Patriots crush Jets in regular season finale

First off, I just want to take this moment to wish all those who have sent me e-mails and took the time to read my crap over the last year a Happy New Year!

Also, a special shout to my other brother Dennis Donahue, who I'm glad I got to see for Christmas. He will be heading off in January to fight the good fight.

He also won the Toilet Bowl trophy in our fantasy league this season, and honor that goes out to the team with the worst record. He'll probably blame his brother in law for messing up his starters.

"Come back in one piece man!"

Now, on to football...

Last Saturday the Pats took it to Drew Bledsoe and the Buffalo Bills, and I really only have one thing to say about this game, because it's a new season in the NFL and the playoffs are all that matters.

Late in the fourth quarter head coach Bill Belichick began to pull his starters one by one, and as they each left the field the crowd gave some serious ovations, but what I felt was that the bigger ovation should have gone to those guys who were on the field at games end.

These players are the guys I talked about from training camp and into the preseason, the guys who stepped it up when others were hurt.

* WR Bethel Johnson, who stepped in for Troy Brown, had 16 receptions for 209 yards, a 13.1 per catch average, two fumble recoveries and two TDs. But, his real talent shined on special teams, returning 30 punts for 847 yards, a 28.2 avg., and one TD, placing him in the top spot for the rookie returners.

* DB Chris Atkins has five years in this league, but is the fastest guy I've ever seen on this team and it showed during his stint on special teams where he racked up most of his tackles finishing with 20. But, it's wasn't how many he had, it was where he had them, and usually it was hitting the returner deep in his territory.

* FS Eugene Wilson was thrown into the fire after the release of Lawyer Milloy and finished nicely with 61 tackles and four interceptions, finishing at the top of his rookie class in this stat.

* CB Asante Samuel had 34 tackles and two interceptions.

* DT Dan Klecko earned the 12th Man Award by playing multiple positions on the defense and filling in as FB on the offense. Defensively, Klecko was strong as a rookie with 18 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery.

* DE Tully Banta Cain played in only nine games, but had 11 tackles and one sack for the season. He could be a player to watch next year.

These are the players who deserve the ovation, and remember them well, because it's guys like this that make the Pats bench roster a serious thing to contend with.

Now the Pats have to play the waiting game to see who they will play January 10th on primetime television at 8:15 p.m.

To be honest, I really want to see the Pats matchup against the Baltimore Ravens or the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoff.

The Pats have beaten all the others this season, so I'd love to see this defense just shutdown the likes of RBs Priest Holmes or Jamal Lewis.

So, since the Pats have nothing to do this weekend, it's up to me to choose who I'd like to see win...

Tennessee Titans vs. Baltimore Ravens: As I said before... I want the Ravens in Foxboro.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Carolina Panthers: No matter how arrogant he is, you just have to root for Bill Parcells. But, can lightening strike twice? I think it can.

Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks: I'd love to see the Seahawks finally get some respect and Mike Holmgren knock his old team from the playoffs.

Denver Broncos vs. Indianapolis Colts: I call this matchup "The Steer Bowl," but the question on everyone's minds is if QB Peyton Manning can finally win the big game? I think after throwing for over 4,000 yards and 29 TDs, this season Manning may just get that monkey off of his back.

So what else is there to do this weekend besides watching playoff games? How about a round of "Six Degrees," but use the New England Patriots instead of Kevin Bacon.

Let's see...

1. USC Trojans: The USC Trojans are marching into the Rose Bowl this week, and everyone from New England knows that their head coach Pete Carroll was fired with a winning record after he could never follow in the shadow of Bill Parcells who coached the Pats to a 1996 Super Bowl.

2. Bill Parcells: In 1994, Parcells drafted DE Willie McGinest from USC with the fourth pick in the NFL Draft. The Indianapolis Colts drafted second, choosing RB Marshall Faulk and a few years later traded him to the St. Louis Rams that played the Patriots in the 2002 Super Bowl.

3. RB Marshall Faulk: In 2001, he rushed for 1,382 yards and had 765 yards receiving making it his fourth consecutive year totaling over 2,000 yards. Rams QB Kurt Warner got the MVP that year, while Faulk earned the Bert Bell Trophy for surpassing the yardage record held by RB Walter Payton who played the Pats in the 1986 Super Bowl.

4. RB Walter Payton: In 1975, Peyton went fourth in the first round to the Chicago Bears, while the Pats chose TE Russ Francis in the first round and QB Steve Grogan in the fifth round and went to the Super Bowl in 1986.

5. QB Steve Grogan: In 1986, Grogan was injured during the regular season and QB Tony Eason took over and led the Pats through the playoffs without throwing one INT. At that time, Tony wore No. 11 which is the number QB Drew Bledsoe wore during his tenure here as he helped the Pats get to two Super Bowls.

6. QB Drew Bledsoe: Drew was injured in a game against the Jets by LB Mo Lewis. Morris Lewis was chosen in the third round of the 1991 draft. A draft that had the Atlanta Falcons drafting QB Brett Favre who was later traded to Green Bay, and ultimately beat the Pats in the 1996 Super Bowl.

Oh yes... I do have too much time on my hands!

Comments: E-mail me at the Sinista1@msn.com

*Draft info was acquired from HickockSports.com

*Stat info was acquired from NFL.com