July 4th Is Over, So Now What?

Week 9: vs. Miami
It is early November before New England meets the 2008 AFC East Champs, and the Patriots are running on all cylinders.

The Dolphins are playing strong, but simply cannot match up with the reloaded and rested Patriots offense.

Defensively, Patrick Chung starts his first game in place of James Sanders. He’s been seeing increasing time since his strong play against the Ravens. He responds to the promotion with a fumble recovery, four tackles, and a pass breakup.

The wildcat gets declawed, run only four times for -3 yards and an incompletion.  The Dolphins defense is simply overwhelmed, twice put into a bad spot by an offensive turnover.

Patriots win, 34-10.  8-0

Week 10: at Indianapolis
Fans from both teams had this game circled on their schedules. The game doesn’t disappoint, as both sides make great plays on offense and defense.

The difference in this game is two-fold: the Patriots rush attack, and the loss of Matt Light to a knee sprain. Sebastian Vollmer steps in and does admirably, although he does give up a sack on a 3rd and 7 play inside the 35, pushing the Patiots out of fieldgoal range. However, while he is slower against Freeny, the Patriots run behind Vollmer and Mankins for chunks of yardage, finishing off the Colts with an out-and-up by Moss.

Patriots win, 24-17.  9-0

Week 11: vs. NY Jets
The Jets defense is operating at peak efficiency.

The Patriots are playing well on defense, but their offense is shaky with Vollmer making his first start.  Sliding protection to the left solves the problem for now, and Welker makes 11 catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns.

Moss only catches three, but for 74 yards and a score.

Laurence Maroney has his best game of the season, rushing for 132 yards and a touchdown late, and only a great open field tackle by Rhodes stops Galloway from a 48 yard touchdown.

Thomas Jones and Leon Washington do their best, but Sanchez simply gets rattled too much as the Jets abandon the run.  Three interceptions in the last four possessions ends it.

Patriots win, 44-9.  10-0

Week 12: at New Orleans
Fresh from their drubbing of the Jets, the Patriots run into Drew Brees at his best.

Neither defense is particularly effective as the quarterbacks are simply out-of-their-minds good.

Marques Colston gets out of bounds at the 4-yard line with 11 seconds left, and the Saints punch it in with Steven Jackson.

Left with only a handful of seconds, the desperation heave is caught as time expires, but Galloway is tackled at the 28-yard line, well short.

Saints win, 37-35.  10-1
(Come on now, did anyone really think I would predict a 16-0 season?)

Week 13: at Miami
The past is prologue as the Dolphins, losers of three of its past four, cannot get anything going on offense or defense.

The Patriots were put through a vicious week of practice following the Saints loss.  The defense responds with five sacks, four interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.

Twice getting the ball inside the red zone, the offense makes good on the opportunities.

Patriots win, 41-12.  11-1

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?