Thursday Morning Third Down Back

The Patriots play their eleventh regular season game on the road against the Detroit Lions on Thursday November 25th at 12:30 PM. I'm feeling pretty thankful this year.  We're 8 and 2.  How are we 8 and 2?!   Holy crap.  I'll take it. Last week was great.  I've still got a buzz from that win.  Sweet, sweet Manning tears. Here's five things I'm thankful for this year: 1)  Tom Brady - The Best Quarterback we've ever had. 2)  Bill Belichick - The Best Coach we've ever had.  Maybe the best coach ever.  You think I'm being a little generous in my praise?  Brady and Belichick are 119 and 36 together.  Bill Walsh and Joe Montana were 114 and 44.  So... yeah... They're really THAT good. 3)  A Surprisingly Frisky Running Game - I've been on board the BenJarvus Green-Ellis train as long as I can remember.  And I can't tell you how many times I shouted "Woodhead!" last week (some of them were even while watching...

The Patriots play their tenth regular season game at Gillette against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday November 21st at 4:15 PM. "Hey Dad!  What was it like watching Tom Brady?" "He was awesome.  Just awesome.  Smart.  Accurate.  He was so cool and steady in the big games.  He was a joy to watch." Football is a team sport.  It's more than just about the quarterbacks.  Blah blah blah. C'mon...  We all know the story here is Brady vs. Manning.  Honestly, are you ever going to tell your kids about the time you saw Pierre Woods make three special teams tackles in a game?  (Oh hey... Welcome back, Pierre Woods .  Didn't see you over there...) This is as good as it gets.  Two of the top 5 QBs of all time facing off.  It's Magic vs. Larry.  Marino vs. Montana.  Me vs. a pecan pie on Thanksgiving. These games tend to be pretty memorable.  You can tell your kids (or your cats...  or your cat's kids...

The Patriots play their ninth regular season game on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, November 14th at 8:20 PM We're doomed.  DOOMED!  I was afraid last week would be a trap game.  Even Admiral Ackbar couldn't have saved us. Now we're going to Pittsburgh.  Then we've got the Colts next week. Before you know it, we're going to be looking at 6 - 4. Ugh. Here's five things I'll be watching for this week. 1) Tom Brady - How bad is the foot?  Bad?  Or bad bad?  We're not going to be able to run on the Steelers, so we're going to have to air it out.  If I'm the offensive coordinator, I bring back the game plan from this 2006 gem vs. the Vikings .  2) Shayne Graham - Gostkowski has been quietly excellent over the last few years.  Not only on field goals, but on kickoffs, too.  I don't think anyone is expecting too much from Shayne Graham.  He just has to come in and not suck. 3) Run Defense - Peyt...

The Patriots play their eighth regular season game on the road against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, November 7th at 1:00 PM Seemingly easy game this week with a game against a much tougher opponent next week?  It's the dreaded "trap game" . Quick -- name the Browns starting QB.  The correct answer?  Colt McCoy .  He actually started the season third on the depth chart (behind the immortal Jake Delhomme ).  He's completed 32 passes for his career.  Brady has completed over 2800.  So, you know, advantage Patriots. Last week, I predicted "Brad Childress will do something kinda dumb".  Little did I know we were about to kick off a whole week of dumb Childress moments .  High comedy.  My condolences to my buddy Viking Dave on another lost season. Here's five things I'll be watching for this week. 1) BenJarvus Green-Ellis -  BJGE had a hell of a week last week (17 carries for 112 yards, two TDs).  Did I have him on the ben...

The Patriots play their seventh regular season game at Gillette against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, October 31st at 4:15 PM. No column last week. I was home Friday with a sick toddler. It threw off my whole writing routine. Sorry if you spent your whole week looking forward to my Friday musings. /sad game show sound Let's get right back on that horse. Here's five things I'll be watching for this week. 1) Coaching - Did anyone think we'd be 5 and 1 at this point?  With this team?  I love love love me some Belichick. There's no one I'd rather have as a coach (and yes... I'm one of the people who consistently defends his need to go for it on forth down. Sometimes a little "Eff You" attitude is a good thing in football. Look at the way the Ravens totally turtled down the stretch against the Pats in Week 6). Look around the league. There's maybe 4 or 5 good coaches. That's it. We're not exactly living in a Golden Ag...

The Patriots play their fifth regular season game at Gillette against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, October 17th at 1:00 PM. We're back! I hate hate hate that bye week. I didn't know what to do with myself. I had to go run a 5K just to feel useful. On a personal note, I pulled my name off the Patriots season ticket waiting list last week. My name came up -- I finally would have gotten tickets next year. Eleven years I wanted on that list. But... I just don't have the free time I did when I was a younger man. I can't give up 10 Sundays a year out of my life. Watching the NFL on a high def TV is now such a good experience, it almost doesn't make sense to go to the games in person anymore. Watching the game at home means cheap beer and instant access to the bathroom. My couch is warm and dry. And I don't have to give up a whole day away from my family. But still... I'm a little sad about the whole thing. Here's five things I'll be...