In the hottest game - and longest road game on the Patriots' schedule, the World Champs handled the Cardinal of Arizona, 23-12. The temperature on the field reached 109 during the game, slowing New England a bit, but the towards the end of the game, the temperatures dropped twenty degrees and the Pats heated up the play, taking the Arizona offense out of the game. The Cardinals relied on four field goals, two from 52 and 51 yards, to get points on the board.

And the Patriots have now won 17 straight.

"What streak?" coach Bill Belichick said. "We're just trying to win a game."

Quarterback Tom Brady echoed his coach. "It is not something we think about and hasn't even crossed my mind. It is so challenging every week no matter who you play. We have to stay focused."

No surprise on those responses. Corey Dillon came through in a big way in the heat by rushing 158 yards on 32 carries, where Tom Brady connected with Daniel Graham for both of his touchdowns. Brady was 15 for 26 for 217 yards, but threw 2 INTs. David Givens led the seven receivers with six receptions on 118 yards.

"I expected us to be balanced, I didn't know how many carries I would get," said Dillon. "He (coach Belichick) told me just be prepared and if we feed you just take advantage of the opportunity. I have been doing this for a long time and this is why I came here for. I didn't come here to rot away and take ills. I want to be a part of something, a winning tradition."

On defense, the Patriots kept Arizona out of the endzone, and forced four field goals. Eugene Wilson intercepted quarterback Josh McCown twice that led to ten points. McCown went 13 for 29 for 160 yards and 0 TDs. He was sacked five times. The Cardinals were able to keep New England out of the endzone in the second half. The Patriots had to settle for Adam Vinatieri field goals after reaching the second yard line twice and the ten yard line.

The Patriots have the Bye week next week, then will play in Buffalo, who will also come off the Bye, in an attempt to tie a historic league record of 18 straight wins.

ATLANTA 34 (2-0), St Louis 17 (1-1) - FINAL: The Michael Vick Show rolls on and takes the Rams out of the show.

BALTIMORE 30 (1-1), Pittsburgh 13 (1-1) - FINAL: Two things went right in this game. The Steelers lost and Deion is injured with a hamstring injury. Plus, he received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taking his helmet off. Hey, Prime Slime, ya can't do that in this league anymore!

DETROIT 28 (2-0), Houston 16 (0-2) - FINAL: Holy Moly! Detroit is winning on the road one week, opening the season 2-0 another week. Maybe Mooch IS a good coach!

Chicago 21 (1-1), GREEN BAY 10 (1-1) - FINAL: Wow, the Pack gives up a homer to da Bears. Lovie Smith is expected to receive a key from the city of Chicago next week for this one.

JACKSONVILLE 7 (2-0), Denver 6 (1-1) - FINAL: Jeez, this one is a baseball score. What a snorefest.

Carolina 28 (1-1), KANSAS CITY 17 (0-2) - FINAL: Something tells me that something is really wrong with KC. Carolina is missing two big players and they beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead. Yikes!

NEW ORLEANS 30 (1-1), San Francisco 27 (0-2) - FINAL: Good thing for the Saints that the Superdome is just about the only thing above sea level in that neck of the woods. And I think that Niners Dynasty is officially over.

N.Y. GIANTS 20 (1-1), Washington 14 (1-1) - FINAL: Tom Coughlin got a win? How'd this happen? Thank God for seven turnovers from the 'Skins, huh?

Indianapolis 31 (1-1), TENNESSEE 17 (1-1) - FINAL: The Fight for the AFC North is neck-to-neck -- except for the fact that Jax is still better at 2-0.

Seattle 10 (2-0), TAMPA BAY 6 (0-2) - FINAL: Another baseball score. But look who is 2-0 and who is 0-2.

New England 23 (2-0), ARIZONA 12 (0-2) - FINAL: Vicious heat doesn't even keep the Champs from winning. Talk about Teflon!

DALLAS 19 (1-1), Cleveland 12 (1-1) - FINAL: Incepteverde hot again? Parcells must be glowing after this one.

OAKLAND 13 (1-1), Buffalo 10 (0-2) - FINAL: Bledsoe and the Bills waited until inside the two minute warning in the fourth to score. They should not be surprised to lose this one. And for Jerry Rice, the Streak ends.

N.Y. Jets 34 (2-0), SAN DIEGO 28 (1-1) - FINAL: What is more amazing here: the scores were high and the game was close or that Jersey is 2-0?

CINCINNATI 16 (1-1), Miami 13 (0-2) - FINAL: Big boring defensive game. Miami is in a lot of trouble. They waited too long to try to win this game.

Oddities of Next Week's Matchups

Chicago (1-1) at Minnesota (1-0), 1 PM. NFC Matchup.

Baltimore (1-1) at Cincinnati (1-1), 1 PM. AFC North Matchup.

Jacksonville (2-0) at Tennessee (1-1), 1 PM. AFC South Matchup.

San Diego (1-1) at Denver (1-1), 4:05 PM. AFC West Matchup.

San Francisco (0-2) at Seattle (2-0), 4:15 PM. NFC West Matchup.

Tampa Bay (0-2) at Oakland (1-1), 8:30 PM. Jon Gruden returns to the House of Horrors in Oakland.

Dallas (1-1) at Washington (1-1), 9:00 PM. NFC East Classic Rivalry with two celebrated Super Bowl-winning, Hall of Fame coaches. Return of the matches of the Great Eighties. Parcells versus Gibbs. Just like Old Home Day.

Open date: Buffalo, Carolina, New England, N.Y. Jets

Notes & Quotes

Some might say that you are more popular than your quarterback.

- Leslie Stahl to Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick on 60 Minutes.

I-don't-think-so.

- Belichick's reply.

Jerry Rice's receptions streak ends at 274 games. The last time he didn't catch a pass was December 1, 1985. Ronald Reagan was just into his second presidential term.

Cincinnati has not beaten Miami since November 20, 1977, for a total of 9 meetings. That ended Sunday night.

Signs of the Apocalypse

Maybe this is a sign that the Apocalypse isn't coming. I am walking through Downtown Crossing during evening rush. A young man drops a crisp twenty dollar bill and is immediately stopped by a middle-aged man, who tells him of his loss. And this is in Boston!

Top Ten List of the Week

1. Arizona retired Pat Tillman's Number 40 jersey at halftime. Number One is Pat Tillman. Always, Pat Tillman.

2. Sweet 16? How about Sizzling 17! Go Pats!

3. Carolina is going to have to keep pulling out the stops. Having two of their best players out, Stephen Davis and Steve Smith, is going to make it hard to get back to the Super Bowl this season.

4. I know Miami has had a rough offseason, but do they have to remind us during the regular season about just how bad they really are?

5. Patriots coach Bill Belichick gets the "I am smarter than you" award for taking his team to 100 degree Arizona on Thursday this week to practice in the week while the Foxboro weather chilled. Score of the Pats game: 23-12 in favor of the Belichicks.

6. Emmitt Smith rushed for 31 yards Sunday and 1 TD. On the other side, Corey Dillon rushed for 158 yards. Emmitt, come on. Your quarterback had 19 yards rushing in-between being sacked five times and throwing 2 INTs.

7. How painful is it to see Jerry Rice's streak end? This is a sign of how bad Oakland is, not how old Rice is. Keep this in mind.

8. Lovie Smith is going to get a parade for this win over Green Bay in Packerland. No doubt.

9. Cincinnati should have had that game wrapped up earlier. Damn them for making me stay up for them blessed score. Thank God it didn't go into overtime.

10. Red Sox lose the weekend series to the Skanks, 1-3. Is that fat lady singing? We'll have to wait for the repeat series in Fenway next weekend.

ejh