Eric Heise dot Com ~ The Monday Analysis 17 October 2005 ~ A Writer's March

Week 6 is here and gone. Just like all the rain in the northeast. Oh, wait. It is still raining, and the Patriots are still blowing it in the big games.

The New England Pathetics (not a typo) lost another game they never showed up for. Or, well, let's give them some credit. They showed up in the fourth quarter and nearly pulled out a win. Alas, they sucked in Denver, allowing 21 points in the second quarter, which the Pathetics never recovered from.

The highlight of terror in Sunday's game was the final play of the first half, when rookie first pick Logan Mankins got too aggressive in a special teams play, took a cheap shot, personal foul swipe at a Broncos player resulting Mankins' ejection from the game. No, that's ok Rook. Tom Brady doesn't really need the protection.

The Patriots got weak and stupid in the second quarter, giving up 21 unanswered points, and had they played during that quarter, this column might be going into another direction. But it isn't. And I am not going to rattle on about numbers, because what for? The most important numbers - the final score -waved in favor of a third rate city with a 125 media market ranking.

The Patriots lacked a running game, and with Corey Dillon dressed, but not playing (and we can't figure out why, other than his leg injury was ok to play for a playoff game, or in an emergency, but not worth the chance in a Week 6 blow out), there was no power back. Patrick Pass kicked it up as best he could, and Amos Zereoue made his Patriots debut, but he still doesn't know the offense.

The Broncos were able to hold off a Patriots Attack-Comeback in the fourth to end it 28-20.

''We never give up," running back Patrick Pass said. ''We may be down, but we're never out.

''At 3-3, you're an average team," Vrabel said. ''When you play good enough to win one and you get down, 28-3, the next, you're going to lose those games. You can't say, 'Well, we rallied back.' 'We're an average football team."

Two big plays down field offensively by the Broncos are becoming too common of a scene for the Patriots defense.

''We gave up big plays and that obviously hurt us," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. ''We try to prevent that every week and we have to do a better job at it."

The secondary is getting burned on the big plays downfield that teams cannot perform normally, but the Patriots are so weak in the defensive backs, and they have not become stronger, the targets are just too easy to not expose.

''We know it's coming," said subdued Patriots safety Eugene Wilson. ''So we've got to be ready for it better. They beat us on those man coverage plays, that's all. We can't let that happen."

Yeah, need to get better. You guys say that every week. How about just getting better, huh? Enough of this average football crap. We've seen plenty of it.

Multiple media, NFL, and Patriots report indicate linebacker Tedy Bruschi is preparing to return to the Patriots this season, and not wait until 2006 as previously verified by Bruschi himself this summer. Bruschi, a three-time world champion, suffered a stroke in February from a hole in his heart, which was surgically repaired in March. The condition is not considered to be a re-accruing problem.

Bruschi took a step further on Monday and confirmed he would return to the field on Wednesday.

"I want to help this team any way I can," he said Monday at a news conference at Gillette Stadium. "They tell me I can play, I know I can play, so, shoot, let's just play."

The Patriots released a statement this week stating Bruschi has met with multiple neurosurgeons and physicians, and has completely passed the examinations, and is medically clearer to return. Bruschi was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list, or PUP, and league guidelines require PUP players to return to the practice field by Week 6, and the teams have three weeks to active that player to the active roster.

Should Bruschi return to the Patriots, it would be in Week 9, a home game versus Indianapolis. Bruschi will also fill a huge void in the Patriots' defense, which has seen injuries outside Bruschi's, plus the retirement of Ted Johnson, and other losses in the off season.

The final decision for his returns lies on Bruschi himself, and his family. A statement from Bruschi's neurosurgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital Dr. David Greer explains the following:

“Physically, Tedy is completely back to normal, and is exceptionally healthy. I have no doubt that he will be able to perform physically at a very high level. Tedy’s safety, on and off the field, has always been our number one priority. At this time, I have advised him that, in my opinion, there are no medical reasons for him to delay his return to football.”

The Patriots respect and continue to support Bruschi, regardless of his decision, and stated the following:

"The Kraft family and the entire Patriots organization want only what is best for Tedy Bruschi and his family and will continue to support his decision."

Should Bruschi return at all, it would be considered one of the biggest comebacks in sports in recent years.

The Monday Analysis POWER Rankings

As we pass through to the second quarter of the season, we're seeing some solid shapes - and some flimsiness.

1. Indy (5-0). Not playing until Monday? Why move?

2. Cincinnati (5-1). Winning again this week? Why move?

3. Denver (5-1). Beating the world champs in pathetic fashion? Why move?

4. Tampa Bay (5-1). No Cadillac Williams, but still winning the Battle for Florida? Why Move?

5. San Diego (3-2). Kickin' butt over a divisional rival? Why move?

6. Dallas (4-2). Double wins over divisional rivals, the top spot of the NFC East, and new found respect? Move on up!

7. Atlanta (4-2). Winning in a tough division? Move on up!

8. Carolina (3-2). Lose Jake Delhomme and still win? Move on up?

9. New England (3-3). Terrible playing, big losses, stupid playing? Move down, and prepare and get off this list.

10. Pittsburgh (3-2). Loss in OT? Move down.

11. Washington (3-2). Was 3-0, now 0-2 in last two? Move down.

12. NJ Giants (3-2). Big divisional loss? Move down.