Pats lose in first round for first time in Belichick's tenure. Game immensely ugly.

That was not a fun game to watch.

It wasn't enough that we gave up a 24-0 lead in the first quarter, it was even worse that we could get nothing together on the offense. Tom did not have a good day, but for the first half of the game, Baltimore's D was owning our O-line in awful ways. I mean come on. Dude almost didn't have time to hand the ball to Maroney at one point. That is not Brady's fault that he can't execute in such situations. The love-child of Peyton Manning and Joe Montana couldn't execute in such a situation.

The second half was better because they changed the snap count and it was effective. Fewer turn-overs. The turn-overs freaking killed us. And two of them bounced off someone and there just happened to be a Raven there (admittedly, we got one of those too, but three times in one game? When does that happen?).

Let's not even talk about the defense. I mean, full credit to the Ravens RBs (Flacco's QB rating was, like, 8.6 in the first half or something...Tom's was 32.something, which isn't exactly great either), who completely dominated our players, including that killer first run where we gave up, like, 833 yards (okay, it was actually 83, but it felt like ten times that). Wilfork was tied up most the time and contributed. TBC, bless him, picked off a ball that hit a Ravens' player. Not all was gloom and doom. No wait. The rest of the D was doom and gloom.

It was ugly. It was a horrible way to go out. It's time for Change. I'm torn because I think we desperately need new coaching staff, yet I think that part of the problem is the turnover in the coaching staff. Dilemma.

For you haters: Brady is not done (are you freaking kidding me?), Belichick is not washed up (he coached Matt Cassel to an 11-5 season last year!), and the Pats can be a strong team again. But there is a whole pile of work that needs to be done in this off-season. I have a laundry list:

1) Pass rush
2) Pass rush
3) Pass rush
4) Offensive coordinators whose plays are more exciting than 'Pass to Welker or, failing that, to Moss.'
5) Pass rush
6) Defensive coordinators who can teach how to rush the pass
7) BETTER FREAKING COACHING BY THE COORDINATORS
8) Pass rush
9) Running backs who can *hold* *on* *to* *the* *freaking* *ball*

That's all I've got.

Incidentally, who wants to take bets on when Adalius Thomas gets released? He can take his Jetson pack elsewhere, I think.

Two words

Tully Banta-Cain.

He had to go out of today's game too with an injury. Note that when we was there, we were still getting pressure on Brees. Dude is our most valuable defensive player right now and it's not just because of his awesome name that I say this.

Running backs about to go all Voltron

Here is Reiss to explain:

'Maroney compares running backs to “Voltron” cartoon. Drawing a large media crowd at his locker, running back Laurence Maroney talked about the team’s running back corps returning to full health. He compared the situation to Voltron, the cartoon character in which five pieces connect together to form one large robot. Sammy Morris went through a full week of practice for the first time since injuring his knee Oct. 18, and Fred Taylor is apparently making progress in his recovery from ankle surgery on Oct. 8.'

Things actually look relatively promising from the injury standpoint. TBC was seen back today (he was taken out in the Colts' game with a rib/groin injury) and apparently, we may have some running back(s) this week. Here's hoping.

Patriots re-sign TBC

Well, that mystery is solved: TBC was re-signed this morning.

New question: why the hell is Sir Elton John the honorary captain for the Patriots this week? And shouldn't it be 'honourary'?

Things are going down in Foxborough

1) Last night, the team announced that it had cut Tully Banta-Cain, which surprised the hell out of just about everyone. Tully Banta-Cain, besides having one of the best names in the league, was leading the team in sacks and had played relatively well. However, then everyone speculated that either Belichick was certifiable or perhaps TBC (as he is now known) would be re-signed soon. TBC confirmed that when he talked to a radio station yesterday (not that Belichick is certifiable, that he expects to be re-signed soon).

2) No one knows what the deal is with Adalius Thomas (also defense). He was a healthy scratch for Sunday's game, which was weird. He also missed several practices earlier this season for non-health issues, which I thought was weird at the time, but I forgot to post on that.

3) Today, the Patriots released Galloway, Michael Matthews, and Eric Alexander. Galloway is gone, no re-signing there. It appears that Matthews is also gone. Who knows with Alexander. There is still no word on the Thomas situation.

4) Rumors are flying about a potential trade for the Patriots. Maybe a WR to replace Galloway? One rumor is Deion Branch, because, let's face it, who doesn't love Deion Branch? I mean, one of my favorite things in playing my old Madden is that I can throw Brady to Branch for ridiculous yards. But that doesn't mean that he's still the same old guy (he's had injuries). Others speculate about Julius Peppers (DB for Carolina), a speculation that has been going on for quite a while and started last off-season. Trading deadline is today at 4pm.

Let's give them credit: they were not boring in the past few days.

Also, I am unbelievably grateful to be able to retire the 'Joey Galloway' tag. I had such high hopes. Just goes to show that not everyone can be fit into the Belichick system and win, you need quality players to execute on this level.

Insanity for the win!

Pats beat the Bills, 25-24. Yes. Really. Craziness ensued left, right, and center. There was even an attempt at multiple laterals to end the game. Yes. Really. Multiple laterals.

However, I have to say, even though it was closer than we probably thought it would be, there was ever so much that I loved about the Pats tonight. Sure, they started kind of slow and passes were not connecting at first. But that drive in the 4th to score the Ben Watson TD, my LORD that was like good old days. Only slightly cooler. Who am I kidding? It was a drive of beauty.

A few observations:

1) We do not need Mayo injured! I hope that whatever happened to him is not serious. He was walking on the sideline afterward, but then again, Tom Brady didn't take the damn cart last year and he needed season-ending knee surgery. It would be really helpful if, when players get seriously injured, they would take the cart. That way, we would know.

2) Tully Banta-Cain brought it. And then some. Welcome back, cool name dude.

3) Gruden is a moron when sportscasting.

4) WE HAVE CORNERS. I could have kissed Leigh Bodden for breaking up a play. I think that he has already broken up more than our corners combined last year.

5) Were we great tonight? No. We definitely have improvements to make. But I have to say that even with all of the defensive gaps, I think that there is some real potential here and that is fantastic. One thing that you cannot say about the defense: it was not sluggish. Compare that to the past two seasons. There is something just sad about how Junior Seau can come out of retirement and make a serious contribution. That was the sign last year that changes needed to be made, and In Bill I Trust. <-- of course, this is nothing against Junior, who is a freaking warrior.

6) I cannot say enough about those hurry-up drives. They were fab! Fab! Fab!

More to come, I am sure. Yay NFL!