What's the Score?

Its almost Week 9 in the NFL and the Patriots are undefeated, which pleases me to NO END. But apparently there are so folks who are unhappy that the Patriots are beating their opponents by over three touchdowns a game and are saying the Patriots are running up the score. Running up the score? Seriously? Is this Pop Warner? Are we 8 years old? These men get paid MILLIONS to play this sport and to WIN and quite honestly I have little sympathy for a team that gets decidedly defeated.

There have been many articles and discussions about this in the past few weeks and this is what I have to say about it. I don't really care if you agree or disagree, but as a Pats fan, these are my thoughts:

People in New England don't give a fawk and don't think that scoring points, which is the POINT of the game is a problem. Its those that have been summarily destroyed that are complaining about "running up the score." Its funny, because during Indy's dominance, or the 72 Dolphin's run, or the Rams golden years there wasn't this kind of outrage. I understand that the Patriots aren't likable - especially our coach and that probably has something to do with it. But lets be real here. If it were the colts dismantling opponents, no one would question WHY Tony Dungy kept his offense on the field rather than merely kicking it away.

Speaking of keeping the offense on the field, that is my one concern. Keeping certain skill players in the game with a sizable lead can be dangerous, but since I drink the kool aid, I'm sure Belichick knows what he's doing and I'm sure if he gets the lead/division/bye week in hand, this will change.

One should also remember that the Patriots blew an 18 point lead vs Indy last season in the AFC Championship game, just missing the Superbowl. So quite honestly, so long as they win i don't care. If a team loses by say 50-0 like the PATRIOTS did to the historic 72 Dolphins, maybe, just maybe they DESERVE it, because they should have stopped them. Other teams need to put up or shut up.

Can we talk about this "outrage" a little bit? What are the Patriots supposed to do, stop playing in the third quarter to give the other team a chance to catch up? Give them the ball, spot them 30 yards and say "your turn!"? Imagine that. Yes, the Patriots went for it on 4th down, twice. And why NOT? How often do they get this sort of opportunity to attempt to go for it on a 4th down with little or no consequence? And, THEN Matt Cassel scored. Matt Cassel is the back up quarterback that wasn't even a starter in COLLEGE. And HE SCORED. I don't know much, but I do know that if you can't stop Matt Cassel from scampering into the end zone, you have bigger problems that the Patriots running up the score.

Ok, I know I'm biased, and I wouldn't like it if it was the Colts running through their opponents in the first 8 weeks of the season. But it wouldn't be THEIR fault the rest of the league certainly couldn't stop them and couldn't even get close to containing them.

So the first half of the season is over, and all that matters is week 9 - Superbowl 41 & a 1/2. And no matter what happens, the Pats will STILL be my squad at the end of the day.