Postgame, Week 15: Patriots 28, Tampa Bay 0

FOXBORO, Mass. - The New England Patriots marched the opening kickoff down the field, scored a touchdown, and secured the AFC East division title and a playoff spot. In probably the team's best overall performance of the season, the Patriots improved to 9-5, while nudging the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers (also 9-5) off the top of the NFC South.

The Patriots played as near a flawless game as they have played all season, committing no turnovers, forcing one, limiting penalties, scoring four touchdowns, and not allowing Tampa Bay inside the Patriot 30 for the entire game.

"It's huge for us. We haven't really played a good game against a good opponent with a good record," tight end Christian Fauria said. "We needed to keep winning and trying to get better in December."

Quarterback Tom Brady led the way, throwing for 258 yards and three touchdowns on 20 of 31 passing. Brady hit nine different receivers, including offensive tackle Tom Ashworth, for one of the touchdowns. It was the first career reception for Ashworth, who lined up at fullback on the play.

Brady also hit running back Corey Dillon on a short touchdown pass, giving Brady touchdown passes to 12 different receivers this season, a franchise record.

New England wasted no time putting points on the board against the No. 3 scoring defense in the league. The Patriots really mixed it up, running out of the shotgun, passing to running backs, running and end around to receiver David Givens.

After throwing incomplete on first down, the next 11 plays gained positive yards. The big play was a 32-yard strike from Brady to Givens on the third play of the game, a third-and-7 from the Pats 27. New England capped the drive with Ashworth's touchdown.

The Patriots defense was impenetrable from the first series. Highly touted Tampa running back Carnell Williams had no where to run and was stuffed time and time again by the New England front seven. Williams finished with a meager 23 yards on 14 carries.

Defenses dominated the next 15 minutes, as neither team came close to paydirt, but then the Buccaneer defense made a fatal mistake.

After crossing midfield, the Patriots killed their own drive with a 5-yard loss on a pass to running back Kevin Faulk and a false-start penalty on Ashworth. Tampa Bay gave New England a breath on third-and-18 when Dewayne White was called offsides, giving 5 yards back. But the real mistake came two plays later on fourth-and-13.

Patriot punter Josh Miller booted a punt into the endzone, which would have given Tampa the ball on their own 20. But linebacker Ryan Nece blasted Miller and was flagged for roughing the kicker, giving New England a fresh set of downs at the Tampa 38.

Brady hit tight end Christian Fauria for 17 yards on a third-and-16, and two plays later hit Tim Dwight for 27 on second-and-16. Another Tampa defensive mistake, a personal foul facemask penalty on the play, put the ball on the 3 yard line. Dillon ran it in from there.

As if in a last gasp, Tampa Bay tried to mount a two-minute drive to get on the board by halftime. The New England defense would have none of it. With the Buccaneers moving following a 22-yard third-down pass, Patriot linebacker Mike Vrabel came on the blind side of Chris Simms and hammered the third-year quarterback, forcing a fumble recoved by linebacker Willie McGinest, who rumbled for 19 yards before trying to lateral the ball, only to be called for an illegal forward pass and a loss of five yards at the end of the play.

The Patriots capitalized, draining the game clock, and Brady hitting Givens for a 16-yard touchdown. The Pats held a 21-0 lead and a nearly 2-to-1 margin in time of possession at the half. Givens finished the game with 6 receptions and a career-high 137 yards. He also had 13 yards on two rushes.

After a scoreless third quarter, New England sealed the game on the 2-yard Brady to Dillon score on the Patriots first drive of the fourth quarter.

Dillon had just 48 yards on 19 carries, and New England had 85 yards on 32 carries as a team.

There were several defensive stars. McGinest continues to play at a high level, receiving credit for two sacks and the fumble recovery. He had 4 solo tackles and 2 assists.

Tedy Brushci had a phenomenal game, leading the team in tackles with 9 solo and 2 assists. He also had 2 sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defensed. Bruschi may have single-handedly stopped Tampa Bay's last best attempt to get back in the game.

The Buccaneers received the second-half opening kickoff. Bruschi was in on five of seven plays, including a sack that forced a fumble, which Tampa recovered, but it set the Bucs back 12 yards, and they ended up punting, and never gained momentum.

Rosevelt Colvin and Artrell Hawkins also had sacks of Simms, who finished 21 of 34 for just 155 yards.

Asante Samuel had 7 solo tackles, and Ellis Hobbs defensed 2 passes.

It was the Patriots first shutout in 36 games (Dec. 27, 2003, 31-0 vs. Buffalo), Eric Mangini's first as defensive coordinator. The Patriots had two other shutouts earlier in 2003, both 12-0 scores over Dallas (Nov. 16) and Miami (Nov. 30).

By the way, the official temperature at kickoff, according to the NFL gamebook, was 38 degrees.

New England travels to the Meadowlands to face the New York Jets next Monday, the night after Christmas. Gane time is 9 p.m. Tampa Bay hosts Alanta at 1 p.m. Saturday (Christmas Eve) in a battle for the top of the NFC South that will probably eliminate one of those teams from the playoffs.