How's 9-2 sound? And how's this statistic to sweeten that pot: This is the first in franchise history where the Patriots have been 9-2.

Now the ugly parts. Two Tom Brady interceptions and one loss fumble (no tuck rule to save ya this time, gunslinger) didn't help the Patriots get to their 23-20 overtime win over the Houston Texans. Adam Vinatieri missed an indoor field goal (the retractable roof was closed Sunday) for the first time ever. He had another blocked. There was a blocked punt, and not that Kenny Walter has been punting well these days.

But it was Tom Brady and Adam Vinatieri who helped pull this win off with a cast of others. Brady went 29-of-47 for 368 yards and two touchdowns, and went to nine different receivers. Kevin Faulk led the team in rushing, 23 carries for 80 yards and receptions 8 for 108 yards, Daniel Graham and Bethel Johnson had touchdowns, J.J. Stokes got his first Patriots reception with a 31 yarder to help the drive move down field, and let's not forget about the defense who held the Texans off enough when they needed to.

"At that point I was a little down, but I had faith in our defense," Kicker Adam Vinatieri said about the 37-yard field goal attempt that was deflected. "I just wanted another opportunity and I thought the defense would give it to me."

"We talk a lot on our team about hanging in there and playing 60 minutes of football. Today was what, 74?" Patriots coach Bill Belichick said.

The Patriots have the second best record in the league, behind the Kansas City 10-1, and the best winning streak at 7 games. The team travels to Indy next week for the battle of the 9-2s.

Patriots (9-2) 23, TEXANS (4-7) 20 - FINAL/OT: The Texans do not stink, but the Patriots have that something that gets them ahead in tight games, even ones they are giving away. But when the pressure came late in overtime, the Texans made all the mistakes and the Patriots came up with the win.

Colts (9-2) 17, BILLS (4-7) 14 - FINAL: See above. The Colts are playing with a lot of strengths, strengths that gets them wins late in the game when they're on the ropes. Drew Bledsoe still has yet to throw a touchdown pass in a handful of games. Peyton Manning didn't throw one either, if you're keeping score at home.

COWBOYS (8-3) 24, Panthers (8-3) 20 - FINAL: Big win for Dallas. This'll give them much need bonus points for the playoffs, and both of these teams are going to the playoffs, folks.

PACKERS (6-5) 20, 49ers (5-6) 10 - FINAL: Nothing like two teams battling for a win and struggling to stay alive in the playoff picture.

JETS (4-7) 13, Jaguars (2-9) 10 - FINAL: Two teams who won't be going to the playoffs in a low scorer. Yeah, this one must have been exciting.

VIKINGS (7-4) 24, Lions (3-8) 14 - FINAL: The Vikes got back on the winning track and the Lion have lost their last 22 road games. No lie.

Steelers (4-7) 13, BROWNS (4-7) 6 - FINAL: AFC North is looking bad when the Ravens and the Bengals are battling for the top spot and the Browns and the Steelers battle for the cellar in a low scoring bore-fest.

EAGLES (8-3) 33, Saints (5-6) 20 - FINAL: Anyone remember when the Eagle were looking bad? Yeah, neither do I.

RAVENS (6-5) 44, Seahawks (7-4) 41 - FINAL/OT: Baltimore was down 41-17 with six minutes to play in regulation. They win it in overtime 44-41. How do these miracles happen in the NFL?

Bears (4-7) 19, BRONCOS (6-5) 10 - FINAL: With or without Jake Plummer, there's no magic in Mile High this year, not when Chicago beats you at home with Kordell "Long Lost Loser" Stewart is working part time in the pocket.

Rams (8-3) 30, CARDINALS (3-8) 27 - FINAL/OT: Old St. Louis versus New St. Louis. Arizona almost had this one and Marc Bulger looked sick on the sideline late in the game because his day wasn't going well (4 INTs will do that to you). Actually he looked like he'd just gotten yelled at by Brenda Warner. Yet the Rams caught the win, and the Cards, well, is still not a bird that lives in the desert. Winner: New St. Louis.

Titans (9-2) 38, FALCONS (2-9) 31 - FINAL: Any surprises here?

CHIEFS (10-1) 27, Raiders (3-8) 24 - FINAL: Rick Mirer and the Raiders nearly had themselves a big upset. Nearly.

Bengals (6-5) 34, CHARGERS (2-9) 27 - FINAL: Baby, did ya ever wonder, wonder whatever became of me? I am a fan of Cincinnati. Cincinnati, Marvin Lewis has set us free! What is up with the Bengals! Watch out, these guys are becoming the hottest team in the league. And Jon Kitna had himself a four touchdown day. Wow! Carson Palmer who?

DOLPHINS (7-4) 24, Redskins (4-7) 23 - FINAL: Tim "My Brother is Matt in Seattle and I am married to Elizabeth from Survivor 2" Hasselbeck came in for relief for Patrick Ramsey who got roughed up pretty good in the first quarter. Hasselbeck had only ever played one NFL game with three passes, and played great in this big come from behind loss. Miami was dead for most of the game, but Jay Fiedler replaced a sluggish Brian Griese and the Phins came alive. Man, Steve Spurrier can not hold his team together.

The Patriots signed two wide receivers this week: Former first round pick J.J. Stokes who was released from Jacksonville this week and Dedric Ward, who was released by the Patriots at the end of training camp, signed by Baltimore afterwards, and then released from them this week.

The two wideouts are coming in to fill in for the mounting injuries to the receiver corps. David Patten is out for the season with a leg injury. Troy Brown and David Givens are nursing leg injuries and were listed as questionable throughout the week.

Both receivers played in the Houston game, making contributions in fine form for one week of practice.

The Buccaneers have deactivated wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson in what seems to be a trend for teams to remove high profile wide outs in some fashion from the teams where the head coach feels that their star is shining bad light on the team. A few weeks ago, Cleveland released their top receiver, Kevin Johnson for not being able to "put the team first and perform to what is being asked" (sounds like nightmare jargon from human resources). Johnson was later signed by Jacksonville, who released J.J. Stokes to make room on the roster, and of course New England then picked up Stokes.

Keyshawn, or Meshawn as some call him, has always had the me-me-me attitude, but never put up the first pick overall numbers experts and fans expected from him. And while he never clicked with head coach Jon Gruden, Gruden did what he thought was best for the team and deactivated Johnson for the season. Meshawn later signed up with FoxSports as an in studio analyst.

No, not just turkey dinners anymore. We've got two games, folks. Dallas and Detroit traditionally host 'em.

Green Bay (6-5) at Detroit (3-8), 12:30 PM: This is Detroit's Super Bowl, mainly because it is the only time they can count on being on national television. This'll swing to Favre and the Packers. Joey Harrington and the Lions just stink again.

Miami (6-4) at Dallas (8-3), 4:05 PM: Big game. Miami played Sunday night, now they have the late game on Thursday before they have to travel to New England. Dallas is sizzling. They haven't been this good since Bill Parcells last retired. Another two wins and they'll automatically start planning for the playoffs. Miami still has a lot of work on that department. But this is a huge one for both ball clubs.

Buffalo (4-7) at N.Y. Giants (4-6), 1 PM. Battle for New York, even though the Giants are from New Jersey.

Denver (6-5) at Oakland (3-8), 4:15 PM. AFC West game. Denver is still in it, barely. Oakland has been out of it since last year's Super Bowl. Both will most likely be renting movies in January.

Cincinnati (6-5) at Pittsburgh (4-7), 1 PM. AFC North game. Cinci, man oh man, Cinci. I am a follower of the Bengals. What a job Marvin Lewis has done! And Jon Kitna is playing so well they have not even had to rely on Carson "Remember Me, I was the first pick" Palmer. Dear God, the Bengals, yes the Cincinnati Bengals could win the division and go to the playoffs for the first time since Carter was president. Wow!

New England (9-2) at Indianapolis (9-2), 1 PM. Battle of the AFC 9-2s. Big game for both. This'll spell playoff spots. Bill Belichick now has to start talking about the playoffs. One more win and the Pats (and Indy for that matter) are automatically a playoff team. Just like that in Week 12. Gods! And BB has had Peyton Manning's number in the past, but this is not the same Colts team. New coach in Tony "I am the Man" Dungy and Manning is a better quarterback now. Big game. Huge, folks.

Kansas City (10-1) at San Diego (2-9), 4:15 PM. This is an AFC West game, but the Chargers are really bad. Really, really bad.

Tampa Bay (4-6) at Jacksonville (2-9), 8:30 PM. Battle for Florida. That's it.

Tennessee (8-3) at N.Y. Jets (4-7), 9 PM. I don't remember why this one made it to the list. Ah, a good game to watch the Jets get a beatin'.

1. The Patriots are 9-2, a franchise best record, and at the number one spot this week is the guy responsible for making this happen: Head Coach Bill Belichick.

2. Another coach of the year candidate: Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals.

3. I like this new trend of dropping wide receivers like flies when they become divas in the locker room. Kevin Johnson may have been the leading receiver in Cleveland, but Keyshawn Johnson hasn't been carrying his weight. Let them whine and cry and gripe about who has them down. If they had some integrity, maybe they'd still be with their teams right now.

4. Yeah, what was Miami thinking when they added those orange jerseys?

5. And how great has Kevin Faulk been in the past 12 months? This guy is playing better than a '59 Les Paul. Good God, where'd we pick him, eighth round a hundred years ago? What a solid football player.

6. The Spurriers had that game won Sunday night, but the Fish came back, and I'll give them and their orange jerseys props on that one.

7. Thursday games. Two of them. Better than Turkey leftovers.

8. Congratulations to four-time Super Bowl champion Ronnie Lott, who (finally!) had his Number 42 retired last Monday night.

9. Not a good weekend to be a Hasslebeck. It has to suck for Matt Hasslebeck where he threw for five TDs and the defense couldn't hold off the Ravens for six minutes of play.

10. A Happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers, and my thanks to you for all your support and encouragement!

ejh