Run P-A-T

They're not a classic Hip-Hop group--far from it. But they may very well be hip-hopping back to the Super Bowl. Last night's running and defensive clinic confirmed to the rest of the NFL that the World Champs are back. (At this point, all of us at FoxboroNation would like to thank the New York J-E-T-S for their accommodating pre-playoff scrimmage.)

In their second-straight dominating performance, the 10-5 Patriots got their fourth straight win, 31-21 over the somewhat pathetic co-tenants of Giants Stadium. Mike Vrabel (he of THE Ohio State University) caught two touchdown passes and also got a sack in one of the best games of his career. Tom Brady, ho-hum, reached the 4,000-yard milestone for the first time in his career, and should be a legitimate consideration for League MVP.

The only downsides to this game were potentially serious injuries to Tedy Bruschi (leg) and Asante Samuel (knee to the back of the neck). The last thing this juggernaught needs is a re-descent into InjuryHell. Miami awaits for Playoff Scrimmage Game #2 next Sunday. Then, it's either Jacksonville or Pittsburgh at home in REAL Playoff Game #1. This is, once again, F-U-N.

WARNING: Take Champs Lightly At Own Risk

There is a distinct benefit to being the only game on national television as the Pats were at 1:30 on Saturday. The rest of the league, including the pretenders to the crown in Indy, were watching. Mindful of this, the Pats never took their collective feet off the necks of the heralded Buccaneer defense. Up by three scores, they engineered one final drive in the fourth quarter with their now characteristic precision. Take that, NFL.

Oh, and in the process, the 2-time defending World Champions just happened to wrap up their 3rd consecutive AFC Division title--smoking Tampa Bay, 28-0. The much-maligned Front Seven reeled off 7 sacks--including a Mike Vrable-induced turnover--and both Vince Wilfork and Roosevelt Colvin were massive run-stoppers. On the other side of the ball, Brady was again MVP-like, and David Givens had one of those games that make you wonder why he is a so-called "no-name" receiver in this league.

This was a text-book message that--just as was the case over the last several years-- you do not want to face these guys in a winner-take-all tournament game. The swagger is back, NFL. Take note.

The "First" Shall Be First

Smashing a franchise record with 32 first downs, the two-time defending Champion Patriots throttled the hapless Buffalo Bills 35-7. Doing nothing to discourage his candidacy for league MVP, Tom Brady delivered another virtuoso performance--going 29 of 38 for 329 yards. All Brady did was run for one TD, pass for two more, and deliver a punishing (albeit illegal) crackback block on a running play. In total, the Pats racked up almost 500 yards of offense.

Does this scenario seem familiar? The New England team ramping up in December for a run at another title? You are correct, Carnak! The much-maligned New England defense held the pathetic Bills to 183 total years--and 14, that's right--14 rushing yards.

Things just seem to be coming together. Injured players back, offense gelling, defense aggressive. And, as ESPN's Bill Simmons has noted, there are scenarios under which the Pats host the AFC Championship in frigid Foxboro.

J-E-T-S (Just an Exhibition Type Scrimmage)

Sleepwalking might be the best term to describe how your New England Patriots slogged through a snowy encounter with the pathetic Jets. Oh, they won all right, in a very unimpressive 16-3 manner. But, did't you all get a little antsy mid-way through the 3rd Quarter with your World Champions clinging to a 6-3 advatange over the Pop Warner outfit from the Meadowlands? I sure was.

Granted, Tom Brady continued his MVP jaunt through NFL seccondaries (if you can call Ty Law and some other guys an NFL squad). But, was this un-satisfying or what?! I have to say I was expecting the 40-10 whomping that all the flash boys on WEEI were pom-pomming to last week.

Topping off this "Yin/Yang" kind of game was Adan Vinatieri's performance—a missed 45 yarder and then 3 makes to pass Gino "I Still Like The Pat Patriot Logo And Nobody, Not Even Robert Kraft, Can Make Me Take It Off" Capaletti in total franchise points.

Bottom line? Better run game, better defense. But, honestly, as Larry David might say, "Eh!".