Pick Six: Week Nine

When it comes to the winning, New England is still the team everyone wants to beat. To make a statement to the rest of the league, a win over the Patriots is the best feather any team can stick in their cap.

Typically it’s reserved for a defending champion, but New England has been targeted for their success over the decade. Hanging a loss on the Pats, even two years after the undefeated regular season, still means a lot.

And to get that win, teams will try everything in order to show they measure up to one of the league’s best teams. That’s why Miami unveiled the Wildcat last year against the Pats. They know the road to the AFC East crown went through New England.

Even though the Dolphins are the defending AFC East champions, and bragged they hold the crown until some team knocks them off, they knew a win over the Patriots supports their boast.

And like the Wildcat debut, the Dolphins threw new wrinkles at the Pats in hopes of getting an edge. Reserve QB Pat White came in and ran a couple of option run plays. RB Ronnie Brown had two pass attempts, the second time he’s had that many attempts in a game this season. One was completed for a one-yard touchdown.

But New England took Miami’s best shot and still came out on top. Sorry, Dolphins. Try again in December for that Patriots feather.

1. Who was this running for RB Laurence Maroney and can we keep him? If the DNA matches, then this was the best game played by Maroney this season. He was aggressive, decisive, and physical. Hopefully he stays this way for the rest of the season.

2. New England is tied for the league lead in roughing the passer penalties with four. The other three came against Buffalo, Baltimore, and Denver. They don’t always look bad, but the rules are the rules and the defense needs to better control their aggression.

3. The defense’s turnover streak is over. They forced at least one turnover in 15 consecutive games. If it wasn’t for a pair of defensive penalties, CB Leigh Bodden would have had an interception.

4. RB Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis came into the game on passing plays. That’s a surprise considering how Maroney was tried as a receiver out of the backfield earlier in the year. Green-Ellis dropped a pass in the endzone.

5. WR Wes Welker wasn’t even targeted in the first quarter. But when Tom Brady looked for Welker in the second quarter, his first three receptions each went for first downs.

6. S Pat Chung picked up his second sack in as many weeks. It was a great call as he came in on a delayed blitz to take down Miami’s Chad Henne.

Extra Point: Congratulations to QB Tom Brady for setting the Patriots record for career 300-yard passing game, surpassing Drew Bledsoe. I said it would be a brief tie.