Running it up. Top Ten

The Patriots have scored 48, 49 and 52 points in their last three games for a point total that hasn't been achieved in the NFL since the early 1960's. Clearly they are running it up. Clearly they are sending a message to the league. Clearly Belichick's players are just fine with his ruthless demand to go out and keep scoring. They were humiliated by videogate and their superbowls have been questioned. Now they are out to humiliate the rest of the league where it counts the most, on the field. Last week's version of a Patriots bludgeoning was on the Washington Redskins.

There is no doubt that Brady was left in too long. No doubt that Belichick was pissed off when Washington scored a meaningless touchdown. The evidence that the players are all for the blowout? Just watch how mad Brady got at his O-Line when they jumped off-side in the red zone, in the fourth quarter, up by a score of 38-0.

I think the amazing thing about this team is that the two players that effected the outcome most barely showed up on the stat sheet. First, Adalius Thomas. His acquisition has allowed Vrabel to move back outside. Vrabel might be the best Outside linebacker in the league. He dominated on Sunday, recording 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 11 solo tackles. There is no way he does all that without Thomas in the middle.

Second, Randy Moss, who only showed up on the stat sheet with 3 catches for 47 yards and one TD. His presence on the field and the constant double and sometimes triple teams led to Welker's 9 cathces for 89 yds and a TD and Faulk's 7 catches for 57 yds, not to mention the space for Brady to run for his two TD's.

Overall it was a difficult game for me to watch. I mean, is Washington that bad or are the Pats that good? At one point int he fourth quarter I felt bad for Robert Kraft. The FOX broadcast was happy to show an uncomfortable Kraft when the Pats scored their 45th point and again when they put the 52 on the board. Yeah, it was nice to see the Pats score at will, but it did get a little uncomfortable for me when it became obvious that the Pats weren't going to stop scoring. Don't get me wrong, I'm in line with those that have said it's the other teams job to stop the Pats if they don't like the score. It's just that, I think 38 or 41 points would have been enough for me.

So now it's on to the team we'd all love to see the Patriots humiliate, the Colts. The problem is, we're not really sure if the Pats can even beat the Colts, nevermind doing so by a wide margin.

I'll have plenty more to post on this game later in the day today, (Thursday) and another post with my prediction on Friday.



TOM'S TOP TEN TEAMS:

1- Pats
2- Colts
3- Packers
4- Chargers
5- Cowboys
6- Steelers
7- Titans
8- Jaguars
9- Giants
10- Detroit