Eric Heise dot Com ~ The Monday Analysis 14 November 2005 ~ A Writer's March

Problems: The Patriots Defensive did not play hard, physical football. They played right into the Colts' hands by allowing the Colts Offense to move the chains and make big plays without the fear of being hit too hard. They let Edgerrin James run the ball. Marvin Harrison was able to make completions down field. Peyton Manning literally ran circles around defenders, rushing to make first downs. The Colts never got into long yardage situations, and had excellent field position all evening.

There is never anything positive to come out of a loss (just listen to Bill Belichick's press conference - all 1:38 of it), but we'll line them up. Tom Brady had great numbers, 22 for 33 for 265 yards, 3 TDs, 121.4 passer rating. He was 10 for 10 in the first half. There were very few penalties, a huge improvement and surprise, even when the game slipped out of the Patriots' hands. No one was carted off the field with an injury, and Corey Dillon was able to pull through the entire night with a nagging ankle injury. But he fumbled late in the second quarter deep into Colts territory. the score then was 14-7 Colts, and at worst the Patriots were going to make it 14-10. The Colts were able to use most of the remainder of the half to score again, and that was the pay that really buried New England.

Richard Seymour sat out his fourth game (when will he ever return?). Duane Starks had to be benched in the second half because he plays the Colts receivers (actually all receivers) too soft. Randall Gay moved from Safety to Corner and Michael Stone too the safety position. Willie McGinest never got to Manning, neither did Tedy Bruschi or Mike Vrabel. Vrabel caught an interception, his second of the season, but then the Patriots coughed it back on the Dillon fumble. Vince Wilfork showed some signs of life chasing down ball carriers in the back field, but he's slow and he got little support. Rosevelt Colvin made some key stops, but the Colts never punted until 2:30 left in the game. Asante Samuel let Marvin Harrison beat him twice on the first drive that led to a touchdown in 2:30. One was a first down, the other was the touchdown. He broke up a few other later - caulk it up as learning his lesson, but he still has yet to figure how to catch the ball, a huge playmaking problem that Rodney Harrison and Ty Law never had.

It is easy to point out all the injuries the Patriots are enduring, and certainly that's an issue. They have had injuries in the past - and won three Super Bowls amidst them. The injuries this season are particularly damaging. Last season the secondary was patchwork. This season it is gone. Losing Rodney Harrison was a big hit. Richard Seymour isn't healing as fast as he should be healing, leaving a big hole up front. Kevin Faulk is still out, hoping to return for the last quarter of the season, same with Matt Light. They have Bruschi back, but he is only one player, and can't play secondary. McGinest is playing through a broken hand, but he's only one player, too.

Time of possession against the Bills was a 3-1 ratio, but the Bills are a poor team, and the Patriots were able to come from behind. The Colts are far more dominating, and the Patriots dug too big of a hole and could not get out of it. There just were not enough (really any) plays made on Defense to get the Colts to hand the ball back to the Patriots Offense. Pathetic. Sickening.

After a score that made it 28-14 with 5:56 left in the game, Belichick went for an on-side kick to get the ball back into the Offense's hands, trying to keep the defense on the bench who were tired and unproductive. Special Teams botched the kick, the Colts recovered the ball at the Patriots 30 yard line, great field position for what would be a field goal.

4-4 is average, and that sums it up. The Patriots have some good players, but too many better players are replaced with less talented guys. Average guys. Guys who normally spend the season third on the depth chart, on a practice squad, or at home.

This Patriots team does not have the physical play like they have in the past. Too many of the hard hitters are missing, and no one is filing in the gaps.

Well, they stepped it up, albeit against another poor AFC East team, but you know what? A win is a win, and the Patriots have a 23-16 win over Miami on the road.

"It got to be a track meet at the end," Belichick said the heavy scoring at the end.

"I think this team just tries to prepare well, and go out there and play the best football over the week. It doesn't always work out that way, but that's what they try to do," Belichick said.

Tom Brady was 21-36 for 275 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs with a 77.9 rating, but saved the best for the end of the game.

And when there needed a scoring drive very late in the fourth quarter, it was Tom Brady balancing his 21st game winning drive towards the end. This time, he gave Adam Vinatieri a break, and found Ben Watson in the endzone for the second time Sunday afternoon, then the new hero Heath Evans ran in the two-point conversion.

''It was gritty and it was tough," said Brady. ''I think the players did a lot of soul-searching this week. I think the players really dug deep."

"He hung in there and made some big plays when it counted, two nice throws to Watson," Belichick said of his sixth round gem. "As usual, Tom plays his best football when it counts the most, and I think that was true today," Belichick said after the game.

While the defense still needs work, Tedy Bruschi continues to make big plays during the game, and his efforts don't go unnoticed.

"I think Tedy is getting a little but better each week (football conditioning-wise)," Belichick said.

The Monday Analysis POWER Rankings

Wiping out the fakers, quickly.

1. Indy (9-0). Outside playing Houston, the rest of their schedule gets harder, much harder.

2. Denver (7-2). How Mike Shanahan is keeping Jake Plummer from blowing everything I'll never know.

3. NJ Giants (6-2). Ouch. Minnesota waked all over the Giants this week, demoralizing the Manning/Coughlin show to some hapless team from Jersey.

4. Cincinnati (7-2). The only thing that keeps them from the top of the AFC North is the divisional record.

5. Carolina (7-2). Sizzling hot. They never cooled down from last season's late resurgence.

6. Dallas (5-3). Must win tonight to keep on pace for the division.

7. Seattle (7-2). The Silent March. The Seahawks are sneaking up on everyone.

8. Atlanta (6-3). Ouch, Falcons. You got it shoved to you by Green Bay at home for their second win this season. Who will you lose to next, Houston?

9. Pittsburgh (7-2). Just how long can the Steelers keep winning without Roethlisberger at quarterback? Well, they're still winning.

10. New England (5-4). The Patriots need to get more physical on Defense and prevent yardage in order to climb this hill for the rest of the season.

11. Chicago (6-3). No one knows just how long this Bears run will last, but it sure doesn't look like it'll end.

12. Tampa Bay (6-3). Gutsy call on Sunday from Jon Gruden. And Chris Sims is showing he belongs.