That Was Embarassing

After yesterday's blow out loss at home to the lowly Miami Dolphins, I can't decide if I should revise my predicted record for the Patriots this year from 11-5 to 12-4 or 3-13. In situations like these, it's important not to over react and come to a realization that it's just one loss. Granted, it could be one of many loses but still, it's just one loss so far. The Patriots looked and played as poorly as I've ever seen them play. My guess is this is just one more of Bill Belicheat's motivational tools to get this team fired up and win the last 13 games of the year. Maybe I should have picked them to go 15-1. They could still finish the year 18-1, just like last year, but they'll be bringing home the hardware come February this time. Belichick is such a genius that I wouldn't put it past him.

Here are just a few of my thoughts on yesterday's game while wondering if Vinny Testaverde, at age 44, would be a better alternative than Matt Cassel.

• Yesterday's loss was the first time the Patriots have lost at home since November 2006 and snaps their league reocrd 21 consecutive regular season wins. In the end, this is probably a good thing because there will be no more pressure as the consecutive win streak builds.

• At first, I thought that the Dolphins simply beat the Patriots by running a bunch of trick plays but now I don't think so. Direct snapping the ball to the running back, especially when the quarterback is lined up as a wide reciever, isn't any different than a handoff. Sure, maybe they were surprised the first time it happened but has the defense ever heard of making adjustments during the game. For the day, Brown had four touchdowns on 113 yards rushing and the Dolpins as a team rushed for more than 200 yards.

• About the only bright spot for the Patriots was return man Ellis Hobbs, who returned 6 kicks for 237 yards. Unfortunately, he was getting burned on defense every time the Dolphins threw the ball his way.

• Say what you want about the injury to Tom Brady, but giving up more than 450 yards of offense to the Dolphins is nothing more than sucky defense. I seriously doubt that the Patriots would have won this game with Brady playing based on how bad the defense looked.

• I guess I've got to give Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter some credit- he may be the first opposing player to come into New England and back up his trash talk. He had six tackles, five of them solo, three sacks and forced a fumble.

• Not sure if Matt Cassel sucks for good or just had a bad game. He completed 19 of 31 passes for 131 yards, which is an average of 7 yards a pass. That's kind of pathetic that the recievers aren't picking up more yardage but it would also be nice to see the Patriots let Cassel throw further downfield. It also didn't help that Cassel was sacked three times, fumbled once and threw an interception.

• It also probably didn't help that Cassel was replaced by third string quarterback Kevin O'Connell with six minutes left in the game.

• Is Rodney HGHarrsion afraid of contact because he looks like he shys away from getting hit a lot. I don't even think they need to wash his uniform- just hang it back up and let him wear it in the next game. And have you ever seen a player make it look like he's trying harder than him when he has no chance of making a play? Seriously, Ronnie Brown is scampering down the field untouched and there's HGHarrison, making it look like he's giving it his all by trying to outrun him. Here's an idea- don't let the opposing team get past you to start with.

• With the bye week for the Patriots coming up, get ready for two weeks of nonstop talk about how bad Cassel is, how Randy Moss isn't running routes or playing hard, how bad this team is, how shakey the defense is, and how Belicheat can't win without Brady. But this is probably exactly how the Hooded Genius planned it. He's probably already preparing his game speech about how no one thinks this team is any good, how they can't even win at home, how everyone is doubting the defense and how much their quarterback sucks. If you think about it, it's actually the perfect motivational tool. If I'm San Francisco (the next opponent for the Patriots), I'd be afraid, very, very afraid.

Hopefully I'll be back later this week with my much anticipated Red Sox column and more NFL Picks. I like the Patriots verse the bye week.