Faith no more

WEEK 15
My fantasy football team made the playoffs for the first time since 2005. I was playing my nephew Pete. He had Drew Brees. I had Tim Tebow.

He killed me.

The Patriots went to Denver for a huge game between playoff contenders. The Pats had Tom Brady. The Broncos had Tim Tebow.

The Pats killed 'em.

Tebow had a pretty good game. But Brady had a much better one. (As did Drew Brees, thus ending my fantasy football season).

The Pats are now 11-3 and won their (are you listening, Rex?) ninth AFC East title in 11 years. They lost defensive MVP Andre Carter for the rest of the year and what's left of that defense will be seriously tested come playoff time. But they are 11-3 a year after going 14-2. Just enjoy it. They seem to be.

The 41-23 victory over the sainted Broncos was as big a statement game as you can get in the regular season. No. The Broncos aren't the Ravens. Steelers, Packers, or Saints. But they were on one of those magical rolls that teams get on sometimes. Remember Morgan Magic? It's never easy to beat a team on a roll like that. On the road. Especially when that team comes out of the gate at full speed. Denver had 167 yards rushing in the first quarter ... the first quarter alone. Tebow broke a Ninko tackle and trotted for a nine yard score on the opening drive. Everyone knew the Broncos were going to run it, but the Pats D was showing no signs of being able to stop it.

The Pats answered back in a most unexpected way... a touchdown by Ochocinco. (Ocho reverted to his useless self the rest of the game). The Denver running game then easily gashed its way to another touchdown and the red-hot Broncos were up 13-7. The Pats were being challenged on the road. Pressure -- as Borges would say -- was being put on the offense. How did the respond?

Brady and the offense would outscore the Broncos 34-10 the rest of the way, notably without touchdowns by either Gronk or Welker. Aaron Hernandez had a big game as did the running game that put up 141 yards. By the time Danny Woodhead lunged over the goal line near the end of the third quarter the Pats had locked up a convincing road win and the AFC East.

As Tedy Bruschi would say, hats and T-shirts for everyone.

The Patriots finish the regular season with home games on Christmas Eve against Miami and on New Year's Day against Buffalo. "Tis the season for some holiday tailgating.