Isn't that special

WEEK 4
Finally! I repeat. Finally!

Patriots 41, Miami 14. AT Miami. I said to Mark as we talked on the phone during the game... "This is the biggest win the team has had since we lost that bleeping Super Bowl." It's only one game -- as they say -- but as one games go it's huge.

And it was 7-6 Dolphins at halftime. Then the Patriots did something they haven't done in a long time. Put all three phases of the game together, on the road, in the second half.

WEEK 4: Everybody Pat Chung tonight.

Mark and I were discussing the options to open the half with the Pats getting the ball. A drive for a leading score would be great. Or a field goal. Even a few first downs to gain some field position. As we were talking I saw Brandon Tate (class of '09) take the kick-off, get a monster block from Sammy Morris, and fly 103 yards for a touchdown. We hadn't thought of that option. But we should have. Whatever problems having young players causes on defense, it makes for fast, explosive play on special teams. Very special indeed.

The defense then forced Miami to punt from its own 26-yard line and safety Patrick Chung (class of '09) came flying through and blocked the punt. Another huge special teams play. The Pats recovered at the Miami 15 and two Ben Jarvis runs later they were up 20-7 just a few minutes into the second half.

Miami responded with a long scoring drive to cut the score to 20-14 and all the concerns about the defense returned. Would the Pats blow yet another second-half lead on the road? Can the defense stop anyone? I texted my nephew Pete "We need a drive to get the momentum back." Brady and the offense did just that, putting together a 12-play drive that ended with Danny Woodhead (playing the role of Kevin Faulk and cult hero) hauling in a pass over the middle and taking it in for a huge score. Pats 27-14.

Miami responded with another solid drive but the defense toughened and forced Miami to try a field goal. Chung came flying in again from the exact same spot and blocked the kick. Kyle Arrington scooped the ball up and raced 35-yards for the touchdown. The blowout was on.

Chung also returned a pick for a touchdown. Rob Ninkovich had two huge drive killing picks in the first half when the Dolphins were up 7-0 and trying to take control of the game early. The Pats also set some kind of record for the first team ever to return a kick for a TD, block a punt, return a pick for a TD, and about five other things in the same game. All that without Randy Moss catching a pass for the first time since coming to the team. The Pats made more plays in one night than they made in many, many road games combined.

The defense still gave up 400 yards but then again the vaunted Jets D gave up more than 400 yards to the same offense last week. The thing that was most encouraging was the way the D played when the game got out of hand in the fourth quarter. I was expecting Miami to score a late garbage TD or two. Instead the young defense continued to play hard in the heat of South Beach and kept Miami off the board. That was a strong way to finish.

The whole team finished strong -- and happy. Even the coach. When he took Brady out of the game with a minute left the two embraced in celebration. There's been a debate in my family about whether Brady -- with his frequent appearances in Names and his long locks and West Coast mansion -- still has the desire he had that made him so great when he was younger. Some in my family (you know who you are) think he's gone too Hollywood. Myself, being lucky enough to watch him on the bench week after week, and my nephew Pete see a Brady who is as determined as ever. Even more. Watching him come off the field and congratulating his teammates it was obvious the fire is still there.

As Mark and I signed off for the night, conversation had already turned to two weekends from now at Gillette. The rematch with the Ravens. "Let's start planning for that tomorrow,'' Mark said. "No bye week for us."