Forget the guilt, Ridley just needs to play football

“It’s a mistake, it’s something that I messed up on, but that’s why I say it’s going to show ultimately how much of a man I really am because I have to overcome this. I have to get better from this. And if I don’t improve, it’s going to cost me my job down the line and I don’t want that."

Those are the words spoken by New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley to Shalise Manza Young of the bostonglobe.com in an interview earlier this week in regard to his supposed case of chronic fumblitis - and they also are words typically spoken by any man throughout history who has felt guilt, like they have let down the people who are important to him - and it is always wrong.

Ridley has nothing to prove about being a man and he has nothing to prove to anyone regarding anything - not even to himself, because if he allows this to be the case, then it has dominion over him and it will never go away.  He has to trust himself, and he can't do that if there's even an ounce of doubt in his psyche.

And trust is such a fickle thing to begin with.

You see, the fans trust in Tom Brady as long as he's throwing touchdown passes.  Tom Brady trusts in Tom Brady no matter what.

Never mind that he's thrown 130 interceptions in his career and don't even give his 35 lost fumbles a second thought - in his 14th season, the certain Hall of Fame quarterback has personally coughed up 165 turnovers - and as few as three weeks ago he was a washed up has-been with declining arm strength and a desperate need for anger management...

...but now, after generating a couple of comebacks and looking more like what fans and media have come to expect, he's back to being the greatest quarterback who ever lived and his arm is just as strong as it's ever been, what with throwing tight spirals into tropical storm force winds.  Brady never doubted himself, and he knew that if he just kept doing things the way that he is capable, the hard times would pass.

Brady knows about the hard times, he also knows that doing things right and winning football games eventually causes the fan base to develop a certain degree of amnesia - which is what Ridley needs to do.

Brady has stuck by him, and coach Bill Belichick has indicated - in his own cryptic way - that he thinks Ridley can work through it - even former Patriots running back Kevin Faulk, himself a victim of the fumble bug early in career, has reached out to the third year back out of LSU...

...but Ridley should ignore everything that all of the outside influences are telling him, all the criticism and all of the well meaning suggestions and just play football.

All Ridley wants to do is get back on the field and redeem himself, but the frequency of his fumbling has led to fans and media alike making up their own aphorisms for his woes - such as only two things can happen when Stevan Ridley runs with the football...

...the first being Ridley exploding through the hole and galloping as far as he can get once breaking free on the second level and the second - well - the ball hits the ground. No one is going to let him forget that he makes them cringe every time he touches the ball.

Fair or not, Ridley has handled the ball 144 times this season, 140 times having the desired outcome - but it's the 4 times that haven't that has Patriots' nation abuzz.  Brady has handled the ball 456 times with seven fumbles and seven interceptions, and Julian Edelman has yakked up the ball five times in 63 touches, yet everyone is focused on Ridley.

Faulk wants to help.  Knee-jerk, reactionary fans and media want him gone. The Patriots' themselves know the score, however, and want to help Ridley work through his case of butterfingers, but he already knows what he has to do.

“I can’t make light of the situation that is obviously an issue, but am I going to start believing that I have a fumbling problem and that’s something I can’t overcome? Absolutely not."

Ridley does not have a fumbling problem, but he does have a problem with people telling him he has a fumbling problem, he also has a problem with finishing runs - and that is the real issue here.

As discussed here , Ridley's issues are a matter of technique - in short, not finishing what he starts.  The hand offs are flawless, and one never sees the ball pop out from his arms while he's exploding through the hole like a Jack-in-the-box - where the problem arises is when Ridley falls out of character, trying to spin out of tackles or attempting to juke a would-be tackler out of his socks...

...both leaving the ball exposed away from his body, an open invitation to take a swipe at the valuable pig skin.  And the fact that defenders know to look for him to do either makes the possibility that it's going happen even greater.

"(Ridley) is more of a downhill back who is at his best pressing the line quickly and getting into the second level." wrote Wes Bunting of the National Football Post in his pre-draft evaluation of Ridley. "Runs hard and has some natural strength in his lower half when asked to push the pile and break tackles inside. However, exhibits only average lateral ability inside. Displays very average one-cut ability when asked to set up blocks or make a man miss. But, consistently allows his pad level to rise, exposes some of his frame."

What Patriots' coaches and fans expect from Ridley is what Ridley does best, and what Ridley was drafted for:  Run the ball straight ahead, staying small and delivering a punishing blow to the tackler.  The ball stays high and tight and the defender ends up on his ass.

Stevan Ridley doesn't need to listen to anyone, he doesn't need to show anyone how much of a man he is - he just needs to do what he does best, and leave the ankle-breaking moves to the backs that do that best.

http://www.nepatriotslife.com/2013/11/forget-guilt-ridley-just-needs-to-play.html

Sunday's comeback not the biggest for Brady, but it's close

The New England Patriots' comeback from a 24-0 halftime deficit is being lauded by many football experts and lamented by fans of other teams as the greatest comeback in Tom Brady's career, and also as a sign that the Patriots are indeed ready to again assume their rightful position atop the AFC...

...and while the latter appears to be true, the former is overlooking one epic comeback that helped to define their 2012 season.

In the middle of December and playing in a cold, driving rain, the Patriots fell behind the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 17-3 at halftime which ballooned to 31-3 midway through the third quarter - the 28 point deficit erased in less than 15 minutes of play spanning the middle of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth.

Brady caught fire after four turnovers relegated him to air it out - and caused the majority of the fans to abandon Gillette Stadium - leading scoring drives of 73, 86, 66 and 92 yards to tie the 49ers at 31 with still half of the 4th quarter yet to play...

...and while the Patriots ended up losing the game but a count of 41-34, the similarities between that game and Sunday night's comeback are down right eerie - the biggest difference being that this season, the Patriots finished the job.

In the 49ers' game,the New England defense held rising star quarterback Colin Kaepernick to just 208 yards passing while yielding an inordinate number of rushing yards - though not quite the albatross that the Broncos hung on new England last Sunday night - and the 49ers scored 14 points off of turnovers, the last of which provided the 28 point cushion midway through the third quarter.

And just like in the Broncos' game, a special teams' gaffe set up the winning score - 49ers running back LaMichael James returning the kickoff just after the Patriots' tied the score 62 yards to the New England 38, Kaepernick hitting receiver Michael Crabtree on a short hitch pattern that ended up a 38 yard touchdown that the spent Patriots were never able to recover from.

Point being, it's baffling that Patriots' fans turn off their TV's or leave their expensive stadium seats when their team falls behind, because they always come back - the last time they were in a position where they had no chance to win a game was at Cleveland three years ago...

...and in case the fans needed a more recent reminder of their teams' ability to come from behind, all they need to do is to look back to week 6, when Brady led the Patriots to the winning touchdown against the Saints in front of a half-filled stadium, hitting rookie Kenbrell Thompkins with the winning score with five seconds remaining in the game.

Lesson learned, Patriots' fans?  Never doubt your team's ability to make everyone look foolish.

Patriots defensive grades - Week 12: Game plan works to perfection

The New England Patriots are the most resilient team in the National Football League.

Like a heavyweight boxer, they take the opponent's best shot and always respond in the style of a mean counter-puncher.  They may not pull out the win every time, but the opposition knows that no matter how big a lead they have, it's not going to be enough - they need to push forward and keep scoring...

...which can be difficult.  It's not like the Denver Broncos reached a certain point total that they felt comfortable with on Sunday night, it was simply a matter of the Patriots taking their best punch, then overwhelming them.

This is the Patriots' method of operation.  They are the best coached team in the league, and that coaching staff is led by the best game planning and in-game tactician in football - and, despite opinion to the contrary, is one of the best talent evaluators in the game.

If Bill Belichick wasn't, Sunday night doesn't happen.

Belichick's whole body of work was on display against the Broncos, just like it has been in every game since November of 2010, the last time that the Patriots entered the last five minutes of a football game without a realistic chance at pulling the game out.

Yes, the weather was a factor, but it was a factor for both teams not just the Broncos - and when push came to shove, the Patriots were able exert their will on offense and to shut down Peyton Manning on defense.

But the question the entire football world is asking is, how does a defense give up 280 yards rushing and still win the game - but the answer comes from second grade math: They allowed less points that their own offense scored.

Of the 14 Broncos' possessions, the Patriots' defense allowed only three sustained drives.  Three.

In the first half when New England's offense was playing hot potato with the football, practically handing the ball to the Broncos' defense, the Patriots' defense allowed 17 points on Denver drives of 10, 35 and 70 yards, the other touchdown scored by the Broncos being on a fumble return for the first score of the game.

In the second half and overtime, the Patriots defense surrendered one scoring drive - a 10 play, 80 yard clutch drive that one would expect from Manning when the certain Hall of Fame signal caller is faced with a do-or-die situation.  The other seven drives resulted in a lost fumble, a Logan Ryan interception and five punts...

...that's seven drives totaling 120 yards with only one of those drives going for more than six plays.

That is domination.  Don't look at the rushing yardage and wonder what happened - Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots defense happened.

Rush Defense: B

Specific to the game plan, the amount of yardage really is just a matter of course - but, of course, 280 yards is a bit excessive.

Ideally, one would like to see no more than half of that number, but there are some mitigating factors.  First, credit Denver's offensive line and running back Knowshon Moreno's vision and cut-back ability.  Moreno more than once avoided the rocket-propelled mortar shell that is Patriots' linebacker Brandon Spikes by cutting back against the grain...

...and with the blocking scheme allowing for such, it's no mistake that there were gaping holes for the second year back to sprint through for huge chunks of yardage.  Moreno is a special runner.

Secondly, the Patriots were in a small six-man box, utilizing a 4-2-5 nickle as a base - and with tackle Isaac Sopoaga leaving with an injury and linebacker Dont'a Hightower being lifted after getting used by Broncos' tight end Jacob Tamme on a 10 yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, New England was playing the run with what amounted to almost entirely backups.

Still 280 yards is a lot - but the most important numbers were the ones on the scoreboard, the numbers that read Patriots 34, Broncos 31.

Game plan specific, to remind you, and no one should expect the same type of numbers from any other opponent going forward.

Pass Defense: A

It's tough to determine which number is more shocking, the 280 yards given up by the Patriots' run defense, or the 150 yards that the Patriots' pass defense limited Peyton Manning to - but for the sake of historical preservation, lets go with the pass defense...

...because it wasn't just the wind that had Manning's ducks looking like butterflies.

As discussed in the preview to the game, "Eighty percent of Manning's passes travel less than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage, but his receivers gain such separation and Manning gets the ball out so quickly that the yards after the catch make up much of the yardage total."

The wind took care of Manning wanting to go deep, as his goose egg on five deep targets will attest - besides the fact that "the accuracy and velocity on his deep ball went bye-bye sometime in the last couple of years" - which left the New England nickle salivating at the prospect of punking the Broncos' receivers at the line, knowing that they weren't going very far.

But having knowledge and executing the game plan are entirely different things, particularly with three rookies - safety Duron Harmon as the big nickle, corner Logan Ryan on possession receiver Eric Decker and linebacker Jamie Collins flying around all over the field - playing major roles against the experience of Manning and his pass catchers.

But execute they did, giving plenty of hope for the Patriots' banged up secondary going forward.

The Pass rush held it's own against the beastly Broncos' line, with Collins having a role in Ryan's interception by stunting inside on a blitz and getting in Manning's face as he threw, and with Chandler Jones just being Chandler Jones...

...who, by the way, earned the NFL's Defensive Player of the Month for November for his professional work not just in this game, but recognition for his protracted excellence and, now, is practically a shoe-in for the Pro Bowl, provided the Patriots aren't doing something more important.

Like playing in the Super Bowl.

Patriots' offensive grades - Week 12: Form over function

Stevan Ridley fumbled the ball and Denver's Von Miller returned it for a touchdown.  LeGarrette Blount got knocked cold by Duke Ihenacho and loses the ball.  Tom Brady gets blindsided and loses the football.

It's an old Bill Belichick axiom that whoever has the football is carrying the fate of the franchise in their hands - and while it's true that in football things like getting knocked out and being blindsided are going to happen, it is equally true that runners must do everything in their power to protect the ball - in Ridley's case, the solution is easy: Just run.

Ridley is an explosive back.  He runs with power through the hole, but also will get big when trying to cut to avoid a tackler, and that's when the ball is exposed.  Ridley is not a nimble guy, he is a power back that needs to play like a power back:  Hit the hole, keep both hands on the ball and deliver the hit on the tackler, not the other way around.

This has been an issue for Ridley since arriving in the National Football League three years ago and Christopher Price of WEEI.com breaks down his struggles as compared to other fumble prone backs that Belichick has dealt with in his tenure as head coach and Andy Gresh of CSNNE.com offers a solution to Ridley's fumbling woes...

...but the simple fact of the matter is that Ridley's issue has less to do with elbow sleeves and a perceived lack of confidence, and more to do with form over function.

Price dabbles in this by mentioning that Corey Dillon, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead all were excellent with ball security, which is true, but there's a reason why they were excellent at it and it goes beyond wrapping up.

“Look, there are some plays that happen in football that are plays that happen in football." Belichick said on WEEI on Monday, alluding to Troy Polumalu stripping the ball from Ridley in the Steelers' game just prior to the bye break, "Then there are other plays that are caused by a lack of discipline, a lack of technique, just carelessness. Those are the ones we have to eliminate.”

What Ridley is mired in is a lack of discipline, which fosters poor technique, which is where the carelessness comes into play.

Discipline, in the case of Ridley, is hitting the hole that your offensive line creates for you  and finishing the run by getting small and delivering punishment to the defender who dares get in your way.  Where Ridley gets in trouble is when he tries to make the extra effort to get more than what is there - he gets big, tries to cut or spin instead of gaining his extra yards by plowing into the tackler...

...which more times than not will leave the ball exposed outside of the frame of his body and, if contact is made with the ball at this instant - well - pop goes the weasel.

When you are initiating the contact with the defender, you are in charge, you are delivering the punishment and, most importantly, the defender can't make a play on the ball because it's not exposed and because the defender is more concerned with the shot that he's about to take - and he may even find that the extra effort in that respect will turn into the extra yardage he desires.

So, Stevan Ridley must be more aggressive, not more careful.  He carries the ball high and tight - that is, until he tries to make a move to avoid contact.

Punish the tackler, and ball security improves.  It's fundamental football.

Rushing offense: B

Ridley was on the bench before he really ever got started.  Blount, too, though his fumble was mostly the result of taking vicious shot to the ear hole and briefly losing consciousness.

Brady lost the ball too, but it's not like Belichick is going to bench his star quarterback - besides, Brady has earned his stripes over the years and he doesn't have a proven commodity as a backup that would have given the Patriots their best chance to succeed.

In their stead, Brandon Bolden has a fantastic game with several key runs and Shane Vereen is an emerging star.  The Patriots are deep at running back, and this game proved that.

It's not all about stats, it's about timing and true grit - and Bolden and Vereen were chalk full of both, as were the offensive linemen, particularly swing tackle Will Svitek, the third layer on the Patriots offensive tackle depth chart who teamed with the tight ends to open holes for the backs when they were truly needed.

Passing offense: A

Sunday night was Tom Brady's signature performance of his Hall of Fame career.

Not just because of the comeback, we've seen him do that many times in the past - it was the way that he did it.

Bill Belichick has alluded to the fact that one of the reasons that he selects the players that he does is that he feels that their abilities conform to the meteorological conditions that are indigenous to New England - cold and wind and plenty of both - so when he was looking for his quarterback of the future in the 2000 NFL draft, he was looking for developmental prospect and was considering Bardy and Louisiana Tech's Tim Rattay...

...choosing Brady due to his arm strength and huge hands that could envelop the ball - necessary qualities for throwing tight spirals in high winds and other harsh conditions.

And once the Patriots as a whole got a firm grip on the ball, the score was 24-0 in favor of Denver - Brady was able to go to work.  And it both a thing of beauty and the stuff of legend.

Going into the steady 25 mile per hour wind, Brady went on a tear like only he could - leading three touchdown drives in which his combined total stats would be tough to accomplish on a clear, calm evening, going 12 of 14 for 163 yards to get his team to within three points at 24-21 before the Broncos knew what hit them.

And all the more amazing is that his offensive line was able to protect him despite the fact that the Broncos' pass rush had their ears pinned back and were coming after him.

Julian Edelman had a chip on his shoulder to prove himself on the same stage as his mentor, former Patriots receiver Wes Welker, and thoroughly outplayed the broncos' leading receiver, while tight end Rob Gronkowski had Broncos' players on his shoulders and dragged them along like they were so many rag dolls.

Vereen made most of his contributions in the passing game, though the soft cast he's wearing to protect his wrist as it continues to heal appears to be cumbersome to him when lining up to the left of the formation - perhaps offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels would be wise to match him up somewhere else in the formation so that the cast doesn't come into play as being the first thing the ball hits...

...that considered, and despite the ugly first half, the "A" grade is very well deserved.

Photo Credit - Keith Nordstrom/New England Patriots

 http://www.nepatriotslife.com/2013/11/patriots-offensive-grades-week-12-form.html

New England Patriots Gamenight: Bridge of Sighs

Cold wind blows
The Gods look down in anger,
On this poor child

When Robin Trower penned the song Bridge of Sighs, it was an obvious reference to Ponte dei Sospiri, an enclosed bridge made of limestone that connected the interrogation rooms in Doge's Palace to a new prison that had been constructed adjacent to Rio di Palazzo canal in Venice, Italy.

The bridge, named by Lord Byron in the 19th century, comes from the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice through the small iron bar windows before being taken down to their cells to await execution.

The Bridge that spans the entrance to Gillette Stadium bridge, a replica of the Longfellow Bridge that connects Boston and Cambridge, has long had the same effect on visiting football teams and their fans.

On Sunday night, the effect was in full force yet again, only this time the Patriots ripped the hearts out of their victims before sending them across the wind swept bridge in the cruelest of manners, scoring 31 unanswered points after falling behind Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos 24-0 at halftime and taking the game away from the Broncos in overtime.

Yes, the Patriots reached back into their souls and conjured the strength to forcibly extract the game away from the perceived juggernaut of the Broncos - and after the start they had to the game, it would take every ounce of strength they had to overcome their own foolishness.

The cold wind blew, as Trower wrote and sang, and it was coming directly from the entrance to Gillette Stadium - a wind so strong that it had to be from the Gods to test the resolve of two of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game of football, and in the end, their anger landed on the team that has yet to prove their mettle.

A Broncos team that had the Patriots on the ropes but lacked the killer instinct to put them away led by a quarterback who was victimized not just by the howling winds, but also by a Patriots' defense that - just like Brady and the offense - never surrendered and, ultimately, kept New England in the game.

A defense that surrendered a whopping 280 rushing yards to the Broncos, but held the Broncos to "only" 24 points in the first half, yielding just one sustained drive after being handed a short field to defend over and again by the stumbling offense - forcing three punts and allowing just one touchdown on drives not the result of a turnover...

The sun don't shine,
The moon don't move the tides
to wash me clean 

After forcing the Broncos to go three and out on their first possession, New England took over and promptly handed the ball right back to Denver.

Stevan Ridley coughed up the ball at the Denver 40, picked up by Von Miller and returned 60 yards for the first score of the game - and if that didn't cause enough of an audible sigh from the frozen Foxborough faithful, they got another chance to have their breath taken away 24 seconds later.

With Brady back to pass, Miller swooped past left tackle Nate Solder, blindsiding Brady - the ball hitting the Gillette Stadium turf and defensive tackle Terrance Knighton scooping it up - two plays later, Denver running back Knowshon Moreno ran the ball into the end zone and the Broncos had a 14-0 lead with just over six minutes gone in the game...

...And if the sighs weren't loud enough after that?

The game seemed lost for good when Duke Ihenacho knocked LeGarrette Blount cold on the next Patriots' series, the ball dropping to the turf immediately and recovered by Danny Trevathan halfway through the 1st quarter, Denver taking over at midfield - Moreno and rookie Montee Ball running the ball down the collective throat of the Patriots' defense, only a sack of Manning by Chandler Jones preventing another Denver touchdown...

...but a field goal made the score 17-0.

When the Patriots got the ball back with three minutes left in the opening quarter, Ridley was still on the bench - as was Blount - Brandon Bolden, previously buried on the depth chart, taking over lead back duties - but a false start penalty and the second sack of Brady unhinged the drive, but it was a victory of sorts for New England as they actually was able to give the ball back to the Broncos on their own terms, this time a Ryan Allen punt.

Not even sure handed Julian Edelman could hold onto the football, as on the first Denver possession of the second quarter, the Patriots' forced the Broncos to punt, Edelman fielding the ball on the 10 yard line, dropping it, picking it up and running up to the 18 where he took a nasty shot and fumbled the ball.

Fortunately for the Patriots, rookie defensive end Michael Buchanan was in the right place and fell on the ball.  Three plays later Shaun Phillips knocked the ball out of Brady's hand, but Brady picked it back up and completed a pass to Bolden.

The Patriots had to take solace in the fact that the ball was at least starting to bounce their way, even if the forceful wind dictated that coach Bill Belichick had his troops go for a 4th and 5 from the Broncos' 30 yard line, which ended up backfiring.

On the ensuing Broncos' possession, having so much success running against the Patriots' light run, they stayed on the ground despite having the wind at their backs, but when faced by a 3rd & 20 after an intentional grounding penalty, Manning went to the air again, a screen picking up 32 yards, and then Denver went right back to running the ball right down the Patriots' throats...

...a Jacob Tamme 10 yard touchdown reception on 3rd and five made the score 24-0 with just over six minutes left before half, and turned the shocked sighs to indignant boo's deservedly raining down upon the shell-shocked Patriots.

A curious set of play calls ended New England's last drive of the half, but Vonnie Holliday muffed the ensuing punt and the Patriots recovered just inside Denver territory - but just as the rest of the game had gone, the Patriots finally get a break on a turnover, but have only 5 seconds left and driving into the wind.

But that one play may have turned the tide of the game, as on the deep throw by Brady, Denver cornerback Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie appeared to hurt his shoulder diving for an interception, and was out for the rest of the game.

Why so unforgiving and why so cold
Been a long time crossing Bridge of Sighs

A different team came out of the locker room for the Patriots in the second half - Brady in the up-tempo, going 7 of 7 into the wind, the Patriots going 80 yards in 8 plays, a one-handed grab by Edelman on a fade in the right corner of the end zone - with the bridge in full view -  and the Patriots were on the board, though the score was still 24-7...

...but then, the Broncos went back to the ground game and were moving the ball in chunks, and when Manning called another screen pass, it was sniffed out by Dane Fletcher who jarred the ball loose from Ball and the Patriots were in business at the Denver 32.

Six plays later Bolden ran the ball into the end zone from one yard out, the key play a Gronkowski catch and rumble to the one yard line, and suddenly the New England Patriots were back in the game at 24-14.

Another Broncos' possession started with a promising first down to the New England 38, but Jamie Collins put an end to that drive on a 3rd and five, bull rushing Manning on an inside stunt, running over Moreno and forcing Manning out of the pocket, the ball slipping from his hands, but he was able to recover and the Broncos punted with two minutes left in the 3rd quarter.

Brady came out firing, hitting Kenbrell Thompkins for a first down, then deep - into the wind - to an improvising Edelman for 43 yards and a 1st and goal at the Denver 7 yard line.  A Brady throw away and a Vereen short run and the Patriots had a third and goal from the six.

A bullet to Gronkowski and the Patriots had suddenly scored 21 straight points - into the wind - toward that Bridge of Sighs.

The 4th quarter started with Denver running the ball, but again faltered when faced with throwing into the wind - with Jamie Collins in his face, Manning found his quick-read but rookie corner Logan Ryan cut in front of receiver Eric Decker and the Patriots were in business again at the Broncos' 30, now with the wind at Brady's back.

Brady found Gronkowski for 16 yards, then Edelman, who made a leaping dive into the end zone for the first Patriots' lead of the game.

A three and out featuring an Aqib Talib mugging of Denver's Demaryus Thomas led to another Denver punt, Edelman fielding the ball at his own 33 and returned it 20 yards on a cross field reverse to the Denver 47 yard line - the ensuing drive starting with a Vereen seven yard run, then a Gronkowski catch got the Patriots a first down at the 36...

...then a Vereen catch for a first down to the 24.  A holding call on Matthew Mulligan set the Patriots back to the 34 for a 1st & 20, but a Danny Travathan penalty for a hand to the face on Gronkowski gave the Patriots an automatic first down - a Thompkins catch took the ball to the 15, but they could get no closer and were forced to settle for a Stephen Gostkowski field goal and a 31-24 lead.

Denver got serious on their next drive, knowing that if they didn't create some offense that the game would slip away from them.

Manning came out clicking, lucking out on a holding call on Aqib Talib - lucked out because Talib had picked him off - then took his second life and drove the Broncos down the field - against the wind - aided by a  Rob Ninkovich pass interference call, throwing a 10 yard fade to Thomas to tie the game with 3:06 to play and breaking the Patriots' string of 31 consecutive points scored.

Both teams had one more possession but couldn't make anything out of them, the Patriots going three and out, and excellent pass defense by Kyle Arrinton and Talib forced a Denver punt and the teams were headed to overtime.

New England won the coin flip for overtime and elected to take the wind on offense, but in doing so gave the ball to Manning and the Broncos first to start overtime - a curious decision be as the Broncos had moved the ball on the Patriots all game, and if they were to score a touchdown, the game would be over.

And the Broncos came out shoving the ball right up New England's gut, Moreno ripping off a couple of big runs to get the ball into Patriots' territory.  But an offensive pass interference call on Decker put the Broncos in a third and 14 and Talib made a nice play on Thomas and the Patriots had the ball with a chance to prove Belichick a genius.

A pass to Gronkowski for 12, a Bolden run for 6 - then an obvious pass interference on Quentin Jammer went uncalled and Brady absolutely lost it, having to call a time out to gain his composure - then the worst play call of the night, a Brady long ball toward Edelman went sailing out of bounds and New England was forced to punt once again.

Some big running from Moreno got the ball to midfield for Denver, then Manning connects with Tamme to the New England 40, needing the 30 for field goal position, setting up the defensive play of the game for New England.

Rookie linebacker Jamie Collins had coverage on former Patriot Wes Welker, jammed him at the line, then knocked the ball away from him in the flat to force a Broncos punt - but Brady couldn't connect with Amendola nor Gronkowski on consecutive plays and the Patriots were forced to punt the ball back to Denver...

...the kick hitting the ground, bounced up and hit backup corner Tony Carter and the live ball was recovered by backup safety Nate Ebner for New England - and one 20 yard Gostkowski field goal and the Patriots had the improbable victory. 

A dejected Del Rio told his tale of woe at the post game presser, Manning as well - but unlike the prisoners who were forced to cross the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, the Broncos would pass underneath it to the bus that would take them to Logan Airport, their vessel for the long flight home awaiting...

...chances are very good that these two teams will meet again - and only in the AFC Championship game for the right to go to the Super Bowl, and with Denver falling to 9-2 and New England raising their record to 8-3, the only question remaining is at which cold and windy stadium will the game be played.

If at Gillette, the Bridge of Sighs awaits the Broncos again.  So do those resilient and battle tested Patriots, who now, despite all of their injuries and bad breaks, look to be the class of the AFC once again.

Brady leads epic comeback, shocks Manning's Broncos in overtime

Any questions?

There shouldn't be any questions at all about these New England Patriots when it comes to mental toughness, when it comes to heart, or when it comes to the right arm of Tom Brady.

Blown out of their own building in the first thirty minutes of play, fumbling the ball six times, not able to run the ball, Brady taking a savage beating in the pocket - the Broncos taking advantage of the New England comedy of errors, scoring on defense as part of 17 points off turnovers and the Broncos running game shoving the ball down the Patriots' collective throat...

...trailing 24-0 at the break after the worst half of football ever played by a Bill Belichick team, the New England Patriots scored on five consecutive possessions for 31 unanswered points - then capitalized on a Denver turnover late in overtime as the Patriots scored an epic 34-31 comeback victory over the Broncos on Sunday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

Brady was simply sensational.

After throwing for just 81 yards in the first half, Brady came out of the tunnel on fire in the second half, throwing for 263 and three touchdowns, leaning on his veteran receivers Julian Edelman and big Rob Gronkowski and getting timely assists from H-back Shane Vereen and rookie Kenbrell Thompkins to methodically move the chains.

And all into an icy wind that drove steadily into his face at a clip of 25 miles per hour.

The Broncos' defense had no answer for the Patriots' quarterback in the second half, and part of that had to do with the final play of the first half.

New England had gained possession of the football when Denver's Trindon Holliday muffed a Ryan Allen punt and rookie defensive end Michael Buchanan fell on it at midfield - but with just five seconds left before halftime, Brady heaved a pass into the strong wind coming out of the north and the pass fluttered...

...Denver's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie diving to try and make the interception and landing awkwardly on his shoulder - so lost for the rest of the game, Brady picking on his replacement, rookie corner Kayvon Webster and then on 12 year veteran Quentin Jammer until Broncos coach Jack Del Rio finally went to pure zone defense to try and stop the red hot Brady.

But by the time he did, Brady had already brought the Patriots all the way back - and then some.

Edelman burned the Broncos' secondary repeatedly, catching nine balls for 110 yards and two touchdowns - and Gronkowski caught seven for 90 tough yards, half of them dragging defenders behind him.  Brandon Bolden did just enough to keep the defense honest, being promoted to lead back after Stevan Ridley and LeGarrette Blount both lost fumbles, going for 58 yards on 13 carries.

Which pales in comparison to what Knowshon Moreno did to the Patriots, consistently gashing the light New England rush defense look for 224 yards on 37 carries - which was fortunate for Denver because quarterback Peyton Manning had his worst game of the season, the brutal cold and trying to throw into a stiff wind limiting him to 150 yards passing on a 19 of 36 performance.

But in the end, it was Brady outperforming everyone else on the field - and if you still have any questions about Brady or these New England Patriots - about their heart or their will or their talent - maybe you shouldn't watch football any more.

Photo Credit - David Silverman via New England Patriots

AFC East Roundup: Jets, Phins fall

The New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins had a golden opportunity slip through their fingers on Sunday afternoon.

The Ravens upended the Jets 19-3

With wins, they both would have kept pace with the AFC East division leading New England Patriots and kept themselves firmly within striking distance at two games back with five games to play - but with losses, both now have to hope that the Denver Broncos can beat the Patriots in Foxborough this evening.

If the Broncos prevail, what could have been an anxiety-emitting cushion of just one game for New England will still be two games - and if the Patriots win at home, their lead in the division will three games, virtually assuring that New England will win yet another division title.

The Jets lost to the Baltimore Ravens 19-3 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore while the Dolphins blew a big lead in the second half at home to fall to the Carolina Panthers 20-16.

And it gets even worse.

Currently in the AFC wildcard race, there are five teams tied for the two remaining spots, the Chargers, Steelers and Ravens joining the Jets and Dolphins with identical 5-6 records, while four other teams are a game back of them.

Clearly, the Playoff picture in the AFC is getting more and more muddled as the year progresses and the Jets and Dolphins have contributed to that mightily today.

New England Patriots on paper: Mother Nature calls for old-school approach

This is the New England Patriots game to win or lose.

The Denver Broncos bring their high wire act to Gillette Stadium on Sunday night and while much has been made of Peyton Manning and the Broncos' offense and also of the Patriots' injury woes in the secondary, Mother Nature doesn't want to hear any of it.

Ridley and the Patriots' running game will carry the mail on Sunday night

No, the margarine eating floozy that controls the life cycles of trees and such will, on occasion, cause the weather to be so inclimate that it renders passing attacks void and puts a premium on execution and fundamentals - in other words, she levels the playing field.

On Sunday night in Foxborough, she will do just that.

With temperatures forecasted to be in the teens and steady winds topping out at 35 miles per hour - for a wind chill factor close to zero - both the Patriots and Broncos passing games will be affected, perhaps Manning's more than Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady's simply due to the velocity on their footballs...

...where Manning throws a fluttering duck, Brady throws a tight spiral, the aerodynamics involved should be obvious.

Even so, throw conventional wisdom out the window.

Neither passer will be able to go down the field with any level of confidence, and even throws to the sidelines will be an adventure - so anything gained by the passing games will be in the form of screens to the backs, middle of the field stuff to the slot guys and maybe intermediate routes to the possession type receivers.

But while both teams' passing attacks do those things well, the weather forces the Broncos to sacrifice more of their offense than it does New England - which levels the playing field to the point that the afore mentioned execution and fundamentals will dictate the outcome of this game.

While the Broncos have been covered previously, the weather amends their attack - but it also tasks both defenses similarly.

For instance, part of the Patriots defensive game plan was to stop the run and limit the yards after the catch in Manning's short, quick-read attack, forcing the Broncos into time-consuming drives in order to score their points which, in effect, would also limit the number of possessions that Manning has to work his magic - and the same now has to be true for the Broncos' defense against Brady.

Denver features a lightning quick front seven that ranks 5th in the NFL in yards allowed per rushing attempt, anchored by tackles Terrance Knighton and Kevin Vickerson up the middle, supported on the second level with underrated middle linebacker Wesley Woodyard and young weak side tackling machine Danny Trevathan...

...with pass rush demons for defensive ends, starters Shaun Phillips and Derek Wolfe combining with back ups Robert Ayers and Malik Jackson to account for 22 of the Broncos 29 sacks on the season - and with strong side linebacker Von Miller back in the swing after serving a league mandated suspension, pressure from the edges is Denver's game.

Knighton does get some penetration up the middle, but for the most part any pressure coming at Brady will be from his blindside - which works decidedly in the Patriots' favor with their running game established to set up the play action, so long as they follow the pattern that has worked for them all season, which is running right up the middle and to the left of center.

Why?  The play action will naturally draw the ends up and around the edge, opening running lanes for running backs Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen and LeGarrette Blount off guard and off tackle - and all three should have a major impact on this game - with Vereen and possibly receiver Josh Boyce working the jailbreak screen to the left.

The impact of the pass catchers is going to have to be more in line with how Denver plays it, with short, quick-read throws put in a spot where the receivers can catch the ball on the run to allow for maximum after the catch yardage.

The problem is that Woodyard and Trevathan are excellent in pass coverage underneath, particularly the hyper-tense Trevathan who has eight passes defended and three interceptions to his credit.  He has also forced two fumbles and leads the Broncos in tackles with 79 - so this front seven is incredibly adept at dictating terms to the opposing offense.

The counter, of course, is getting the running game going - even if it is three yards and a cloud of exhaled mist.  Ridley is one of the most explosive running backs in the league and is the Patriots' version of the bell cow who will wear down a front seven with his 20 carries, then turn things over to Blount to step on their throats...

...but Vereen is the x-factor for this game.  Other than tight end Rob Gronkowski, no one player affects a game like Vereen can.  He will run between the tackles, curl into the pattern from the backfield, line up in the slot, line up out wide, step inside for the screen - he is an H-back without the size, but has speed to burn and will probably draw the attention of one of Denver's safeties.

As for the Patriots' passing game, this is a contest where the veteran presence will be counted on to make the majority of the plays.  Rookie speedsters Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce will be counted on to take corners Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Champ Bailey (if he plays) outside the numbers while rookie possession receiver Kenbrell Thompkins is an intermediate threat that could see a throw or two up the middle...

...but Brady will be looking at slot presence Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman and, of course, Gronkowski.  The issue is that Amendola and Edelman are rarely open in space like Welker is for the Broncos, so their yards after the catch are virtually non-existent - which leaves Gronkowski in the flat and up the seam.

Separately, this does not bode well for the Patriots' offense, but if Ridley and company can get the running game established and the Broncos are forced to focus on that more than they normally would, everything else will open up for Brady...

...and should Vereen and Gronkowski start getting loose in space, the Denver defense could be in for a long, painfully cold evening.

Wind, cold await Broncos in Foxborough

The National Weather Service is forecasting frigid temperatures and gusting winds at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night when the New England Patriots host the Denver Broncos in NBC's nationally televised showcase.

The forecasted low of 15F combined with expected steady winds of 25mph, gusting to 35mph will be blasting the field from the northwest.  From that direction, the field will experience a cross breeze from the visitor's sideline to the Patriots' sideline.

If at all possible, the Patriots will certainly try to work toward the south end of the stadium in the 4th quarter.

For what it's worth (which isn't much) Manning is 2-5 in games that are played in temperatures below 30 degrees, and 0-2 with temperatures in the teens...

As for the rest of the AFC East:

The New York Jets visit the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday at 1:00pm, with an expected gametime temperatures around 35 degrees with 25mph winds from the northwest.

The Jets are 5-5 and two games back of the Patriots in the AFC East.  A win against the Ravens would put some pressure on New England as they prepare to face the Broncos later on Sunday night.

The Miami Dolphins host those Carolina Panthers at 1:00pm Sunday afternoon at Sun Life Stadium in Miami - the expectation being for light rain and a brisk 22mph wind out of the north.

The Dolphins are also 5-5.

The Buffalo Bills are on their bye week, but if they were playing, the temperature in Buffalo at 1:00pm on Sunday is forecast to be 24 degrees with 20mph winds out of the north and light snow.

New England Patriots on Paper: A mugging in Foxborough

What's the best way to keep the Denver Broncos from scoring a gazillion points?

Well there's the Ace Ventura angle, kidnapping quarterback Peyton Manning and their spastic mascot, Miles, holding them hostage until the game with the New England Patriots is over - or the Patriots could simply stop the run and at the same time take away Manning's quick-read patterns and force him to go with the ball where he is least comfortable.

Stopping the run is key to the Patriots' success

Manning gets the ball out of his hand to his quick-read faster than anyone in the National Football League, and the response that most teams have to his game is to throw nickle and dime defenses at him that are designed to protect against anything going over the top for a big play...

...but Manning isn't that guy any longer.  The accuracy and velocity on his deep ball went bye-bye sometime in the last couple of years, so the Broncos have set up an offense for him that can run the football effectively enough that the play action freezes the slot corner and linebackers just long enough for them to gain instant separation.

Eighty percent of Manning's passes travel less than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage, but his receivers gain such separation and Manning gets the ball out so quickly that the yards after the catch make up much of the yardage total, and former Patriot Wes Welker is an integral part of that along with speedy wideout Demaryius Thomas - and Eric Decker.  And former basketball player-turned tight end Julius Thomas...

...but the Patriots can't just throw a dime defense at them and dare them to run the ball - as some have suggested - because the Broncos can play it that way, too.

Knowshon Moreno has become a dual threat in the Manning-led offense, running mostly right up the gut for four yards per carry but also curling out into the pattern to the tune of 37 catches for nine yards per reception - which means that at any given time, Manning can split three wide with an excellent pass catching tight end covering the weak side and an accomplished receiving running back curling out of the backfield - all capable of moving the sticks.

Which is why many teams come at the Broncos' offense with a dime package, and we may see some of that against Denver from the Patriots on Sunday night, but Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia would be prudent to play basic, fundamental football - stop the run, limit the yards after the catch on the underneath stuff and force Manning into third and long situations which will force him to the intermediate routes - and do it with a nickle base.

In other words, the Patriots are going to have to play physical, smashmouth defense at the first point of contact - or an old-school mugging, as it were.

Because if Manning's short game is limited and his running game rendered ineffective, he will be forced to try and go over the top on 3rd and long, a scenario that actually favors the Patriots, even with a banged up secondary - and even with Demaryius Thomas and his 4.38 speed in the pattern.

The common perception that many in the media have built for the Broncos is that they are an unstoppable juggernaut, a relentless scoring machine - and while they do lead the league in points per game, there is another reason why they can score so many points.

Because their passing game is predicated on yards after the catch, and also because Manning is so good at putting his receivers in excellent position to gain maximum post-catch yardage, the Broncos can move up and down the field very quickly as evidenced by their ridiculous average time of possession of 2:18 per series, which is the lowest number by far in the NFL...

...and with their defense sporting nearly the same average in length of possession allowed, Denver is averaging 13 possessions a game, which means that they have scored on nearly half of their possessions this season - although this number is a bit deceiving.

The Broncos came out of the gate in the 2013 season on fire, averaging 46 points per game, mostly against the abysmal NFC East opponents, also beating up on the Ravens and Raiders in the first five games of the season - scoring on 56% of their possessions...

...but in the past five games, they are averaging two touchdowns less per game and scoring on "just" 37% of their possessions while beating the likes of Jacksonville, Washington and San Diego and Kansas City, but losing to Indianapolis.

What all of this means is that the Broncos' offense has come back to earth a bit as teams have figured out ways to make them an all or nothing entity, meaning that either they score quickly or they give the ball back quickly - they do not feature long, clock-killing drives - but that is exactly what New England needs them to do.

But forcing this kind of scenario requires some creativity on the part of the New England coaching staff.

In employing a nickle defense instead of an all-out dime, the Patriots can feature a variation of a Cover-2, wherein the corners play up on the line and engage the receivers to try and disrupt the timing of their routes while two linebackers patrol the middle of the field and fill quickly both in run support and as a physical presence on crossing routes...

...and the safeties split the field and support on the deep zones.  The safeties are key in this scenario, particularly if Aqib Talib is able to play and is anything near 100%, because as a big corner with good speed, Talib can handle Thomas on the outside and that would free up free safety - and former cornerback - Devin McCourty to align himself in coverage opposite Talib while Steve Gregory and rookie Duron Harmon handle the back end.

If Kyle Arrington is able to go with his groin issue resolved, he would get Welker underneath with linebacker support, if not, Rookie Logan Ryan could compete as well - and we could even see a defensive end drop back into coverage and try to limit the tight end play.

Whichever way Belichick decides to attack this offense, the idea is to get full value out of the five-yard buffer wherein a defender is allowed contact with a receiver and slow down his release, taking away the timing of Manning's quick read routes and giving the Patriots' defensive line that extra second to try and get to Manning...

...which has been pretty tough for any teams' pass rush to do, as Manning has been sacked just 13 times on the season.  Much of that has to do with the quick-read throws, but his offensive line has been excellent as well - so the goal for Chandler Jones, Chris Jones and Rob Ninkovich could be gap responsibility and penetration, chipping receivers coming off the line and sustaining gaps for rouge blitzing linebackers and corners.

But, of course, if they can somehow get to Manning themselves, that could completely change the entire philosophy.

Regardless, with an offense as proficient as the Broncos are bringing to Foxborough, and with as banged up as the secondary is, the Patriots can't afford to set back in a three-deep zone and allow the Broncos to move up and down the field quickly - they must force the issue, make Denver sustain long, time-consuming drives to get their points which in turn will limit the number of times they get the ball.

Even if New England is able to eliminate only three possessions from the Broncos' average of 13 per game - and given that the Patriots are right around the league average in scoring possessions allowed - they could conceivably hold the Broncos to four scores on the day...

...and with the Patriots' red zone defense being one of the best in the NFL - and their offense being not too shabby themselves - this scenario could lead to a resounding victory.

Patriots' injury report proves things are not always as they appear

In the world of sports reporting, Humpty Dumpty-style fence sitting is often confused for objective journalism, particularly within the closed fraternity of the fickle Boston Media.

So when New England Patriots' Brandon Spikes emerged from the locker room in sweats for Friday's practice session at the Gillette Stadium practice complex, the media immediately hopped up on the brick wall of objectivity, declaring en mass that the hard-hitting linebacker "May be" a game time decision due to a knee injury.

Spikes (bottom) is probable for Sunday night

And why not?  Coach Bill Belichick has a distaste of reporters that borders on psychotic abhorration, and the day that he shares more than what is absolutely mandated by the National Football League rules will be - well - never, which leaves the job of a Patriots' beat writer an effort of mass speculation, to the point that knee-jerk reaction is acceptable for print.

It was a round 3:00pm that the reports of Spikes being in sweats and chatting idly with linebackers' coach Pepper Johnson on the sidelines started to surface, the beat writers speculating that since his teammates were in shorts and shells, his problematic knee injury must be bad enough to warrant a call of "Game-time decision"...

...knowing that they had a 50/50 shot of being right - and if they weren't, well, they could just chalk it up to Belichick's capricious nature.

No need for retraction, because the fans that have been exposed to the irresponsible journalism for their entire lives have never needed one, at least not for as long as the abruptly coy head coach has been running the show.

And good thing, too, for at around 6:00pm when that league mandate came into effect and Belichick had to burn an injury report, there was Spikes name associated with the status of "Probable".

Ah, Billy Bedlam.  Will we ever be able to figure you out?

Brandon Spikes has a knee injury that has limited him in practice all week, and today he's chewing the fat with Pepper on the side in loungewear but listed as probable for the Broncos game, while nearly every starter in the Patriots secondary is listed as questionable and are going at it in shells and shorts.

Shouldn't that be the other way around?

If the cryptic Belichick has left us anything to read between the lines, it's that appearances can be deceiving.  Alfonzo Dennard had arthroscopic surgery last week to repair a torn meniscus, and would figure to be doubtful, yet it's been reported by many sources that he appears to be moving well.

Steve Gregory has chronic hitchhiker's thumb after snapping it in the Pittsburgh game before the bye, an obvious candidate for the inactive roster on game day, yet word from around town is that he will definitely play on Sunday night - and Aqib Talib assures us that his hip is "Alright", while Kyle Arrington played through his groin issue on Monday night and looks good to go, too...

...and if this is how things are going to pan out 90 minutes before game time on Sunday night when Belichick must have his roster pared down to 46 active players, that news would be much better than Patriots' fans could have hoped for - which means Humpty Dumpty can remain firmly planted on the wall of objectivity.

I went to Monday Night Football, and a hockey game broke out...

Fights happen all the time in sports, most in retaliation for a perceived wrong by one player to another.

In most sports, it's simply a matter of an overindulgence in testosterone-driven revenge while. In baseball, a fight can be in response to anything as fickle as a batter taking too long to round the bases after clubbing a home run.  In basketball, a brawl may ensue if a player takes exception to what is termed a flagrant foul.

In football, it's just a matter of being caught up in the heat of the moment mixed with trash talk induced blood pressure spikes - and all behaviors are borne out of childhood playground scuffles.

Remember in grade school, there was always one kid that was the playground antagonizer, the punk that would target another kid to the point that the kid would become so infuriated that he would retaliate - and more than likely right in front of a teacher...

...the punk backing off with his arms half-raised in mock-innocence, seemingly shocked at the kid's unprovoked outburst of violence?

Right.  We've all been there.  Aqib Talib was there on Monday night.

Hardly innocent of his own brand of trash talking, Talib nevertheless fell into Carolina receiver Steve Smith's antagonistic trap, lost his cool and paid the price while Smith went on about his business.

Talib's meltdown on the biggest regular season stage the NFL has to offer did more than just cost his team 15 yards, it's likely going to cost him some money in the form of a fine for instigating a fight, and maybe even a weekly paycheck or two if the league determines that his actions on the field during the New England Patriots' controversial loss to the Panthers were due to premeditated malice, given his spotty history.

Logan Mankins too.

The issue is that the Patriots are so short handed and so undermanned due to injury that they can not afford to give away even five yards for a defensive holding, 10 yards for an offensive holding and certainly not 15 yards for a personal foul  - not to mention having one of them ejected from the game or suspended.

It is a testament to the coaching and overall discipline of the personnel that they were able to hang on and have a chance to win every single game this season, but it's not fair to them for Talib or Mankins to lose their cool and go after another player for a perceived wrong or idle chatter...

...nor is it fair for either the Patriots or Panthers that Marcus Cannon leg whipped defensive end Charles Johnson, an action that would have cost the Patriots another 15 yards had the officials seen it, the cheap shot most likely costing the Panthers the services of one of their best players.

Perhaps what football needs is an outlet to settle differences, a way for teammates to protect their own.  Perhaps they need someone like the Boston Bruins' Jarome Iginla to set this up.

"Does fighting still have a place in today's NHL?  My answer is a qualified yes,"  Iginla wrote in this week's issue of Sports' Illustrated,  "I temper my response because I don't know of any player who truly loves fighting. Ideally it would not be a part of the game. But the nature of our sport is such that fighting actually curtails many dirty plays that could result in injuries."

Iginla was writing in response to a growing rumor that the topic of a fighting ban in the sport is scheduled to be revisited at the NHL general managers meeting meeting in March, after being touched upon briefly at last spring's meeting.

The Boston Bruins' forward contends that fighting is an avenue for the players to police their own in regard to dangerous practices that could cause injury, that there's a "purpose behind almost every fight" and that fighting "helps hold players accountable for their actions on the ice, even more so than penalties."

In baseball, the umpires warn both benches if they see tempers starting to escalate on the diamond and are quick to eject an offending player - usually a pitcher for throwing a bean ball.  In basketball, double technical fouls are assessed if a scuffle starts on the court and players ejected at the discretion of the referees.

In hockey, the pugilists are sent to the penalty box for five minutes while their teams skate on as a matter of course, and after the game there are no hard feelings and hand shakes all around - which Iginla contends would be vastly different should the league outlaw the practice.

"If [fighting] was taken out of the game, I believe there would be more illegal stickwork," Iginla continues, "most of it done out of sight of the referees; more slashes to the ankles or wrists, and in between pads; and more cross checks to the tailbone,"

"Incidents of players taking such liberties are rare in today's game because fighting gives us the ability to hold each other accountable. If you play dirty, you're going to have to answer for it."

Those who don't follow hockey see the practice as barbaric and dangerous, unaware that the NHL has a defined set of rules for fighting etched in stone in the sport's rule book - and to violate the safety rules for fisticuffs means a game misconduct penalty, which is an ejection and a visit with Brendon Shanahan, the Director of Player Safety for the league, who decides how many games a player misses for bending the rules.

And, yes.

In a sport so defined in it's efforts to promote player safety, the idea of allowing two monstrous football players have at each other under the auspices of a set of "gentleman's rules" to help ensure the safety of the combatants and to help curtail the practices of cheap shots and general ill behavior makes no sense, right?

Who could imagine that Talib and Smith would have each been sent to a penalty box for the following five minutes of possession, spilling over into the next possession until the five minutes were satisfied?  Who could imagine that an "Enforcer" on the Panthers' defense would be allowed to go after Cannon for leg whipping Johnson...

...and then afterwards, no hard feelings?  Maybe just a suspension or two - because make no mistake, what Cannon did is worthy of a suspension and, had the opposing players had a legal avenue to police themselves, the matter would have been handled swiftly, rather than with the lingering hostilities that we're hearing coming from the Carolina Panthers' players and coaching staff.

Ah, these delusions are getting worse as the season goes on.  The Patriots are in the midst of one of the worst plagues of injury in it's history and can ill afford a suspension to a player who already represents the second level on the team's depth chart, while the Bruins are just into their season - their veteran crew dealing with injuries of their own to their blue liners.

I wonder if Iginla can play right tackle...

Patriots mugged by Panthers, but game was decided long before that

With 6:42 left in regulation and a tie score between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers, the Patriots had a 3rd down and one yard to go at the Panthers' 14 yard line.

New England had run the ball well all game and on the two previous plays, LeGarrette Blount, the Patriots' 250 pound hammer back had gained three and six yards respectively, yet when they broke the huddle, a pass play had been called, one that ended with the ball sailing well over receiver Aaron Dobson's head - and the Patriots had to settle for a field goal, leaving four points - four very important points - on the field.

Forget everything else.

Forget the Ridley fumble deep in Panthers' territory, forget that the Panthers had gotten into the heads of Aqib Talib and Logan Mankins to draw hurtful personal fouls.  Forget the absolutely horrific, controversial non-call of an obvious holding call in the back of the end zone on the final play of the game.

Where this game was lost for the New England Patriots was on that 3rd and 1 call.

What it was that caused Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to think that a field goal was going to be good enough against a Carolina quarterback that had scored on four of the Panthers' six posessions - that a three point lead was going to hold up against said hot quarterback with a full six minutes and change to drive the field - well, there is no reasoning to it.

No guts, no glory.

Particularly frustrating for Patriots' fans is the fact that the defense played well enough to win, but hurt themselves at the most critical of times, either by penalty or loss of containment on Panthers' quarterback Can Newton, who extended three different scoring drives with his elusiveness and scrambling ability.

Newton ran seven times for a game-high 62 yards and hit speedy wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr on a short out pattern with just less than a minute left in the game that Ginn turned into a 25 yard touchdown and the Carolina defense did just enough to hold off the New England Patriots 24-20 in an exciting Monday Night Football matchup at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

On offense, it was Newton - there was nothing else.  This was not a coming of age for a Panthers' team that has now won six in a row, not a statement game for a team that now is just one game back of the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South race, nor an evolution of an up and coming team.

It was Cam Newton coming of age.  It was Cam Newton making a statement.  It was the evolution of a good young quarterback into a great young quarterback.  Cam Newton put his Carolina Panthers' team on his shoulders and carried them to victory.

The Patriots completely shut down the Carolina run game, three Panthers' running backs combined for 45 yards on 16 carries for a 2.5 yards per carry average - but Newton sliced through the New England defense for nine yards per carry.  He threw for 209 yards and three touchdowns on a 19 for 28 performance.

This was Cam Newton's win.  He put the ball where it needed to be and he put his teammates in the position to be successful.

The Carolina defense couldn't stop the Patriots offense, running back LeGarrette Blount hammering the Panthers' vaunted front seven for five yards per carry, quarterback Tom Brady completing three quarters of his passes to seven different wide open receivers, throwing for 296 yards and a touchdown to Gronkowski...

...but it was the last pass that he threw to the monstrous tight end that will be the subject of much conjecture for weeks to come, the play that ended with a Brady interception as Gronkowski was escorted forcefully out of the play by Panthers' linebacker Luke Kuelchy, regardless if it was pass interference, face guarding or simply defensive holding, the fact remains that the back judge threw a penalty flag - and was overruled by the side judge and the umpire.

Naturally, the Patriots would still have to execute and score on the next play as the game could not end on a defensive penalty, but they never were given the opportunity - in the end, however, it was the Patriots miscues, and a poor play call on a certain 3rd and one late in the game that ultimately doomed them to defeat.

The Carolina defense couldn't stop them, so they were fortunate that the Patriots did that job for them.

Live Blog: Patriots vs Panthers & Bruins vs Hurricanes...

Lewiston, Maine

The distance between the cities of Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina is 166 miles - but with both the New England Patriots and Boston Bruins playing in the Tar Heel state on Monday night, the distance for Boston Sports fans is as short as the "last" button on the TV remote...

...and in this filthy little central Maine burgh, the difference between the networks that they are carried on - ESPN for the Patriots and Panthers at 8:40pm EDT and NESN for the Bruins and Hurricanes - is only two channels on the dial to begin with.

But to make it even easier for our readers, Foxborough Free Press and Little Blog of Hate will be hosting a live blog to keep fans of both teams informed of the goings-on in both cities.

Posts will automatically update as events warrant and, barring that, at least every five minutes - so check back often!

11:32pm - 3 seconds left Brady into the end zone, Gronkowski mugged by the coverage.  Referee throws the flag, then picks it up - no foul, the ball is intercepted, game over.  Panthers win 24-20.

11:31pm - 1st down and game for Patriots from the 25 yard line...

11:20pm - 3rd down  pass interference call on Carolina on Dobson - 1st down,  The to Vereen in the middle of the field for 10 yards, 6 seconds left.

11:27pm - Brady hits Amendola for 10 yards and a first down on the Carolina 47 with 29 seconds left.

11:24pm - Brady hits Gronkowski with a 23 yard strike on 4th and 10 to keep the drive alibve.  1st down on the 42 with 40 seconds left.

11:21pm - 80 yards, 59 seconds 3 time outs.

11:16pm - Not sure if Talib is hurt but he was on the sideline, Arrington burned on a comebacker, misses the tackle and Ted Ginn gives the Panthers the lead back at 24-20 with 59 seconds left in the game.

11:12pm - Another penalty on the Patriots, this one puts the Panthers in field goal range.  Holding on McCourty on Olsen for a Carolina 1st down - two minute warning.

11:09pm - Panthers are rolling, Newton in stride.  Olsen for 15 yards.  Now in Patriots' territory.  three minutes remaining.

11:06pm - Newton is killing the Patriots with his legs on 3rd down - easily converts a 3rd and 6.  He is the leading rusher in the game.

10:58pm - Blount running hard, 3rd and 1 they decide to pass and miss the opportunity.  Gostkowski hits a wobbler for a 20-17 lead.  Play call is curious given how well the Patriots have run the ball.  6:32 remaining.

10:57pm - Brady hits Gronkowski for a 1st down inside the red zone after getting the first first down with Vereen on a swing route.

10:51pm - Ninkovich sacks Newton on an inside stunt.  The Logan Ryan breaks up a pass intended for LaFell for a great stop.  Amendola fields a punt and returns it to the Carolina 40.

10:46pm - Brady in the zone, hit's Thompkins on a beautiful 37 yard catch and run, set up by the play action from successful running.  Ridley pounds it in from the 2 and the game is tied at 17 with 12:33 remaining.

10:41pm - Vereen is making a big difference in this game.  Six catches for 48 yards.  Headed to the 4th quarter, Patriots driving, Ridley back in after serving his time in the house - 2nd & 5 at their own 40.

10:40pm - Ridley is back in the game.

10:34pm - 3rd & 4 at the New England 15 , 15 yard touchdown pass to Olsen, covered by McCourty, 17-10 Panthers answer right back.

10:32pm - Smith is just using Talib - Talib's worst game of the season by far.  16 yards and a 1st down.

10:30pm - Tolbert just got a 1st down on pure muscle run, stiff armed Devin McCourty who had him dead to rights for a loss.

10:24 - Newton just fired up his offense with a huge 3rd and 7 run for a 1st. His elusiveness was evident on that play as he dodged 4 different Patriots for 9 yards.  Arrington shaken up on the play.

10:18pm - Gronkowski drags three Panthers into the end zone for a Patriots' touchdown to tie the game at 10.

10:13pm - Blount running very hard, McDaniels obviously wanting to establish momentum with the run.   Panthers' defense back on their heels.

10:09pm - Ridley benched, Vereen and Blount going to carry the load.  Nice screen to Vereen to start the first drive of the half, then Blount rips off 12 yards up the middle.

10:01pm - At the half, Newton 7 of 12 for 97 yards and the touchdown to LaFell.  Rushing game has 49 yards on 11 carrie, but take away, Newton's 1 rush for 24 yards and the Patriots have held the Panthers' running game to 2.5 yards per carry.

10:00pm - At the half, Brady 14 of 17 for 123 yards, Ridley 9 carries for 33 yards and the fumble, Blount 3 carries for 14 yards.   3.9 yards per carry in the first half.

9:55pm - Chandler Jones finally gets to Newton, rushing as a tackle in the 3 technique to end the half.  10-3 Panthers at the half, but if it weren't for the Patriots losing their cool, the Panthers may not have had any points.

9:47pm - 14 yard strike to Gronkowski makes it 4th and 8, Patriots line up to go for it, let the clock wind down, then take a time out.  Going into the brisk wind Gostkowski puts the ball through to cut the Panthers' lead to 10-3 with just over a minute remaining in the half.

9:44pm - Two minute warning, Patriots with a 3rd and 22 in Panthers' territory.  Panthers' clearly in the heads of the Patriots...Panthers may have more penalty yards in their favor than actual yardage...

9:43pm - Patriots losing their cool again, Mankins again - 15 yards...

9:40pm - Thompkins nice moves off the line for a 1st down catch and 23 yards then Vereen for 17...Blount in for Ridley...

9:33pm - Kyle Arrington with a nice pass breakup to force a field goal attempt, 10-0 Panthers...

9:31pm - Bruins 4, Hurricanes 1 Final...

9:30pm - Scccoooorrrreeee!!!  Milan Lucic makes it 4-1 Bruins with just seconds left...

9:28pm - Cam Newton runs for a first down - no lane responsibility, no containment on the edge.

9:26pm - No Patriots' pass rush at all, Newton has all day...

9:22pm - Ridley fumbles inside 10 yard line, Carolina recovers.

9:21pm - Personal foul on Carolina (face mask) extends a drive on 3rd down again.

9:20pm - Ridley really running hard, 7 carries for 34 yards...

9:19pm - Pats go for it on 4th & 2, penalty on Carolina 1st down.

9:15pm - Sc00000rrrreeee!!!  Johnny Boychuck makes it 3-0 Bruins midway through the 3rd period...

9:12pm - Brady looking for Amendola over the middle, Ridley a couple of nice runs...Carolina leads 7-0 end of 1st quarter...Patriots 1st & 10 wen play resumes at the Carolina 43.

9:10pm - It looks like the Patriots are trying to punk the Panthers instead of just playing...Mankins mixing it up now.

9:07pm - Josh Boyce was back to take the ensuing kickoff instead of LeGarrette Blount.

9:04pm - Brandon LaFell 9 yard pass from Cam Newton for a 7-0 Panthers' lead. Talib in danger of getting ejected.  Looked like Ryan on the underneath coverage on LaFell.

9:03pm - Talib and Smith at it agian, Talib really doesn't like smith it appears...

9:00pm - Panthers use their first time out after taking an illegal formation penalty on 2nd and goal.  Talib was benched for a few plays to cool off, now back in.

8:57pm - Smith and Talib mix it up after a short gain for a first down, Talib saying no more talk out of you...

8:54pm - Steve Smith beats Talib for a deep gain of 42...Panthers starting game with the fullback Tolbert running the ball thus far.

8:50pm - Greg Hardy beats Nate Solder around the corner for Carolina's first sack of the game - ends a Patriots' drive.  Allen punts, downed by Slater inside the 10.

8:47pm - Vereen catch produces a first down

8:45pm - Jailbreak screen working well...Edelman for 13...

8:44pm - Ebner in on the dime as the nickle safety, Talib almost picks off pass on 3rd & 9

8:40pm - Cats with ball first...touchback from Gostkowski...

8:35pm - five minutes until kick off in Charlotte!

8:30pm - Bruins kill of 5 on 3...but 'Canes clearly with the momentum with 3:00 left in 2nd...

8:28pm - 'Canes on 5-3 advantage as Campbell joins Boychuck in sin bin for delay of game...

8:27pm - Johnny Boychuck in the box for tripping at 7:00 left in 2nd.

8:20pm - 20 minutes until kickoff in Charlotte...Talib skipping out of the tunnel...

8:16pm - This hockey game is nearly identical in pace to the Senators' game on Friday...2-1 in the second, now both teams skating end to end, bad passes across the slot by the Bruins...living dangerously right now.

8:10pm - Bruins on the power play with 15:10 remaining in 2nd, hooking on Tlusty...

8:03pm - Interesting that many in the media are clearly on the fence in regard to the Patriots' chances to beat panthers...who's the dynasty here, Pats or Cats?  SMH...

8:00pm -  BOS 8:26 :37/1:02 on PP CAR 7:53 :58/2:00 on PP in attacking zone in 1st period, per Jack Edwards on Twitter

7:51pm - Carl Soderberg credited with second Bruins' goal after film review...

7:45pm - 2-1 Bruins at 1st intermission, Carolina scores a cheap goal on a slow roller on a misplayed puck by Patrice Bergeron in the slot, Tuomo Ruutu scores with 5 seconds left in the period, 2-1 Bruins...

 7:42pm - Caron takes a slashing penalty to give the 'Canes a man advantage with 4 minutes left in opening frame.

7:40pm - One hour until kickoff between Pats and Cats,  Patriots inactives vs. Panthers: CB-A. Dennard, S-S. Gregory, OG-C. Barker, DE-J. Bequette, RB-L. Washington, LB-S. Beauharnais, RB Bolden.

7:30pm - Bruins should be careful, they are dominating play but did the same against the Senators on Friday night and got their doors blown off, starting with a goal off a bad pass late in the 1st after taking a 2-0 lead.  The look much more rested and physical tonight, however...

7:24pm - Scoooorrrrreee!!!  Dennis Seidenberg off an offensive zone faceoff scoring from the top of the left circle for a 2-0 Bruins' lead midway through the 1st period.

7:12pm - Scooooorrrrrreeee!  Carl Soderberg finds Reilly Smith right on the crease for a power play goal and  a 1-0 lead for the B's at 17:29 remaining.

7:11pm - Dougie Hamilton finds Zdeno Chara in the high slot for a wide open shot, Chara misses, but a penalty on the 'Canes give the B's a power play just 1:29 in...

7:10pm - Cam Ward going for the 'Canes and Tuukka Rask for the B's...late arriving crown at PNC Arena...

7:00pm - Jordan Caron playing in place of Shawn Thornton for the B's - just getting him some playing time and giving Thornton the night off...the question begs, who will be the physical presence for the bruins tonight?

6:20pm - in reading through the pregame reporting, it is clear that the Carolina Panthers are trying to take a page out of the New York Jets' propaganda and intimidation book by asking their fans to dress in all black, as the Panthers will also be wearing Black jerseys.  Black is pretty imposing, and also holds heat in, so maybe this is just a public service by the team to keep the players and fans toasty warm as temps are expected to dip into the low 50's by game time...

Vereen's return signals inception of long-awaited juggernaut

This is what Patriots' fans have been waiting all season to see.

On a bright late summer afternoon in September, the New England Patriots started their season with plenty of mystery and intrigue associated with their new look offense - what with slot receiver Wes Welker essentially being fired, Danny Woodhead signing with San Diego for what amounts to chump change and Aaron Hernandez landing in the juzgado...

Patriots' fans hope to see plenty of this going forward

...also with all-world tight end Rob Gronkowski on the mend from more surgeries than a porn starlet, the team starting the year with three rookie receivers, an odd assortment of tight ends that all put together couldn't match the production of a Gronk having a bad day, and an offensive line whose collective pass blocking skill was under scrutiny after being exposed by the Detroit Lions in the preseason.

But the one thing that the Patriots could count on was a running back corps that was so diverse and individually talented that their potential to build upon last season's success was very real and, as we saw in that season opener, promised to be the cornerstone of a new offensive philosophy.

But it took all of one play for the unit to absorb a cruel hit that would take over two months to recover from.

On the very first offensive play of the season, running back Shane Vereen broke a bone in his wrist and was eventually placed on the teams' Injured Reserved List with a designation to return - but took a page out of Logan Mankins book of pain and taped an aspirin to his wrist and finished the game with 101 yards rushing on 14 carries and added another 58 yards on four pass receptions, giving us a tantalizing taste of what we could expect from him upon his return...

...which looks more and more like that's going to be on Monday night when the New England Patriots travel to Charlotte, North Carolina to to take on the Carolina Panthers under the lights at Bank of America Stadium.

Assuming that Vereen picks up where he left off in Buffalo, he will join explosive lead back Stevan Ridley and grinding clock killer LeGarrette Blount in a backfield which may suddenly become one of the most dangerous units in the National Football League.

And combined with a healthy group of pass catchers featuring Gronkowski, Danny Amendola and rookie receivers Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins, all the pieces to the offensive juggernaut are finally in place.

Vereen's skill set speaks to New England's need for a true all-purpose back, the final piece to the puzzle - tough between the tackles runner with ankle-breaking moves on the second level and an extra gear in the open field, and in the passing game he enables the jailbreak screen, can line up in the slot or outside the numbers and has terrific hands.

The presence of an all-purpose back opens up the entire playbook for coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, but also increases the probability for success in other areas.

Just as Gronkowski's return made an immediate impact on both the space that the other pass catchers had to work with and the efficiency of the running game, Vereen's return should enhance those things to the point of overwhelming the opposing defense.

So the gang's all together for the first time this season, and it's going to be a treat to see just how explosive a unit the Patriots' offense evolves into going forward.