For The Second Straight Season, New England Earns The No. 1 Seed In The AFC

I've seen plenty of fake life stuff from the New England Patriots this season but fittingly, on the first day of 2012 (and the last day of the regular season), they topped anything else they had done in 2011.

One week after spotting the Dolphins a 17-0 halftime lead, the Pats (13-3) raised the stakes a bit higher by handing the Bills (6-10) a 21-0 advantage in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Luckily, it was still Buffalo so just like Miami they quickly coughed it up as New England rolled to a 49-21 victory (yes 49 unanswered points).

With the win (their eighth straight), the Patriots clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC to go along with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and the bye they had already secured. We found out tonight that New England will host either Cincinnati, Pittsburgh or Denver on Saturday, January 14 at 8 p.m. depending on who wins in the divisional round next weekend.

Mostly since the game was announced by the preseason hero unit of Don Criqui and Randy Cross, I'm not too interested in going to in depth on this absurd contest.

Tom Brady (23 of 35, 338 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception) went over 5000 yards (5235) for the season, the first time he's done that in his career. He also finished second all-time (behind Drew Brees) for yards in a season.

Also setting records was tight end Rob Gronkowski (8 catches, 108 yards, 2 TDs). He now has the most yards in a season for a tight end (1327). Bill Belichick will always pretend to not care about statistics but it's a proven fact that the Patriots gun for historical numbers like this. How else can you explain Brady playing at the end of blowouts and Gronkowski breaking the record on the last non-kneel of the regular season?

Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (29 of 46, 307 yards, 2 touchdowns), one of my favorite Harvard alums, was in a giving mood as he threw four interceptions. Sterling Moore made the first two picks of his career, the second of which he took back 21 yards for the final Patriots touchdown. Devin McCourty (who played some safety) and Antwaun Molden had the others.

Stevan Ridley (15 carries, 81 yards) and BenJarvus Green-Ellis (2 rushing touchdowns) proved to be a 1-2 rushing combination for the Pats. Look for New England to stick with that duo in the playoffs. Ridley has the explosive burst in the open field and Green-Ellis is better by the goalline.

I don't know if I've ever seen a quarter of football better sum up a franchise or a city than the first quarter today for the Bills. Buffalo got off to the perfect start thanks to a 4-yard run by Tashard Choice, an 18-yard catch by Steve Johnson and a 15-yard catch by C.J. Spiller.

In an omen of things to come, Johnson was flagged for a personal foul by lifting up his shirt to reveal an undershirt that said "Happy New Year." You can't make this stuff up. Bills head coach Chan Gailey decided to sit the talented Johnson for the rest of the game; Gailey made his point and I doubt that Johnson (who will be a free agent) will return to Buffalo next season. Way to be an idiot.

Green-Ellis' 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter got New England on the board and woke up the hungover and even more quiet than usual Gillette crowd. After that, Aaron Hernandez (7 catches, 138 yards) turned in the play of the game with a 39-yard catch and run for a score.

Brady threw an interception on the last drive of the first half but it didn't matter since the Pats had all the momentum and received the kickoff to start the second half.

Two Stephen Gostkowski field goals (47, 20) cut it to 21-20 Buffalo in the third quarter before Gronkowski put his team ahead for good with a 17-yard catch. Danny Woodhead added the two-point conversion run and New England led 28-21 late in the third quarter.

Things got silly in the fourth as Fitzpatrick threw it up for grabs on basically every play and even the Patriots' terrible secondary could take advantage of that. Green-Ellis added a 3-yard touchdown run and Gronkowski had a 7-yard touchdown catch before Moore's pick-six which was a big play for his confidence.

The crazy part about this team is that even after 16 games, nobody can say they know what will happen when the Pats have to face a worthy opponent and not a team that will piss down its leg and hand the game to them. They can beat anybody in the AFC playoffs and they can also lose to any of those same teams.

The offense can score plenty of points (49 was a season-high) but they basically have to be flawless to make up for the bumbling defense. Along those lines, if the defense can make a big stop or better yet force a turnover, the Patriots have an exponentially improved chance of winning.

All I know is that this team was in the same position last season with the No. 1 seed and a seemingly easy path to the Super Bowl. We all know how that ended up. New England has lost its last three playoff games and they've lost their openers for two years straight at home. That all has to change starting on January 14 and for the record, I don't want to face the Steelers. Bring me the Broncos or Bengals and I like the Patriots chances to get to the AFC Championship Game.

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The First 4-7 Dream Team In The History Of The World Falls 38-20 To The Patriots

It's hard to remember an NFL game that completely changed faster (not involving an injury) than today's Patriots-Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Eagles (4-7) jumped out to a 10-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game but the Patriots (8-3) responded with a UConn women's basketball style 38-3 scoring run in an eventual 38-20 victory.

New England is now tied atop the AFC with Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Houston for the best record in the AFC.

Tom Brady (24 of 34, 361 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs and 27 yards rushing-his most in 5 years!) tied Peyton Manning with his eighth career 350+ yard, 3 TD, 0 INT performance in New England's third straight win. Embattled Pats offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien had one of his finest hours as Brady found Deion Branch (6 catches, 125 yards) and Wes Welker (8 catches, 115 yards, 2 TDs) early and often.

Aaron Hernandez (6 catches, 62 yards) and Rob Gronkowski (4 catches, 59 yards, TD) also had nice games. For anyone that missed Chad Johnson (nobody), who was home nursing a "hamstring injury," recently signed Tiquan Underwood (known mostly for his flat top) did his best Ochocinco impression by dropping a sure TD on his only target.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis (14 carries, 44 yards) didn't churn up the yards but he scored two rushing touchdowns to give New England's offense some balance.

Philadelphia is nothing short of a train wreck and by the third quarter, the loyal Birds fans were chanting "fire Andy (Reid)!" so loud that viewers could hear it on CBS' broadcast.

If it is possible to have a quiet 400-yard passing game, Eagles backup quarterback Vince Young (26 of 48, 400 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) submitted it. VY was the poor soul who dubbed this low rent version of the 2011 Red Sox the "Dream Team" in the preseason so I guess it was only fitting he was at the helm for a game that featured some of Philly's favorite type of miscues: throwing it unsuccessfully from the 1 on 4th and 1 and numerous drops by DeSean Jackson (4 catches, 73 yards).

Eagles running back LeSean McCoy (10 carries, 31 yards; 4 catches, 30 yards) is one of the premier players in the NFL at his position but I guess nobody told the Eagles that since he didn't get the ball nearly enough when this game was still somewhat competitive.

Jason Avant (8 catches, 110 yards, TD) was the Eagles best receiver which is never good news for Philly, even with Jeremy Maclin sidelined.

Defensive standouts for the Patriots included Antwaun Molden (first interception with New England), Kyle Arrington (10 solo tackles) and Rob Ninkovich (3 solo tackles, sack and 2 tackles for loss).

McCoy's 2-yard touchdown run and a 42-yard field goal by Alex Henery gave Philadelphia a 10-0 lead at 8:19 in the first quarter. New England responded with a long drive, punctuated by Green-Ellis' 4-yard touchdown run.

A 2-yard TD run by Green-Ellis early in the second quarter gave the Pats a 14-10 lead, one that they would never relinquish. The Eagles were fooled badly on a play action fake and Welker got loose for a 41-yard TD catch.

Henery's 22-yard field goal cut it to 21-13 but Stephen Gostkowski atoned for an earlier miss from 39 yards with a 45-yard kick before halftime. The Patriots led 24-13.

After Welker's 9-yard catch and run, diving just inside the pylon, made it 31-13 to start the third quarter, it was over.

Gronk added a 24-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter before Avant scored on a 1-yard catch with 32 seconds left and most of the crowd long gone.

I don't normally give the Pats an automatic win a week before kickoff but they are facing the 0-11 Indianapolis Colts next Sunday (1 p.m.) at Gillette Stadium. With Curtis Painter still under center, Indy is doing everything in its power to ensure a winless season and the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft (Stanford QB Andrew Luck) next April. New England will roll and Brian Hoyer should see even more playing time than he did today.

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Devin McCourty Separated His Shoulder Last Night, Expected To Miss 2-3 Weeks

Well if you watched the Patriots-Jets game last night, and if you're reading this I'm going to guess that you did, you saw that Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty left in the second quarter with an injury.

I feared it was a broken collarbone but WBZ in Boston reported last night that he suffered a separated right shoulder when rookie safety Sterling Moore (in his first NFL start) ran into his teammate while they both attempted to tackle Jets wide receiver Plaxico Burress.

McCourty didn't return to the game and it is feared that he'll miss 2-3 weeks (Kansas City, at Philadelphia, Indianapolis). He's having a terrible season after an incredible rookie campaign but McCourty is still the Patriots most talented cornerback (sorry Kyle Arrington). We'll see if he ever regains his surprising performance from 2010 but regardless, it's going to be tough to see the likes of Philip Adams and Antwaun Molden trying to replace him.

On the bright side for New England, Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel is expected to miss next Monday's night game at Gillette (his first meeting with his former team). That means Tyler Palko (former Pitt scrub) will take the reins for Kansas City which is a huge break for the Pats. Likewise, the Eagles are pretty much guaranteed now of missing the playoffs and we know that the Colts won't win a game this season so maybe this injury came an opportune time (as much as they ever can be).

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Patriots Release Leigh Bodden Two Days Before Facing Pittsburgh

Leigh Bodden was no longer a starting cornerback for the New England Patriots. He had fallen to third on the depth chart in the 2011 season and he didn't appear to be making the proper adjustments when it came to covering slot receivers.

Still, I have to say that I was surprised when I saw on ESPN's Bottom Line this afternoon that the Pats had released him. I guess that means he won't be making his weekly appearance on the Sports Hub's Felger and Mazz anymore.

Bodden spent three seasons in New England and they were strange ones. He came in as a free agent in 2009 and performed very well with five interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a touchdown. That earned him a four-year, $22 million dollar deal (with approximately $10 million guaranteed).

A torn rotator cuff in a preseason game in 2010 made him miss the entire season and it was clear so far this season, that he wasn't the same player anymore (13 tackles, four assists, four passes defensed) in six games.

In Bodden's place, Antwaun Molden figures to move up a spot behind starters Devin McCourty and Kyle Arrington. This is a scary proposition since Molden was picked up off the scrap heap from Houston during the preseason. I can't say I know much about him but he obviously doesn't have much of a resume.

As far as the injury report goes for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh, Patriots linebacker Dane Fletcher is out and cornerback Ras-I Dowling is doubtful. Linebacker Jerod Mayo, safety Josh Barrett, running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth and offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer are all questionable for New England.

For the Steelers, linebackers James Harrison and Jason Worilds, offensive linemen Chris Hoke and Doug Legursky are all out. Linebacker James Farrior and wide receiver Hines Ward are questionable.

UPDATE 10/29: The Patriots activated veteran running back Kevin Faulk from the PUP list along with defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick and placed Dowling on IR. So if you're a cornerback that can play, report to Foxborough immediately.

UPDATE 10/30: Ward and Farrior have been declared out for today's game. Mayo and Vollmer both return today. Healthy scratches for the Pats include defensive end Jermaine Cunningham (what has happened to him?), running back Shane Vereen, offensive lineman Donald Thomas (who I've never heard of) and wide receiver Julian Edelman.

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