We could choose to be disappointed. We figured (and we weren't the only ones) that the combination of crappy weather, boisterous fans and motivated personnel would mean the Patriots would kick the Jets' butts up and down the field for three hours. We figured that, even though we're better than New York in every sport right now, yesterday would be a cathartic blowout to soothe any lingering anti-NY feelings around here.

Well, not quite.

The motivated personnel showed up, and the boisterous fans, though arriving late, did their part. Up until the referee clucked at them and said he would suspend the game until snowballs stopped flying. But the weather...oh, the weather. The wind and sleet and rain relegated Tom Brady to almost spectator-status, as Laurence Maroney and the special teams stepped up to win a 20-10 muckfest.

The party started when Richard Seymour clocked Jets QB Kellen Clemens in the end zone; Clemens lost five points when he flung the ball up in the air right into the hands of Eugene Wilson, who brought in the INT to become the 21st Patriot to score this year. That was it for Clemens, so Eric Mangini had to go back to disgraced Chad Pennington, who was efficient if unspectacular, and Brad Smith, who came in when the Jets needed to scramble or shake things up.

The Pats, meanwhile, rediscovered the ground game, as Laurence Maroney broke 100 yards for only the second time this year. Special teams were also huge; the Jets blocked a Chris Hanson punt for a touchdown, and the Patriots returned the favor, setting themselves up for a quick answering TD.

14-0? A small measure of revenge against Eric the Fink? Immortality just around the corner? What say you, Bill Belichick? "We have a chance to go 6-0 in the division." Never let it be said that Coach Bill can't see the trees. The red-hot Dolphins, winners of one in a row (stupid Ravens), come to town next Sunday.

Meanwhile, as New England flipped channels during the commercials, they saw the Celtics roll Toronto. The C's seemingly had a 15-point lead two minutes into the game and kept it there all afternoon, holding the Raptors to a miserable 39% shooting and a frenzy of 18 turnovers. Pierce led the scoring with 18, Garnett 16, Rondo 14. Ray Allen sat out again, but is expected to return Wednesday when the Pistons come to town. That should be a great game, and ESPN has gotten it moved to 7:00 to show it on national TV.