Sports Redux: Pats, Others Still Seeking Identity

Technically, the Patriots aren't playing the Tennessee Titans today. In honor of the 50th season of the old AFL teams, the Titans are dubbing themselves the Houston Oilers today in Foxboro. But whatever they call themselves, they're a good (or so we thought) team that's somehow 0-5, and the Patriots are a good (or so we thought) team that's 3-2 and hasn't really looked like itself. Something's got to give.

In the Globe, Monique Walker points out that one of the big surprises of this season is that the Pats haven't yet connected on any big pass plays, with 36 yards being their cap so far. Bill Belichick doesn't want to force it - "I don’t want to throw the ball down the field in double and triple coverage just to say we threw it downfield in a double coverage" - but with an All-World QB and dangerous receivers, you can tell everyone's just waiting to unleash the long ball. Maybe today.

Also searching for an identity or any sense of rhythm are our Bruins, who got smacked 4-1 by the Coyotes, a team that has an identity, but one of bankruptcy, front-office turmoil, and waiting for the other shoe to drop and be airlifted out of Phoenix and into an area where hockey is a real thing. "Give Phoenix credit, they are playing extremely well and we just didn't have enough fight in us to counter that," said Coach Claude Julien, which unfortunately sounds like the most consistent description of the 09-10 Bruins we've heard so far.

Everything's working for the Yankees against the Angels in the ALCS in the exact same way that everything didn't work for the Sox in the previous round. The Yanks won in the 13th on an Anaheim error and lead the series 2-0.

The Revolution played to a 0-0 draw with Chicago in their home finale; they now find themseles in a pickle, as they're tied with Toronto and Dallas for the last playoff spot, and have to play their final game at a tough Columbus team. "We’re still in contention, that’s all we can ask," said coach Steve Nicol. BC roughed up NC State, 52-20, as Montel Harris rewrote the Eagles' record book with five touchdown runs and 264 yards.