Big Jim’s Patriots Road Trip Guide to: MetLife Stadium
Well that was a sobering loss, eh Patriots fans?
For a team with minimal expectations, it’s infuriating to watch them blow a game the way they did against the Seattle Seahawks.
And at home no less!
Anyway, instead of a surprising 2-and-0, the Patriots are now a sorta disappointing 1-and-1 after that surprise win in Cincinnati, and will kick off week 3 in the NFL down at Met Life Stadium against the NY Jets for Thursday Night Football.
So if you’re taking the quick trip down to see the game, here’s this week’s handy road trip guide!
1: DO: Take The Merritt Parkway!
I have to assume you’re driving to this road game, because unless you’re made of money, it makes absolutely no sense to fly into JFK/Laguardia/Newark and then spend out the ass to say in the city.
Same goes for the train, which is always overpriced and overcrowded.
No, this is a game you drive to for a day or two-day trip, and if you’re going to drive, you should do it right and hop on to the Merritt Parkway in Milford, CT and ride it all the way to about Stamford, CT and then hop back on to 95 for the rest of the trip.
Now, does this make much logistical sense? Probably not. However!
The Merritt Parkway is an incredibly beautiful and scenic ride, and if you’ve never been on it before it’s totally worth it alone just to go through the Heroes Tunnel.
Seriously, if you like history, nature and architecture, this stretch of road is truly a delight to drive through, and there’s the added bonus of commercial vehicles and trucks being banned on it as well.
2: DO: STOP FOR WINGS AT ARCHIE MOORE’S!
If you’d like to find out why Archie’s wings are one of the things I miss most about the time I spent living in Connecticut, then make sure to stop at one of their four locations on your way to the game.
I’d recommend bellying up to the bar at either the Milford or Wallingford locations, and then ordering up their famous Buffalo Wings in anything from a wee 7 piece portion, to a 49 piece for you and your pig friends.
I dunno what kind of sorcery goes on with how they make the wings at Archie’s, but what I do know is, is they’re some of the best I’ve ever stuffed into my face.
Like, I’m talking Buff’s Pub level good. They’re meaty, saucy perfection.
3: DON’T: SHOW UP LATE!!
Lemme ask you this, Patriot fan.
As much as you enjoy tailgating for home games, do you enjoy the soul crushing experience of dealing with Rt. 1?
I’ll answer for you.
You don’t, and I don’t blame you.
Well guess what?
The experience of getting in and out of the parking lot at Met Life is about 100 times worse than anything you’ve ever dealt with in Foxboro.
The moron attendants don’t help at all, no one pays attention to lanes, it’s just a hellish standstill that will make your chest tighten and take years off of your life.
4: DO: STOP AND GET THE BEST BBQ IN MASSACHUSETTS
For my money, the best BBQ in the entire state of Massachusetts can be found in Sturbridge, and that’s B.T.’s Smokehouse.
Located just a little off exit 5 on the Mass Pike, B.T.’s has incredible brisket, tremendous sides, tasty sauces….and very likely a long wait.
But that’s for a reason!
The food is just that damn good.
You’ll likely be hungover and groggy, and this is a perfect place to stop to fill yourself up for the rest of the ride back.
