ST. LOUIS -- We expected this, didn't we? By now, we should.
Just when it seems like it's time to start doubting the New England Patriots -- coming off a bad loss and entering a game against a fast-break passing attack on a quick track with their starting corners home with injuries -- they do what they always do.
They find a way -- the Patriots way.
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| Adam Vinatieri is 4 for 4 in field goals and 1 for 1 (a TD) as a passer.(AP) |
They were badly beaten by the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, ending their 21-game winning streak. With a tough road game and a banged-up team, it made sense to think they would be on a two-game losing streak and searching for answers.
That assumption forgot one very important factor: Their coaches have the answers. They deal with adversity better than any staff or team in the league.
"It's probably as complete a team victory as any I've been around," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said afterward.
Notice the word "team."
The Patriots always do.
So what if corners Ty Law and Tyrone Poole were out and then third corner Asante Samuel went down in the first quarter with an injury? Shouldn't we have come to expect an undrafted rookie (Randall Gay), a street free agent named after a 1970s funk band (Earthwind Moreland) and one of the team's receivers (Troy Brown) would slow down the vaunted Rams passing attack?
Shouldn't we have come to expect a linebacker (Mike Vrabel) catching a pass for a touchdown and a kicker (Adam Vinatieri) throwing one for another?
What about a linebacker (Don Davis) playing safety?
