By Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

Playing two New York teams in a row is like slipping on one pile of dog dung and falling chest-first into another: every moment feels awful; there’s serious cleaning up afterwards; and for whatever reason, other people find it hilarious.

Two positive aspects arose from Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the Giants. One, it ended the silly home winning streak that didn’t include New England’s two straight playoff losses. Two, it has quelled expectations of the Patriots going far this season.

Oh, for the days when a mediocre defense could still get you to 14-2.

Some other points worth visiting as the Pats head to New Jersey to take on the Jets…

Rah, Rah, Sis-Boom-Blah: Anyone else feel like New England just wasn’t up for this game? Too many blank stares on the sideline, too much looking around waiting for Tom Brady to do something. If they have a similar attitude in the tri-state area, things could get ugly quickly.

Plus it’s worth pointing out –

Tom Turkey: Sure, nice comeback at the end there, but we’re concerned about the missed receivers and questionable decision-making in this game. If he has a repeat performance against the Jets, your Sunday evening just got much, much longer.

What Can Brown Do For You? Oh, you mean Sergio Brown? He can commit an egregious pass interference penalty to set up the Giants on the one-yard line. That’s all.

We Can’t Grin And Barrett: Now that safety Josh Barrett has been placed on injured reserve, Brown and new guy Sterling Moore should get more playing time. The Patriots’ safeties have gotten on the field only slightly more often than Peyton Manning’s new cleats.

Which is totally awesome. In opposite world.

Albert Heinousworth: Thanks to Albert Haynesworth for continuing his streak of seasons failing to live up to his potential. Um, Albert, don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out, because you might break the door.

Bump, Set, Spikes: Looks like Brandon Spikes might miss this game. Exactly what New England needs – less intensity in their linebacking corps.

Wow. Even we’re getting tired of the level of sarcasm this week. But will we let it stop us? (Insert sardonic answer here.)

At The End Of His Grope: Hey, Julian Edelman? If you’re going to get very little yardage on punt returns, you might as well make sure you don’t fumble. Just saying.

Deep Thoughts: It sure seems like the Patriots need a fast guy who can run downfield three or four times a game, if only to elicit a possible pass interference penalty. Will Taylor Price ever be healthy? Why hasn’t he seen the field more?

We’d rather have Brady hurling the ball to, say, a streaking Matthew Slater three times a game than failing to connect with a certain veteran receiver five times.

Tempting Fade: Speaking of deep threats, welcome back to Tiquan Underwood, who not only can run the fade, he can sport it as a haircut.

Look, we have no idea what’s going to happen with this team. Might as well enjoy some of the fun, quirky stuff as it comes along.

Recalling An Offensive Line: The Aristocrats! No, seriously, what’s up with the O-line these days? Brady’s getting knocked around like a ping-pong ball in a closet full of cats. Too many individual battles being lost up front, which bodes poorly for a tilt with the Jets’ improved D.

Going Back To The Welker: When receiver Wes Welker went down with an apparent shoulder injury in the first half, we all figured that was the end of the season. He’s an amazing player who has been the heart of the team since 2007. Next week, the Jets will do everything they can to make him a non-factor.

Imagine if a certain numerically-named receiver actually took advantage of such a situation? That would be cool.

Email Chris Warner at [email protected]

By Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

You know what? We’re going against our usual frame of mind here to say that New England’s 25-17 loss doesn’t really worry us. Pittsburgh played better from beginning to end, yet somehow only led by six in the last minute. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes – the defense has to improve; still, if these teams meet in the playoffs, the Patriots win.

Not that this game didn’t bring up other concerns heading into next week’s tilt vs. the Giants.

Two Weeks Are Too Weak: Mmm … New England had a bye week before traveling to Pittsburgh and got smacked around. The last time they had a bye week, they hosted the Jets in the playoffs and (insert last part of previous sentence here).

Considering the success of recent wild card teams in the playoffs and the failure of the Pats to win after byes, maybe the whole top-seeded thing isn’t the goal here. Maybe a week off isn’t what a playoff team really needs in these days of NFL parity.

Of course, we don’t have to deal with 300-pound maniacs trying to hurt us every week, so it’s hard to say for sure.

Blue Prints = Blue Prince: Nothing makes our prince of football, Tom Brady, more upset than losing, and it appears that the blueprint for beating the Pats has been well-established. Rush the QB with four or fewer, double-team Welker, man up on the tight ends. Simple, really.

The question is, who besides the Steelers and Cowboys can execute that game plan? How many teams have the personnel? We’ll find out for the rest of this season and, we hope, far into the playoffs.

Chad Miss-Him-If-You-Blink-o: Okay, for the final time (at this point, we’re running out of puns), we’ll discuss the Chad Ochocinco failed experiment. He has been practicing with the team since late July – that’s three full months, people! – and has yet to pick up the offense. He has nine catches for 136 yards and has gone two games without a reception.

For comparison, we recall Jabar Gaffney, the standard for veterans who come to Foxboro and contribute to this offense. Gaffney was signed in October 2006. Three months later, he was tearing up the Jets in a playoff win with eight receptions for 104 yards.

No preseason games. No Tom Brady whispering in his ear after every play. Gaffney ended up leading all Patriots receivers in the post-season (a dubious distinction in an anemic 2006, but still). This matters because…

Price Check: The Patriots have a fourth-round receiver waiting in the wings. Maybe Taylor Price will also have a hard time figuring out New England’s offense, as he came from Ohio University, where they apparently draw diagrams in the mud with sticks. But isn’t Price worth a try? Shouldn’t he get as much of a chance to fail as Ochocinco?

At the very least, you have a big, fast, young receiver looking to contribute. It just seems like he’s worth a shot. If only some other young pass-catcher could help out …

With A Grain Of Assault: Seriously, Julian Edelman? Now you get arrested?

Let’s just change the subject.

Play Missed He For Me: It seems that the Patriots learned their tackling skills while playing Ultimate Frisbee. Clean it up, you nitwits!

Bottom Of The Third: More horrible third-down defense for the Pats, disappointing due to a recent upward trend and the aforementioned two weeks to prep for Pitt. We have to think that defensive back Leigh Bodden’s dismissal threw New England’s defense out of sync.

Well, maybe rookie cornerback Ras-I Dowling could contribute, IF ONLY HE DIDN’T WIND UP ON INJURED RESERVE WITH AN INJURY HISTORY GOING BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL.

So much for the 33rd overall pick of the draft. Cripes.

Not Elite, Just Eli: Listen, in our book, “elite” means top ten percent. That means that out of 32 teams, only three QBs get elite consideration – Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady. Done.

Now, some call Eli Manning a very good quarterback. Sounds fine; we have no argument with that. Just don’t try to bring down a pair of Hall of Fame quarterbacks by comparing them with someone who’s merely very good.

And, judging by this year’s defense, nothing New England does will detract from Eli’s apparent greatness. The discussion continues …

Email Chris Warner at [email protected]

by Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

After a Sunday without Patriots football (spent rooting against the Jets, to no avail), it’s back to the grind for your Fightin’ Foxboroites. The gang travels to Pittsburgh, where they’ve had some success in recent years.

This and other thoughts before the game…

The Tom Before The Storm: Could be a big day for quarterback Tom Brady, who typically beats the Steelers’ defense like a birthday piñata. With the improved health of tight end Aaron Hernandez and their most robust running game in a while, the Patriots have a chance to put up solid numbers at Heinz Field.

Chad Eat-your-ginko: Maybe receiver Chad Ochocinco is just forgetting his routes and responsibilities. Maybe he needs some brain food to help him remember, like ginko boloba, or salmon, or blueberries. (I don’t know. I just bought a pound of Swedish fish on sale. I’m not exactly a nutritionist.)

At this point, it’s hard to care anymore.

Deaderick On Arrival? Interesting to see whether or not defensive tackles Brandon Deaderick and Ron Brace get summoned off the Player Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Both have made small contributions in the past, each working with the ol’ “potential” label. Will both make the roster this year? Does this have any impact on current defensive linemen?

Speaking of the PUP list…

Faulk In “A” Condition: Running back and Pete-Carroll-era relic Kevin Faulk has said that he’s 100 percent, maybe not the best thing to announce if there’s a chance your team will put you on IR. Danny Woodhead and Shane Vereen have taken on the third-down role; however, Faulk is the most experienced, best pass-blocking back the Patriots have, so that should be worth something.

Marcus Oh Really Yes: All hail the potential return of offensive lineman/monolith Marcus Cannon, in uniform after battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma earlier this year. The 358-pounder adds depth to the O-line. He played tackle in college and could rotate at right guard with veteran Brian Waters.

A great story no matter what, but an even better story if we get to see him pound the living dung out of opposing linebackers.

Up Against The Wallace: Pittsburgh receiver Mike Wallace (drafted one spot after the Pats picked Brandon Tate? Oy) can stretch the field for the Steelers and cause New England’s defensive backfield serious problems. Have recent games pointed the way to defensive improvement, or have NE’s DBs just gotten lucky? This will be a good game to find out.

The Side Of Mayo: While many fans have said that the defense seems more dynamic without linebacker Jerod Mayo, it’s hard to ignore his production and his ability to stay on the field every down. If he returns, look for him to partner with Brandon Spikes, allowing Spikes to wreak more havoc.

Really, Mayo returning can’t be a bad thing. Can it?

Malcolm In The Mid-Term: Happy to see rookie Malcolm Williams back in Foxboro on the practice squad halfway through the season. For a closer look at the seventh-rounder, here’s a link to our exclusive PD interview with him back in May.

Email Chris Warner at [email protected]

by Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

Wait one minute. Did the Patriots win on Sunday because of their defense, and not in spite of it? Did that 20-16 comeback actually happen, or did we imagine it to stay positive during the bye week?

Nope. It really occurred, putting an optimistic spin on much of our thoughts through this point in the season.

Just In The Nick Of Tom: Starting with 2:31 left, Tom Brady shook off a mediocre performance to complete eight of his nine passes for the game-winning touchdown drive. Everything from Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski’s out routes to Aaron Hernandez’s end zone cross were met with pinpoint accuracy, something the Dallas defense had prevented throughout much of the previous 57:29.

Aaron It Out: We didn’t know what to expect from Hernandez when New England grabbed him in 2010’s fourth round. What a difference this guy makes. We’ll even take his open-up-the-safe-and-make-it-rain-cash touchdown celebration.

Chad On-the-brink-o: It’s worth repeating our analysis of Patriots receivers over the past several years – either they get the offense within weeks, or they never do. Chad Ochocinco got one pass thrown to him and seemed to turn the wrong way (Unless Brady made a mistake. As if!). With the Cowboys demonstrating how to defend the Pats (crush Welker whenever possible, help with the tight ends), New England needs a reliable third receiver who can beat simple man-to-man coverage. With every passing week, Ochocinco looks less and less like that guy.

Don’t be fooled by any upcoming success vs. Pittsburgh. Brady has consistent production against the Steelers, and the team will set Ochocinco up for success there with extra preparation. What he does after the Steelers game will say more about where he fits.

Anyway, enough about Ochocinco…

Taylor Suited? Okay, I lied: Shouldn’t Taylor Price get a shot to play? Wouldn’t he benefit more from the experience than Ochocinco at this point?

We can’t complain about this offense, but we can worry about its individual parts.

Around The Bend But Don’t Break: Has the New England defense figured it out? Have they turned the proverbial corner? Sure, they still have work to do, but holding Dallas to two field goals after some dicey turnovers impressed us. Solid run defense and an avoidance of allowing big plays made a difference.

Dallas coach Jason Garrett’s paralyzing fear of allowing QB Tony Romo to pass probably didn’t hurt, either. But we’ll focus on the positive.

To Err Is Human, To Forgive, D-line: The Patriots defensive front made up for some inconsistency elsewhere, pressuring Romo and stopping early rushing plays dead. It seems as though this veteran group is getting more comfortable with each other, staying in synch and plugging up gaps. Fun to watch when the defense accomplishes what it sets out to do.

What’s not as fun? Well…

Far From Devin: Is something wrong with cornerback Devin McCourty? In terms of his tackling, he’s missed more stops than an over-caffeinated bus driver. He seems to get caught looking into the backfield and freezing, resulting in having to catch up to the guy he’s supposed to be covering. An odd transition from the smooth, effortless appearance of last year’s rookie.

Let’s Talk About Six: As in, six weeks into the season, meaning some players are eligible to get onto the roster from the Player Unable to Perform (PUP) list. We’ll see what running back Kevin Faulk, defensive linemen Ron Brace and Brandon Deaderick, and guard Marcus Cannon can bring. Seems like the Pats may have gotten a little bit better over the bye week. More potential, anyway.

Enjoy the week off. The last 10 should be fun.

Chris Warner can be reached at [email protected]

by Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

Ah, what a relief to beat the Jets on Sunday, 30-21. Whether the Pats win or lose to those guys can change our personal outlook on life. At least for a week.

New England passed a little, ran a little more, and even defended a little. Not perfect, but we’ll take it.

Now, on to hosting Dallas, a star-studded team with a star’s propensity for self-destruction.

You Better You Bet: As solid as this performance looked vs. the struggling Jets, New England needs to improve on both sides of the ball. The defense seemed sharp but gave up a score that allowed New York to stay in the game late. Did you feel confident that, had the offense been unable to keep possession for six of the final seven minutes, the defense would have held on?

Me neither.

Playing the Sacks: Four sacks of Tom Brady allowed in this one, which makes it seem as though the offense couldn’t accomplish much, except…

Thirtysomething Reruns: New England continued to produce more points than a pencil sharpener. This past week, they reached 30 yet again and had a shot at more if tight end Aaron Hernandez hadn’t allowed a potential touchdown pass through his hands at the end of the first half.

I’m thinking of Brady the same way my father talked about Larry Bird: Enjoy this while it lasts, because we’re watching something special.

BeenRunning Green-Ellis: Wait a sec. BenJarvus Green-Ellis had 136 yards rushing? Against the Jets? And 59 of those yards came in the final six minutes, when New York knew the home team wanted to run the ball?

Ooh. We like this development. We like this a lot. Let’s see if it continues against the Cowboys.

What’s A Haynesworth? Not much, apparently. In the preseason game against Jacksonville, on his first play from scrimmage for the Patriots, Albert Haynesworth pushed the pocket and caused general mayhem. Since the season actually began, he’s been injured and, when actually on the field, has provided all the excitement of a lukewarm cup of decaf.

Instead of Albert, we should just start calling him “If,” as in “If Haynesworth gets healthy,” “If Haynesworth gets motivated,” “If Haynesworth can contribute beyond leaning into an offensive lineman nine times a game,” etc.

The Hole Is Greater Than Its Parts: Taking a good look at this defense, it’s not just that there’s a dearth of playmakers (we exclude you, Vince Wilfork), it’s that they’re working more as individuals than as a cohesive unit. For example, when Mark Anderson takes an outside track to get to the QB, he leaves a passing lane wide open for Mark Sanchez to complete yet another inside slant route. If Anderson takes an interior path, he won’t get the sack, but he disrupt a pass. Something to think about against Dallas’ offense.

Oh, and a note to Coach Bill Belichick: We’re available as consultants any time.

Spikes The Punch: He may not always get to the right spot, but when he does, Brandon Spikes knows how to hit people. Between his nasty collisions and Gary Guyton’s knowledge of the D, the Pats survived Sunday without linebacker Jerod Mayo, an impressive feat considering the Jets’ stated desire to run the ball.

Tight Family: Looks like Dan Gronkowski is back to join his brother Rob (also to play football, but you know what we mean). As Dan takes over practice-squad tackle Thomas Welch’s job as blocking tight end, will he also go out for a pass once in a while? Wouldn’t hurt. In fact, it would be Gronkriffic.

Chad Out-of-sync-o: Leave it to Chad Ochocinco to temper our optimism (two catches? Yay!) with a bonehead move (false start penalty? Boo!).

Hey, Chad? Relax. We have no expectations of you anymore. Get a couple receptions each game (no drops, please), keep running pick routes for Wes Welker, stop committing silly penalties, and we’ll be fine.

Well-navigated Waters: The best aspect of guard Brian Waters? We almost never talk about him. Great work for someone who joined the team in early September.

All’s Well That Ends Welker: When a receiver gets “limited” to just five catches for 124 yards, you know he’s having a remarkable season.

Let’s enjoy it while it lasts.

Chris Warner can be reached at [email protected]

by Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

The Patriots looked pretty good beating the Raiders 31-19 on the West Coast. Pretty good.

Whether they can take the good and improve on the bad in time to beat the Jets, we’ll find out this Sunday.

That gives us plenty to think about this week.

99 Yards Drives You Near Up A Wall: The Pats ruined a 31-13 comfy game by a) failing to score on four straight running plays near the goal line and b) giving up an ensuing five-play, 99-yard scoring drive in the final minutes.

Sure, we can say the drive didn’t matter, but does that mean the defense shouldn’t make any kind of play whatsoever? And hey, we love Dane Fletcher at linebacker, but at fullback? Should the Pats invest in a blocking back who can clear a path for BenJarvus Green-Ellis? Is tackle/college tight end/low-roster guy Thomas Welch the answer?

See? Even this decisive victory conjured up a lot of questions.

Spare Jerod, Spoil The Defense: Amidst the overkill of condiment-pun headlines, we find news that Jerod Mayo has hurt his MCL. Will Gary Guyton, Brandon Spikes or Fletcher be able to take his place? Our respective predictions say no, nope, and nunh-unh.

The Pats have what’s called a “lottery” defense, giving up big numbers every week. Can’t see it improving without one of its most reliable players.

That Guyton Looks Bushed: While Guyton does okay in certain (read: passing) defenses, he’s not a run-stopper. Poor play by him on the TD run by Oakland’s Michael Bush. Instead of tackling Bush for a two-yard loss, Guyton ran outside of him and pulled a Carl Crawford (whiffed in a big situation; and yes, we’re still bitter). That play gave the home team a 10-7 lead. Tough to expect Guyton to do much vs. the Jets’ run game.

Dopeland Raiders: Another thing New England should not rely on next week is the Raider-like propensity for foolish penalties. Richard Seymour aided the Pats’ opening TD drive with 30 yards’ worth of idiocy on two unsportsmanlike calls. You can’t count on the Jets to be such nitwits (on the field, at least).

And, ah, hey, Oakland? We know you’ve got a certain reputation to uphold, but maybe it hurts you more than you realize.

More With Wes: It continues to amaze us that opponents fail to double-team Wes Welker, who added another nine receptions and 158 yards to his season total (40 catches, 616 yards, five TDs in four games. Yikes). How can defensive coordinators leave covering Welker off their to-do lists? Expect him to attract a lot of attention Sunday, meaning that other receivers will have to make up some of that production. If they’re open, Tom Brady will find them. Now let’s see if they can get open.

Ooh Chad (Things Are Gonna Get Easier): Was that Chad Ochocinco we saw seeming to appear out of nowhere to catch two passes (three if you include one taken back by penalty)? Number 85 was the second-leading pass-catcher on the Pats Sunday. Does that mean he’s ready to contribute on a more regular basis and stop disappearing during games?

Sure. Why not?

Campbell’s Oops: Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell is another opposing passer who rose from mediocrity to respectability vs. New England (25 for 39, 344 yards). The difference came down to his ridiculous interceptions, one a toss directly into Patrick Chung’s hands (with no Oakland receiver within 10 yards), the other right at defensive tackle/tract of land Vince Wilfork.

If New York’s Mark Sanchez can recover from his bout of incompetence in Baltimore, he should find some success against the Pats’ pass D.

Opponents Wilfork It Over: The fun statistic? Wilfork has two interceptions this season, the first two of his career. The not-so-fun statistic? He now has two more picks than cornerbacks Devin McCourty and Leigh Bodden combined. That, dear readers, is 2011 in Foxboro.

Saint Stevan He Arose, Right Into the End Zone He Goes: Rookie Stevan Ridley has surprised many with elusiveness and speed, both of which were on display during his 22-yard touchdown run. While many (myself included) though the Pats drafted Ridley too high in the third, he has shown promise as an addition to New England’s offense.

Pats-Jets. Sunday afternoon. What else can we say?

Email Chris Warner at [email protected]

by Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

All we’ll say about last week’s 34-31 upset to Buffalo is that a 21-0 lead – and 31 points overall – should be good enough to win.

The fact that is wasn’t? Well, that has us concerned about next week’s trip to Oakland.

All Creatures Great And Small: That summarizes Tom Brady’s two-man receiving crew, from the mighty Rob Gronkowski to the diminutive Wes Welker. Deion Branch has trouble breaking free from man-to-man coverage, Aaron Hernandez is hurt, and no other pass-catcher has distinguished himself for New England.

If Oakland plays solid pass defense against those two, Brady just doesn’t have a lot of other targets.

Ochocinco Over-thinko: Speaking of pass-catchers, New England could have used one on that long throw to Chad Ochocinco. We’re beginning to wonder if he’ll ever figure out the offense. On the “JG” scale, Ochocinco’s much closer to Joey Galloway (never got it) than Jabar Gaffney (took him a month). We can’t think of an in-between example of a receiver who learned the offense after several weeks.

Maybe Ochocinco will be the first. Any maybe scientists will discover that pumpkin lattes help you lose weight. One can only dream.

Darren To Run: Last week, the Pats faced running back Fred Jackson. This week, it’s Darren McFadden, who ran over the Jets like they were lines on a parking lot. Maybe Albert Haynesworth will return, but the Patriots can’t depend on the big man to improve their defense – they have to do that without him.

Everybody Hurts: Haynesworth, Hernandez and safety Patrick Chung missed the Buffalo game with injuries. Considering that New England’s safeties looked about as lost as Hansel and Gretel, Chung’s absence may prove the most costly.

Between Devin And Hell: Whatever happened to Devin McCourty, rookie Pro Bowl cornerback? Remember him? He was the guy you put on the opposing team’s best receiver for solid, consistent coverage. Last year he was Superman doing his job; this year he’s the Human Torch getting lit up all over the field. Both McCourty and Leigh Bodden, dependable starters from the past, have looked lost and overmatched.

Lest we blame only the defensive backfield…

Sackless: If you’re feeling too good about the world right now, take a gander at the list of defensive stats for sacks vs. Buffalo. We’ll save you the trouble, as it’s just a tall column of zeroes. Switching to the 4-3 and getting two platoons of so-called pass-rushers was supposed to improve the Patriots’ ability to get to the opposing QB. The Raiders aren’t known as a great passing team, but with time to lounge around the pocket, even Jason Campbell can become a threat.

Defenses Have No Answer To This Ridley: On the positive side (and we need a positive side), rookie running back Stevan Ridley showed some promise. Maybe he’ll get the call for more carries at Oakland. Shouldn’t hurt.

Home Boy: Brady’s traveling back to his home state, where he should get back to playing more like his old self. If not, it’s another chance for the defense to demonstrate some form of improvement.

Oh, for the days where a 21-0 lead meant the outcome had little doubt.

Email Chris Warner at [email protected]

by Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

So, when New England led San Diego 20-7 at the half, how did you feel?

We ask because back in the good old days, when the Patriots had a halftime advantage, fans knew their offense would sustain clock-killing drives and their defense would hold fast. Now, a third-quarter lead means a strong comeback attempt by opponents.

You’d think a 35-21 win at Foxboro over a solid team like the Chargers would warrant a peppier intro, but New England’s defense has given us cause for concern.

Tom Tom Club: The offense, however, continues in harmony, with quarterback Tom Brady as bandleader. If you get open, you get a pass reception (even Chad Ochocinco got into the act with two – count ’em – two catches). Brady’s 423 yards passing at home didn’t match up to the 517 in Miami, which is like saying this month’s vacation in Fiji didn’t meet the level of last month’s vacation in Monaco.

We’ll take either, but why choose when you can have both?

Put On Your Tights: Remember back before the 2010 draft how the Patriots had no tight ends? Remember how teams passed on Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez because of certain issues (a neck injury and failed drug test, respectively)?

For those of us who felt a little iffy about picking Gronkowski in the second round, we apologize. It’s been said here before, but he projects as the best all-around tight end in Foxboro since Ben Coates. This week, he and his brother Dan Gronkowski return home to Buffalo. Could be fun.

Aaron On The Side Of Caution: Too bad Hernandez has been declared out for an unspecified number weeks with a strained knee ligament. Will we see the other Gronkowski go out for passes? Does second-year receiver Taylor Price figure into this as another, bigger pass-catcher?

Shutting Down Gates: As for San Diego’s tight end, Antonio Gates put up more zeroes than a Japanese aircraft carrier. New England’s defense deserves some credit for taking away one powerful offensive weapon.

Ras-on For Concern: Rookie cornerback Ras-I Dowling left the game with a leg injury (we think). It seems the Pats could use a bigger defensive back against Bills receivers Steve Johnson (6-2, 210) and Dave Nelson (6-5, 215), especially after Chargers Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson had their way with them.

The Rushin’ Is Coming, The Rushin’ Is Coming: Okay, but when? New England’s pass rush was supposed to improve with the signings of Albert Haynesworth, Andre Carter, Mark Anderson and about 600 other defenders (Note: figure may be exaggerated). San Diego QB Phillip Rivers had time not only to scan the field but also to wait for a coach on the sideline to tell him via a round of charades whom to pass to before delivering the ball.

We know the Patriots didn’t blitz much. But shouldn’t some of the above players win one-on-one battles to pressure the QB, at least a little? Do we have to spend this season watching opposing passers hang out for several seconds before converting third-and-longs?

Man, we hope not.

Go Fourth And Prosper? Nope. Not really. The whole “go for it on fourth down” thing didn’t work all that well against the Chargers, who seemed well prepared for the possibility. An injury to punter Zoltan Mesko must have figured into the decision, and the possibility of not having him in the hinterland of Buffalo seems ominous.

Your Old Pat Fitzy: In honor of Boston superfan character Paul “Fitzy” Fitzgerald (blog here), we must mention Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has been slinging the ball around like he’s back at Harvard playing against the JVs. It almost makes you want to like Harvard. Almost.

It’s been eight years since Buffalo beat New England. Maybe they can wait a little longer.

Email Chris Warner at [email protected]

"Nice job last week, Tom."

by Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

So much for a defensive battle. Monday night’s tilt featured over 1,000 yards of total offense, with the Patriots literally passing by the Dolphins, 38-24.

Lots to like on the offensive side of the ball. The other side, not so much.

Game One gave us plenty to consider heading into New England’s home opener against San Diego.

Return To Center: The worst news of the night involved an avert-your-eyes ankle injury to center Dan Koppen. Tough news for the Pats, who’ve depended on Koppen as the line’s lynchpin since 2003. Dan Connolly deserves praise for stepping in, but we’ll have to keep an eye out for any long-term effects on the O-line.

’Cinco Deny-o: Has anyone else’s enthusiasm for signing Chad Ochocinco waned recently? New England’s hurry-up offense ensured that Miami’s beleaguered defense stayed on the field; at the same time, the Pats’ less-experienced receivers stayed off it. Number 85 had one reception, matching his number of illegal formation penalties.

Until he gets a chance to huddle up and go over each play call, we’ll reserve our season predictions on the mercurial receiver – though we grow impatient.

Passing Fancy: Maybe it’s the Uggs. Tom Brady made more successful passes than Casanova, compiling 517 passing yards in his franchise-record night. Miami’s highly-regarded defensive backs looked helpless at times. We’ll see if this success continues against San Diego, who fielded one of the best defenses in the league last year.

It’s Wes, No Less: A huge chunk of Brady’s passing yardage came on a seam pass to Wes Welker, whose pardon-me-I-have-somewhere-to-go straight arm sprung him on a 99-yard pass. This play stood out among many that got our hopes up, including a leaping grab by Aaron Hernandez and a flurry of passes to Deion Branch that dizzied the Dolphin D.

Henne-Penny, The Sky Is Falling: The one downer of the night came in the form of the Patriots’ supposedly revamped pass defense, which gave up 416 yards to Chad Henne. Henne has been described as a lot of things. “Good” is not one of them. He’s decent, sometimes even pretty good, but considering he was one Welker-like breakaway from matching Brady’s output does not bode well for this defense.

If Henne can pass for over 400, we’re concerned about what a quarterback like the Chargers’ Pro Bowl QB Phil Rivers can do this Sunday.

A Rivers Runs Through It: And, if Henne can run for 59 yards and a touchdown, don’t do you think Rivers is considering what kind of damage he can do on the ground?

Well? Don’t you?

Left In His Wake: Kudos to rookie offensive lineman Nate Solder, who engulfed pass-rush terror Cameron Wake throughout most of the night. Wake got one sack after some great coverage by his defensive backfield, Solder answered the biggest concern going into this game by handling Wake one-on-one. With Sebastian Vollmer back at practice, fans can take comfort in having Solder as a backup.

Ras To The Occasion: Nice debut for rookie defensive back Ras-I Dowling, whose size and strength seemed to make a difference near the goal line. Henne had to throw too high trying to get the ball over Dowling, and the rookie seemed to match up well overall in his battles with Brandon Marshall. Interesting to see where and how much he plays against the Chargers.

One last thing, a more general concern…

Officially Bad: A disappointing night for officiating with at least two blown calls by refs. On the first, a Davone Bess reception was called a touchdown but was not (New England held the Fins on downs and scored Welker’s TD on the next play). On the second, Reggie Bush’s TD was incorrectly called down at the one-yard line.

Gillette’s open for business, folks. Let’s see if there’s a home field advantage.

Chris Warner can be reached at [email protected]

Gronkowski celebrates - Rob, that is

by Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

And so it begins.

After a fractious off-season and roster overhaul, the Patriots travel to Miami for the inaugural Monday night game of 2011. We figure the Dolphins recollect the repeated poundings the Pats gave them last year and plan to get off to a better start.

Much to discuss going into Week One. For example…

Tommy Can You Hear Me? This preseason has renewed our appreciation for quarterback Tom Brady because New England’s offense seems harder to pick up than a greasy BB. This, we hope, is why Chad Ochocinco has been playing on a different page than the QB. How much can Brady and Ochocinco connect this week? What kind of production can we expect from Deion Branch, who had exactly as many preseason catches (zero) as I did watching from my couch?

The aforementioned receivers look like they’re having trouble getting open, finding about as much separation as Chang and Eng Bunker. With the release of disappointing young receiver Brandon Tate, what will second-year pass-catcher Taylor Price bring to the picnic?

Lots of questions, none of them reassuring.

Another House Key for Another Gronkowski: New England had only Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez as tight ends after letting go of Lee Smith and Will Yeatman in a failed attempt to sneak the promising rookies onto the practice squad. Both get plucked by AFC East rivals (Smith to Buffalo, Yeatman to Miami).

Having two tight ends felt like going off-roading without a spare tire: you could do it, but why tempt fate? Knowing this, Coach Bill Belichick brought Rob’s brother Dan Gronkowski into the fold. The Maryland product saw time at end and fullback with Denver last year, meaning he has experience in a Patriots-like offense under former Broncos coach Josh McDaniels.

Delicious, Delightful, D-linemen: New England has become a line-dominated defense, as evidenced by the whopping 10 players Coach Bill Belichick kept for the D-line. Here’s hoping leviathan Albert Haynesworth can disrupt opponents before exhausting himself, Andre Carter can hassle the QB like he did in August, former Jet Shaun Ellis can rediscover the form that made him such a nuisance last year, and that someone under 30 can make an impact.

Formation Follows Function: With all the above-mentioned defensive linemen, it seems pretty crazy to expect anything besides a 4-lineman, 3-linebacker, attacking style defense most of the time. Crazy … like a fox. New England had some success against Miami’s offense last year using a 3-4 defense. The preseason isn’t necessarily the time to tip your hand, and with a coach like Belichick, there’s a sizable hand to avoid tipping.

In any case, if Miami’s anemic offense (ranked 30^th in the NFL last year) can move the ball vs. New England, that’s a very bad sign for 2011.

Bush League: How much will the addition of running back Reggie Bush help the Dolphins? After last year’s offensive output, it certainly won’t hurt.

Still, Waters Runs Deep: Against Detroit, pressure on Brady forced him to run for cover like a crab at a clambake. New offensive lineman Brian Waters, formerly of Kansas City, became a hasty signing after an injury to Dan Connolly. It shows a lack of depth that a 34-year-old guard became a must-have, considering 34 is about 107 in O-lineman years.

On the topic of desperation…

Dearth Of Talent Leaves Pats Aiken For A Longsnapper: You’d think that hiking a football a few yards behind yourself wouldn’t be so complicated. Yet, in the last two years, the Patriots have gone through longsnappers like a five-month-old baby goes through diapers. (Seriously: it’s daunting.)

Free agent pickup James Dearth had half a cup of coffee in New England before being replaced by free agent rookie Danny Aiken, ranked the top longsnapper in the 2011 draft class. Danny, we hope we never have to speak of this position again.

Wishing you a wonderful Monday, folks. That goes for the Patriots, too.

Chris Warner can be reached at [email protected]

Jerod Mayo should rest on Thursday

by Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

Last Saturday, while Hurricane Irene blew in New England, the Patriots blew in Detroit.

In the wake of the 34-10 dungfest, the Foxboro faithful have to hope for some more fight from their team once the real thing gets going.

As the Pats host the Giants in their final preseason game, these thoughts come to mind…

Low Pressure System: After getting after Tampa Bay’s offense the previous scrimmage, the Patriots’ much-vaunted pressure got tamped down by a little Detroit game planning. Players like Andre Carter and Mark Anderson, who had made themselves at home in the Bucs’ backfield, never got to the Lions. At one point, a clear-path sack by Anderson devolved into a big gain on an ensuing QB scramble.

Miserable night. Just awful. Let’s hope the pass rush has a little more success against the Giants.

Everything But The Kitchen ’Cinco: Okay, sure, receiver Chad Ochocinco has a lot to learn in New England’s notoriously difficult offense. But is that an excuse for his dropped pass last Saturday?

Here’s another issue we have: the Pats Free Agent JG Scale. The spectrum of free agent receivers runs from Joey Galloway (poor) to Jabar Gaffney (great). Galloway signed in March of 2009, went through every camp, yet never picked up the offense and got cut by October. Gaffney, on the other hand, was signed in October 2006 and after a month became a consistent contributor to the offense.

Players seem to pick up this offense, or not. Let’s hope Ochocinco falls in the former category.

Fare Thee Welker: And Wes Welker got hurt making a tackle after an interception? Ugh. Why did that game even happen?

Low Price: A disappointing showing for second-year receiver Taylor Price, who couldn’t come up with a completion. We’re rooting for the young receivers, but neither Price nor Brandon Tate had much to show on Saturday.

But, on the positive side…

A Hidden Julian: Looks like Julian Edelman came to play, getting consistent, tough yardage on punt returns. He also caught a short pass and made a move that left defenders wallowing in tar. One bright note from a dim night.

Out With The Old, Injury New: Tough to see young guys like Dane Fletcher, Jermaine Cunningham, Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen on the bench due to various aches and pains. Interesting to see who suits up for Thursday and for how long.

Hold The Mayo: Yeah, I know, clever and original. Dear Coach Belichick, please don’t play linebacker Jerod Mayo or any other starters in this game. Despite last week’s clusterhump, please give the starters a rest and let the rookies and backups show what they can do.

Thursday night we’ll see the last game that means nothing; but, after Saturday’s mess, maybe it will have some significance.

Chris Warner can be reached at [email protected]

by Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

Is it just us, or did New England look sharper than a native Cape Codder’s accent in their 31-14 pasting at Tampa?

According to Coach Bill Belichick, it’s just us. Fine. No one can deny, though, the Patriots did just about everything they wanted while running up a 28-0 lead after two quarters.

Making assumptions with this team always gets us in trouble, but we have to figure that Tom Brady, Vince Wilfork and other starters will get their last licks at Detroit. As they showed for one half vs. the Patriots last Thanksgiving, the Lions have a solid core of young starters and should improve this season.

Some points to ponder heading into the last of the best scrimmage action…

Get Carter: We’ve seen enough of defensive end Andre Carter to know we like him. The new Patriot made himself at home in Tampa’s backfield, at one point actually sitting on an ottoman and asking Buccaneer QB Josh Freeman to get him some herbal tea (we exaggerate for effect).

In fact, we’d rather Carter sit this week as we check out some other defensive linemen who haven’t really shown much. Speaking of whom…

Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s That Albert: Will free agent defensive tackle/asteroid-sized human Albert Haynesworth get to play this weekend? We wouldn’t mind watching him for at least a series.

A Boy Named Suh: Last Thanksgiving, then-rookie defensive lineman Ndomokung Suh tenderized Brady like a flank steak. Will New England’s offensive line travel to Detroit better prepared for the big fella?

Otro Por Ocho? There was once a band called N*Sync. Right now, Brady and receiver Chad Ochocinco are not part of that band. (Insert Brady hair reference here.)

Ochocinco scored an easy TD where the Buccaneer defense left him wide open. Time to see if he can make some noteworthy catches on timing patterns in traffic.

Other receivers to consider…

Tate The Player, Not The Game: With kickoff lines moved up and returns happening only slightly more frequently than lunar eclipses, what role does young receiver Brandon Tate play? His special teams value diminishes while he has yet to prove himself as a regular contributor on offense.

If fellow pro pup Taylor Price has a productive game, consider Tate’s days numbered.

What Can Brown Do For You? Free agent Raider linebacker Ricky Brown should help right away on special teams, but can he play on New England’s 4-3 defense? In 2011 – especially with injuries to other linebackers – Brown might prove useful.

Safety On, Safety Off: What, exactly, should we read into the signing of safety James Ihedigbo? Is he another special teams addition, or will he see time in the defensive backfield? Are the days numbered for safety/off-season gunslinger Brandon Meriweather?

So many questions, most of which won’t get answered by Saturday. And yet, we hope.

Tight Ends Will, Lee, Nil Lee: Intriguing battle between mammoth rookie tight ends Will Yeatman and Lee Smith. Smith, a fifth-rounder, has seemed to lose ground against Yeatman, an undrafted football and lacrosse player out of Maryland. At Tampa, Yeatman had some solid blocks, including one that cleared space for a big BenJarvus Green-Ellis gain.

Look for Smith to make plays at Detroit; if Yeatman doesn’t play Saturday, he may have already made his case for the coaches.

Such A Shane: Second-round pick Shane Vereen suffered a hamstring injury that has prevented him from showing what he can do. We assume Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead (appropriately named after last week’s shot to the noggin) and rookie Stevan Ridley all make the squad. That leaves Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris and undrafted rookie Richard Medlin vying for a fifth spot.

(Okay, in reality, probably just Faulk and Morris. But you never know.)

Morris has, as usual, carved out a spot as a special-teamer/fullback, which may or may not have been taken by new signee Garrett Mills. If Vereen’s health fails to improve, Faulk probably stays as another pass-catching option.

No Use Ryan Over Pick Sixes: Rookie quarterback Ryan Mallett looked much more like a rookie last week, lofting a water balloon over the middle of the field that got intercepted and returned for a touchdown. Look for a quick recovery Saturday night as Mallett is sure to face increased pressure from Detroit’s D.

Chris Warner can be reached at [email protected]