The season of giving

There's been a lot of debate about how the Pats should play the "meaningless" game this weekend against Houston. Should they play their starters just a series or two? Should they play all out to get the #3 seed? Should Brady play at all? No matter what your opinion, the fact is that Belichick will do what he and the team thinks is best and whatever happens happens. My guess is they will go for the win. That's what they do. And that's the way I like my team to approach it.

The other approach was on display in Indianapolis on Sunday. The 14-0 Colts had a 15-10 lead over the Jets with about nine minutes to go in the third quarter. Another touchdown and they were in control of the game and just one road win in Buffalo from matching the Pats' 16-0 season from two years ago. And then something weird happened. The Colts took out Manning, Dallas Clark, and other starters and pretty much gift wrapped the game for the Jets. And the Jets gladly accepted the present. I watched it at my parent's house with my sister, brothers, and nephews after we got home from the Pats game. We were all surprised. And disgusted. Who gives up on the chance for a perfect season? The Colts. That's who. Just when I was starting to almost like that team they go and remind me why it's so fun not to.

The Colts' company line was that the decision to rest their starters was part of an "organizational philosophy." I guess that philosophy goes something like this ... We are on a historic 23-game regular season unbeaten streak. We are a veteran team that has been one of the top two all decade and can handle the pressure. We have won some amazing comebacks this season to keep the unbeaten record going. Our players put everything they have into getting to this point. We are on the verge of history. We're not interested. We'd rather lose, break our momentum, let the Jets beat us on our home field, and start resting for a playoff game that is almost a month away.

That's a hell of a philosophy. And from the look on Manning's face he wasn't buying into it. If they lose to the Bills this weekend then a 14-2 team will sit waiting for two weeks for the playoffs to start with a rather sour taste in their mouths. It didn't work the other times the Colts took that approach in this decade. Good luck to them this time around.

If they wanted to rest their stars and/or avoid injuries then why play them at all? You can't get hurt in the first half? Oh yes you can. Just ask Tom Brady. The fact that Manning and the other Colts played the first half and held the lead only to come out of the game sure leaves one to believe that it was more a case of "we really don't want the pressure of being unbeaten" than a desire to rest for a game a month away. Well, mission accomplished. The pressure's over. So is the unbeaten streak and a good chunk of the momentum Manning and the rest of the team busted their humps building.

If they were playing the 3-12 Bucs or the 4-11 Browns it would be slightly -- slightly -- different. It would still be lame to give up on an undefeated season but at least you wouldn't be changing the playoff chances of other teams. The Jets are in the playoff hunt. With the win they went from needing help to controlling their own destiny. Win and they are in. The Broncos, Steelers, Texans, and Dolphins all got the short end of the Colts stick. Teams playing dead against teams fighting for a playoff spot isn't good for the league. It's bad sportsmanship to say the least. It's something the NFL should look at before they expand the season to a ridiculous 18 games. Preseason games are meaningless? Well apparently so are December games if you ask the Colts.

There are two people (or groups of people in one case) that I really felt bad for watching the Colts Sunday. The first was center Jeff Saturday. While Manning, Wayne, Freeney, and others stood on the sideline watching the "philosophy" play out, Saturday was where he always is every week. Right in the middle of the war. Saturday is as key a player as the Colts have had all decade. He is their anchor. And yet there he was on the field in a game that the team's most important players were resting. Uh, you might want to rest your All-Pro center too. The fans were the other ones I felt bad for. Especially those that paid to be at the game. You think you are there to watch your beloved team take another step towards history only to watch the team say "we give." The fans were booing their 14-1 Super Bowl favorite Colts. Booing them. Yup. That's a good way to get ready for the playoffs.

But that's the way the Colts like to do things. Safely. The Pats really are their opposite. I expect most of the starters to play this weekend. Not guys with injuries like Wilfork or Warren. And of course everyone has injuries at this point. But I would think Brady would want to play. The team hasn't exactly set the league on fire so far. There's plenty they still need to improve on.

Division and conquer

WEEK 16

Patriots 35, Jaguars 7 (12/27/09): AFC East champion New England Patriots. That's the seventh time this decade Pats fans can say that. After three Super Bowl titles and a 16-0 season that might not be too exciting for some people, but a division title is still a big deal as far as I'm concerned. And this one was the hardest one of the seven.

Whether the Pats finish 11-5 or 10-6, the verdict on this season will be decided in the month of January. The team assured a return trip to the playoffs with their dominant win over Jacksonville yesterday in what was one of the more enjoyable regular season games in years. My oldest brother and his son Charlie were up from North Carolina for the holidays and I had a few extra tickets so they got to take in the tailgate experience at Gillette. They were not disappointed.

The tailgate took place in mostly rainy and windy conditions but with the help of the tent, the coffee, and the breakfast wieners and pork sandwiches we were all dry, fed, and ready for a division clincher. So were the Pats. The weather cleared as the game started and it was partly sunny and in the mid-50s. Not bad for late December. Not bad at all.

The Pats opened the game on offense looking focused and sharp. Brady drove the team to the goal line on nine plays but Maroney -- again! -- fumbled the ball. A good drive. But no points. Maroney did not get on the field again. Maybe he will wrap the ball up a little tighter from here on out. If he doesn't, Sammy Morris will. He rushed for 95 yards on 12 carries, scoring once. And veteran Fred Taylor made his return (against his old team). Hopefully Taylor will be closer to full speed when the playoffs start.

But it wasn't the running that was the story in this one. It was Tom Brady and the passing game. Brady had one of his best games in a long time, completing 23 of 26 passes and throwing four touchdowns. It was a fun display of offense to watch. And the atmosphere in the stadium was filled with the holiday spirit. The offense made big plays. The defense made big plays. The players celebrated and looked relaxed and ready for the second season. Even Randy Moss -- described by some local writers as selfish, spoiled, sour -- had fun with a fan wearing a Moss mask and wig who was shown on the video screen doing the Moss touchdown gesture. The fan would do it. Then the camera would show Moss and he would do it. Several times. The crowd cheered. Moss laughed. Everyone laughed. The crowd chanted "Ran-dy! Ran-dy!" It was one of the best moments at Gillette this year.

In two weeks the Pats will host a playoff game. Hopefully there will be some more great moments to come. If Brady and the offense play like they did yesterday there will be.

Dynasty. Starring ...

It seems just yesterday I was working at my old newspaper on New Year's Eve 1999. Y2K! The millennium! The world is going to end! Hoard water and Yodels! Well the decade began and we all survived. As it comes to an end it won't go down as a favorite decade of many -- unless of course you are a Patriots fan. For us, it was a most amazing decade indeed. Looking back at the Super Bowls, great playoff wins (and tough losses), and seasons of 14-2, 14-2, and 16-0, it's easy to select the most important player in this dynastic decade (Mr. Bundchen). But who would make up the rest of the list if you were naming the top 15 (10 wasn't quite enough) of the '00s? I'm glad you asked. (Note: Nine of the 15 were Patriots' picks. That's great drafting).

15. Ted Johnson: I'm not sure any Patriot sacrificed his body more than inside linebacker Ted Johnson did for the team this decade. The guy's a football player. Ohio State. No neck. He's the Jason Bourne of LBs. You can knock him unconscious and he will still get up, find you, and make the tackle. A draft pick of Bill Parcells, Johnson was one of the guys who helped build the dynasty in the mid-90s and then got the satisfaction of still being there when all the work paid off.

14. Deion Branch: The MVP of Super Bowl XXXVIII. Branch became the deep weapon that Brady had been missing and was the piece that turned the Pats offense from solid to dangerous. His long TD catch early in the '04 AFC title game in Pittsburgh set the tone for the romp. His catch to set up the winning kick in the Carolina Super Bowl was one of the toughest -- and most underrated -- catches I've ever seen.

13. Antowain Smith: The man was a bull with a hell of a kick. I loved Smith when he played with the Bills but injuries made him a big question mark when the Pats picked him up for the 2001 season. He answered all the questions. He ran for almost 1,200 yards and scored 12 TDs in his first season, leading the Pats on their improbable run to the playoffs. He was even bigger in those playoffs, returning to his hometown of New Orleans and playing a key role in the Pats erasing the nightmares of their previous two bayou Super Bowl trips.

12. Ted Washington: As important as Smith was in the Pats building a running game, the acquisition of the house that is Ted Washington was even more important when it came to stopping the run. The Pats had a huge hole in the middle of the D just a week before the season started in '01 and the late August trade for Washington filled that hole and then some. The Pats ranked 4th in the league against the run. Big Ted was the foundation -- literally -- of that defense.

11. Wes Welker: The only guy on this list without a Super Bowl ring. Hopefully he gets one soon but he doesn't need one. He's already one of the toughest, grittiest, smartest Patriots I've ever seen. He's averaging 100 catches a season. Simply put: How can you not love watching him play? How many clutch third-down catches has he made? Too many to count.

10. Adam Vinatieri: Is there another dynasty that has its kicker in the top 10? The greatest clutch kicker in the history of the game. Which kick do you want? The first Super Bowl winner ("It's gooooood! It's gooooooood!). The Snow Bowl kick. The Snow Bowl winner. The winner against the Titans in 6 degree temps. And those are just in the playoffs. I've seen so many great seasons by teams end on a "wide right." Not with Vinatieri. We didn't call him "Money" for nothing.

9. Kevin Faulk: Yes, Kevin Faulk. Most underrated player in the entire league these last ten years. Need a big catch? Go to Faulk. Need a big block? Line him up just in front of Brady. Need a big kick return? Put #33 back there. He's one of those guys that every dynasty has. The role player who plays every role to near perfection.

8. Corey Dillon: I can still remember the summer day over my parent's house when my brother Richie called from North Carolina. "ESPN's reporting that we traded a second-round pick for Corey Dillon.. Corey Dillon! We're going back to the Super Bowl!" And he was right. The Bengals sent away their disgruntled star and he had one more Hall of Fame season left in him to lead the '04 Pats to the title. He capped it with a monster game in the Pats most solid playoff victory of the decade -- the 20-3 punishing of Indy.

7. Ty Law: Kurt Warner drops back to pass. He throws it right just as he gets hit. The ball ... is intercepted! Ty Law! He takes it all the way for a touchdown! Patriots lead! That pick-six in the first Super Bowl made the team believe they really could pull off the upset. Law, who early in his career spent most of his time drawing yellow flags, evolved into an All-Pro shutdown corner. His three-pick game against Manning in the '03 AFC title game is one of the greatest performances by a cornerback ever.

6. Mike Vrabel: The cast-off from Pittsburgh who fit the Bill Belichick/Romeo Crennel defense perfectly. Vrabel, another OSU linebacker, is the man who hit Warner in the face (was that a penalty?) that forced the errant pass that was picked off by Law. He also forced the fumble in the Carolina Super Bowl that set off the scoring binge. Vrabel was always there to make a play. On both sides of the ball. He caught five passes while a Patriot. All for touchdowns.

5. Rodney Harrison: I can still hear the sound of Rodney coming on a blitz and smashing the quarterback to the ground with one of the hardest hits I've seen. And that was in a preseason game before the '07 season. You hear a lot these days about how all players take plays off. Not Rodney. He played every play as if the Super Bowl was on the line. Voted the dirtiest player by his peers year after year, that's what happens when you take pleasure in hitting as hard as you can. A Hall of Fame safety for sure.

4. Tedy Bruschi: Was there ever a better match of player and coach than Bruschi and Belichick? Watching them on the sideline it was like having two defensive coaches. During the years Romeo was there ... well, the three of them were pretty tough to outsmart. Belichick called him "the perfect player" at Bruschi's retirement press conference. That says it all.

3. Troy Brown: Who has the most catches in Patriots history? Troy Brown. Bingo! Who returned a punt and set up a blocked field goal return to beat the Steelers in their first AFC title clash? Troy Brown. Bingo! Who made the biggest catch in the drive to set up the winning kick in New Orleans? Troy Brown. Bingo! So many clutch catches. So many game-changing special teams plays. He even played nickel back when the Pats were decimated on defense. Whatever Belichick asked him to do he did. Troy Brown is the Patriots. Bingo!

2. Willie McGinnest: OK. I'm biased. Willie was my favorite player before he even played a down for the Patriots. I loved to watch the Pac 10 back in the '80s and early '90s and McGinnest was one of the best linebackers USC ever had. And that's saying something. When the Pats took him with the fourth pick in the '94 draft I was thrilled. Unfortunately Willie was plagued by a groin injury that slowed him for several years. But that all changed when this decade started. Willie's big plays stack up with anyone's on this list but it was the way he made his big plays that made him the leader of the dynasty. He didn't just sack you. He took you down with a fist in your face or a knee in your back. He was an intimidating playmaker. He was the man.

1. Tom Brady: One of the greatest stories in sports of the past 100 years. That's right. 100. A skinny sixth-round pick walked onto the field with his hands in his pockets on that September afternoon in 2001 and proceeded to lead the team to three Super Bowls in four years. I know he's got Gisele now, and Bridget's baby, and his commercials aren't funny like Manning's. And he wears those stupid TB hats. But he still has a burning desire to win after all he has accomplished. If he should be able to win another title before he hangs it up sometime in the next decade he goes down as arguably the best to ever play in the league. He's already the best to ever play in a Patriots uniform.

Almost made the cut: 16. Randy Moss. 17. Lawyer Milloy. 18. Vince Wilfork. 19. Richard Seymour. 20. Matt Light. 21. Daniel Graham. 22. Dan Koppen. 23. Ty Warren. 24. Asante Samuel. 25. David Patten. Did I miss anyone?

One for the road

WEEK 15

A trip to Buffalo has never looked better from my vantage point on the couch. The Pats came away with a solid 17-10 victory and the Jets and Wildcats both dropped close games to fall two behind in the AFC East with two games to go. Win this weekend at home against the Jags and the Pats claim another division title. All-in-all, that seems like a pretty productive road trip.

It's considered the first genuine road victory because for some reason traveling to London and winning a game doesn't seem to count as a road win for most people. London seems as road as you can get. But a win in the cold of Buffalo on a day when the division title was hanging in the balance is a much bigger road win. No argument about that. And it sure didn't start out looking too good.

The Bills opened the game clearly intent on taking advantage of the absence of Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren on the D line. And take advantage they did. Buffalo put together a 14-play, nine minute drive that included nine running plays and only ended in a field goal after a holding call on third down at the Pats two-yard line stopped their momentum. Mark texted me that "this could be a long day." It was looking that way after Brady threw a pick on the Pats' first series, setting up the Bills at their own 39. The Patriots were in need of someone to make a big play before they got in a big hole and Mike Wright, not surprisingly, was that someone. Wright, playing for Warren on the end, came on a delayed rush and sacked Fitzpatrick on second down. That was followed by a sack by Derrick Burgess that stole the early momentum away from the Bills. Brady then led the team on a nine-play scoring drive, connecting with Randy Moss in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown and the Pats were in control the rest of the way.

Ah, Randy Moss. He finished the game with five catches for 70 yards and the touchdown. That gives him 10 TDs for the season. Certainly not on his 2007 pace of 25 but darn good. He's still one of the three or four most dangerous wideouts in the game. And yet, if you read the newspapers and listened to the radio all week you would think he was single-handedly responsible for all the team's problems this season. After last week's much-needed win against the Panthers (in which Moss had a one-catch/one-fumble lousy game) the Globe featured a story across the top of the sports front focusing not on the victory but on the comments made by the Panthers D backs saying that Moss quit on the team. The losing Panthers D backs. Who were not a factor in the game. It was an interesting news choice. The Panthers players were saying that they knew if they hit Moss early and often he would be less effective. Really? Did they just come up with that idea because there have been very few wide receivers in the history of the game that strategy doesn't work on. Be aggressive with Moss? No kidding. Too bad they forgot about Wes Welker and the Pats running game.

The media madness continued with one columnist stating that Moss's performance was a disgrace to the position of wide receiver. I'm not sure such a thing is even possible because receivers aren't known as the real "character" guys on football teams. But whatever. The media's disdain for Moss is understandable. He's a little "out there" most of the time. But from my seat at the stadium these past three years Moss has been a solid citizen. Sure, after Brady went down in Game 1 of last year Moss often sat at the far end of the bench -- instead of working with Matt Cassell -- acting like his hot girlfriend had just dumped him. But he knew another shot at a ring was probably lost so cut him some slack. He still had a good year.

The offense has had a very good season. They trail only the Saints in total offense. They have had red zone issues for sure. But Brady, Moss, Welker, Faulk, and Watson are one of the most dangerous passing attacks in the league. And Moss has had a big role in that again. Unlike last weeks ground-it-out win over Carolina, the Pats went for the deep ball against the Bills. Brady and Moss stretched the D several times. Even though they didn't hit one, it was a key part of the game plan. That's the thing about the Pats that makes me think they could make some noise in the playoffs. Their depth and their versatility. The have won this year playing many different styles.

A talk radio voice, citing the Pats less-than overwhelming victories these past two weeks, said that the reason the Pats haven't looked too great is because "they really aren't that talented." That's a ridiculous statement on the face of it when you have players like Brady, Moss, Welker, Faulk, and Mayo. But it also ignores the offensive line depth with Light, Mankins, Koppen, and Vollmer. And the defensive line of Wilfork, Warren, Green, and Wright. And don't forget players such as Banta-Cain, Meriweather, Bodden, and Maroney.

That seems like a lot of talent to me. Is it enough to go on the road to San Diego or Indy (or both) and pull out a huge playoff win? I'm still convinced it is. Take care of business this weekend against the Panthers and we should get a chance to find out once and for all what this team is capable of.

Give away game

WEEK 14
Patriots 20, Panthers 10 (12/13/09): The Carolina Panthers brought their 5-7 record to Gillette. It was the first tailgate since mid-November when the Pats convincingly beat the Jets and Topher's car got smashed. The Pats have looked more like Toph's car since then so a tailgate was long overdue. And much needed.

Mark, Shep, Matt, and Bergs took a day off. It's what we call a "give away game" in the season ticket world. A game against a crappy team from the other conference whose starting QB is hurt. Not one you circle on the schedule at the start of the season as "must be there." And the weather forecast was not so promising. Thus a game season ticket holders look to "give away" to friends and family.

And that means a lot of people going to their first Patriots game. Like my wife Devra and our co-worker Katie, a Broncos fan from Colorado (Broncos vintage T-shirt on but hidden under the layers). Bringing people to their first Pats game is one of the best parts of being a long-time season ticket holder. They have that wide-eyed look (thanks to the Bailey's and coffee maybe) like a kid at the circus. Things that you take for granted are fun again. Me, Dev, Paul, and Katie rolled into P2 around 10:30 under mostly gray skies. But we were feeling pretty good because we knew rain was coming our way but it looked like the pregame tailgate would be enjoyed in dry -- if not toasty -- weather. And enjoyed it was. As Devra said when questioning the lack of beads and tie-dyed T-shirts (or NFL equivalent) being sold in the lot ... "It has a definite Dead show atmosphere."

We listened to a tailgate mix Toph made during the 16-0 season (Dead featured prominently) and grilled up some flank steak for sandwiches. But not just any steak sandwiches. Dev prepared banh mi -- a Vietnamese version. The recipe includes some pickled vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, radishes) and a rub for the meat (soy sauce, coriander, white pepper) that has a rich flavor. Add a little sriracha and it will warm you up almost as much as Maker's Mark and Coke (Katie's excellent addition to the menu -- flask and all). It was the tastiest -- and prettiest -- steak sandwich ever consumed at a tailgate.

The game itself was not so pretty. The Pats actually looked much better in most of their loss to Miami than they did beating the Panthers. Neither team was really in sync. As the first half drew to a close the drizzle started. It was just one of those regular season games where all that really matters -- for the team and the fans sitting in the wet and the cold -- is to get a win. That makes it all good.

The Pats ran the ball 40 times. (Katie and Dev didn't get to admire Brady's passing form too often, but there was admiring going on nonetheless.) They ran 40 times! That is the story of the game. The Patriots brought a certain mindset. A late-season, grind-the-game-out mindset. And it worked. Maroney again looked strong, gaining 94-yards on 22 tough carries. The team had close to 200 yards rushing. And Gostkowski made two kicks (one a 48-yarder) in a close game under tough conditions. He's quietly having another excellent season and confidence in him going into the playoffs has to be high.

There's a lot to talk about on the positive side after the victory, but you know the thing that will be talked about the most this week is the performance of Randy Moss. The future hall-of-famer had a lousy game. He only had one catch and on that play he fumbled the ball. That's a lousy game. But he really wasn't a featured part of the game plan. Anyone who was at the game could see that. You could tell Moss knew on most plays that the ball wasn't coming anywhere near him. Sometimes he went through the motions. Sometimes he didn't. The interception that Brady threw early in the game when he was trying to hit Moss on a out looked like a bad pass and bad decision on Brady's part. Moss didn't react fast enough to prevent the pick but there wasn't much he could do. That pretty sums up his day. There wasn't much he could -- or was asked -- to do. That happens. Fortunately there was a lot Wes Welker was asked to do -- and did. Another ridiculously great game -- 10 catches for 105 yards. Moss wasn't asked to do anything pretty in this game. Next week he might. And odds are he'll deliver.

So it wasn't a pretty game for the Pats, but it keeps them ahead of Miami and New York. Now they head to Buffalo. They haven't recorded a real road win all season (they are due, right?). If they can handle the always challenging Buffalo weather and crowd noise conditions and bring home a win -- even against a mediocre opponent -- that would be a very enouraging sign. No matter how pretty -- or ugly -- the game might be.

Chemistry lessons

The Patriots are 7-5 after losing three of their last four games. That hasn't happened around here for quite a while. But it was really only a matter of time. You can't have a guy get knocked out and fall out of bounds unconscious so that his fumble doesn't count every year. We all know that, right?

Is the dynasty over? When the Pats aren't a playoff contender then the dynasty is officially over. As long as the Pats have Belichick and Brady and win 10+ games in a season then they still have a shot at a title. Just two seasons ago the team was, and this we all do know, 16-0. Even Joe Montana's 49ers sprinkled in several 10-6 seasons among all the Super Bowls. The Pats can still go 11-5 and host a playoff game. Sorry, that's not a failure. Lose to the Panthers this week and that's a different story. As long as Brady is healthy enough to play I can't see that happening. But if you listen to all the team chemistry experts this week you'd think the Pats had lost 10 in a row and players were taking swings at each other on the sideline.

Sure. Belichick had to send Moss, Thomas, and two others home for coming late to a meeting due to the snowstorm. That's not a good sign. But that doesn't mean the team is coming unglued. It hasn't reached that point yet but why wait till it does when you can write or talk as if it has? More fun that way, right? Nope. Why follow a team if you expect them to fall apart and lose to the Panthers or Bills in the next two weeks? What's the fun in expecting the Pats to let the division get away? They've lost some tough games the past month and that has a way of making a team look less than happy. Less than together. But team chemistry is overrated. Win a few games and the chemistry couldn't be better. Lose a few -- especially close ones -- and the chemistry can go south quickly.

It's the sports equivalent of the chicken-and-the-egg. What comes first? Good team chemistry or winning? Winning breeds good team chemistry but can you win unless you have it in the first place? Amateur psychologists (and ex-Pats greats) Ted Johnson and Richard Seymour weighed in on that subject in the wake of the Pats last-second loss to Miami. They questioned the chemistry and leadership on defense. I wrote early in the season after the win over the Ravens that "They have lost a ton of experience with the departures of Bruschi, Harrison, Vrabel, and Seymour. That may catch up to them when the stakes get bigger later in the year." Is it catching up to them? They had to get younger and faster. But did they get too young too fast? In the last-second losses this year would Vrabel or Seymour (the two players the Pats chose to remove) have made a difference? You never know. But they were on the teams that let some big wins slip away in the playoffs the last few seasons.

The young defense might look lost and dispirited right now but it looked darn good after the first Miami game. Or the Atlanta game. And certainly after the Ravens game. They could have lost any of those. Just like they could have won any of the losses except the Saints game. It's often a very thin line between wins and losses in the NFL. What puts a team on the right side of that line? Chemistry. Experience. Talent. Smarts. They are all a factor. But in the NFL the games are mostly decided by one simple factor -- who makes the most big plays in all three phases of the game. Make the plays when they are there to be made and even a group of players that are at each other's throats look like they love each other. (Right T.O.?)

Seymour says he could have provided the kind of leadership that can make a difference in close games. He might be right. But it's not like his presence assures you of tranquility and confidence. The team chemistry of the '02 Pats -- with Seymour and Johnson as starters -- sure didn't look all that great as they stumbled in the middle of the season and missed the playoffs. That looked like a team with a serious leadership problem. They won the next two Super Bowls. So you just never know.

As Brady said after the Miami game: "We've had a lot of fourth down opportunities this year and we're just not making the plays" It's the second part of that sentence that says it all. They are not making the plays. But the plays are there to be made. Even the most fervent "The season is over and the dynasty is dead" believer has to admit that if this team can start putting together a string of 60-minute games to build some momentum going into the playoffs then they are still a very dangerous team.

Like in '02 after the first Super Bowl, maybe it's one of those years where they just don't put it all together. I'm not even close to being convinced of that yet.

Down the stretch they come!

Twelve games down in the regular season. Four to go. It's been an unusual year in the NFL and a look at any top 10 list throughout the season is proof of that. Good teams have had surprising roller-coaster rides. The Giants were at the top of the list early, then they disappeared, and now they are climbing back. The defending champ Steelers stumbled early but then rose up the top 10 list, only to completely disintegrate. And the Pats, riding near the top for most of the year, are drifting downwards. Three teams -- the Colts, Saints, and Vikes -- are the only ones to have stayed off the ride. They will be the ones rewarded the prize of a playoff bye.

1. Indianapolis Colts (12-0): I have had the Colts on top since the season started and even though the Saints are the favorite of many I'll stick with the team led by big brother Manning. They lost Bob Saunders and yet keep winning. Unlike the Pats, the Colts are making the key plays to win close games. They have one weakness -- a poor run defense -- but that is hardly a fatal flaw.

2. New Orleans Saints (12-0): If I was making the ranking right after the Saints whuppin' of the Pats two weeks ago I might have them on top. But they were really lucky to beat the Redskins last week. The Redskins. The 33-30 over a two-win team isn't as convincing as the Monday night party over the Pats. They still have the best offense in the league and since they will be playing all their games in the Dome it really would be a surprise if they aren't in the Super Bowl.

3. Minnesota Vikings (10-2): Brett Favre threw two picks and the Vikings got spanked by the resurgent Cardinals last week. No one would like to say "The Favre late-season fade has begun!" more than me. But I'm not going there. The Vikes are too good a team and they aren't going to need -- or let if they are smart -- Favre throw the ball 45 times again this season. It was one of those games where the team fell behind and had to throw to catch up. They are still 10-2 and the only team in the NFC capable of going into New Orleans and pulling off the upset. As long as Favre doesn't throw the ball 45 times.

4. Cincinnati Bengals (9-3): Most lists would put the Chargers right here. But I'm never a big Charger believer. Norv Turner and all. The Bengals have been playing consistent -- if not pretty -- football all season. They aren't the hot team, they are the surprise team. And they are still surprising. 6-0 in their division this year. Solid road wins. Their offense is still trying to find its stride, but it's been the defense that has lead the way, having allowed a league best 15 points a game. When is the last time Cincy was going into the playoffs with the league's best D? I believe that would be never.

5. San Diego Chargers (9-3): I'll keep this short. I know they have won seven games in a row. I know Phillip Rivers is putting up points like he's Dan Fouts. I know they have roared past the Broncos to take over the AFC West. I know LaDainian Tomlinson is starting to look like the LT of old. I know all that. I don't care. They are still losing in the first round of the playoffs.

6. Green Bay Packers (8-4): I'll give the Pack the first spot among the five 8-4 teams. They get the nod because of their defense. They rank first in the league in yards-allowed per game. They are tied for second in the league in interceptions. They have a great combination of experience (Charles Woodson, Al Harris) and young talent (A.J. Hawk, Clay Matthews) that is not matched by too many other teams. And Aaron Rodgers is having a breakout year with 25 touchdowns and only seven picks.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4): If there was an award for most resilient team of the decade the Eagles would walk away with it. How many times has Donovan McNabb been put out to pasture by the fans and the media in friendly Philly? Lots. And yet he and the Eagles are almost always fighting for the playoffs come December. The fact that they are doing it again without Brian Westbrook, instead turning into a deep passing team thanks mostly to DeSean Jackson, is proof just how good a coach Andy Reid is.

8. New England Patriots (7-5): Hey, I'm a Pats fan. There's no way I'm putting the Cowboys or the Broncos ahead of the Patriots. Even though they've lost three of their last four, the Pats have looked very good at times during those games. They dominated the Colts for most of the game, went toe-to-toe with the Saints for a half, and lead Miami throughout. They lost all three games. They are just a few plays away from being a lot higher in the rankings.

9. Dallas Cowboys (8-4): The 'Boys defense is finally playing like it has the past several years, allowing just more than 15 points a game. But, like the Patriots, they haven't put up too many wins against the better teams. The last month has included wins against Oakland and Washington but losses to the Packers and the Giants. December is here and Tony Romo and Dallas haven't had much success from this point on. I don't expect that to change.

10. Denver Broncos (8-4): They jumped out to a 6-0 start and were the talk of the league. Then they had their bye week and came back looking more like the Browns and proceeded to lose four in a row. You find out more about your team when it is going 0-4 than when it is going 6-0 and the Broncos and coach Josh McDaniels have bounced back with two wins to right the ship. If the playoffs were today the Broncos would be coming to Gillette for a rematch.

Dishonorable mention: The Pittsburgh Steelers. Losses to the Chiefs? Raiders? And Browns? These are the defending champs? Not for much longer. Big Ben has been knocked down so many times he should buy one of those Life Alert devices. Their loss -- at home -- to the Raiders knocked me out of a survivor pool. Just one more reason to hate the Steelers. They've been knocked down and they can't get up.

Waste not want not

WEEK 13

Miami 23, Pats 21 ... Indy 35, Pats 34 ... Denver 20, Pats 17. Three games the Patriots were leading late but then wasted the opportunity for a big road victory. Win two out of those three games and the Pats are 9-3 and all is right with the football world. Win just one of them and at 8-4 the division would pretty much be theirs right now and everyone would be mostly happy. Lose all three and you are in a fight for your life to make the post-season and everyone is making funeral plans for you.

That's where the 7-5 Pats find themselves after letting the Wildcats drive 74 yards in the final three minutes of the game and kick a winning field goal. Like the Indy and Denver games, the Patriots -- stop me if you've heard this before -- actually played a hell of a game. That's right. They were in control through the first half and at several times in the second half. But they left enough big plays on the field to let the game slip away. Give the Wildcats credit. They took a lot of big shots (down 14-0 early) but kept coming at the Pats again and again. Brady and Co. had several chances to deliver a knockout punch but each time they swung wildly and missed. It's happened too often this season.

Just like the New Orleans game, the Pats came out and looked like they were not only the best team on the field but the best team in the league. A quick strike from Brady to Moss for a 58-yard touchdown. A 13-play, nearly seven minute drive that had seven running plays and six passing plays. The balance the team has been striving for all year. At that moment, much like Monday night, I was thinking "they are putting it all together. They just need to keep it going the whole game." And that's where the problem lies. As Belichick is famous for screaming on the sideline "SIXTY MINUTES! SIXTY MINUTES!" The Pats just can't seem to get past about 45 minutes of solid football. They look darn good in those 45 minutes, but it's far from enough.

The rest of the game played out in a familiar pattern. The Wildcats responded by going 92 yards for a score, making several third-down plays to keep the drive alive. The Pats D made some big plays (Meriweather pick) but they continued to have almost no pass rush and couldn't come up with a key stop when they really need it. Likewise, the Pats offense made some big plays (Welker for 58-yards down the middle), but continued to come up empty in the red zone. Poor pass rush, poor red zone offense. Those are killers.

Brady (who really looked like Bledsoe on that game-ending pick that he tossed while parallel to the field) said after the game "When things don’t go your way, you have to fight back. That’s a challenge for all of us. I think at times we do. And at times I don’t think we fight very hard.’’ That surprises me to hear him say that. Watching the game again there were many times in the second half that the Pats battled. Up 21-13 early in the fourth quarter, Sammy Morris and the offensive line blasted back-to-back runs of 7 and 10 yards to take the ball down inside the Miami 10-yard line. Those were "fight back" plays. Unfortunately Brady tried to force a pass to Moss on second down and it was picked off. The effort was not rewarded.

The Pats defense then showed a little "fight back" of their own with just under five minutes to go by stopping Miami on 4th-and-2 at the Pats 39. Unfortunately -- again -- Brady missed an open Welker on third down and the Pats quickly gave the ball back. The effort was not rewarded. The effort is there from what I can see. When Miami gave up big plays was it because they weren't fighting back? Not trying hard enough? No. It means they didn't execute.

That has been the story of the season for the Patriots. They've played well in almost every game but have just wasted too many opportunities to be contending for a high seed and a first-round bye. Too many more opportunities missed and they will have wasted another season with Brady at the helm.

And that really would be a waste.

Accentuate the positive

The Patriots head to Miami for a huge divisional game licking their wounds from the Monday night beating the Saints put on them. If the Pats lose to the Wildcats -- and it's a definite possibility -- then we can all stop talking about playoff seedings and start talking about simply making the playoffs.

The Saints exposed a lot of negatives about the Pats. The red zone offense continues to struggle. There is almost no pass rush. The secondary is prone to giving up the big play at the wrong time. When defenses contain Wes Welker the Pats's offense is a lot less dangerous. There is almost no pass rush!

But there are some positives to look at as the team heads into the final month of the regular season.

Laurence Maroney: Yes, I still cringe every time he gets the ball because I'm waiting to see it rolling loose on the ground. But he is beginning to look like he did at the start of his rookie year before all the injuries and bad dance moves at the line of scrimmage started. He has scored a touchdown in six straight games and looks a lot stronger hitting the hole. Now if the Pats would just hand him the ball more when they have a lead in the second half.

Getting healthy: The Pats have had their share of injuries but they are starting to get those guys back. O linemen Matt Light and Nick Kazcur are back and their replacements -- Sebastian Vollmer in particular -- did a solid job while they were gone showing that the position has a lot of depth. The key now will be to pick the five guys (Vollmer should start) they want to go with the rest of the way and let them get in a groove. The other important name returning from injury is Fred Taylor. The veteran was just hitting his stride when he went down in October. His return, along with Sammy Morris, give the Pats what they had at the start of the season -- a varied and deep running attack.

Mayo and Brady: Speaking of health, the best playmakers on either side of the ball are still working their way back from major injuries. Brady seems almost all the way back while Mayo continues to be a step or two slower than when he was the AFC defensive rookie of the year but hopefully he can be closer to top speed come playoff time.

Wes Welker: Simply put, he's the most reliable and effective WR in the game. He seems to have 10 or more catches every game. Moss is a threat to haul in a 70-yard touchdown on every play (at least on the plays he's putting in the effort) but it's Welker who makes this team go. Some may see having your slot receiver as your best offensive weapon as a weakness, but not me. Look at the guy. He's as tough as any fullback and as dangerous as any wideout. When he's making yards-after-the-catch the Pats are tough to stop.

Tuly Banta-Cain: A two year vacation in SF has not hurt his game. He leads the team in sacks and has become a presence on the edge with his speed and size. He's the best pass rusher the team has and -- no offense Tuly -- but that's the problem. He would be a good second or third pass rusher. The Pats need someone (Green? Mayo?) to step up and give Banta-Cain some help getting after the QB.

Special teams: This is a lot about Welker too. He's had several big returns in the past month and seems to be getting stronger. Add that to a solid punting game and Gostkowski having another great year and special teams looks like a positive heading into the playoffs where it plays an even bigger role.

The schedule: After traveling to Miami the Pats finish with games against Carolina, at Buffalo, Jacksonville, and at Houston. The last two will be difficult. The Jets have to play Indy and Cincy so, even though they outlasted the Bills last night, they are looking at 9-7 at best. Miami has to play the red-hot Titans and finish up against the Steelers. Two tough games. Barring a complete collapse, the schedule should allow the Pats to take the AFC East and host a first-round playoff game. Most likely against Denver. Now that would be fun.

Blunder Dome

WEEK 12

Mark and I had a saying back in the pre-Lombardi days that went something like ... "Once a year your team is going to just get whipped. Happens to even good teams." In the past decade there have been very few whippings for Pats fans to witness. As they might say down in the Bayou, last night was a whuppin'.

Saints 38, Patriots 17 on the Monday night stage. The Pats have had several chances to win the big regular season game that proves they are playoff ready. They haven't done it yet. And last night they didn't even come close. The defense looked lost. The offense looked average. The record looks like 7-4.

But all is not lost. You don't have to go 16-0 to get to the Super Bowl. Or 15-1. Or 14-2. You can go 12-4, 11-5, even 10-6 and still walk in the red-and-blue confetti shower at the end of the season. Ask that Giants team from a few years ago. That said, if the Pats play that bad when they get to the playoffs then they won't go very far whatever their record turns out to be.

As is often the case when a team gets blown out in the second half, what was actually a very competitive first half gets forgotten. The Patriots started this game looking very much like a team ready to win the big one. The Saints moved the ball on their opening drive but the Pats D held to force a field goal. Then Brady and the offense put together an impressive 14-play, 80-yard drive that lasted almost eight minutes and had me calling Mark on the phone saying "Give me the #2 seed and this team will win it all!" The Pats D then forced the Saints to punt and at that point I don't think there was anyone who could foresee the tidal wave of touchdowns that the Saints were about to unleash. Welker returned the punt 41 yards to the New Orleans side of the field and the momentum was completely with the Pats.

Up 7-3, Brady had the chance to move in for another score that could have put the Saints on their heels. Instead he made a very uncharacteristically bad throw on the first play and put it right in Mike McKenzie's veteran arms and the Saints took the ball and drove for a touchdown to take the lead. Those are the kind of swings that kill teams. New Orleans then cashed in on an uncharacteristic blunder by the defense, Drew Brees hitting Deverey Henderson for 75-yards on the worst blown coverage I've seen in at least 15 years.

And yet the Pats responded with a tough 11-play drive that ended in a field goal. It should have ended in a touchdown because Brady had Welker wide open but the Saints DB blatantly grabbed Welker's arm and there was no call. The NFL really has to address the pass interference calls. The refs are missing obvious ones and throwing flags on plays where the DB never touches the receiver. The Patriots are not the only team in the league on the short-end of these calls. It's happening in almost every game I watch. Pass interference has to be changed to a 15-yard penalty because some of these 50 plus-yard calls -- especially the ones where it's clearly a bad one -- are completely changing the momentum of games and penalties shouldn't play that big a role. Interference has always been a tough call to make and long a controversial one, but the refs just seem to be getting more of them wrong. And it played a big role in last night's game just as it did in the loss to the Colts. A touchdown on the Brady to Welker play last night and it could have been a different game.

So just for the record: With 4 minutes to go in the half the Pats were down 17-10 and going toe-to-toe in a battle of two very good teams. Both had made a lot of big plays, the Saints had just made a few bigger ones. Then New Orleans made some more big plays in the second half and a good battle snowballed into a blowout. Happens a lot in the NFL (See Patriots '07). The fact that the Pats were actually playing a very solid and competitive game for more than a half doesn't change the final score or lessen the number of ridiculous big plays the D gave up. But it does say that the Pats are still one of the top five teams in the league. Just not top three. You don't have to be top three to get to the Super Bowl. They have five more games to play to build some momentum and tighten up the defense. They are not as far off as the final score last night showed.

The young defense will take the brunt of the heat for all the big -- no huge -- plays they allowed. That was the definition of "shaky." But don't blame it on their youth. They may not have the veteran presence of guys such as Harrison, Bruschi, Vrabel, Seymour, or even Law and McGinnest. But I seem to remember defenses with some of those wily vets blowing a late lead in the AFC title game three years ago and again in the Super Bowl. It wasn't lack of experience that cost the defense last night, it was lack of execution. They just got lost. It really is the first time it has happened all year. They gave up almost a season's worth of big plays in one game. I'd be surprised to see that again.

They go to Miami for a divisional match with the Wildcats. Fortunately the Pats have shown they have short memories when it comes to tough loses. They will be tested again. Win this game and the Pats all but lock up the AFC East. Lose and they will have a tough fight on their hands. They missed chances against Indy and New Orleans to prove to themselves that they can beat the best. But a win in Miami is actually much more important than any "statement" game. They'll be time for statement games later. The goal is still to win the division first.