Eric Heise dot Com ~ The Monday Analysis 21 November 2005 ~ A Writer's March

The final 24-17 started off a blow out with the Patriots single-handedly handling the homeless Saints. But in traditional 2005 Patriots fashion, they (particularly the Defense) let New Orleans hang around long enough to make it a game at the end.

Tom Brady again led the charge, passing 15 for 29 for 222 yards, 3 TDs, and a 111.6 passer rating. In the third quarter he found Andre Davis for a 60 yard touchdown reception.

Corey Dillon was out again with a leg injury, giving Heath Evans more playing time. Evans, the wonder pick-up of the mid season replacements, rushed for 76 yards on 12 carries. Patrick Pass also returned to the line up (insert stats here).

Once again, however, a sub par team managed to control the clock better than the Patriots, with the Patriots winning in the end. The Saints held the ball for 32:46 to the Patriots 27:14. But penalties creamed New Orleans, particularly three personal fouls on Will Smith, and why he wasn't ejected from the game is a mystery.

Aaron Brooks also passed actively against New England, going 27 for 50 for 343 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick made a brief statement on the game, then a short statement on the passing of his father the night before, and did not take any questions. Belichick told the team of his dad after the game, and presumably only told Patriots owner Robert Kraft before the game. Kraft presented Belichick with the game ball in the locker room after the game, and then Belichick was escorted to Kraft's private jet, where he flew to Maryland to be with his grieving mother and make arrangements for his father's funeral. Belichick is an only child. In his absence, offensive line coach and assistant head coach Dante Scarnecchia will assume duties.

"He was a great man, and he raised a great son," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said after the game of the senior and junior Belichick. Brady also stated he did not know of the passing until after the game when the coach told the team.

LB Willie McGinest came up big on Defense, registering 8 pressure situations against the pass, two deflected passes, and a sack on Brooks. Ellis Hobbs stepped up his play in the secondary, hammering receivers harder and harder each time they came within sight, and ending the game with an interception in the endzone.

Steve Belichick, the father of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, passed away Saturday night of heart

failure at the age of 86.

The elder Belichick coached for the Navy Academy for 33 years, and played full back for the Detroit Lions.

Coach Belichick made a brief statement to the press at his post game conference saying his father spent a typical Saturday watch college football, and having dinner with friends.

The elder Belichick was a tremendous influence to the the Patriots head coach as a young boy teaching him how to break down film and sitting in on meetings at Navy.

"Obviously, he had a tremendous influence on my life personally and, particularly in the football aspect, it was great to be able to share the tremendous memories with him and some of our recent successes, as I did when I was a kid when he was successful as a coach of the Naval Academy and that program."

Steve Belichick is survived by his wife, Jeannette, one son, Bill, and three grandchildren.

The Monday Analysis POWER Rankings

As we approach the fourth quarter of the season, the games get bigger, and this list becomes more important.

1. Indy (10-0). If Indy continues to win right through the Super Bowl, the odds are that the Colts could own the consecutive win streak in mid September of 2006.

2. Denver (8-2). If Denver has to meet Indy in the post season, and it looks like they might, the Broncos have two years of angst building up against the Colts to fire back at them.

As we approach the fourth quarter of the season, the games get bigger, and this list becomes more important.

1. Indy (10-0). If Indy continues to win right through the Super Bowl, the odds are that the Colts could own the consecutive win streak in mid September of 2006.

2. Denver (8-2). If Denver has to meet Indy in the post season, and it looks like they might, the Broncos have two years of angst building up against the Colts to fire back at them.

3. NJ Giants (7-3). How eerie and ironic. The Giants are winning games and losing owners.

4. Cincinnati (7-3). The Bengals needed to step it up on Defense and stop the Colts, and they didn't do it.

5. Carolina (7-3). The Panthers were handed a pretty good loss from the Bears. No longer the hottest team.

6. Dallas (7-3). The Parcells Machines continues, and he has the Cowboys as unsatisfied and grumpy as he is.

7. Seattle (8-2). I still don't know what to make of the 'Hawks. They are winning and no one is noticing.

8. Chicago (7-3). Hottest team in the league. Lovie Smith is working miracles in the great white North.

9. Pittsburgh (7-3). I think the Steelers need Big Ben back.

10. New England (6-4). A two win streak. Next week in Kansas City is their biggest hurdle for the rest of the season.

11. Atlanta (6-4). I feel like the Falcons are slipping a little.

12. Tampa Bay (7-3). Jon Gruden's best season so far in four years. But the Bucs are still suspect.