Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Setting sail on a Columbus Day journey while wondering if the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria could generate more of a pass rush than the Patriots defensive line:

-In Richard Seymour, Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork, New England has as many first round draft picks on the D-Line as Columbus had ships, Yet somehow, Phillip Rivers dropped back to pass 27-times Sunday night and not only wasn’t he sacked at all, he was never even hit.

Now granted, there are all sorts of factors at play here, things like schemes and defensive philosophy. But for the life of me, I can’t recall the last time the Pats were able to consistently generate a pass rush without blitzing. Can you? Seems like it’s been years, doesn’t it? Shouldn’t a defensive line with three first rounders be able to pin its ears back from time to time and take over a game by harassing opposing quarterbacks?

I’ll sit back and patiently wait for the answers, much like Rivers did Sunday night waiting for his receivers to get open.

-Speaking of the Chargers pass catchers, how inept did they make New England’s secondary look? We’re not talking about Jerry Rice and John Taylor here. San Diego’s collection of non-talent makes the arsenal Tom Brady was throwing to before Randy Moss and Wes Welker arrived seem like the Wide Receivers wing at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Still, Chargers wideouts were allowed to roam more freely than Al Qaeda leadership on the Pakistani border.

Still think investing the big bucks in Randy Moss instead of Asante Samuel was worth it?

-If Brady’s injury is teaching us anything, it’s that a lot of Patriots players and coaches built their reputations on the arm and brain of old #12. I can’t believe how much we took for granted Brady’s ability to make quick decisions and throws in the heat of battle. Consider this year a glimpse into the future once Tom Terrific decides to spend all his days frolicking with Giselle Bundchen instead of getting beaten up by 300-pounders with worse intentions than the angry mobs at McCain pep rallies. (Editor's Note: We never miss an opportunity to post a Giselle picture on this blog)

-For those wondering why the Presidential candidacy of the Senator from Arizona is plummeting faster than the Dow Jones Industrial Average, here’s Exhibit A: somebody in charge believed it a good idea to dispatch hockey mom Sarah Palin to Philadelphia to drop the ceremonial first puck for the Flyers home opener.

Forget for a minute the fact Alaska’s Governor was already skating on thin ice in the heart of Democrat country. These are the same Philly sports fans who boo Santa Claus and players carted of the field on stretchers. What did the McCain campaign honchos think was going to happen in the City of Brotherly Tough Love?

-Why do people still question every little decision Terry Francona makes? Hasn’t the guy proven he’s the best manager in Red Sox history?

OK, so maybe he stuck with Josh Beckett a bit too long in Game 2 of the ALCS, and maybe Paul Byrd should have thrown a few innings before Mike Timlin was handed the ball. But doesn’t Francona make the right move more often than not?

Give me a guy who plays the percentages over the reckless likes of Mike Scioscia any day of the week. When Tito gambles his entire season on a suicide squeeze in the 9th inning, we can revisit the subject.

-Finally, is it me or are the Sox starting to resemble the 90’s Yankees? Every playoff series, it seems the opponent is one play, one pitch away from knocking off the champs. Yet when the chips are down, it’s Boston’s Boys of Summer making the winning play while the other side carps about bad luck and the better team losing.

Did I just say something nice about the Evil Empire?