Monday Morning Quarterback....

What a game last night.    Clearly there are holes in our defense, right up the middle.  But here's the difference between other teams and the Patriots -- they always keep their composure.  Doesn't that sometimes make all the difference in the world?   When it comes to gut check time, they focus and pull it together.   The Ravens were emotional from before the coin toss, and I wasn't the least bit surprised with all the penalties they received, outside of the fact that I thought for sure they'd have more "false starts".  They just looked antsy.   They were spectacular on the defense, that's for sure.  

It's unfortunate I think, that some of the Ravens players really let their emotions get away from them.  I get that last night's game was all emotional for them between Sean Taylor's funeral and just wanting to be the team to take the Patriots down -- but seriously, how can you play good ball if you can't keep it together emotionally?  And here's the thing -- there have been plenty of games that the officiating has gone clearly against the Patriots.  In this particular game - the only call that I think might have been questionable was the touchdown catch at the end, and I'm sorry, but I thought it as clear that Gaffney had control.  The other penalties really weren't anything to shake a head at. The Ravens were emotional and undisciplined - and they came across as such during the game.    Besides - in this girl's opinion - even if the Hail Mary pass at the end had resulted in a touchdown, there probably would've been a foul called against whomever the player was that came down on Assante Samuels. 

Here's a quote from Randy Moss that I thought was not only great to hear, but sort of an interesting commentary on his thoughts being here in New England:   "It was a tough game, so Baltimore came out with a game plan that they were going to try to try and be physical, and do a lot of talking with their mouth, stuff like that. Coach Belichick doesn't coach us or raise us that way. So for us to come up and shut them up with a last-second touchdown, that's what really felt good."   Hmm.  Sounds like a player who respects their parents....I mean coach.    I'd like to think that this is a positive sign that we will be able to maintain him for future years.

Did we win based sheerly on luck?  Maybe this time luck was involved a little bit.  But a win is a win -- and they clearly need to work on their defense because the Steelers are going to be all over them next week.  And I don't know how they'll be able to hold them back if they don't get their inside defense straightened out.  But I certainly don’t know the intricasies of football well enough to be able to spout statistics and specific plays -- but I do know enough to be able to determine what is or isn't working, and what needs to be worked on.

Speaking of working on….Santana coming to Boston?  As of this a.m., reports are that Jon Lester's medical records are being reviewed and that Ellsbury does not necessarily have to be part of the deal.  Will Crisp/Lester and the shortstop prospect (I forget his name) be enough?  I hope so!  It's a minute by minute watch at the moment, and I can't wait to see how it plays out.  If we have to let Jacoby go, I have to be honest and say that I'm not so sure that I'll be as excited about Santana coming here as I would've been…