Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff
Final Score
Patriots 40
Titans 23
Teddy’s Take: Weird game. I don’t know what to make of it. I thought I did at one point, but just when I thought I had the answer, they changed the question.
When I saw Brady continue to play into the 3rd and 4th quarters, I came to the conclusion Bill Belichick, much like most of Patriots Nation, would rather face the Jets than Broncos. How else do you explain leaving his banged-up starting QB in so long in a contest marred by chippiness and borderline cheap shots? It didn’t make much sense, particularly with the Colts likely to win at home and earn the 3rd seed anyway. Belichick must want that higher seed badly I thought, no matter how remote the possibility.
And then, with the game in doubt in the 4th quarter, in came Matt Cassel. All we’ll ever get is the stock answer “we did what’s in the best interest of the team,� but I’d love to know exactly what the thinking was behind risking Brady for three quarters, only to replace him at crunch time.
My other thoughts are; very impressive win by the Pats over a hot team with everything to play for in front of their home crowd…and it was nice to see Vinnie Testaverde get a chance to throw a TD pass for the 20th consecutive year (an NFL record), though I think it might have been better to bring him into the game earlier, rather than give the appearance of rubbing it in.
Oh yeah, thank you to
Shining Stars: Let’s place the obligatory star on the forehead on Tom Brady for another fine effort. Kudos also to Corey Diloln for the 2-TD’s, discovering the fountain of youth on that early game screen pass, and for passing O.J. Simpson to move into 14th place on the all-time rushing list (let’s hope he doesn’t end up stabbing anyone after he retires!)
Laurence Maroney also ran hard (13-carries for 71-yards) and gives us back the solid 1-2 punch heading into the playoffs…Reche Caldwell had one of his better games, with two long receptions, one of which was a 62-yard touchdown. I with he was more consistent, but you take what you can get…and let’s give a lifetime achievement star to Vinny Testaverde, for the record and a very nice little career.
On defense, the good Asante Samuel showed up. Two more interceptions gives him ten on the year, the league lead (until Champ Bailey got his), and a huge pay day in free agency…Mike Wright led the team in tackles (9, with 7 of the solo variety) while continuing to do a serviceable job filling in for Vince Wilfork…and props to the entire pass rush, as 5-different Patriots sacked Vince Young and continuously pressured the mobile phenom.
Quality Quote: “I think our goals are what’s ahead of us, not what’s behind us. That’s what we need to do, get ready for our next opponent, whoever that it, and be ready to play our best football next weekend, against whoever that is. That’s really where our focus is right now. I don’t think this is any time to sit back and have a big reflection.�—Bill Belichick on whether he’s proud of the 12-4 record.
That’s my take…what’s yours? Are you surprised at how the Patriots approached this game? Let’s here those playoff predictions!