Bearing down; Pats get BIG win

With your Uncle Buck on hand last night the Patriots outlasted the Chicago Bears in a 17-13 slugfest that included hard nosed defense and big plays by two of the league's leaders.

The playoff atmosphere returned to Gillette Stadium Sunday as the now 9-2 Bears came into town for only their 3rd ever game in Foxboro (Pats are 3-0 at home vs. the Bears and 6-4 all time). The crowd was rocking and rolling and admiring the new field that was installed in a quick 8 days, which is months shy of the traditional installation time. From the opening kick both teams slugged it out, with the Bears getting most of the big punches in on defense stripping the Pats of 4 balls, 3 of which were fumbled over to Chicago. For most of the day UB has been listening to radio callers and hosts referring to a sloppy game as the Pats and Bears committed 9 turnovers, but anyone who watched the game would have to admit that save for the Rex Grossman fumble in the 1st quarter and an ill advised Tom Brady pass to Troy Brown, the other 7 turnovers were really more good defensive football. UB was very impressed with the way the Bears attacked the ball all night.

Speaking of defense Richard Seymour had one of the best games of his career. A blocked field goal, a recovered fumble, a sack...He did it all and yet was surpassed by the performance of Asante Samuel who had 3 picks, including the game clincher. The last Patriot to have 3 picks in a game...Ty Law in the 2003-04 AFC title game against Peyton Manning and the Colts.

The biggest loss of the game turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the year. Junior Seau, the 50 year veteran of the NFL, who joined up with the Pats after "Graduating" from Miami was thought to be a possible back up veteran to help stabilize the linebacking core...Seau quickly became a starter at inside linebacker and made liars out of the Pats fans who for years said he was nothing but flash. The crowd gave Junior a standing ovation has he left the field. Monday it was announced he's done for the year and he could be done for his career.

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And then there was Chad Jackson...UB knows he's a rookie but he had two balls in his hands (grow up) and nothing but green in front of him...It could have been a blow out but no, it was a squeaker...
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As for the rookie kicker, Stephen Gostkowski...The kid came up big. A 52-yarder extended the Pats lead to 10 in the 2nd quarter. Thankfully, Lovie Smith decided to call a time out during Gostkowski's 1st kick, also a 52-yarder that he missed right. The second kicked eeked over the cross bar and stayed just enough left.

Perhaps the most memorable play from the Pats 8th win of the year came from Tom Brady who junked last year's defensive player of the year Brian Urlacher and scampered for 9 yards and a key 1st down. Urlacher later said he thought Brady was going to slide, was caught flat footed on Brady's juke move. A few plays later Brady found Ben Watson (who had 2 fumbles) in the endzone for the go-ahead touchdown.
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Up next for the Pats is the Detroit Lions at Gillette. Until then UB will have to try and forget those new cheerleader out fits so he can get some work done...
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Yowza...

...Yowza...

...Yowza