Pats Snatch Another Victory from the Jaws of Defeat.

Apparently the Patriots do not want me to ever sleep again. Since when did the Patriots turn into the 1967 Red Sox aka the Cardiac Kids?

This game was the Ravens Super Bowl. This was the game Baltimore was waiting for. The Ravens were 4-7 coming into the game, they were not going to make playoffs so this was their biggest game of the year and they played like it. They controlled the clock for over half of the game and were able to pressure Tom Brady for 3 sacks for, a combined 21-yard loss.

Baltimore running back Willis McGahee looked unstoppable against the Patriots defense, running for 138 yards on 30 attempts. On the positive side, the Pats defense did stop the run when they needed.

Brady had one of his worst games of the year completing only 18 passes on 38 attempts for a 47.4 completion percentage but did get throw the winning 8-yard touchdown to Jabar Gaffney. Moss caught only four passes for 34 yards including one touchdown. Laurence Maroney became a integral part in the Patriots offense not only running for 44 yards on 13 attempts but catching two passes for 79 yards.

The Pats certainly squeaked out a game that they surely should have lost and now must face the daunting task of playing the physical Pittsburgh Steelers , on short rest, next Sunday. But good teams find a way to win and bad teams find a way to lose. That is what the Patriots and Ravens did tonight, respectively.

If tonight’s game was any indication of how the rest of the Patriots season is going to go, it is going to be hard to see them losing. They are grinders and grind it out until the very end. Just like Geoff Oglivy came back to win the 2006 U.S. Open Championship (with some luck) after being down by 1 stroke. Never feeling that they are out of a game.

Patriots Blowout could mean end for Brian Billick

Today’s Boston Herald featured Baltimore Ravens beat writer and columnist Mike Preston’s article about Ravens coach Brian Billick. In Boston, Preston’s closest analogy is former-Globe Patriots writer Ron Borges. During Billick’s time in Baltimore, Preston has always called for Billick’s removal as Ravens coach so his article in today’s Herald’s “Behind Enemy Lines” section is not news, but he did make good points.

Preston wrote today that “[the Ravens] would only fire Billick if the team continues to be embarrassed, like they were against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers this season.” Not good if you are Brian Billick and you are getting ready to face the 11-0 Patriots on the first Monday night in December.

If the Patriots are able to attack the historically good Ravens defense like they have other defenses all year, it will not be good for the Ravens and their fans. Baltimore has always been built on defense but this year their defense has given up 211 points and failed to match or pass that number on offense. With this being said I have to say, this game could be the game that decides whether or not Billick returns to Baltimore next year or the two sides part ways.

I have to agree with Preston if the Ravens fail to keep this game close and the Pats get out to 21-0 lead and end up winning the game 42-7 (like the Herald predicted) you will see the end of Billick in Baltimore. (oh and Mike Preston is a really cool guy!)

If Feeley can be a pro Quarterback so can Matt Ryan..

Completing 64.3% of his passes, A.J. Feeley kept Philadelphia in the game, even giving the Eagles a 28-21 lead a one point. But the Patriots offense was too good for the Philadelphia defense mostly because of Field General Tom Brady and Josh McDaniels and Bill Belichick in the bunkers.

There were many times during the game where I saw both sides of BC Eagles Quarterback and Heisman hopeful Matt Ryan in Feeley. For the majority of the game, Feeley was Ryan in the last two minutes of the Virginia Tech game but when it really counted, with the Eagles down by three with three minutes left to play, Feeley turned into Ryan of the first 58 minutes of the VT game.

After seeing Feeley play last night I look forward to seeing Matt Ryan playing for an NFL team next year. There is one thing that Ryan has over Feeley, that is when the game needs to be won, Ryan can do that and Feeley can not. He does everything an NFL team looks for in a Quarterback. He can step up in the pocket and take a hit to complete a pass. He can scramble to avoid a hit and he can, most importantly, win the game when it needs to be won. What NFL team does not want a player like that?

I said it last night while watching the game, the Patriots game plan was to make Feeley beat them. The Pats stopped game-changing Running Back, Brian Westbrooke from running away with the game and put the ball in Feeley’s hand to be the hero. He came close but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades (and maybe golf if you don’t have to putt a six inch putt). There are a lot of college quarterbacks better than Feeley and Feeley’s keeping the NFL dreams of each and every one of those quarterbacks alive. Including the dreams of BC and Heisman hopeful Matt Ryan.

Comparisons between Ryan and Feeley

In 2007 alone, Ryan completed 333 passes out of 555 attempts for a percentage of 60.0. He threw for 3953 yards with a rating of 130.72.

Over Feeley’s career, as predominately a back-up, spot-starter, he completed 353 passes out of 623 attempts for a percentage of 56.7, throwing for 3850 yards with a 72.2 rating.

If the Philadelphia Eagles take Ryan, they will be saying good-bye to Feeley because Ryan is and will be a better back-up than Feeley has been or will ever be.

Pats have a lot to be Thankful for….

Before you settle down for your Thanksgiving feasts. I would like to give you all an extra serving of potatoes with a whole lot of gravy. Let us look back and appreciate what the National Football League has given us this year. This is for you NFL. Thank you!

First off we should all say thank you to the New York Jets. Without Eric Mangini’s whistle-blowing trick, the Patriots are the heavy favorites to win Super Bowl XLII.

We can not forget to show gratitude our brothers in Little Havana (Miami). Don Shula’s asterisk comments have given the Pats extra motivation to go 19-0 and to become the first team since the ‘72 Dolphins to go undefeated.

I want to express great thanks to Peyton Manning. If it were not for Manning leading the Colts to come-from-behind victory in the AFC Championship game, then we would not have Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth and Adalius Thomas. Good things come in unusual ways.

Other thank yous from the Patriots across the NFL:

• To football commentators for questioning the Pats past three championships, they would not be able to be 10-0 without your words to motivate the Patriots.
• Tony Dungi and his comparisons of Bill Belichick to Barry Bonds. That only increased the Pats motivation to beat the Colts two weeks ago.
• Wade Phillips for saying the Patriots Dynasty is “tainted.” Taint this, Wade: 10-0!!!
• Dennis & Callahan for adding words of inspiration by saying the Pats are running up the score. Then being slapped down in the face by Tom Brady. (Brady was waiting to say that to someone.)
• The Philadelphia Eagles, who came out and said in week 2 “they had to have been stealing our signs, they knew all the screen plays we had.” Those words will only add fuel to the fire this coming Sunday.
• LaDainian Tomlinson for “being classy” saying that “if we played [the Patriots] 10 times, we’d win nine times.” Thank you for those inspiring words, LaDainian. Oh and by the way, the Chargers have lost the last two games against the Pats therefore nullifying your comments.

And last but not least we must express our sincere appreciation toward Roger Goodell and the National Football League. As much as the Patriots hate to lose a first round draft pick, but we will thank you when we are picking fourth in the draft over all.

Happy Thanksgiving and GO FALCONS! (Even though the Colts will probably win but one could hope.)

Just sit back and enjoy this..

I’m going out on a limb here and say I do not see the Patriots losing a game for the rest of year. In a previous post I said Pittsburgh would be a tough game, I’m having a change of heart. After the Steelers lost to the Jets (one of the worst teams in football) the Steelers don’t scare me anymore.

Before I comment on the Pats here’s my mea culpa*. I must confess that I was too quick to put Ben Roethlisberger in the same category as Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, after Roethlisberger’s come from behind victory against the Browns. In the words of Ted Sarandis, “I misspoke. I’m a human being and I misspoke!” I’m not commenting further on it. It is what it is.
Back to the Patriots. What the Patriots did on Sunday night was nothing short of spectacular. On every possession except for their last possession, the Pats ran into the endzone. And finally Laurence Maroney entered the touchdown party with his first score of the season, on the Patriots opening drive of the game.

The Patriot haters out there are going to whine and complain that the Pats were running up the score and embarrass Bills Coach Dick Jauron. On contrary, when the Patriots went for the score on 4th and goal, they were giving the Bills a chance to stop them. There is a greater chance to stop a pass attempt on 4th down than there is to block a field goal. It is the defense’s job to stop the offense. It is not Brady’s fault that the defense left Randy Moss wide open on the sideline for two easy scores. Everytime the offense is out there, they are out there to score not to take a knee – as some people want Brady to do.

Speaking of Moss, if you were in coma for the last few years, you would never think that he was a trouble-maker from what he has given the Patriots this year. He has molded himself to the Patriot Way. Even to the point that Brady AND Bill Belichick were giving him compliments. That fourth round draft pick better be good for the Raiders because this deal was a steal. But in the past Belichick has turned previous “Me-Guys” into “Team-Guys.” Look no further than Corey Dillon who was instrumental in the Patriots winning their third championship in 2004. Rodney Harrison was regarded as a dirty player during his time in San Diego, is now a Captain for the Patriots and a role model for the younger players, such as Brandon Meriweather.

To put it simply, Sunday’s game proved the New England Patriots are at a totally different level than the rest of the National Football League. This is what you can do with Quarterback who can throw the ball, receivers who can catch it and a defense who can defend.

*Special thanks to Dr. Herb Smith, at McDaniel College, for teaching the students in API, fall of 2004, a little Latin.

Not much of a rematch….

New England Patriots (9-0) v. Buffalo Bills (5-4)

@ Ralph Wilson Stadium Orchard Park, NY

9-0-0

1st, AFC East Standing 2nd, AFC East 428.7 ypg (1st) Offense 268.3 ypg (31st) 296.3 ypg (2nd) Passing 163.8 ypg (28th) 132.3 ypg (7th) Rushing 104.6 ypg (17th) 275.2 ypg (4th) Defense 359.7 ypg (28th) Won 9 Streaks Won 4

5-4-0

Last Time They Met: September 23, 2007 Pats Won 38-7

The Patriots jumped out to 3-0 on a 24-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski. But after a late hit by Vince Wilfork on Bills quarterback J.P. Losman, the Bills responded with a Marshawn Lynch 8-yard touchdown run. The Bills had the lead for the first quarter of the game but during their second possession of the second quarter, the Bills had their backs pinned against their own end zone. The Pats defense forced the Bills to punt from their own 1 yard line, giving the Patriots good field position at Buffalo’s 47. Six plays later Tom Brady found Tight End Benjamin Watson alone in the end zone for an eight yard score and the Patriots never turned back. Brady threw to Randy Moss for two scores, including a 45-yard touchdown pass that had Bills cornerback Jabari Greer commenting “I got Mossed,” after the game. Moss finished the game with 115 yards with five catches while Laurence Maroney rushed for 103 yards on 19 attempts, averaging 5.4 yards per attempt.

On defense, the Bills sacked Brady only once while Asante Samuel intercepted Losman’s replacement Trent Edwards for 42 yards. Defensive lineman Jarvis Green and Cornerback Ellis Hobbs both had 1.0 sack for losses of 9 yards each.

This week’s game:

When they met the last time, they looked like two teams heading in two different directions. The Bills lost two games to the Broncos and Steelers while the Patriots were coming of two victories against the Jets and Chargers, and highly motivated. As we sit here in November, the Bills are 5-4, in second place in the AFC East and have a four-game win streak on the line. If it was not for Buffalo, the Patriots could have clinched the AFC East before Thanksgiving. The Bills are a different team than they were in September. They are upbeat and have momentum coming off four wins in four games. But the Patriots are still bigger and more physical on the line so it is likely the Bills are not going to be giving the Pats their first loss of the season. In addition the Bills Defensive Backs got burned by Brady and Moss in the first game, it probably will happen again tomorrow. Bills DBs will be overmatched by the Pats receiving corps, mainly Moss but also Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth.

Match-Ups

Quarterbacks

Patriots: Tom Brady

Bills: J.P. Losman

EDGE: Patriots

Brady is leading the league in touchdowns (33), completion percentage(73.2%) and QB rating (131.8). The closest Quarterback to Brady in QB rating is Ben Roethlisberger at 110.2, 21.6 less than Brady. Between Brady and Losman it’s not even a choice.

Running Backs

Patriots: Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk

Bills: Marshawn Lynch and Anthony Thomas

EDGE: Bills

Wide Receivers

Patriots: Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker, Jabar Gaffney and Kelley Washington

Bills: Lee Evans, Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish, Justin Jenkins and Sam Aiken

EDGE: Patriots

Do you really see Jabari Greer or Terrance McGee or both defending Randy Moss? They could barely do it last time what makes this time any better? Greer has two interceptions this season (Chad Pennington and Tony Romo), that’s two more than he had in his career coming into the season. Patriots receivers get all the credit here.

Offensive Linemen

Patriots: Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal and Nick Kaczur

Bills: Jason Peters, Derrick Dockery, Melvin Fouler, Brad Butler and Langston Walker

EDGE: Patriots

Defensive Linemen

Patriots: Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork, Richard Seymour and Jarvis Green

Bills: Chris Kelsay, Aaron Schobel, Larry Triplett, Kyle Williams, Ryan Denney, Copeland Bryan, John McCargo and Jason Jefferson

EDGE: Patriots

With Wilfork at Nose Tackle and Seymour on the End, the Pats are bigger than Buffalo’s offensive line.

Linebackers:

Patriots: Mike Vrabel, Adalius Thomas, Tedy Bruschi, Rosevelt Colvin and Junior Seau

Bills: Angelo Crowell, John DiGiorgio, Keith Ellison, Mario Haggan, Coy Wire

EDGE: Patriots

At the Linebacker position the Patriots starters all have five plus years of experience that alone gives them a one up on the Bills starting linebackers. Crowell is the only one who has more than two years in the league.

Defensive Backs:

Patriots: Asante Samuel, Ellis Hobbs, Randall Gay, Brandon Meriweather, Rodney Harrison, James Sanders, Eugene Wilson and Willie Andrews

Bills: Terrance McGee, Jabari Greer, Donte Whitner, George Wilson, Kiwaukee Thomas, Aston Youboty, John Wendling and Jim Leonhard

EDGE: Patriots
See Wide Receivers.

Special Teams:

Patriots: Stephen Gostkowski (K), Chris Hanson (P), Ellis Hobbs (KR), Wes Welker (PR), Larry Izzo and Lonie Paxton (LS).

Bills: Rian Lindell (K), Brian Moorman (P), Terrance McGee (KR), Roscoe Parrish (PR) and Ryan Neill (LS)

EDGE: Even

Bills Punt Return Parrish is averaging 19.4 yards on his punt returns. But Gostkowski is 11-for-12 in field goals. The only miss was a botched hold by back up Quarterback Matt Cassel. On the season Gostkowski has 79 points on the season with 46 extra point attempts, all made.

FINAL SCORE:
PATRIOTS 33
BILLS 10

It’s not about the Talent….

It has long been said that if Tom Brady had the same receivers as Peyton Manning, Brady would be just as good, if not better, than Manning. This season Brady has the receivers and is proving that he just as good as Manning to the national media. But as I watched the Colts game last Sunday, it came to me that Brady is better than Manning.

Brady won three Lombardi Trophies with Troy Brown, David Patten, Deion Branch, David Givens, Donald Hayes, Bethel Johnson, J.J. Stokes, Dedric Ward as well as tight ends Jermaine Wiggins, Christian Fauria, Daniel Graham and Ben Watson as his receivers. In the past years Manning was priviledged to throw to the likes of Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark as well as former Colt Brandon Stokely.

Last Sunday, Manning’s receiving corps consisted of Wayne, Ben Utecht, Aaron Moorehead, Bryan Fletcher and Craphonso Thorpe. I am not saying Manning’s not a top Quarterback any more, I am saying that he is not #1 any more. We saw, in Sunday’s game, what Manning is like when he does not have Harrison and Clark to go along with Wayne. Against the Chargers, you could see Manning trying to set the offense, telling them where to be; something he never had to do with Harrison, Wayne or Clark.

Yes it could be that Harrison, Wayne and Clark are familiar with Manning but the Quarterback that he is should be able to overcome those losses. Brady was able to overcome the loss of Branch. He was not able to throw the ball as he would have liked because he did not have the talent around him but Brady made the most of the talent he did have and worked with that.

A #1 Quarterback in the National Football League does not have to have the most talented receivers but only make the most out of what they do have. Create plays and schemes that match the talent of the players that are on the field.

This year Brady can do more on offense. He can throw deep because he has Randy Moss. He can throw to Moss in double coverage because he knows Moss will go up and get the ball. He can throw over the middle for Kevin Faulk or Wes Welker.

Judging how good a Quarterback is not about what type of talent he has on the field but how he operates with the talent he does have on field. Therefore Brady it can be said that Brady is the #1 Quarterback in the NFL.

Bye Week

With the Patriots inactive this week, we look forward to the remaining seven games on the Pats schedule. After beating the Colts last week there are only two teams on the Pats schedule, from here on, that are in the way of the Pats going undefeated: the Steelers and the Giants.

While New England and Indianapolis are far ahead of the rest of the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers kept up with the two juggernauts with a 31-28 victory against the Cleveland Browns. Early in the game the Steelers looked horrible, defensively and offensively. Cleveland scored 21 points on the Steelers defense and the Browns defense held the Steeler offense to just three field goals.

The second half was a different story. The Steeler defense came alive and not only did they not allow a Browns offensive touchdown, they forced the Browns to go three and out on every offensive drive in the half. On offense, Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did his best Tom Brady impersonation leading with a 13-point second half comeback. But does this comeback put Roethlisberger in the same category as Brady and Peyton Manning?

No I don’t think so. Roethlisberger is a bit too agressive on the field. Unlike Manning and Brady, Roethlisberger takes too many chances. In my opinion, he’ll run for a first down (which is fine Brady and Manning do that too) but he goes in head first rather then entering the slide. He should enter the slide more because the more he dives AFTER attaining a first down the more risk for injury. If Roethlisberger goes down the Steelers have no shot. He needs to protect himself and the Steelers and slide and not try to be a Tight End. I’m not taking away Roethlisberger’s 30-yard touchdown run because he had a CLEAR path to the endzone but other plays probably have Steelers fans on edge. But I have a feeling that we’ll be talking about Brady, Manning and Roethlisberger as the Top Three Quarterbacks in the league one day.

As for when the Pats play the Steelers on December 9, the game will be close all the way down to the end. Both teams have exceptional defenses and exceptional offenses. Willy Parker has a similar running style to Laurence Maroney, looking for the holes but he can cut like Joseph Addai. If the Patriots play 60 minutes of football like they have been all year, they have a good chance of coming out with a victory. If the the Steelers play the way they did today, against the Browns, on December 9, then they will find themselves down 21-24 points. I see a close game with the Pats coming out on top 34-31 in the last seconds of the game.

Patriots Schedule for the rest of the season:

11/18 @ Buffalo Bills (5-4) Second in the AFC East
The Bills have been playing better as of late and that’s what will make it a closer game
then the last game, but the Patriots will pull out a victory.
11/25 Philadelphia Eagles (4-5) 4th in the NFC East
Weren’t they picked to go to the Super Bowl XLII this year for a Super Bowl XXXIX rematch? The Eagles are a complete disaster this year and have failed to live up to their 2007 potential. Pats win easily.
12/3 @ Baltimore Ravens (4-5) 3rd in the AFC North
After watching the Steelers roll over the Ravens. The Ravens do not scare me that much anymore. Steve McNair is done and Kyle Boller is not the answer in Baltimore. Pats Win.
12/9 Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) 1st in the AFC North
Correction: the only tough game left on the Pats schedule this year. See above for an explanation. But Pats will win in a close game.
12/16 New York Jets (1-8) 3rd in the AFC East
You want to talk about running up the score? I think by the end of this game the Pats might be the first team to score 100 points in a game. Belichick’s going to be relentless and show no mercy.
12/23 Miami Dolphins (0-9) 4th in the AFC East
Don Shula’s asterisk comments has led me to believe the Dolphins will be in for a similar fate as the Jets, the second time they play. It’s not going to be pretty for the Dolphins or their fans. Wouldn’t it be ironic if during the season the Pats go undefeated, the previous team that went undefeated, goes 0-16? That would be sweet.
12-29 @ New York Giants (6-3) 2nd in the NFC East
The Patriots might choose to rest their starters since they will have already clinched a playoff spot, and possibly, home field advantage throughout the playoffs. But if they are undefeated they might want to go for the record. Either way it will be good game because the Giants will be competing for a playoff spot. I see the Pats pulling it out, even with most of their back ups.

Next: Commenting on the Indianapolis Colts and their loss to the San Diego Chargers

"High School Never Ends…"

The Patriots are the new bully that used to take your lunch money, stuff you in lockers then like the snap of a finger become the victim.

After the Pats put a beating on the Jets in the opening game of the season, the Jets played the role of the geeky, four-eyed, loner and tattled on the big, bad bully to the authorities. In a whiny voice you can almost hear Eric Mangini saying “He was cheating!”

With the national media and commentators questioning their three Super Bowl championships, the Pats quickly turned from bully to victim. Turning from bully to victim is an art form. Not everyone can do it and if you are one of the people who can not then you will quickly be caught, cause you’ll look foolish. Bill Belichick can motivate his players to see themselves as the victim even though the rest of the league sees them as big bullies.

They dismantled the overly cocky jocks (San Diego).
Rolled over the nerds (Trent Edwards and the Buffalo Bills).
Shut up the class clown (Cincinnati).
Beat up the J.V. squad during the annual Varsity-Junior Varsity scrimmage (Dallas).
Smacked and demolished the defenseless (Cleveland, Miami and Washington).
The old bully of the school returns and goes down late (Indianapolis).

The Pats return to school on November 18 to school the nerds on Life in the NFL. Even in Buffalo I don’t see the Bills beating the Patriots. “When the little guy trys to take on the big guy, the little guy usually ends up head first in the garbage.” (SLoZaC)

With seven games left in the regular season and 10 left before the Big Game on February 3, 2008, the Pats will see more nerds and geeks again. Especially those whiny, tattle-tailers that drove them to this position in the first place.

After being branded with the NFL bulls-eye, having corrupt officials officiating their games and everyone doubting their past achievements, the Pats turned themselves from being the perpetrator to a victim. They WILL go 19-0 and win their Lombardi Trophy in six years in Glendale, Arizona on February 3, 2008 (seven years exactly after their Super Bowl XXXVI championship).

Eric Mangini looks like the idiot now. Now knowing what happened, if you could go back in time, Mangini, would you still blow the whistle on Belichick?

"…And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…"

After Sunday, one team will walk away undefeated while the other with their first loss of the season. That is right folks the game that all Patriots fans circled on their calender as a rematch of the of the AFC Championship game from last year, has finally arrived. The Patriots will travel to Indianapolis as five point favorites (as it stands today and could be subject to change in the upcoming days).

The game has taken on a life of its own in the media. With some media outlets calling it Super Bowl 41.5 while others simple refer to it as “Good v. Evil.” There is a lot at stake between the Pats and Colts on Sunday. Possible home field advantage during the playoffs. We all know how well Peyton does in Foxboro in January. With a lot at stak here, it is giving the Patriots the edge.

The Patriots will have the edge in almost every game they play in from now until the end of the season. They have a bulls-eye on their back, have been branded as cheaters and even had their three Super Bowl victories questioned. Most normal NFL franchises would fold under these negative views. But let’s face it folks, the Patriots are not normal.

Here’s how the Pats and Colts stack up.

Offense:
Both teams have high powered offenses led by the two best quarterbacks in the league today: Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Patriots have Kevin Faulk and brought in Wes Welker who can go over the middle and collect the short throws from Brady, along with feature RB Laurence Maroney. But Manning also has those guys too, ever hear of RB Joseph Addai and TE Dallas Clark? Last year the Pats lacked a deep threat down field so they went out and traded for Donte Stallworth and Randy Moss and signed TE Kyle Brady, in addition to TE Benjamin Watson and WR Jabar Gaffney. But don’t forget Manning also has these same weapons, WR Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, TE Ben Utecht and drafted young TE Anthony Gonzalez (not the BC alum Anthony Gonzalez). Also both Quarterbacks have offensive linemen who give them plenty of time to throw the football. EDGE: Even.

DEFENSE:
The Patriots in the off season went out and boistered their defense by signing LB Adalius Thomas and drafting DB Brandon Merriweather out of Miami, to go along with their strong defensive line of Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork and Richard Seymour. Seymour has only played one game this year but in his absence, Jarvis Green filled in admirably. CB Asante Samuel leds the defense with 4 Interceptions followed by LB Junior Seau with 3 and CB Randall Gay with 2. Combined the three of them have as many interceptions as the whole Indianapolis defense. Second year safety Antoine Bethea leads the Colts with 2 Interceptions. Judging by the defensive statistics, the Colts defense have a difficult time getting to the Quarterback with only DE Dwight Freeney recording 3.5 sacks on the season. Compared to Pats LB Mike Vrabel’s 7.5 sacks. The Colts are going against an offensive line that does not let defenses even sniff Brady this Sunday and it could mean trouble for for Indianapolis. EDGE: Patriots

SPECIAL TEAMS:
There appears to be no sophomore slump for second year kick Stephen Gostkowski. In 11 Field Goal attempts he’s made 10 with the one miss being a 47-yard kick due to holder Matt Cassel’s inability to control the football. For the Colts, Adam Vinatieri has made 14 of 15 with his longest only 39, compared to Gostkowski’s 49. Both kickers did make all their extra point attempts. Since Pats kick returner Ellis Hobbs’s record-tying 108-yard return against the New York Jets in the opening game of the season, Hobbs has compiled 525 yards on 18 returns for an average of 29.2 yards. Punt returner Wes Welker has 172 yards on 17 tries. Colts returner T.J. Rushing has a combined 489 yards on 25 carries for kick and punt returns. EDGE: Patriots

COACHING:
Let’s face it when it’s game time who do you want on the sideline? Tony Dungy or Bill Belichick? Belichick is probably only person that can make a 45 point win sound like a 45 point loss, as he did in his press conference after the Redskins game. And better yet he doesn’t care what reporters, commentators or anyone else says about him or his team. You really have to envy a person like that, especially in today’s world when we are all swayed by our peers’ criticism. EDGE: Patriots