- Gronk catches two more TDs to set the record for tight ends.
- Brady throws for 357 yards and three touchdowns.
- McCourty and Ihedigbo play the entire game with basically one arm and still come up with some big plays.
- Andre Carter is once again a force on the D line. And Big Vince wasn't too shabby.
- Wes Welker continues his amazing season.
- The defense adds to its turnover total.
The thing that dismissed Globe writer Ron Borges decides to write his column about? Well if you read Borges you know he wrote about the epic Brady-O'Brien shouting match. What else?
Borges offers that the fight is a result of the fact that the Pats keep playing in tight games and that has increased the pressure-cooker level on the offense. Classic Borges.
He ignores the fact that Brady was the same way in '07 when the team was winning games 45-10. He ignores the fact the Charlie Weis did a lot of yelling at his quarterback when the team was winning Super Bowls. He ignores the fact that if Brady hits an open Welker for a TD on the play before the pick the game is over and everyone can relax. He ignores the fact that any win on the road in the NFL is a good win. Instead he compares the moment with the old Bronx Zoo of the Yanks. Classic Borges.
In Borges's thinking the Pats should win every game 20-3 so that there's no stress on the offense. That way Brady can put up a few touchdowns then sit back on the bench and relax with a cup of Gatorade in the second half as the defense stuffs the other team. Anything other than that is a team that isn't good enough. Problem is that the other teams have offensive players who can make plays. Like the Redskins. Even the soon-to-be-perfect Packers have played in a lot of close games (till yesterday). That's the NFL. The Saints barely won yesterday. The Niners were upset by Arizona. The Ravens -- with their great D -- lost to Seattle. What the Pats did in '07 was a freak of football nature. Even the best of teams spend most of their times winning close games. That's what makes them the best teams. They can handle the pressure and win those games.
There's a moment in one of the "America's Game" video highlights from one of the Super Bowl years where offensive coordinator Weis is ripping the offensive players for sloppy play. He goes on a profanity-laced rant for about 15 seconds and then at the end looks at Brady who is standing off to the side and barks "You included!" It's a great moment. (You can watch it in the video below. Start around the 22:30 mark). As someone who has had a great view of the team's bench for many years I can say that's one of the best parts about watching the Patriots. The intensity. Doesn't matter if the score is 30-0 or 30-30. Belichick, his coaches, and his players are all focused on the next play. There's not a lot of celebrating and relaxing going on like you see, say, on the Cowboys bench.
Bill O'Brien fits right into that approach. It's great to see that a young offensive coordinator isn't afraid to get in the Hall of Fame QBs face. O'Brien -- like Weis and McDaniels before him -- knows that Brady can take it. In fact he thrives on it. And he will give it right back. The Pats don't always win (two home playoff loses proves that) but they are always prepared and focused. Too much pressure? On Brady and the hated Patriots? Please.
Borges says everyone will just brush the incident off as "it happens all the time" but don't you be fooled. Borges knows better. He always has. Belichick was a bad hire. Seymour was a wasted first-round pick. Cutting Lawyer would destroy the team. Moss was washed up. Oh, and of course Bledsoe was better than Brady.
Borges always knows better.
There's a moment in one of the "America's Game" video highlights from one of the Super Bowl years where offensive coordinator Weis is ripping the offensive players for sloppy play. He goes on a profanity-laced rant for about 15 seconds and then at the end looks at Brady who is standing off to the side and barks "You included!" It's a great moment. (You can watch it in the video below. Start around the 22:30 mark). As someone who has had a great view of the team's bench for many years I can say that's one of the best parts about watching the Patriots. The intensity. Doesn't matter if the score is 30-0 or 30-30. Belichick, his coaches, and his players are all focused on the next play. There's not a lot of celebrating and relaxing going on like you see, say, on the Cowboys bench.
Bill O'Brien fits right into that approach. It's great to see that a young offensive coordinator isn't afraid to get in the Hall of Fame QBs face. O'Brien -- like Weis and McDaniels before him -- knows that Brady can take it. In fact he thrives on it. And he will give it right back. The Pats don't always win (two home playoff loses proves that) but they are always prepared and focused. Too much pressure? On Brady and the hated Patriots? Please.
Borges says everyone will just brush the incident off as "it happens all the time" but don't you be fooled. Borges knows better. He always has. Belichick was a bad hire. Seymour was a wasted first-round pick. Cutting Lawyer would destroy the team. Moss was washed up. Oh, and of course Bledsoe was better than Brady.
Borges always knows better.
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