynews.net

990-8231