My God almighty, My God almighty!

I have always wanted to see a Patriots team not just win, but win big, meaning win more than the traditional Patriots good season record of 11-5. Well now I have seen it. With a win at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-13, the Patriots have officially won 12 regular season games. They've also won 10 straight, 16 of their last twenty including preseason and going back to the beginning of last December, they're 6-0 lifetime in the snow (and it snowed again on Sunday at the Razor) and they've won all their home games this season so far.

No wonder they were on top of everyone's Power Rankings last week.

We also saw the return of Troy Brown, who'd been out for a few weeks due to a hamstring injury. And what kind of impact did he have? A few first downs and a touchdown in the endzone in heavy traffic.

But the Patriots seemed to play with the Jags until it got cold, and the snow came, then they got red hot, steaming hot. Even giving up a touchdown for the first time at home in five games (CBS had a better stat right down to the minutes and seconds, the number of plays and drives) didn't cool them down.

The Patriots started off with an opening drive touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Daniel Graham. Two Adam Vinatieri and Jacksonville field goals in the first half made the score 13-6, Patriots.

They gave up their first touchdown in five games, then pounded in two of their own, one on an Antowain Smith run and another to Troy Brown in the endzone.

"I was so happy and excited," said Brown, who missed the last four games with a leg injury. "It felt like forever since I caught a ball in a game."

And with that the Patriots win 27-13, improve to 12-2 and are riding a 10 game winning streak as they head to New Jersey next Saturday night for a duel with the Jets.

RAMS (11-3) 27, Seahawks (8-6) 22 - FINAL: Rams get the NFC West title, and Seattle continues to struggle.

COLTS (11-3) 38, Falcons (3-11) 7 - FINAL: Oh poor Atlanta. Such a promising year, such a sorry end. Tough week for the Falcons. The Colts had a better week. They got into the playoffs.

BEARS (6-8) 13, Vikings (8-6) 10 - FINAL: Whoa! Shaking up the North! Rex Grossman gets his first start and gets a win over the former dominating Vikings.

PATRIOTS (12-2) 27, Jaguars (4-10) 13 - FINAL: Jacksonville: good team with a lousy record. A big threat for next year. Jack Del Rio is doing a solid job down there. Oh yeah, Patriots win their 10th straight.

JETS (6-8) 6, Steelers (5-9) 0 - FINAL: Curtis Martin rushed or 228 yards and doesn't have a touchdown to show for it. How does that happen?

BUCCANEERS (7-7) 16, Texans (5-9) 3 - FINAL: The Bucs still think they can make the playoffs. Really.

BENGALS (8-6) 41, 49ers (6-8) 38 - FINAL: Big win for Cinci puts them on top of the North again.

TITANS (10-4) 28, Bills (6-8) 26 - FINAL: Drew Bledsoe failed to get the two-point conversion at the end of the game. Ruins their only chance for the playoffs.

CHIEFS (12-2) 45, Lions (4-10) 17 - FINAL: Chiefs get another win and the AFC West.

BRONCOS (9-5) 23, Browns (4-10) 20 - FINAL/OT: Big win for Denver keeps them alive for a wild card spot.

RAIDERS (4-10) 20, Ravens (8-6) 12 - FINAL: What happened Baltimore? You lost your top spot in the North, that's what.

Cowboys (9-5) 27, REDSKINS (5-9) 0 - FINAL: Daniel Snyder has got to be beside himself right now. He hates Dallas and they came in and blanked his team.

Panthers (9-5) 20, CARDINALS (3-11) 17 - FINAL: And with that, Carolina clinched the NFC South.

Packers (8-6) 38, CHARGERS (3-11) 21 - FINAL: Brett Favre still wants to play in January.

SAINTS (7-7) 45, Giants (4-10) 7 - FINAL: It's obvious they Giants have given up.

Just like Santa's list of naughty and nice, these lists grow long and short with each passing week.

Oakland (4-10): Huge win this week still gets them coal.
Chargers (3-11): They win with Brees, win with Flutie, lose with Brees, lose with Flutie. Something tells me this isn't about the quarterback in Diego.
Steelers (5-9): Bill Cowher is only the second coach in Pittsburgh history. 2004 could bring Number 3.
Browns (4-9): Cleveland is North Pole for Big Time Loser City.
Texans (5-9): Ick.
Jaguars (4-10): Give them props. A better team than the record. Next year they will be an AFC threat.
Giants (4-10): Poor Jim Fassell. Hope he can get a TV gig for next year.
Redskins (5-9): Time for Steve Spurrier to go back to college football.
49ers (6-8): Dennis Erickson needs to do some serious adjusting this offseason.
Cardinals (3-11): Santa hates Arizona, too.
Lions (4-10): Mooch, come on, man!
Buccaneers (7-7): They're still in the hunt according to some people, but come on, they are out.
Falcons (3-11): Dan Reeves was fired this week and they still lost.
Saints (7-7): Huge win over the Giants, but New York gave up a month ago.
Bills (6-8): Better luck next year Bledsoe.

Packers (8-6): They're holding in there, and if the Vikes keep playing like crap, they'll get the North.
Ravens (8-6): That loss to the Raiders hurt their chances all around.
Bengals (8-6): Can you believe Cinci could win the division, not just go to the playoffs? Amazing!
Titans (10-4): They keep trailing the Colts, even with McNair out.
Seahawks (8-6): They guys aren't looking so hot these days.
Vikings (8-6): They started off so well, and they're throwing it all away.
Broncos (8-6): Big OT win keeps all their hopes and dreams alive - for one more week.
Dolphins (8-5): Must need win on Monday over Philly to keep them in the hunt.
Cowboys (9-5): Blanking the Redskins is good. Very good.

Patriots (12-2): Santa's favorites cause they can play in the snow two weeks in a row.
Chiefs (12-2): Big scoring win over Detroit and they get the division title in the West.
Eagles (10-3): Monday nighter in Miami can get them the NFC East for the third year in a row.
Colts (11-3): Peyton and Co. are officially in the playoffs - but can Manning finally win a big game?
Panthers (9-5): NFC South title winners for 2003. They were 1-15 two years ago.
Rams (11-3): NFC West title for the third time in four seasons.

The Atlanta Falcons aren't waiting until January to make a move. They fired head coach Dan Reeves with three regular season games left. The 3-10 Falcons will be led by for Buffalo loser, Falcon defensive coordinator Wade Phillips for the remainder of the season.

Reeves just won his 200th game as a head coach this season that started in 1981 with the Denver Broncos. There he compiled a 117-79-1 record, went to three Super Bowls, four AFC championship games, five AFC West division titles and eight winning seasons overall before leaving in 1992. He was named Coach of the Year in 1984, 1989 and 1991. In 1993, Reeves became the head coach of the New Year Giants, and was named Coach of the Year after leading the team to an 11-5 record and a wild-card playoff win. He became the head coach in Atlanta in 1997, named Coach of the Year in 1998, led the team to the NFC West title and a trip to the Super Bowl.

Dan Reeves has seen 50 playoff games and nine Super Bowls as a player and coach.

Wade Phillips has been coaching in the NFL for 27 years, and has been head coach in Buffalo from 1998-2000 and two seasons for the Broncos in 1993-1994. He was an interim coach in 1985 for four games in New Orleans.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank was up front with Reeves this week on the club's intentions at the end of the year. "[Tuesday], I advised Dan that we've decided to bring in a new head coach beginning in the 2004 season," the Falcons owner said. "Dan asked to be released from his position immediately and we agreed to do so, even though our desire was for him to stay on through the rest of the season."

Blank said the search for a new head coach will be thorough and honest.

The revolving player door in Foxboro continues to turn. The Patriots resigned fullback Larry Centers, whom they released two months ago following a knee injury. To make room, they have released wide receiver J.J. Stokes, who they signed November 18th after he was released by Jacksonville. He appeared in two games and caught two passes.

Long snapper Lonie Paxton has been placed on Injured Reserve with a torn right ACL, and is out for the season. Paxton injured his right knee blocking on Brooks Barnard's 10th and final punt of the Miami game on Sunday. The Patriots signed Sean McDermott, 27, out of Kansas. The 6'4", 250 pound McDermott has played for three season, being signed by Tampa Bay in 2001 as an undrafted rookie, then signed through the expansion draft to Houston before being released after the Texans drafted a snapped in the seventh round in the April Draft. McDermott was later signed and released by Miami. The Patriots signed him to a two-year deal as insurance in case the Paxton injury carries into next season. Paxton will require surgery, but will have to wait until the swelling subsides, which could take four to six weeks. McDermott also doubles as a tight end.

There are also reports coming out of Foxboro that say the Patriots were not thrilled with Barnard's punting on Sunday, and have continued to look at other candidates, such as Travis Dorsch, a fourth round pick in 2002 out of Purdue by Cincinnati. Dorsch is 6'6", 227 lbs, and is also a kicker. There is a good chance Dorsch could be signed to the practice squad.

For the second time this season, middle linebacker Tedy Bruschi has been named NFL Defensive Player of the Week. Congrats to our guy in the middle!

The Patriots on Friday resigned Ken Walter and released Brooks Barnard. Walter was dropped before the Miami game after some poor punting and the team signed Barnard to replace him.

"Sometimes having a few days away from a situation may work to a player's advantage, and we'll see if that's the case (with Walter)," head coach Bill Belichick reasoned in his Friday press conference.

So, welcome back, Ken. Do us and yourself a favor: punt the damned thing this time!

Former Tampa Bay General Manager Rich McKay has been hired by Atlanta, in their first steps towards rebuilding their front office/coaching staff.

Please note: We've got Saturday games from here until late January. Enjoy!

Atlanta (3-11) at Tampa Bay (7-7), 1 PM, FOX. NFC South matchup. Means zero for the Falcons, but Tampa Bay could squeak (and I do mean squeak) into a Wild Card spot, so they need this win.

Kansas City (12-2) at Minnesota (8-6), 5 PM, CBS. Minnesota is having a hard time holding on to the top spot in the North, and if they want the Division - hell if they want to get into the playoffs, a win here would certainly help. A Chiefs loss will undoubtedly leave them no chance at the first seed in the AFC over New England.

New England (12-2) at N.Y. Jets (6-8), 8:30 PM, ESPN. AFC East matchup. The Patriots already have the division, but Jersey would love to spoil their late season fun. New England needs to win to hold onto the top seed spot in the AFC for home field throughout the playoffs.

Baltimore (8-6) at Cleveland (4-10), 1 PM. AFC North game. The Ravens need to keep winning to capture the division, and possibly a playoff spot.

Cincinnati (8-6) at St. Louis (8-6), 1 PM. The Rams are in with the division title. But Cinci still has a chance if they can keep winning. They are tied with the Ravens, but are ahead with a tie breaker.

Miami (8-5) at Buffalo (6-8), 1 PM. AFC East game. Buffalo has nothing to play for, but Miami is still trying to make the playoffs - and hold on to Dave Wannstedt's job

N.Y. Giants (5-9) at Dallas (9-5), 1 PM. NFC East matchup. The Tuna plays his old team again, and needs the win for a playoff spot. The Giants gave up playing a month ago, and on the road in Dallas shouldn't' wake these guys up anytime soon.

Tennessee at Houston, 1 PM. AFC South game. Tennessee can keep pace with Indy with a divisional win, and help their playoff hopes.

Arizona (3-11) at Seattle (8-6), 4:15 PM. NFC West matchup. Seattle needs to the win for an type of playoff hopes. Arizona can try again next year.

Denver (9-5) at Indianapolis (11-3), 8:30 PM. Indy is in the playoffs, but don't have the division. Denver needs the win to make a Wild Card spot.

Green Bay (8-6) at Oakland (4-10), 9 PM. Green Bay needs to keep pace for the playoff race, and possibly the division.

1. Coalition forces arrested the top scumbag of scumbags, Saddam Hussein. He was hiding in a hole in his home town of Tirkit, and look like a homeless guy with unkempt hair and a long salt and pepper beard. Now, he is ours.

2. I drove past the Razor this week at night and they had the scoreboards lit all red and blue and man, what a sight!

3. 10 in a row. Franchise best record of 12 wins already. How good is life in Patriots Nation?

4. I am sick and tired of all of this Red Sox talk. Christ, the Patriots are on top of the NFL in December, and everyone is worried about A-Rod and an aging pitcher and Nomar and this bald manager. Who cares about Terry Frickin Francone? Tell me about Bill Belichick, but don't you dare bother him during his game planning. Spring Training comes after the Super Bowl for a reason. Wait until the Pats are done before you start wasting our time with the Red Sox. The Patriots have a championship. Where's the Sox's championship?

5. What was Joe Horn thinking about when he hid that cell phone in the goal post? For those who missed it, wide receiver Joe Horn hid his cell phone in the goal post in the Superdome. After he scored, he went and got the phone and made a phone call. The refs flagged him for taunting and penalized the Saints 15 yards on the kickoff. Horn had 4 TDs on the night.

6. Bad call with Atlanta. I appreciate the fact that they wanted to be upfront with Dan Reeves, but this should not have come as any surprise to Reeves that he was gone at the end of the season. And what good does this do to the Falcons? Three straight losses at the end of the season?

7. Hey, Tyrone Poole. Celebrate AFTER the touchdown!

8. Richard Seymour was benched for the first quarter of yesterday's game, I guess for missing two days of practice to attend his grandfather's funeral. There is some rule by the Patriots that says if you miss practice for anything, you don't start. He missed two days for a funeral and did not start. Seymour was a little upset. Belichick, when asked by the media, coldly replied, "It was a coaching decision." Yikes. Belichick is a Gunslinger if there ever was one! And no offense to Seymour and the death of Grandpa Seymour, but bravo to Belichick for keeping control of his team!

9. For Buffalo, I think its time for some new coaching, and for someone to figure out why Willis McGahee was drafted in the first round if he wasn't going to play.

10. Detroit Lions president Matt Millen called former Lion/current Chief Johnnie Morton a "faggot" after the Chiefs blew the Lions away 45-21. He did this with a ton of witnesses. My question is: Millen, what were you thinking?

ejh