Christopher Gasper of The Boston Globe wonders if the Patriots abandoned their runnning game too early in last Sunday's loss to the Colts. "We had some plays that weren't that successful early, mid-third quarter," said coach Belichick. "Then we came back and made a couple adjustments, and then had a couple more successful plays in the running game, but it wasn't consistent."
Gerry Callahan of the Boston Herald reports that the Pats running game was fairly successful in the first half, but the Pats moved to more of a passing offense in the second half. The Colts defense entered the game ranked 32nd in the league at stopping the run. "The Patriots don't need this," said NBC analyst John Madden during the game. "I don't know where they figured out they needed to trick this defense. They're bigger and stronger and they can just run right at it.
John Tomase of the Boston Herald reports on a few strategic slip-ups in the Patriots-Colts game. "We need to coach better," Belichick said. "We all need to do a better job, and that includes me."
The Boston Globe's Christopher Gasper writes on the potential injury of safety Rodney Harrison, and takes a look back at last season when the Pats finished 31st against the pass. Harrison was out with a knee injury and missed all but three games ine 2005. Also included are short pieces on Troy Brown and Patrick Pass.
Hector Longo of The Eagle-Tribune reports that sources close to Rodney Harrison fear the safety suffered a torn rotator cuff in Sunday's game. Longo also reports that Harrison received an MRI yesterday. NOTE: This story was released Monday, but is included in today's Patriots.com News Blitz since it's cited in a number of today's other stories.
John Tomase offers the Boston Herald's Patriots Notebook, which discusses a report that Rodney Harrison sustained a torn rotator cuff. Also included is an update on injured tight end Daneil Graham.
The Boston Herald's Michael Felger plays the part of that teacher you had who wouldn't let you go to the bathroom until reading period was over and recess had begun, dishing out bad grades left and right in his weekly Patriots report card. The linebackers must have brought an apple for Felger's desk, because they still swung an A-.
Ian Clark of *The Union Leader* also offers his Patriots report card. Clark is toughest on Brady and the defensive backs, but felt good about the performance of the defensive line.
Albert Breer for the MetroWest Daily News reports on rookie tight end David Thomas, who couldn't quite reach a fourth-quarter touchdown pass. The Pats were forced to settle for a field goal on the series. "It was a tough break," Thomas said. "That would've been a good play for us. We'll learn from that and get better the next time."
Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald reports that Troy Brown set the new mark for the Patriots in career-catches against the Colts. Brown got a taunting call on the record-tying pass, which was unwarranted, but he's looking toward the Pats next game against the Jets.
Michael Parente of the Woonsocket Call also reports on Brown's record-breaking night, admiting that it was a strange night for Brown who was called for two penalties.
The Providence Journal's Shalise Manza Young reports that the Colts didn't spring anything surprising on the Pats last Sunday. "The things they did, we've seen them do before. I would say they do the things that they do, and they do them well," Belichick said. Kevin Faulk concurred, saying he's seen the same things from the Colts since he's been in the league.
Bill Reynolds of* The Providence Journal* takes a look at some problems that arose in the Patriots two losses to Denver and Indy. Luckily, neither of those games was worth more than any other regular season game. His bottom line? The Patriots will have another shot in a big game this season.
The Providence Journal's Shalise Manza Young reports that defensive backs Artrell Hawkins and Chad Scott have done a good job filling in this season while Eugene Wilson has been injured. They were both in Sunday after Harrison left the game. Also included is a short piece on tight end David Thomas.
Alan Greenberg of the Hartford Courant reports that the Patriots simply couldn't overcome their five turnovers and eight penalties against the Colts. The good news is that those are game-day errors and not flaws in the system. The damage is done and if the Pats can learn from that game, they've still got as much potential to dominate as before.
Chris Kennedy of The Republican reports on the Colts-Patriots game in case you didn't get to watch it. He recaps major problems encountered by the Pats as well as big plays by the Colts.
Eric McHugh of The Patriot Ledger wonders just how good the Patriots are, citing their two losses to the Broncos and the Colts as evidence that the Pats can't hang with serious AFC contenders. McHugh also looks back at the Cincy and Minnesota games, wondering if those teams got too much credit before the Pats stomped them both.
Glen Farley of The Enterprise takes a similar stance, noting that the Patriots six wins were over teams with records of .500 or worse this season.
Don't forget to check out USA Today's Inside Slant on the Patriots, updated today.
