Jerome Solomon of the Boston Globe writes that the Patriots secondary was almost invisible against the Colts. Manning (28 of 37 for 321 yards and 3 touchdowns) beat them long, short, inside, and out, and connected on nearly every route imaginable -- posts, fades, slants, hooks, outs, crossing patterns. Nothing cute, nothing fancy, and nothing the Patriots didn't know was coming. And nothing the Patriots could do about it. In fact, it could have and probably should have been worse, but the Colts dropped several passes. "They just had all the right answers," safety Eugene Wilson said. "It seemed like he had all the right answers. He went to places where we were soft and he did a good job of making checks and running that offense."
Ron Borges of the Boston Globe writes that defensive lineman Richard Seymour has no idea whether he will be ready to play or not, but with all the problems New England's defense has, his return, like Bruschi's, should be expected to do only so much. When you have given up an average of more than 400 yards and 30 points per game the last five games, there's more to it than any one player. There's a system problem, or at least a problem on the part of too many people trying to play the system.
Gerry Callahan of the Boston Herald writes that the fact the Patriots onside kick during the Colts game was a telling sign of how desperate the team has become. Callahan comments that the Patriots needed a successful onside kick to keep their pathetic defense off the field and keep their slim hopes of catching the Colts alive.
John Tomase of the Boston Herald writes that the Patriots have seem to have lost their passion. In the past, the Patriots held a competitive advantage because they simply wanted to win more than the other guys. "This is a game you're supposed to play with passion, man," Brown said after the Pats' 40-21 drubbing at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts. "And we're not playing like that right now. There's no passion. Across the board. How many people did we have out there? 46? 47? It's everyone. Across the board."
Michael Felger of the Boston Herald offers his Patriots report card. Felger gives failing grades to the Pats secondary, running back and coaching.
John Tomase of the Boston Herald reports that with the trading deadline passed last month, secondary help will be even harder to come by. Several noteable names still out their are CB Terrell Buckley, former Eagles Pro Bowl CB Bobby Taylor and Vikings CB Ken Irvin.
Tom Curran of the Providence Journal writes that after just a few hours of restless sleep following his team's 40-21 loss to the Indianapolis Colts Monday night, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady came out firing on the radio yesterday morning. "I know we're better than the way we're playing. . . . I'm just wracking my brain to figure a way to get guys motivated, including myself. We can hang in there, hang in there, then, as soon as things start going bad, rather than fight back with everything we've got . . . we're just not at that point yet," said Brady. "We've got to work hard to get to that point."
Lenny Megliola of the MetroWest Daily News reports that Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli will be inducted into the New England chapter of the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame Nov. 18, at the Venezia Waterfront Restaurant in Boston.
Tom Curran of the *Providence Journal *offers in-depth analysis of the 40-21 Patriots loss to the Indianapolis Colts game at Gillette Stadium.
Michael Felger of the Boston Herald writes that after two straight titles and back-to-back 17-2 seasons, the Pats have fallen all the way to the middle of the NFL pack. They're 4-4 and leading an awful division by a single game, with a trip to their annual house of horrors - Dolphins Stadium -on tap next week.
Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe offers his daily sports blog with Patriots notes. Reiss also offers his latest mailbag where he answers your questions.
Tom Curran of the Providence Journal offers his daily sports blog with Patriots notes and commentary.
