Indianapolis 18, New England 15

It was a tough loss for the Patriots, in one of the strangest games I have had the pleasure of watching as of late. The game only had 16 possessions (8 per half), three penalties, and 33 points combined. Remember, these two teams have been the extreme high-powered offense at different times this decade, so watching the defensive, ball-control, mouth smashing game was just befuddling. Not a lot of throwing the ball downfield, no homerun shots. It was one of those games where no one looked great, but almost everyone looked somewhere between "pretty good" and "all right".

People have told me that they turned off the game or fell asleep during the Sunday night game because "it was so damn boring" (don't worry, these people aren't Pats fans). Now where I disagree, as I generally enjoy the Sunday night games, I can see their point. It wasn't quite as exciting as one might like, and watching Anthony Gonzalez tear up the Pats for 2 TDs was especially painful as he is sitting on my Fantasy Football bench again this week. OK OK, I can't let this stupid fantasy thing get in the way of my fanhood, let me try again.

It was painful watching the Pats, in the position to likely bury the Colts for the season and take control in the AFC East, squander the game. It was a game where Bellichick did not quite seem like himself. The game was lost on a stupid personal foul by Tight End David Thomas at the end of the game - moving a 3rd and 1 within field goal range, to a 3rd and 16 well outside of field goal range. That and inexplicably not going for a 4th and 1 inside the red zone. The Pats used their last timeout in order to kick the fieldgoal and tie the game at 15 instead of running it down the Colts throat. Yes, it was a strange, sad loss.

It was also a game that lacked penalties. The first flag of the game was thrown with 12:02 in the third quarter! The penalty call: "There was no penalty on the play." Wow. Bellichick challenged this call and lost (timeout #1), thinking there were too many men on the field. The first real penalty was called with 9:33 left in the third quarter. The call: false start on the Pats. This penalty was the first penalty the Pats committed that was accepted in 7 quarters of football. That's impressive.

On the bright side, announcer Al Michaels was in top form on Monday night.

1) Matt Cassel takes what you give him. Tom Brady takes what he wants.
Yes, yes he does, Al, including my virginity... and it was GLORIOUS!

2) After Matt Cassel took a hit from Raheem Brock. Brock Storms the Cassel!... sorry couldn't help myself.
Yes, Al, you could have. You really really could have.

3) You can never have enough candy corn.
You know, Al, you can have enough candy corn. In fact, if you have two pieces of candy corn, I submit that you have more than enough candy corn. One piece of candy corn is always enough candy corn, Al. ALWAYS.

So now the Pats go to Buffalo next week, to battle the reeling Bills and try to take control of the AFC East once again. The Bills have been down in recent weeks, and Trent Edwards has not been playing well. Hopefully the Pats will be able to pull out a win. The Colts, on the other hand... well fuck the Colts.


Written by Kyle "Thomas Gives Such Good Lovin'" Baxter