Accidents will happen

WEEK 11
Patriots 31, Jets 14 (11/22/09): You would think that some time during more than 16 years of tailgating one of our group would have gotten into a fender-bender before the game. There have been a few close calls and a few post-game mishaps (Billy) but we have survived crazy Route 1 traffic all these years without an incident. Until yesterday.

I arrived at the non-Pats lot across Route 1 where we have tailgated most of this season. Mark has dubbed it the Enchanted Forest. There's dirt, trees (a.k.a. bathrooms), and no security. A relaxed atmosphere. Just how we like it. I got there early to stake out a spot. A little too early since the game was at 4 and I hadn't eaten and the food was arriving with Mark, Topher, and Bergs. But they called to say they were almost there so I poured a beer and headed over to the entrance to meet them when they pulled in and bring the tailgating supplies over to my car. I waited. And waited. And waited. No sign of them. I checked my cellphone and there was a new voice message.

"Hey, it's Bergs. We just got into an accident about 500 yards from the lot. Call me."

Crap! I'm hungry! I mean ... Oh no, is everyone OK? I called Bergs back and he said that they were almost at the lot when the driver of the car that was on their right decided she wanted to be on their left. So she turned and smashed into the right-front of Topher's car. (No obligatory woman-driver jokes allowed). The damage was bad and the wheel was smashed in. A tow truck and State Troopers were already on the scene. It's never good when Troopers get involved and your car is loaded with various items to help you enjoy an afternoon of food and football. "Call Shep," Bergs said. "We need a lift."

Shep and Matt were just a little bit behind, stuck in the traffic caused by some accident up ahead. I called his cell but he had already talked to Mark. "We're gonna pull up, transfer all the stuff out of Toph's car, and we'll be in the lot grilling in no time," Shep reassured me. Another 15 minutes went by and I called Shep back to check on their progress. "We're heading your way now," he laughed. "You'll know it's us when you see the Beverly Hillbillies truck pull in." As soon as he hung up I saw his white pickup turn into the lot, packed high with tables, grills, chairs, boxes, coolers. I would not have been surprised to see Granny perched in her rocking chair at the top of the pile.

The truck pulled up beside me and Toph rolled down the window. "No man left behind," Mark said as they pulled into their spot. We started unpacking and setting up when Topher added "No man left behind, but we forgot to take the bottles of tequila, whiskey, and vodka." I pointed him to the milk crate of bottles that made it in my car and he smiled. "Help yourself," I said. "You're not driving." Everyone finally was able to kick back and enjoy the music, the drinks, and the lamb, sausages, scallops in bacon, and steak.

And then we went to the game. Where more accidents took place -- for the Jets. Leigh Bodden stepped in front of a Mark Sanchez pass midway through the first quarter and took it 53-yards for a touchdown to put up the first big play in what was a scoreless game. Asante Samuel-like. The first of three picks for Bodden. Brady would hit Moss for a touchdown. Maroney (enough with the fumbles) added a TD run and the Pats built a 24-0 lead. A day that started out with Toph's car getting smashed and towed away was turning out to be a great day. A 24-0 lead over the Jets will do that.

New York made a run to cut to 24-14 but the game, like many the Pats have played over the past decade, never felt in doubt. And it wasn't. Maroney went in for another score and Brady spent the rest of the game playing catch with Wes Welker. Who had 15 catches for 192 yards. The difference between the Pats Week 2 loss to the Jets and their win yesterday? Wes Welker. Sometimes I almost forget just how important he is. After Brady -- no offense to Moss or Faulk -- Welker is the guy that makes this team go. Both Brady and Welker are looking just about all the way back from their injuries and that means the offense will be hard for any team to stop.

The Pats will need to have the offense clicking on all cylinders when they go to New Orleans to play the 10-0 Saints on Monday Night Football. Like the Colts game, it's a chance for the Pats to show themselves that they are at the point where they can win the big game. It's going to take the cliched "60-minute" effort to get to 8-3. There won't be any room for accidents.