Monthly Archives: November 2006

With the game tied 10-10 in the beginning of the 4th quarter, the Pats move the ball well and even Tom Brady ran the ball going to the left (fake) and ran to the right past Bears Linebacker Urlacher and gets the first down. The Pats marched down the field scored a touchdown off of a 2 yd pass to Ben Watson (makes up for his fumble and tipped INT!)
The Pats defense did a great job in the game as Grossman did not have as much success passing the ball as he did in the first half and was 15/34 for 176 yds and Berrian only had one more catch for 10 yds. Although there were injuries to Seau and Bruschi was shaken up in the 4th quarter the Pats D kept the pressure up. That did leave a gap up the middle and da Bears were able to run well as Thomas Jones gained 99yards versus the Pats.
Overall I think this has been the best defensive stand we have seen all year. Richard Seymour played as he has in the past including a sack and fired up the defense. Even with the injuries to Seau and Bruschi the Pats D kept the pressure up. Bunta-Cain did a great job filling and Asante Samuel had 3 INT (tied team record in a game) and 9 tackles ñ Asante sealed the deal with his last INT! I think this guy needs a contract!
The Pats will be sore and it will take a while for them to recover and we still are missing Harrison, Wilson, Scott and now SeauÖ.
Although the Offense was not pretty and both offenses had a total of 9 turnovers (has to be a record), Brady (22/33, 269 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT) threw enough touchdowns to make it his 5th season in a row to through for 20 or more touchdowns. Another item of interest ñ Kevin Faulk caught his 6th ball of the game and passed RB Tony Collins as the Patriots’ all-time leader for receptions by a running back. Faulkís 262 is now the franchise record previously set by Collins.
Reche Caldwell (3 catches for 57 yds) only had one catch and did not see much action after fumbling the ball. Then in the forth quarter and catches one for 22 and another for 20 keeping the ball moving and eating up time off the clock as it moved the 2 minute warning. Then Corey Dillon (11 rushes for 40 yds) fumbles the ballÖ. That is the way the whole game went.
Weíll let the coaches go over the film and see how much worse it could have beenÖ.
Laurence Maroney (13 rushes for 33 yds, 1 TD, 4 catches for 45 yds, 23.8 kick off avg.) has to be the best rookie in the NFL ñ not only has he been running the ball (ok yes he did fumble but ran in a TD), but he can catch and gain yards after the catch and his kick-off returns are over 20 ñ yds on average ñ he is doing it allÖ..
Punter Ken Walter averaged 37.3 yds and had a longest of 45 yds.
Ellis Hobbs had 3 pass interference penalties (one leading to a Bears TD).
Rookie receiver Jackson had opportunities to shine but failed to make a single catch and was tackled for an 8 yard loss on a double reverse.

Pats geared up to play the big bad BearsÖ.
This game has been escalated to a prequel to the Super Bowl. Believe me ñ I am looking forward to this game too, but this has a bit more on the table.
This game is winnable for the Pats, but they must play their best defense (secondary is suspect today) and stop the offensive turnovers (int and fumbles!)
I predict 24-21 Pats win!
Maroney 70+ yards
Dillon TD
Troy Brown interception and TD
Reche Caldwell 50+ yards and a TD
Gabriel out of the dog house 50+ yards
I will be putting in updates during the game!
B
1st quarter:
Asante Samuel has another interception this year! He is playing well (have we figured out if we will sign him yet?)
An INT after the ball bounces off of Watson and Maroney fumbles ñ both turnovers coming when the Pats were in scoring distance!
The defense is playing ok in the first quarter with da Bears not getting much on the ground (32 yds so far) but doing a great job in the air Grossman 7/13 1234 yds already ñ Bernard Berrian has 4 catches for 94 yds!!
Brady is a poor 3/7 and the INT. Dillon working well rushing so far for 30 yds, but Maroney coughed up the ball (I think his fist or second of the year).
The second quarter was a little better, but not without its mistakes, missed catches and injuries (MLB Junior Seau and OT Ryan O’Callaghan) and a rookie coming of ageÖ
A Maroney recovers from teh earlier fumble with a one yard TD run capped off a nice effort by the offense to move the ball and come alive! Unfortunately later the in the quarter Jackson, Caldwell, Watson and a few others missed a couple of big catches for the Pats to come close to scoring again. Twice catches were called back by instant reply and rookie kicker Gostkowski then pushed right a 52-yd field goalÖ..
oops no have to call that one back too.
Why?
Da Bears called time-out so Gostkowski gets a second chance and hits it to end the half 10-3 Patriots!!
Go PATS!!
The Pats should still be leading 10-3 as the battle of defenses continued in the 3rd quarter. But just as the quarter was coming to an end there was a questionable call of pass interference that allowed da Bears first and goal and RB Cedric Benson ran it in for the TD.
The 3rd quarter is not going that well offensively as the Pats fumbled and da Bears recovered the ball in the red zone and marched it up the field. Asante Samuel had his second INT of the game and a few plays later the Pats turn it over again as Troy Brown tipped a ball in the air and da Bears recoveredÖÖ leading to the above TD..
The defenses on both sides are playing wellÖ and so far neither defense has scoredÖ maybe the defense that scores first will winÖ

Well, on the Patriot’s field, their wasn’t any grass, and that sorta became a problem last week against the Jets. Well, the Patriots are addressing that situation today, with bulldozers. Early this morning, what was left of the filed in Gillette Stadium was torn up, and will be replaced with FieldTurf. Everything will be ready to go for the next home game, Nov. 26 against the Bears (the Pats travel to Green Bay this weekend). You can read more about on the Patriots site. There had been talk that there was a rule that would prevent teams from changing their playing surface during the year, but, apparently, that’s not true.
Call More, Seymour I gotta thank WithLeather.com for this one, but apparently Richard Seymour is just fine with you calling his cell phone. He was on WEEI the other day and broke the news that he carries TWO cell phones, the second one being strictly for interacting with fans. You can dial him up, 401.464.1194, and talk to one of the best defensive linemen in the league.

As some many none of you may have noticed, I haven’t made a post on here in some time (since May 30th to be exact. And looking back on it, I think that was a funny one). I see Brent has been keeping the fire burning though, and that’s a good thing. I think.
Since I sit in front of a computer all day long, I have had numerous opportunities to make new observations and share my thoughts on the Patriots this season, but yet, no new posts. It normally went something like this:

After clubbing the Vikings in Minnesota, the Patriots now look to tame ëMr. Wonderfulí and the 7-0 Colts. I wonder when he will start doing Colt 45 commercials? Billie Dee – watch out!
The build up to this game has been brewing since the Pats loss versus the Colts last year and continued to progress when the Colts had the advantage through the playoffs and still choked at home versus the Steelers. Manning and Dungy are not considered closers when it comes to playoffs and championships.
But so far this year the Colts again display an awesome offensive scheme and put up numbers Fantasy Footballers love. But defensively, the Colts this year have taken a step back to where they were last year ñ and even then they were mediocre ñ to now having the worst run defense in the NFL. Having said that and the fact the Colts have designed a defense to stop the West Coast passing offense, they are not able to stop teams from running against them – even if they had 14 players on the field.
Bu tthis year oddly enough Bill Belichick now has a formidable running team that mayn teams not fear. Add to this the Patritos have also found their timing in the passing game and people (outside of Patriot Nation) start to wonder if this again could be the Patriot’s year.
The Patriots suspect defense of this time last year is now gone, as the team has solidified the front seven (although still a bit old ñ but thanks Junior!) and the defensive backs although not as healthy as we would like is still better then last year (Good bye Du Anus Starks). The defense has come together and Asante Samuel is having a great year (ahem ñ should we sign him now or let him test free agency??). He is no Ty Law as such yet, but he is playing at a higher level then last year and continues to make progress (thanks to Rodney for your return and leadership!)
So the Colts will throw and run as most teams do. The Patriots will stop the mediocre running game the Colts do have in rookie Addai (he will definitely improve over the years and the comparisons with Addai and Maroney may replace the Manning / Brady talks).
So the Patriots have the advantage when the Colts runÖ Manning has the advantage in the passing game if he is not pressured and his receivers are not jammed at the line. The front seven must apply pressure and take away the short passing game.
Colts receiver Marvin Harrison has not typically done well versus a healthy Patriots defense and this may allow Reggie Wayne the chance to grab some yards a few points – until he meets Rodney Harrison and then Wayne shies away from being hit.
The Patriots offense showed us all a different side last week as they spread the offense and threw often and produced an aerial attacked that to be honest surprised everyone! This may still be a weak receiving team when compared to others, but it has given the Colts a few things to think about this week!
Obviously Bradyís frustration and determination has provided focus at the time of year that really matters and the team is improving each week and has still not reached its peak. Pats offense clearly has the advantage on the ground and by air over the Colts defense.
Coaching
I donít think I need to add anything to Bob Kravitzís piece in the Indianapolis Star-
Coaching Edge
Game Consequences:
If the Colts make it as far as in the playoffs as last year then both teams will probably meet again in the AFC Championship. The winner of todayís game will have home field advantage. I know New England Football and would like nothing better then to see Manning & Co. have to schlep their way back here in the dead of winter instead of their cozy indoor arena.
The Return….
of Adam Vinatieri is huge in that he has gone to the very team that Patriot Nation despises the most – the Colts! (Denver, Steelers, Miami ñ we donít like you either)
His return to the Razor will not impact the play of the game ñ but could impact the outcome. My hope is that he doesn’t get the chance to prove he is Mr. Clutch to beat Brady to the end the game. That being said ñ if he were to do it ñ I would rather he do it now instead of the AFC ChampionshipÖ..
Predictions:
Pats Win!
Dillon, Maroney and Brown all score touchdowns
Brown breaks Stanley Morganís reception record.
Gabriel, Jackson and Watson ñ each will have 50 + yards receiving in this game
Vinatieri ñ wide right