The Morning After: Week 15

The '08-'09 Patriots may become the second 11-5 team to miss the Playoffs.

The above statement isn't unlikely, dear readers. It's probable. And it's a very hard truth the face.

Finishing the season 11-5 used to guarantee a Playoff berth. But, this year, there's a good chance that even if we win the remainder of our games and finish 11-5 we'll end up as the 7th best team in the AFC. One spot out of the playoff race...on the outside looking in.

Parity at its best.

But, as fans, I think we need to take a step back. We can't worry about the "why" or "how" questions. All those questions are moot. We can't be passive at this time of year, y'all. We can't just sit on the couch with a beer in one hand and a remote in the other HOPING for good things to happen. We NEED to be active.

Actually, I'll take that a step further.

It's our moral imperative to be active during this time of year, dear readers. And I'm not just talking about in our "fandom" here. I'm taking about our lives.

[SIDE NOTE: START]

Listen, I understand that it's really easy to be inactive during this time of year: The weather is shitty. The economy sucks. Buying gifts doesn't feel like the responsible thing to do. Mall Santa's are scary and smell like moth balls. Egg nog is icky. Christmas sweaters are offensive to the eyes. 1 in 10 of us in RI are unemployed.

Bad times. I get it. But curling up on the couch, watching movies and waiting for a better day isn't the solution.

Do me a favor -- better yet, do yourself a favor -- don't use any of those things as excuses. Don't wait until midnight on 12/31/08 to start thinking about what kind of person you want to be on 1/1/09.

Start today.

Take risks: Call the sibling you haven't spoken to in a while and see how they're doing. Forgive someone. Clean your house. Be active in the life of someone who doesn't expect it. Tell that friend of 5 years that you'd like to be more than friends. Organize. Be on time. Make sure your parents know you love them (especially if they've made it clear they don't love you.) Smile. Tell your husband you had an affair and you're sorry. Open a door for a stranger. Give a homeless guy a buck. Be active.

I know you understand what I'm trying to say, readers. And I know it's not easy. But, if you don't take risks, you're not challenging yourself. If you're not challenging yourself, you're never going to grow as a person. And, if you're not going to grow as a person, you become one of those characters from the movie you're on the couch watching over and over -- the same person trapped in time.

[SIDE NOTE: END]

Enough motivational pep-talking. Moving on...

What we need to do is understand what NEEDS to happen for us to NOT be the first 11-5 team out of the Playoffs. Who needs to win? Who needs to lose? WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THE PATRIOTS TO GET INTO THE PLAYOFFS?!

Great question. Let's answer it.

We all need to do something that isn't allowed under any other circumstance. But, desperate situations call for desperate measures.

So what isn't typically allowed that will be allowed the next 2 weeks?

Here goes: We, as fans, need to cheer for other teams. And I'm not talking about pulling for your fantasy team here.

I'm talking about feeling for other teams what you feel for the Patriots. You need to immerse yourself, emotionally, into teams that can help us make the playoffs.

Even if you hate them, you have to root for the Cowboys on Saturday. And, if that fails, you have to pull for the Seahawks and Chiefs on Sunday. No, you can't just "check" to see if they won. You can't just "hope." You have to follow each game like it was a Patriots game. Get emotionally involved. Make the sacrifice.

If you do that, our potential playoff berth will be sweeter than the 16-0 mark that took us there last year. A million times sweeter.

It'll be worth it. I promise.

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The Big Question
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This week's Big Question is speculative. And, while I'm not a big fan of speculation, I have no choice but to pose the below question. My hope is simple: the more that we talk about the Patriots in the Playoffs the better chance they have of making it. Right?

Visualize it with me, dear readers. VI--SU--A--LIZE.

Q: If the Patriots make the Playoffs this year, who would you like them to play in the first round?

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Quick Thinking
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-- Kudos to Matt Cassell for his professionalism and team commitment following the loss of his father.

-- Rajon Rondo made Deron Williams, widely regarded as one of the best young point guards in the NBA, look pretty pedestrian last night.

-- There's no truth to the rumor that Buddy is going to move to Illinois and run for governor.

-- Jennifer Aniston is wearing one tie too many on the cover of GQ.

-- Quote of the week comes from Nicholas Martin. With 9:26 left in the 3rd Quarter the Raiders were facing a 4th & 26 and I asked, "What's in the playbook for this situation?" To which he replied, "A punt."

-- Brain Food: On Sunday, Wes Welker became the 8th player in NFL history with consecutive 100 catch seasons. Can you name the other 7? (Answer below)

-- Randy Moss had 2 touchdown catches on Sunday and neither were the result of a fade route. Coincidence?

-- Probably not. Josh isn't reading my blog yet.

-- But maybe Randy is.

-- Or maybe the Raiders secondary is just as bad as ours.

-- Memo to Brad Bitt: you made the wrong decision, friend.

-- The Mighty Boosh's Old Gregg is, at first glance, confusing silliness.

-- However, after a few viewings, Old Gregg shows it's true colors as comedic genius.

-- Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.

-- The soap opera that has become the Dallas Cowboys just got more interesting after they beat the Giants on Sunday.

-- If they beat the Ravens on Saturday night EVEN I may start liking them.

-- Get your popcorn ready.

-- Speaking of getting your popcorn ready, the Christmas Work Party Season is officially upon us. Get your cell phone cameras ready, too.

-- And your local DUI Lawyer's business card.

-- Kanye's 808s and Heartbreak single-handily proves the age old adage that money and celebrity status doesn't necessarily translate into happiness.

-- Forgive me if I don't weep for him.

-- Here's a little gem from the season finale of Californication: "When a beautiful woman is kind enough to kiss you, you kiss her right back. There's no telling where that kiss will take you."

-- Hopefully, it doesn't take you to the Walk-In Clinic.

-- The more games that are decided by the referees, the more I question the integrity of the NFL.

-- Memo to all the toddlers sitting and crying on a mall Santa's lap: Let the tears flow. I'd be freaked out, too.

-- "Men's Jewelry Store" is an oxymoron.

-- I miss Pizza Inn @ School St. in Lincoln, RI.

-- Brain Food Answer: Sterling Sharpe, Cris Carter, Jerry Rice, Herman Moore, Marvin Harrison, Rod Smith & Randy Moss.

-- Just when it seemed Kurt Warner had overcome the career changing loss he suffered at the hands of a Belichick defense in SuperBowl XXXVI with an MVP caliber season, he visits Gillette Stadium with the Patriots' season on the line.

-- I'll give you 3 guesses who I'm putting my money on.

-- And the first 2 don't count.