Sports Redux: Gritty In Pink

In some ways, the game was as ugly as the pink accents all over everything (yeah, we know, good cause and blah blah blah and all, but in the words of MAD Magazine, bleccch). In other ways, it was one of those tight, efficient Patriots game that may not be aesthetically pleasing but get the job done. In any case, it's a win, a grinder of a 27-21 over the previously undefeated Ravens.

The offense showed a little more improvement; they finally seemed to solve their red-zone woes with two touchdowns in the second quarter to build a 17-7 halftime lead. Baltimore got close when Tom Brady had the ball ripped out his hands and the Ravens pounced on it in the end zone. But Brady marched them right back down the field, found Randy Moss for their first combo TD of the season, and the defense held on the best they could, finally getting bailed out when Joe Flacco's 4th-down pass clanked off of Mark Clayton's ribcage and ended the Ravens' last drive.

Coach Belichick bubbled with praise after the game: "It was a hard-hitting game, a tough, physical game. We’re fortunate we made a few more plays than they did today. That’s about all there is to it." Less bubbly were the Ravens, who spent their postgame quote time grumbling about the referees. Particularly vocal was Ray Lewis, who said of the officiating, "without totally going off the wall, it’s embarrassing to the game." We understand, Ray; we remember a simpler time, when to embarrass the game took a little more, like being implicated in a double homicide. Meanwhile, coach Jim Harbaugh gave Belichick a Belichickian "handshake" after the game. Oh, those Ravens.

After four weeks, only the Colts, Giants, Saints and Broncos (and maybe Vikings) remain undefeated. The Saints knocked the Jets off that list yesterday, and the Patriots get another chance to spoil an undefeated season when they go to Denver next week.

Clay Buchholz got smacked around for the second straight start, but the Sox rode a Jed Lowrie grand slam and two homers by JD Drew to come back and beat the Indians 12-7 in the 162nd and final game of the regular season. "I think he was just thinking too much," said Terry Francona. He'll have some more thinking to do, as the Sox confirmed that Buchholz is slated to start Game Three against the Angels (Lester and Beckett will pitch in Anaheim). Meanwhile, the Twins and Tigers both won, so they'll have a one-game playoff in Minneapolis tomorrow to determine who will be Yankee Chow in the first round.