Sports Redux: Breakdown

Three Patriot losses this season. One, to Miami, we can chalk up to inexperience and a tricky Miami team. One, to San Diego...just awful. Last night was the first time this year, and the first time in years, that the Pats went out and truly beat themselves. And spoiled what was mostly a fantastic football game.

Where to assign the blame? The easiest culprit is Jabar Gaffney, who had a wide-open express lane to the end zone and the ball at his fingertips...then ricocheting off his knee...then bouncing merrily along the ground. Also, there's a huge helping of dirty looks at David Thomas, whose late hit killed a late Patriots drive. "I'll own it...it really cost the team," understated Thomas.

Meanwhile, criticizing Bill Belichick seems like it's a sure way to be hit by lightning, but this was not his finest hour. There was the pointless challenge that cost a time out. There was the fourth-and-inches first down, deep in Colts territory, that got called back because Bill was sprinting down the sideline, waving for a time out so he could switch to the field goal unit. We'll stop now. We hear thunder.

There are also the perpetual difficulties of playing with a green QB and a team in transition. Peyton Manning never was made uncomfortable, and led Indy on a couple of long and crisp drives. Cassel took forever to find Randy Moss, and didn't find him a couple of times when he was pretty open. We will give credit to some guys who deserve it: Kevin Faulk, who's channeling the whatever-it-takes mentality of Troy Brown. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who seems to be having better luck with Laurence Maroney's starting spot and hair than Maroney usually does. And Brandon Meriwether, who laid a couple of hits that made us hurt a little.

If you're looking to look on the bright side, the Pats took a good, desperate team down to the wire in a tough city to play in. And they're still tied for first, with an epic showdown versus the Bills on the horizon. But this stings.

We had technical difficulties yesterday, so we weren't able to inform you that the Bruins smacked Dallas 5-1 at the Garden on Saturday, and the Celtics looked flat and listless, losing in Indiana 95-79. Try not to hate Indiana too much today. It's now a swing state.