No Tricks, All Treats for Pats

On a chilly Halloween Sunday in New England, the Patriots welcomed the Minnesota Vikings to town looking to move to 6-1 on the season. The talk may have been about Brett Favre all week (and all month, and all year, and all decade...), but that didn't phase Bill Belichick and his ever-focused group of Patriots. Trick or treat? In typical Pats fashion, there were few tricks in an all-around treat of an effort.

Under center, Tom Brady was efficient as usual, registering a 100.8 passer rating with solid but not daunting numbers. He passed for 1 of New England's 4 touchdowns in a 28-18 victory over the Vikes, who drop to a disappointing 2-5 on the season and trail both the Packers and the Bears in the NFC North. Most of the offensive scoring for the Patriots, though, was done on the ground. BenJarvus Green-Ellis continues to emerge as a legitimate back for this offense, carrying the ball 17 times for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns. In his normal specialty role, Danny Woodhead carried 6 times for just 13 yards, but he picked up a touchdown on a direct snap as well as hauling in 5 catches for 45 yards. One of his receptions was a huge third down play in the final minutes of the game to extend what was ultimately the Patriots' nail-in-the-coffin drive.

Wait... I must be obligated to talk about Brett Favre though, right? I mean ESPN doesn't talk about him too much, so maybe I should give him some face time. He got blasted in the fourth quarter and left the game assuming the fetal position on the team's injury cart. Trainers seemingly had to hold his jaw in place as they escorted him to the sideline. He had what was deemed a facial laceration and needed stitches. While watching the game -- both his own reaction and the treatment he was being given -- you'd have thought his career was over. Except now he is expecting to play next week and he says his jaw feels fine. That was the dagger for me. The last straw. Favre is such a drama queen that I can't stand it anymore. You won't see me giving this guy any more attention than he's already being given. Because isn't that clear? He just wants attention. Plain and simple. Well, I'm not giving it. This is the last you'll hear me talk about Favre unless it's actually something worth noting.

Back to the game though. The Patriots impressed with their all-around effort once again. Brady didn't light it up. They just did things the right way. They did the little things. And this defense continues to grow and mature every week. Devin McCourty is phenomenal. He registered an interception and made several key break-ups throughout the game. Adrian Peterson was held under 100 yards rushing and was stopped on a few key third and fourth downs, including a fourth-and-goal inside the one yard-line at the end of the first half. I know it's still relatively early, but with every week that passes, this Patriots team reminds me more and more of the team we watched at the beginning of the decade. They'll get a nice test next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who most people are calling the best of the best right now. If New England has anything to say about that, there might be a change of opinion after that match-up.

PS -- I love how Bill Belichick is smiling after our wins now. It reassures my understanding that the dynasty is back and our coach knows it.