Al Nye The Lawyer Guy

Just like in the 2008 SuperBowl between the same teams, Eli Manning led the N.Y. Giants to a last minute score to beat the Patriots today in Foxborough 24-20. True, this one didn't come after the Pats won every game of the season leading up to the title game. And naturally, this lose wasn't as devastating as that one.

But come on, Pats! Losing by a touchdown in the last 15 seconds? Getting costly pass interference penalties late in the game that changed the outcome. The whole league knows that the Patriot defense stinks — it's in last place. The real question is that will the season half over, why isn't it getting any better?

Sure, the final score read Pittsburg 25, New England 17 — but make no mistake, the Pats were reeling from the opening drive. The Steelers walked all over the Pats defense. Not only was QB Roethlisberger passing all over the field at will, he had what seemed like minutes before feeling any pressure.

The Patriots main weakness — defense — was thoroughly exploited.

If Brady doesn't have a scoring field day to make up for the lack of D, the Patriots are in trouble. Yesterdays game showed that weakness in full display.

Make no mistake, the Pats will win more games this year. But until they find a way to pressure the other side's quarterback and learn to stop pass receivers, their dreams of a SuperBowl are just that: dreams.

The Red Sox have lost 13 of their last 17 games in September.  A month ago they were leading their division. Then the Yankees overtook them. Now Tampa, who was a team that was 9 games back in the wild card race, is just 2 games back.

It's panic time for Sox fans. The Red Sox aren't just sinking, they're melting before our eyes. Now Sox fans are forced to root for the dreaded Yankees to beat up on the Rays just so Boston can limp into the playoffs. Because even though the Sox face a series with the lowly Orioles, nothing can be taken for granted with the way Boston has been playing. Because despite the recent two World Series titles, the history of the Red Sox isn't winning: it's collapsing, choking, dying when it really matters. It's heartbreaking.

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Now the Patriots, on the other hand, are used to winning. Oh sure, they've had their share of heartbreak too — like going 18- 0 in the regular season and losing in the Super Bowl. But still, the curse Boston fans associate with the Red Sox, hasn't tainted the Patriots.

The Pats opened with a solid win over Miami and now a victory at home against San Diego (35 – 21). And despite what the final score reads, it wasn't an easy win. All the key breaks seemed to go to the Patriots. The Chargers would get close to scoring, and the Pats would come up with a fumble (twice), or intercept the ball (twice again) — or the defense would find a way to hold on and stop a 4th and goal from the one.

There's still plenty to work to do on defense. Although they came up big when needed, the D also let the Chargers convert 10 of 12 third-down plays, and allowed Philip Rivers to complete 29 of 40 passes for 353 yards.  Those figures are way too high.

But the Patriots are rolling. Brady is passing like there's no tomorrow (with an NFL record 940 passing yards in the first two games). The Buffalo Bills (also 2- 0) are next week, but I'm sure that the Pats will be favored to win. Wish I could say the same thing about the Red Sox. 

   
 

I haven't written much about basketball since the Celtics lost to Miami. That doesn't mean that I haven't been following it. Like the rest of the country (except perhaps those in Miami) and especially for those in New England, I was delighted to see LeBron James go down in flames.

Nearly everyone seems to be piling on the "I'm happy LeBron James lost" bandwagon. And really, it's his own fault!

Nobody likes a braggart — someone who tells you how great he is and what he's going to accomplish. This is especially true for sports stars. I mean it's one thing to have confidence and believe in yourself. It's another thing to tell the world how talented you are and make promises about championships that you just can't deliver.

That's what LeBron James did when he left Cleveland complaining about not getting enough team support and with a publicity stunt moved to Miami guaranteeing great results. It's one thing to make promises and back them up (the way Larry Bird often did in Boston). It's another to make predictions and then disappear from view.

Well, guess what? It just didn't happen.

I read that in the six game series with Dallas, James scored a total of 18 points in the 4th quarters of the games. That's an average of 3 points during each 4th quarter. He might as well have been on the bench.

The best players that played the game always wanted the ball during clutch moments. Even if they off nights and didn't score, they directed the play or did other things to help their team win. James did none of those things when it really counted. As a result, he's being resoundingly criticized.

And I, for one, am delighted.

 

Boston played with more heart than they’ve played all year in their win against the Heat on Saturday. Rajon Rondo showed what it means to have “Celtic pride” after coming back in to play in the 4^th quarter after dislocating his elbow in the 3^rd. Every Boston fan agrees he’s got the right stuff.

Garnett also came up big and Pierce added his outstanding play on offense, and defense (against James), to keep the guys in Green playing another game.

The question is, now that the adrenalin has worn off, and the swelling has begun, can Rondo play tonight with any effectiveness? If not, can the C’s play with enough intensity and desire to get it done without him?

Make no mistake; if they don’t win again tonight, the series is over.