I have to be honest with all of you. If I don't happen to write next week's column it's because I had to have a valve replacement this week from the Patriots game.

New England dominated the first half on offense, racking up 17 points before Indy could get on the board. Towards the final minutes of the half, Peyton Manning found Marcus Pollard in the endzone and the momentum started to switch. That is until the kickoff. Head Coach Tony Dungy made a mistake of kicking it deep - to Bethel Johnson - who took it 92 yards for a touchdown. 24-10 at the half, Patriots.

The second half saw a lot of mistakes from the New England offense. Two Tom Brady interceptions and a Kevin Faulk fumble led to three Peyton Manning touchdowns, two in 1:06, and while the Pats had been a head by three scores, the game was now tied.

The fourth quarter saw two things: New England Defense and the Indy Offense. The Patriots managed to get Deion Branch open in the endzone to go ahead 38-31, and the Colts polished off the scoring with a field goal. But a late fourth quarter drive from Indy, a result of some bad play calls from the Patriots to go to the air and not ground the ball to kill the clock with three minutes and change to go, kept the suspense at top notch. Indy, 43 seconds left, 1 yard line. The Patriots stopped them four times, the last by Willie McGinest who stopped Edgerrin James from getting a touchdown with 12 seconds left in the game. First and ten New England and a kneel down took care of the rest. The Patriots win a very tough game 38-34 and go 10-2 for the first time in team history.

"I was thinking, 'It's looking pretty bleak,"' linebacker Ted Johnson said of the final drive. "But are you guys surprised? With this team?"

"When it came down to it for the gusto, our guys came with it on the goal line," said McGinest, who saved the game just two plays after limping off with a knee injury. "That's how you want to win it."

"It was a pretty good goal-line stand," coach Bill Belichick said. "I'll put it up there, with the game being on the line."

"We didn't have the goal-line offense," Manning said about the timeout he took on that goal line drive to figure out what play to run. "Everybody was in street clothes over there."

McGinest nearly went out with a knee injury during the game ending drive. "I wasn't going to sit on the sideline," McGinest said.

And sit out he did not. The Patriots have been better and better with every game, even with the mistakes that nearly give away these games. They can put up points, hold teams back, get the turnovers, do whatever it takes to win the ball game. Even how to win when you blow a three touchdown lead.

"We knew that wasn't enough," McGinest said of the 21-point lead. "We knew we had a long way to go."

And with four games left, the Patriots have an opportunity to clinch the division next week against Miami. Still a long way to go to Houston, but with each win the road gets that much shorter.

LIONS (4-8) 22, Packers (6-6) 14 - FINAL: Green Bay is hurting. Losing to division opponent Detroit doesn't help your chances to get to the post season. Good for the Lions on the big win at home. Now they have to figure out how to win again on the road.

Dolphins (8-4) 40, COWBOYS (8-4) 21 - FINAL: Dallas is proving to be a phony team. They've lost two of the last three. Can't lose like that this time of year. Dolphins put Jay Fielder back in and all of a sudden got productive on offense.

Patriots (10-2) 38, COLTS (9-3) 34 - FINAL: Nail biter extraordinaire. Two 9-2s go at it with playoff implications. This one goes all the way down to the wire, and in the end, one giant courageous effort from the Patriots Defense put up the wall that not even the dynamite Colts Offense could break through. New England is certainly one of the toughest teams this league has seem in a while.

RAMS (9-3) 48, Viking (7-5) 17 - FINAL: Minnesota is also proving to be a phony. And the Rams are back winning because they've gone with the young quarterback Marc Bulger who is giving this team a chance.

Eagles (9-3) 25, PANTHERS (8-4) 16 - FINAL: What a turn around and comeback by Philly. They're back at it, and crushing Carolina is a great effort towards the post season.

BEARS (5-7) 28, Cardinals (3-9) 3 - FINAL: Gee, them Cardinals have some team. Got three points, gave up 28. What a team. Dear God, the football Gods do hate Arizona.

TEXANS (5-7) 17, Falcons (2-10) 13 - FINAL: Wow, big win for the Texans, and they spoiled the return of Michael Vick. See, Dan Reeves, it isn't the absence of Vick that has things going bad, it is the presence of you as head coach.

Bangels (7-5) 24, STEELERS (4-8) 20 - FINAL: The Bengals are the Bungles no more. Week 13 and Cinci is one win from a non-losing season. 7-5 and they lead the AFC North. Incredible! Who said this was the No Fun League? And who said Jon Kitna couldn't play in this league? Go Cinci!

RAVENS (7-5) 44, 49ers (5-7) 6 - FINAL: Jeff Garcia returned and was awful. Four INTs. 112 yards. And on the other side, Anthony Wright had another good game, tossing two TDs with 177 yards. Baltimore is staying in contention for the AFC North.

Bills (5-7) 24, GIANTS (4-8) 7 - FINAL: Drew Bledsoe is back! He went 19-29 with 252 yards and 2 TDs. No fuzziness there. Maybe he should get a mild concussion every week. Welcome back from the grave, Drew. Unfortunately if might be too late for the Bills this year, but they'll have a new coach next year and that'll help.

Saints (6-6) 24, REDSKINS (4-8) 20 - FINAL: Heheheh. Jim Haslett beats Steve Spurrier again. Just for the record, Steve. Coach Haslett hasn't slept all week preparing for this game.

Chiefs (11-1) 28, CHARGERS (2-10) 24 - FINAL: Doug Flutie made a valiant attempt to get a win on this one. He even tried one of those Hail Mary late in the fourth quarter that didn't go so well. In the end, Kansas City squeezed another one out for a league best record.

SEAHAWKS (8-4) 34, Browns (4-8) 7 - FINAL: With seven points on offense, the Browns should have stayed home.

Broncos (7-5) 22, RAIDERS (3-9) 8 - FINAL: Can anyone believe that this Oakland team had a league MVP and a Super Bowl team last season?

JAGUARS (3-9) 17, Buccaneers (5-7) 10 - FINAL: The Bucs looked pathetic against Jacksonville, who hasn't had a winning season in eons. Jon Gruden now needs a valve replacement. Tampa is done.

Yes, it's that long over due time again to slam 'em and slap 'em.

Oakland (3-9): Not even Al Davis law suit against the Football God could help them this season.
Chargers (2-10): Not even the magic of Doug Flutie could help them this season.
Steelers (4-8): Not even an insurance policy written by Tommy Maddox could them this season.
Browns (4-8): Not even 11 Kelly Holmcombs with 87 Butch Davis' could help them this season.
Texans (5-7): Not even a Colt and Titan drop for the rest of the season could help them this season.
Jaguars (3-9): Not even - oh forget it. Not this year Jags fans.
Giants (4-8): This December is the Jim Fasell farewell tour.
Redskins (4-8): Even with player improvements Steve Spurrier stinks.
49ers (5-7): That's what you get when you hire a college football coach.
Cardinals (3-9): God hates Arizona.
Lions (4-8). Sorry homecoming for Mooch.
Buccaneers (5-7): No repeat of anything.
Falcons (2-10): No Mike Vick this year. No Dan Reeves next year.

Vikings (7-5): After starting 6-1, they've gone 1-4.
Packers (6-6): But it is slipping away.
Saints (6-6): Anyone notice these guys climb to .500?
Bills (5-7): A slim slim slim chance.
Broncos (7-5): Could happen, it very well could.

Patriots (10-2): Better, better, better.
Dolphins (8-4): They need to avoid the December slide this year to even think about the playoffs.
Chiefs (11-1): Best record in the NFL.
Bengals (7-5): One of the hottest surprises this season.
Ravens (7-5): Massive team battling for a spot.
Titans (9-2): Battling for the division in addition to some homefield.
Colt (9-3): Will either make the playoffs or win the division and make the playoffs.
Eagles (9-3): Again, dominating the division and the league.
Cowboys (8-4): If they aren't careful, they won't last here.
Rams (9-3): Back in the driver's seat with a better quarterback in Marc Bulger.
Seahawks (8-4): Mike Homgren is finally where he should have been three years ago.
Panthers (8-4): Amazing Carolina will take the South.

Chicago at Green Bay, 1 PM. NFC North game. Green Bay needs this to stay alive for the playoffs. Chicago is playing for pride and Dick Jauron's job that is probably all ready gone.

Cincinnati (7-5) at Baltimore (7-5), 1 PM. AFC North game. This one means something. Cinci is ahead by a head-to-head tie breaker. Both want the division title, and this is the game that will determine that.

Dallas (8-4) at Philadelphia (9-3), 1 PM. NFC East game. If Dallas is for real, this is the game they'll need to prove it.

Tampa Bay (5-7) at New Orleans (6-6), 1 PM. NFC South game that could get the Saints into the playoff hunt.

Washington (4-8) at N.Y. Giants (4-8), 1 PM. Another NFC East game. This one is for the battle of the cellar. One reason to watch: The Jim Fasell countdown in Jersey is ongoing and we're down to the final four games.

Indianapolis (9-3) at Tennessee (9-2), 1 PM. AFC South game. Division leaders, both vying for the title and a playoff spot. Whether Tennessee wins on Monday night or not, this is still huge for both teams.

Arizona (3-9) at San Francisco (5-7), 4:05 PM. NFC West game for the bottom of the cellar.

Kansas City (11-1) at Denver (7-5), 4:15 PM. AFC West game. Denver probably can't catch up with KC, but they sure can make things harder for the Chiefs, and help themselves with a Wild Card spot.

Miami (8-4) at New England (10-2), 4:15 PM. AFC East game. New England can clinch the division in Week 14 with a win. Miami can keep their playoff hopes alive, but they are historically terrible in December in away cities in the north. This one will not be a run away for either club.

N.Y. Jets (4-7) at Buffalo (5-7), 4:15 PM. AFC East game. The Jets are out of it, but Buffalo has a very slim chance at coming in second in the division if they can win and Miami can lose. The rest of the season. Best of luck.

Carolina (8-4) at Atlanta (2-10), 8:30 PM. NFC South game. Michael Vick will start.

St. Louis (9-3) at Cleveland (4-8), 9:00 PM. Cleveland on Monday Night. Who makes the schedules in the league office?

2. The Patriots are 10-2. Can you believe it? They have unofficially clinched a playoff spot, they are unofficially one win from the division title and two wins from the best record in franchise history (12-4). There are four games left: Miami, Jaguars, at Jets, Bills, three are at home, three are division opponents and the collective record is 19-27. Only Miami has a winning record.

3. Jon Kitna gets a game ball this week. Pro Bowl voting is going on right now at NFL.com, and if you're looking for an AFC quarterback, toss Kitna a vote. There aren't many other more deserving.

4. What can you save about the Patriots Rookie Class, especially Bethel Johnson. 192 return yards with a 92-yard touchdown. Amazing.

5. Minnesota isn't looking so good. I mean, the who NFC North is looking good? The entire North, both AFC and NFC, as exciting as it is to see Cinci win, is weak.

6. Marshall Faulk rushed for 107 (third game in a row to rush for over 100 yards) on 17 carries and scored three touchdowns. Just in case anyone was keeping score.

7. How about Jimmy Smith of Jacksonville? Goes over 700 reception in his career and scores on a 48-yard reception. Heck of a night.

8. Dallas is another team that is tripping. Can't lose two of three games this time of year, particularly the Thanksgiving Day home game. Are you listening to me, Bill Parcells?

9. The coaching jobs should start to be written up for posting pretty soon. Guys like Jim Fasell and Bill Cowher and maybe Steve Spurrier and Dick Jauron and Dave Wanndstedt and Dave McGinnis might be looking for new gigs in January. Most likely.

10. And how 'bout Murderin Ray Lewis. 18 tackles in a Baltimore 44-6 win over the 49ers. Incredible.

ejh