Pats 31, Jets 21: Week 16 Comment and Analysis

About two days after I wrote my pregame to the Pats-Jets discussing the importance of momentum heading into the playoffs, Phil Simms wrote on NFL.com how it's not that important, and he used his N.Y. Giants 1991 Super Bowl XXV win over Buffalo on a Scott Norwood missed field goal as proof. Phil, it's a general theory, not an ultimate truth. Of course, there are flukes and "one-offs" -- like if Simms ends up as a 2006 finalist for NFL Hall of Fame election.

Anyway, the New England Patriots (10-5) mounted additional momentum in a 31-21 total dismantling of the hapless New York Jets (3-12). The only words truly appropriate to describe what the Patriots did to the Jets are not appropriate for publishing in this forum. Think Bobby Trippe in "Deliverance."

Thirty-eight yards allowed in the first half? Five offensive drives of 11 plays or more, four of them taking up 6:37 to 9:24 of game clock? Just those four drives took 31 minutes -- more than half the game. I'm hoping you read the other story and saw all the stats, so I don't have to go over all that again.

OK, so it was only the Jets. But we all know that the Patriots have never swept the division (don't we?) and our division rivals almost always plays us tough, especially in their own stadiums, and, you know, the "dynasty is dead." So the fact that New England is a snowy home date away from going 6-0 in the AFC East after destroying a division opponent should tell you something about this team.

For anyone who has seen the last four Patriots games has seen the progression from merely beating the Jets in Gillette to hammering Buffalo in upstate New York to shutting out one of the alleged NFC elite Tampa Bay to Monday's rematch with the Jets. I keep trying to paint a picture to help explain just how profoundly New England battered the Jets.

I mean, for all intent and purpose, the only first-half play that was positive for the Jets was Ty Law's interception for a touchdown. One play in half a game. No first downs. No big gains. No impressive defensive stands. And by the time the Jets did anything offensively -- meaning before they even gained a first down, it was 28-7, and New England was on cruise control.

As a matter of fact, that first down came on another cheesy roughing the quarterback penalty called on Richard Seymour, the second similar call against him. Apparently, Seymour will be unable to legally sack a quarterback unless he tackles him by the ankle.

The bottom line is, outside of the bottom line (the final score), this may have been the most lopsided game the Patriots have played in this 5-year run.

Still, they have yet to play the elusive "Perfect Game." Most people say it's impossible. I say it's out there somewhere, but it wasn't Monday night.

The Patriots still showed a propensity to give up big returns, officially 20.8 yards on four returns, but really 27.7 on three, including a long of 39. Going back to Super Bowl XXXI against Green Bay, the Patriots had a good kicking and punting game, mediocre return game, horrible coverage. The only consistent part of their special teams has been Vinatieri's kicking game.

Over the years, they've done much better on returns (remember a couple touchdowns during the 2001 run?) but that has sunk a little as of late. Punting is as good as ever with John Miller, whom I've previously compared to pro golfers, and he's that good. But coverage is almost as bad as ever, despite a couple decent years and a multiple Pro Bowl selection in Larry Izzo.

Along with the defensive secondary, it one area that demands improvement heading into the playoffs. Field position is up there with turnovers and time of possession as a critical statistic. Keep giving your opponent a short field, and good teams will make you pay.

I've made a lot of the improvement in defense over the last several weeks, and I noted how the outstanding play of the defensive line doesn't translate into statistics for those players. Here's proof with a caveat: Bruschi has 63 tackles in just 9 games, ranking him 4th on the team, just 1 behind Ty Warren and 3 behind Eugene Wilson.

The proof is that a linebacker has 1 less tackle in about half a season than the lineman with the most tackles has in the whole season. The caveat is that the linebacker is Bruschi, who you expect to have excellent numbers. But those numbers are fantastic, especially since another linebacker, Mike Vrabel, has led the team in tackles six times this season.

Of course, if raving pinhead John Dennis of WEEI had his way, that's 63 tackles less qualified players would have had to make, and it's questionable the Patriots would be 10-5 today. Nice call, John.

Now there's Bruschi's injury, allegedly to his calf. I had my money on a bone bruise, which could be the case. You never really know with this team. The good news is that he left the locker room without aid. He was limping, but he had no cast or wrap and wasn't using crutches.

Like most people, I think he'll sit out Miami unless there's an emergency, and losing the game isn't an emergency, even though losing the game would be detrimental to the team's psyche. But, by emergency, I mean that all the other linebackers get hurt, and he has to go in. If that happens, we'll have more than a loss and the team's psyche to worry about.

After that, he may still not be 100 percent. Who the Pats face Wild Card Weekend may dictate whether Bruschi starts or mans the sideline unless necessary. If they reach the Divisional Playoffs, Bruschi will probably be close to 100 percent, and even if not, will play anyway. Obviously, we'll know more as each game approaches.