But some special started after that loss. A bounce back win against the Saints became a winning streak after a narrow 17-16 victory over the Jets. The streak stretched to three, then four with an OT win at Buffalo. They were rolling, and finished the regular season with two more wins over the Dolphins and Panthers. That loss against the seemingly unstoppable Rams would prove to be their last that year.
Could something like that happen today? I mean, they did just get pasted by a high flying, Super Bowl-contending NFC powerhouse, so maybe there's some symmetry there. But that's not exactly the point.
The point is that the Halloween costumes have been put away. The turkey leftovers have been devoured. The Christmas shopping has been put off long enough.
It's December, the proving ground for any team desiring a deep January run. The pretenders have already begun falling away, but December will mint the true NFL contenders. The Patriots have issues, no doubt. But they have five games to address their schemes and play-calling. Five games to steel themselves for a playoff grind. Five games to decide what sort of team they want to be.
It begins on Sunday.
Edited for fuzzy memory.
Edited by Rook05, 01 December 2009 - 02:08 PM.
