All that, and they beat Cincinnati for a playoff spot then watch the Jets lose to give them the division for the second straight year. Step 1 of the season is complete. Step 2 (the conference) and Step 3 (the Super Bowl) lie ahead.

"I am not really too concerned about what happened last year, but I am glad that we are here now," said head coach Bill Belichick when asked about making the playoffs following last year's Super Bowl win. "That is where we started the year, and it is good to be able to achieve that goal."

The head coach was also not pleased with his team's win. Giving up 28 points on defense, falling for a fake field goal for a touchdown were just a couple of sore spots after the game.

"You know, there is a lot of football left to be played and right now we are just trying to focus on doing a better job and improving our team and playing better here as we move forward. There are plenty of areas for improvement in our team and certainly, plenty of areas for improvement from today's performance all the way around."

Quarterback Tom Brady answered recent critics of his lackluster play with 18-26 for 260 yards, 2 TDs, and a QB rating of 127.1. He also completed a pass sitting on the ground. Brady tripped over his own feet after the snap, and was able to complete a pass to Patrick Pass for a first down before being downed.

Corey Dillon met his former team for the first time with 88 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown, but he was thrilled to qualify for the playoffs.

''First time in eight years? I'll take that,'' Dillon said. ''But I didn't get there by myself.''

Rodney "Mister" Harrison echoed the sentiment.

''We are excited about that,'' "Mister" Harrison said. ''We will enjoy this victory for a day or two.''

The Patriots were able to score 14 points off Bengal turnovers, including an interception return for a touchdown by Asante Samuel.

Troy Brown continued his secondary wonder with his third interception of the season, this one in the endzone saving a Bengals touchdown.

''I should have caught it and gone down, but my offensive mentality took over,'' Brown said. ''When you get the ball in your hands, run with it.''

The Patriots travel to Miami for a Monday nighter next week. With a Pittsburgh win this week, the Steelers are still in the top spot in the AFC.

Brady is the Best: Named Sporting News Sportsman of the Year.

Sports Illustrated named the Red Sox their Sportsman of the Year. And Tom Brady is now the Sporting News Sportsman of the Year.

Brady let his team to their second Super Bowl in February winning his second MVP trophy. The Patriots also set an NFL record for consecutive wins earlier this season.

"It was a great award," said Brady. "It was a great honor. I was very flattered when I heard. There are some other great athletes who I have looked up to who have won that award."

The last New England player to win this award was Larry Bird in 1986.

The Monday Analysis congratulates Tom Brady of the well deserved award.

Report: O-Coord Weis gets Notre Dame Job

Reports out of the Patriots and the University of Notre Dame say that Patriots Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis has accepted a six-year, $12 million deal to head coach the dying Notre Dame football program.

Weis, an alumni of the Fighting Irish, is expected to be introduced in South Bend, Indiana on Monday, and will maintain the Patriots offensive coordinator position through the end of the season, balancing both duties.

Weis has long been speculated for a head coaching job, and his agent has stated that regardless of offers and the Patriots season, he will leave New England at the end of the 2004 season, feeling he is one of the most underpaid offensive coordinators in the NFL.

There are no immediate candidates for the Weis vacancy in New England.

Weekend Break Down

RAVENS (8-5) 37, Giants (5-8) 14 - FINAL: Rematch of Super Bowl XXXV. Baltimore gets back on the winning track by picking on Manning No. 3, who went 4-18 with 2 INTs and a 0.0 QB rating before Kurt Warner came in to stop the bleeding. Kyle Boller went 18-34 for 219 yards and tossed 4 TDs. Big win for the Ravens.

Seahawks (7-6) 27, VIKINGS (7-6) 23 - FINAL: The Annual Downfall of the Vikings is in full effect. With three games left, both teams need to run the table.

Saints (5-8) 27, COWBOYS (5-8) 13 - FINAL: Wow, New Orleans steps up on the road, but I don't think it'll save Jim Haslett's job. And this one might kill Bill Parcells.

Colts (10-3) 23, TEXANS (5-8) 14 - FINAL: Manning No. 2 doesn't reach Marino this week, but Houston wasn't certainly going to let the Colts run all over them without a fight. Unfortunately, the Texans are officially gonzo in terms of playoff hopes.

FALCONS (10-3) 35, Raiders (4-9) 10 - FINAL: The Vicks finally get the NFC South trophy, and a whipping win over Oakland.

PATRIOTS (12-1) 35, Bengals (6-7) 28 - FINAL: What a great game, with a Patriots win. No field goals in the whole game. Bengals are not the team of yesteryear, but they didn't get the win today either.

BILLS (7-6) 37, Browns (3-10) 7 - FINAL: Big Bills win! But how does the score get to 37 with Drew Bledsoe only throwing 100 yards for 1 TD? Rushing?? I guess so. McGahee had two himself. The Defense also held Cleveland to 17 total yards. yeah, no kidding!

JAGUARS (7-6) 22, Bears (5-8) 3 - FINAL: What a clobbering. This certainly does Lovie Smith no good for playoff hopes.

BRONCOS (7-5) 20, Dolphins (2-10) 17 - FINAL: Miami just stinks. Denver is bad, but they got the win, and they could use it more.

STEELERS (12-1) 17, Jets (9-4) 6 - FINAL: Battle of the Bad QBs. Chad Pennington went 17 for 31 for 189 yards and three picks. QB rating: 33.6. Ben Roethlisberger went 9 for 19 for 144 yards and two picks. QB rating: 33.6. Snoozer. Not good to go with in January.

PACKERS (8-5) 16, Lions (5-8) 13 - FINAL: Big Pack Attack, and barely gets a win over the Lions at home. Good enough to stay on top of the division.

49ERS (2-11) 31, CARDINALS (4-9) 28 - FINAL/OT: Wow! San Fran gets their second win. Whoa!

PANTHERS (6-7) 20, Rams (6-7) 7 - FINAL: The Rams are so done. Carolina is done too, but so are the Rams. Carolina made out like bandits with Chris Chandler's 6 INTs.

CHARGERS (10-3) 31, Buccaneers (5-8) 24 - FINAL: Tampa fought right to the end, but Jon Gruden is not the coach is once was, and the Bucs are retro these days.

Eagles (12-1), REDSKINS (4-9) - FINAL: Philly looked weak and dismal. Washington looked bad, but they're supposed to be bad. I think Philly is doing that coasting thing again this year. They win the division so early in the year, they end up resting too much down the stretch, which gets them in trouble during the NFC Championship game. 

Kansas City (4-8) at Tennessee (4-8) Tonight 9 PM ABC

Playoff Outlook

We're choppin' 'em down. We're choppin' 'em down. We're making a list of those losing ground.

A List of Losers First

Miami (2-11):  Miami is such a loser they won't even get a chance at Charlie Weis.
Oakland (4-9):  Bad moon rising for the Crypt Keeper's Nation.
Kansas City (4-8):  Big losers, and now they've lost Priest Holmes for the season.
Cleveland (3-10): So many needs. Too many to list.
Tennessee (4-8): Big losers, and now they've probably lost Steve McNair forever.
Dallas (5-8): Poor Bill Parcells is out of luck this year.
Washington (4-9):  Poor Joe Gibbs is out of luck this season.
Arizona (4-9): Poor Denny Green is out of luck this season.
Detroit (5-8): Poor Steve Mariucci is out of luck this season.
Chicago (5-8): All done, Lovie. Try again next season.
Carolina (6-7): Too late for late season heroics. No Super Bowl repeat.
Tampa Bay (5-8): Poor Jon Gruden is out of luck this season.
New Orleans (5-8): Jim Haslet's swan song as a head coach.
Houston (5-8): No playoffs this year. Strong effort, but no playoffs.
New Jersey Giants (5-8): Manning No. 3 has a long way to measure to Manning No. 2.
San Francisco (2-11): Seems like old times in San Fran. Very, very old times.
Cincinnati (6-7): Seven losses will keep them out of the playoffs.

A List of Maybes

New Jersey Jets (9-4): Loss to the Steelers, and with the Bills chasing, it doesn't look good for Herm Edwards.
Buffalo (7-6):  With at Cinci, at San Fran, and Pittsburgh left, the Bills might just miss the playoffs.
Baltimore (8-5): Two tough road games at Indy and at Pittsburgh before Miami at home might keep them short.
Jacksonville (7-6): Still a chance for the playoffs. Slim, but there is a chance.
Seattle (7-5): Mike Holmgren is on the ropes, and only a playoff birth can help him.
St. Louis (6-7): Bulger and Martz are sinking fast.
Minnesota (7-6): Battling for the division, and could come up empty.
Green Bay (8-5): Top of the NFC North, and could stay that way.

A List of all the good teams

San Diego (10-3): At Cleveland, at Indy, and hosting the Chiefs should not be a problem for January play.
Denver (8-5): With at the Chiefs, at the Titans, and home with Indy, getting the division will be tough.

Teams with January Plans

Philly (12-1): NFC East Champs.
Atlanta (10-3): Finally, the Falcons snag the South. Finally.
New England (12-1): AFC East Champs.
Pittsburgh (12-1): AFC North Champs.
Indianapolis (10-3): AFC South Champs.

Oddities of Week 15's Matchups

Now that college is over until the Bowl Games, the NFL gives us Saturday games.

SATURDAY

Pittsburgh (12-1) at N.Y. Giants (5-8), 1:30 PM CBS. Manning No. 3 meets fellow 2004 draftee Roethlisberger.

Washington (4-9) at San Francisco (2-11), 5 PM FOX. Remember when it was either the Redskins or the 49ers in the Super Bowl? Relive the glory - not.

Carolina (6-7) at Atlanta (10-3), 8:30 PM ESPN. NFC Southerner that doesn't matter, but Mike Vick is fun to watch.

SUNDAY

Dallas (5-8) at Philadelphia (12-1), 1 PM. NFC East game. Philly has it all. Parcells and Dallas has nadda.

Denver (8-5) at Kansas City (4-8), 1 PM. AFC Westerner. Denver is still looking for a playoff spot, and needs this divisional to keep ahead.

Minnesota (7-6) at Detroit (5-8), 1 PM. NFC North game. Detroit is done, but Minnesota has a shot at the division.

San Diego (10-3) at Cleveland (3-10), 1:00 PM. Diego gets a win and they get the division.

New Orleans (5-8) at Tampa Bay (5-8), 4:05 PM. NFC Southern. Win get the same as the loser: nothing.

St. Louis (6-7) at Arizona (4-9), 4:05 PM. NFC Westerner. The Rams are in danger of missing the playoffs. A win is a must.

MONDAY

New England (12-1) at Miami (2-11), 9 PM. AFC East match up. Miami can't even win the chance to hire Charlie Weis.

Patriots News

Ty Law remained inactive, as were WR David Givens, LB Roman Pfeiffer, G Matt Chatham, and TE Daniel Graham...Tom Brady was named Sporting News Sportsman of the Year...Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis has reportedly accepted a six-year, $12 million deal to become head coach of Notre Dame.

League News

Miami wide receiver David Boston will serve a four-game suspension next season for steroid use...Priest Holmes is out for the season with a knee injury.

Signs of the Apocalypse

I went to the Nutcracker Saturday night at the Colonial Theater in Boston. Great performance, particularly the young lady dancing in the Arabian outfit. Man, the flexibility! Anyway, these three yentas behind us would not shut up. One claimed to host the Celtics post-game show on the radio (betcha that's a ratings blow out). She is dating "the man of her dreams" who just happens to be her agent. But he'll never marry her since he's been married twice already.

My advice, Ms. Mystery Celtics Post Game Show Host, is to shut the hell up for ten minutes and maybe you'll have a fighting chance.

Notes & Quotes

It looked pretty good to me. I know a lot of people don't think he is very good lately, but I thought he looked all right. It was pretty good.

- Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on the performance of Tom Brady.

Top Ten List of the Week

1. Patriots home win. A Playoff spot. The Division.

2. Peyton Manning did not break Dan Marino's single season touchdown record of 48 this week. He will next week. He only need two touchdowns. But he did set a record for a multi-TD game at 13. The previous record of 12 straight was held by Johnny Unitas, Don Meredith, Dan Marino, and Brett Favre.

3. I might be bias with this thought, but I think weaknesses have been exposed in the Steelers, especially with Roethlisberger. God help him if he has to face the Patriots in January. Run, Ben, run!

4. I don't know what is in the water up there in Buffalo, but I also have a feeling that their efforts will fall just too short of a playoff spot.

5. It seems like every week I have to slap SI's Peter King around. Last week he wrote Bill Belichick was the worst coach in Brown's history, not loser Butch Davis. Excuse me, Porko King, Belichick never quit the Browns mid-season, never gave up, led them to two playoff games in the 1994 season, even beat ol' Bill Parcells and the Patriots in the first round. Regardless of winning percentage (Belichick coached longer than Davis), how was he the worst? I hardly remember a Browns team in a Super Bowl, Pete.

6. I'm not sure why the Red Sox signed the 41-year old David Wells, but who am I to complain? The Sox a year ago offered Nomar four years at $16 million a year. He declined. He signed with the Cubs last week: one year, $8 million.

7. Manning No. 3 has a lot of growing pains. Tom Coughlin should have pulled a Marvin Lewis and benched him for the season like Lewis did to Carson Palmer. Palmer is a dynamite quarterback. Manning is a dud and a half.

8. Packers fans were awarded the eBay 12th Player Award. Why? If nothing else, Lambeau has been a headache for the Packers.

9. Why could the Eagles run the points up against the Packers last week and struggle in the first half over Washington? I think the Eagles are starting to go lax. They do this every year, and it usually catches up with them in late January.

10. I'd like for the next offensive coordinator for the Patriots to be able to rack up more points than the Charlie Weis-led offense has racked up. It isn't a bad thing to clobber opponents with points, and I think this team is mature to do that.