‘Tis the Season: Patriots strike down the Chargers

Despite the controversy over the New England Patriots’ victory against the New York Jets last Sunday, they didn’t succumb to the negative energy and criticisms and won their game with the San Diego Chargers 38 to 14.

In a pistachio shell, the Patriots made five touchdowns and one field goal. Tight end Benjamin Watson made the first TD of the evening in the top of the first quarter; wide receiver Randy Moss made two TDs over the course of the game (bottom of the first and third quarters); linebacker Adalius Thomas made a 65-yard interception TD in the second quarter; and fullback Sammy Morris made a TD in the bottom of the fourth.

The Chargers’ 14 points came from two touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters (courtesy of fullback Lorenzo Neal and tight end Antonio Gates respectively).

Observations & Miscellania:

1. Skycam was in the house.

2. Tom Brady got so many close-ups when he was calling the plays at the line of scrimmage. Makes me wonder if someone was intentionally experimenting with the application of cinematic techniques. It isn’t that uncommon for a TV camera’s quarterback close-up-seconds-before-the-snap to be on the air, but it’s not as omnipresent a shot as the high angle press box or end zone point-of-view. Even an on-field/sidelines camera’s live footage appears more often. In football movies, however, not only are there more close-ups of the players at the line of scrimmage, but huddles receive many more extreme low angle coverage than extreme high angle views.

3. Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker is so fast on his feet.

4. I’ve seen a number of Patriots games over the last couple of seasons, and I’m consistently amazed at how well they can–to borrow a phrase from gymnastics–“stick their landing.” Even when Tom Brady gets sacked (which happened a few times in tonight’s game), even when they fumble the ball….the rapport between Brady and his offensive teammates is virtually tangible. If I were a synaesthete, I’d probably be able to see it–and it would have a color too. On this point, their athletic performance is reminiscent of the Colts.

Get the game stats, summary, and play by play here.

Be sure to watch Sunday Night Football on NBC next Sunday night for the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears.

Speaking of Chicago, their baseball team is the Cubs; their football team is the Bears. Why is their basketball team the Bulls? Their hockey team is the Blackhawks. Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks–> three Bs. Cubs. Bears–> two animals of different age but of the same genus and species. Why not go all B? or go all bear-related creatures? Hmmm…The Cubs, Bears, Grizzlies, and Polars?

or, The Badgers, Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks.

pix creds: google image search