This was not a football game it was a mugging as the New England Patriots stole the pride, dignity and most likely lunch money of the hapless Tennessee Titans Sunday as they pummeled them in Foxborough 59-0. The Titans showed why they are now 0-6 in this NFL campaign as they put up about as much of a challenge to the Patriots as a “Pop Warner” team of eleven year olds. It was the largest margin of victory that the New England franchise has had in their history.

Tom Brady who had shown flashes of the 2007 NFL MVP during the team’s previous five contests was back to being vintage “Tom Terrific” in the match-up. Brady set an NFL record by slinging five touchdown passes in the second quarter alone. By the time the contest reached the half at snowy Gillette Stadium, New England had a 45-0 lead. Brady threw for 380 yards six touchdowns connecting with Randy Moss for three and Wes Welker for an additional two.

Even the Patriots running game was effective as running back Laurence Maroney had a great day racking up 123 yards on the ground including a 45 yard touchdown run in the first quarter.  New England back-up QB Brian Hoyer took over in the blow-out for Brady in the third and was 9/11 for 52 yards and scored a touchdown with a one yard run into the end zone with 11 seconds on the clock. This was one of those days that the New England Patriots could do absolutely no wrong.

Subsequently the Tennessee Titans seemed to be able to do everything wrong as both Kerry Collins and Vince Young were totally ineffective behind center. Collins was just 2/12 with one interception and Vince Young was 0-2 and threw a pick as well. Tennessee’s running game was somewhat more effective as running back Chris Johnson carried the ball 17 times and accumulated 128 yards. However he never made it into the end-zone and his teammates only added an additional 65 yards for a total of 193 yards on the ground for the afternoon.   

The Patriots and their fans needed a game like this after being shut down last Sunday in Denver from half-time onward and losing the contest to the Broncos. Although their record and play on the field may be a very bad indicator the Titans are still an NFL franchise and the fact that New England was able to dominate in the manner in which they did has to boost the team’s confidence and ego.       

The Patriots now have a record of 4-2 and are all alone at the top of the AFC East as the New York Jets lost to the Buffalo Bills in overtime 16-13. They will be heading across the pond next Sunday as they will  face off against the  Tampa Bay Bucs at Wembley Stadium in London. (I wonder if they will have Pat The Patriot on their helmets as they have for the last two games or if it will be the return of Elvis Patriot?) The Titans will have a week to re-group and lick their wounds as they have the Bye week next Sunday.

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