Sports Redux: There Can Be Only One

In the first half of the Patriots' perfect-so-far season, there were a few scary moments. There was the time Dallas took the lead in the third quarter, and....well, that was about it, actually. For eight games, the Pats picked the tune, and the opponent either danced along, or more likely, got flung out of the way.

We've had our scary moments now. Yesterday was a game when the Pats not only didn't pick the tune, they looked for a while like they couldn't even hear the music. Struggling on offense, giving up way too much on defense, committing penalties like a bunch of amateurs, somehow they hung around. Even though Peyton and the Colts looked like they were romping, the scoreboard kept showing that there was a chance.

Let's pick up the action with ten minutes to go. Peyton and the Colts just converted Brady's interception for a QB sneak and a 20-10 lead. So Tom remembered that he had Randy Moss in his offense, and hit him twice, for 15 yards, then for 55, which put the Pats at Indy's 3. Brady threaded the needle to hit Wes Welker in the corner of the end zone to cut the lead to 3.

The Colts couldn't get anything going on the next drive, which ended with a Manning fumble (recovered by Indy) and a punt. Which Welker returned 23 yards. Good, good field position, good situation for Brady, good times all around.

Spreading the wealth, Brady hit Donte Stallworth, who got pushed out as he caught the ball. 33 more yards. Then hit Kevin Faulk, who lunged and barreled his way into the end zone to take the lead with about three minutes left. The defense, shaky all day, forced Peyton into a terrible fumbleception, and that was that.

Now the Pats have a week off, which Coach Bill will certainly use to remind them how shaky they looked, and how this game was eminently loseable. By the time they hit the field in Buffalo in two weeks, they'll be convinced they're 0-9. It should be two interesting weeks of practices. They also could use two weeks to get Corey Dillon in Foxborough, in uniform, and in the lineup, because the running game yesterday looked like...well, like they didn't have a running game.

We have two undefeated teams in town! The Celtics rallied 'round coach Doc Rivers, who had to leave the team to be with his family after his dad's sudden death. Assistant Tom Thibodeau took the reins, and Ghidorah took the defending Atlantic champion Raptors to OT. Pierce wasn't shooting well, and Garnett was putting up an unimpressive double-double (Yes, we have a guy who can put up a double-double and not be that impressive. Deep breaths), so Ray Allen picked up the slack, scoring 33, including the game-winning 3.

The Bruins lost again to Ottawa, but remember, Ottawa is to the NHL as the Pats are to the NFL so far. Kinda. So it's not too bad.

Joe Robbins photo from ESPN.