Patriot Games

Is it a coincidence, or do I somehow manage to cause the Patriots to lose, simply by turning on the TV?  And, what if, as on this last Sunday, I actually record it on Tivo and watch it later?  How can my watching, affect what happens 2,000 miles away on the football field?

Yes, of course it's a coincidence.  Yet, every time I have watched the Patriots this season, they have lost, typically by blowing a seemingly comfortable fourth quarter lead.  In the latest installment of utter frustration, they were ahead by 14 points early in the fourth quarter.  There were no last-second heroics by the home team, the lowly Texans in this case.  They simply scored 21 unanswered points and then intercepted the ball in the last minute of play to seal the game.

The really bad news, however, was that we lost Wes Welker for the season, to an ACL injury, just like Tom Brady's last season (except that that was in the first game, rather than the last game).  The actual result of the game didn't matter much, it was really only for seeding (although it mattered quite a lot to the Texans).  For this reason, Belichik was spelling the starters and giving playing time to backups.  Unfortunately, the play on which Wes was hurt occurred early in the game when he was still in play (obviously).

Wes Welker, like his counterpart on the current Red Sox team, Dustin Pedroia (5' 8"), is one of those rare athletes: a short guy at the very pinnacle (excuse the pun) of his profession.  My old neighbor Doug Flutie (officially 5' 10", but I've heard that questioned) was another example.  Flutie still holds the single-season CFL records for passing yards and passing touchdowns.  Even in basketball, there have been short point guards who were really good.  Case in point, Muggsy Bogues at 5' 3"!

Welker is listed on the Patriots web site as being 5' 9".  This year he leads the NFL in receptions (he has 123 to Steve Smith's 107) and for his full stats and bio, see Wes Welker.  It's pretty amazing reading.  This seasons reception total of 123 is tied for second in the history of the NFL!  Even Jerry Rice's best season was only 122.  And, no doubt, if he hadn't been injured early in the game, he'd have got at least 124 putting him a clear second on the all-time list.  Trivia Question: just who does hold the league record for receptions (with 143!)?  Clue: this person has been in the news for almost catching a more deadly kind of projectile.  Answer in next blog (you can answer in comment if you like).

So I look forward to the Baltimore Ravens coming to town on Sunday.  There is hope.  The Patriots are unbeaten at home this season.