PATRIOT MAGIC

There are good days and bad days. (Yesterday, I briefly blogged about the ridiculous BCS process in which teams get screwed for various reasons. I was pissed at the process and how a great BC Eagles team got royally f#^%&$. You can translate.)
This morning, things are better, but for different reasons. The Pats made a memorable last drive comeback and improved to a stunning 12-0 record, much to the chagrin of the 1972 Dolphins and so many others. Along the wide spectrum of the NFL, the Pats are hated-with good reason. They're a dynasty, one that is continuing as we speak. Much like the United States, when you're on top people want to see you fall. Think the Yankees.
But not last night. Playing a desperate 4-7 Ravens team on a nationally televised Monday night game was hard enough, but this is the 3rd straight week the team was forced tom play at night in front of a nationally televised football game.
The Ravens played well, but continue to hinder themselves with dumb penalties. By halftime, the Ravens did great and the score was tied at 10-10. This was actually fortunate for Brady's Bunch; a late pick by Brady was returned by Reed to the Pats thirty, but (reminiscence of Troy Brown strip in last season's Pats/Chargers playoff game) Faulk stripped the ball and the Pats recovered and went in to the half deadlocked.
The Ravens scored on their first drive and the Pats were in unfamiliar territory down by seven. But the Pats regrouped and scored and the game was even at 17-17 into the final session. The Ravens had the momentum though- they ran the ball with McGahee and were much more physical on both sides of the field. McGahee was the first back to rush for 130 yards since he did it with Buffalo in 2005! Basically, the Pats could not stop the run. The game was in jeopardy.
But the 4th quarter was a different story. The Pats were stout against the run and forced nothing but three-and-outs after the Ravens took a 24-17 lead in the 1st minute of the 4th frame. Roughly 4 minutes later the Ravens were on the Patriot 30 yard line(field goal range) but Boller threw a pick on third and 14 to Sanders. The Pats then closed within 24-20 after a Gostkowski field goal and the defense had to pull out some stops for Brady to get a shot at a win.
The 2 minute warning came and the Pats had a 2nd and 10 around the 50 yard line. Would the Pats fall to the trash-talking Ravens or overcome the challenge and improve to 12-0? The Pats faced a 4th and 1 and the game on the line. They were stopped on a QB sneak; game over right? No. The Raven sidelines called a timeout as the ball was hiked. The Pats had a second chance. But Evans was stuffed on the 4th and 1 and the game ended, right? No. A false start forced another play this time 4th and 6. Brady looked for an open receiver but no luck, so he ran for the first down and got it. Still alive.
With a minute left, the Pats faced another great challenge. After a tipped pass was almost picked, Brady missed Welker and the Pats faced another 4th down opportunity. The pass to Watson was missed and the game ended, right? No. A clear cut 5 yard holding penalty gave the Pats a first down with less than a minute to go. Brady hit Gaffney in the corner of the end zone for a score and a 27-24 lead. Meanwhile, the Ravens got two 15 yard misconduct penalties(Scott had a meltdown and went crazy on the refs and picked up the flag and tossed it towards the end zone) and a 5 yard penalty too. The Pats did not have to kick off and give the Ravens an opportunity to run one back. Instead, Gostkowski got to kick off from the 35- of the Ravens!
A last second Hail Mary worked, it was caught on the 2 yard line but the Pats held the receiver out of the end zone. And that's where the game ended!
A calm and collect Brady fought off a novel ready final drive to get the win. Despite the fact we had very little of a running game and Moss(4catches) and Welker(3 catches) were held in check, then Pats found a way. With all the odds against them(a record 71,300 sellout road clash, a hungry and intense Raven team, 3rd straight night game on national tv, wind and snow flurries, the haters, Don Shula in the booth, dropped passes, a record 20 point MNF favorite on the road and a bulls-eye on themselves) the Pats found a way. They have 4 games remaining with the next three coming at home. They can clinch a 1st round bye and home field throughout the playoffs with a win against the 9-3 Steelers.