Pats fans steal the show

You know what... On Friday a snowstorm blew into town, my power went out, yet I laughed knowing that the Dolphins were coming to town, and it was now the month of December.

As I said... I laughed because, as far as I'm concerned, in December the team motto for the Dolphins has been -- "Always a bridesmaid, but never a bride."

Sort of like the Red Sox.

Anyway, I made the trip out to Foxboro by train, which has worked for me very well this season. When I got there my seat was covered in snow and the stairs in the aisles looked like they could pass for Olympic Luge run courses as my man Mike had the guts to go down ass first. He'll be calling his chiropractor this week.

So, the Dolphins take the field, and they look pretty pumped trying to play off the fact that the 25-30 mile an hour winds are not affecting them. I really don't know who they were trying to fool. This place was the last place they wanted to be in December.

The Pats came onto the field and they were ready to play with 45,000 in attendance. The only questions pending were if they could they shut down QB Jay Fiedler's passing game and stop RB Ricky Williams? They did both.

The Pats defense held Fiedler to 111 yards passing and two picks, while Williams rushed for only 68 yards on 25 carries.

It got worse from there because the Dolphins receiving corps only pulled down 13 receptions and one of those was for a loss of four yards.

The New England defense kept Miami in check, and also pulled double duty on offense when DE Richard Seymour (5 tackles, 1 sack) went in as an eligible receiver and fullback on a few offensive plays. Imagine that, a 6'6", 310 pound fullback coming at you. It had to be a scary sight.

The Pats secondary was on point again this week, as CBs Ty Law (4t, 1 int), Tyrone Poole (3t) and FS Eugene Wilson (5t) made the plays on the wideouts when needed.

As for the big men on D this week, SS Rodney Harrison (11t, 1 forced fumble, and 1 sack) led the list, NT Ted Washington (10t) secured the second spot, while ILB Tedy Bruschi had eight tackles and returned a Fiedler pick for a five yard TD.

Other mentions on defense go to OLB Mike Vrabel (5t, 1 FF, 1 sack), DE Jarvis Green (3t, 1s) and OLB Willie McGinest (2t, 1s).

The Pats offense planned on running the ball with the tandem of Kevin Faulk (5 carries for 20 yds) and Antowain Smith (27c for 60 yds). The plan worked to a point, but as long as teams keep leaving the screens uncovered the Pats will use it all day.

Also another reason why the running game wasn't stressed was because the Dolphins interior defense was allowing TE Daniel Graham (6c for 24 yds) and WR Deion Branch (6c for 93 yds) to make receptions.

The biggest ovation of the game came when newly acquired rookie punter Brooks Barnard came out and punted a 31 yarder that rolled out at the Dolphins seven yard line. And, his reign of terror for the Dolphins didn't end there as he punted nine more times, averaging 36.5 yards per punt. He also landed three punts inside the Dolphins 20.

Late in the fourth, however, QB Tom Brady gave him a run for his money when he pooch punted a 36 yarder that was downed on the Dolphins two-yard line.

This is where I feel the Pats have some serious swagger going on and the coaching staff are showing teams no respect when they try these things.

No one watching this game expected Brady to pooch punt or see Seymour come in on offense.

This is why Bill Belichick is at the top of everyone's list for NFL Coach of the Year, and Charlie Weis may end up in Pittsburgh or Miami when and if they fire their coaches at the end of this year.

But Sunday, despite all of the team accomplishments, the fans may have given this team what they needed to win this game when guys were starting to get tired and cold.

And I'll tell you this... You, may have seen it on television, but this will be one of those magical moments to remember at Gillette Stadium and I was damn glad to be part of it.

It was late in the fourth and Barnard just had his punt roll out at the Dolphins four-yard line, when the crowd woke up to keep it going through the commercial break. Then, on the Dolphins' first play, Bruschi intercepted a pass and ran it into the end zone.

It was then the Miami Dolphins realized they were going to lose this game as the fans lit up the stadium from their seats with snow. At one point it looked like a barrage of white fireworks.

Then, in unison, with the "Hey" cheer resounding through the stadium, snow was heaved upward. The crowd never missed a beat.

It was one of those moments I know made Robert Kraft feel extra special seeing 45,000 fans going to this extreme. Even a Dolphins' fan standing near us was impressed.

From then on it was all downhill for the Dolphins.

So Sunday, the 12th man showed up and helped the Pats pick up the win and become the 2003 AFC East Champions.

However, this team can't rest because this new label is only going to make teams more hungry to beat them, so I expect Jacksonville to come here extra pumped. Next week, the Pats might need to call on that 12th man once again.

Comments: Email me at sinista1@msn.com