Pigskin Beauty Pageant

I don't believe there's any such thing as an "ugly win."

I do think there are some wins that have a nice personality and a really great sense of humor.

The Patriots 22-17 win over the Jets was classic Belichick.

• Defense (wins championships).

• Special Teams (it's still a game of field position). 

• And a Field Goal (and a field goal, and a field goal, and a field goal, and a field goal).

Yeah. They still call it football.

A Few Thoughts Following Review of the Pats-Jets Game

Rhamondre Stevenson is Special

I'm not advocating for the Patriots to trade Damien Harris, who is a very good running back, but Stevenson is a human cheat code. There does not appear to be anything he cannot do. There are other backs with his combination of power and speed, but lack his quickness and balance. The 6' 0", 230 pound Stevenson is like a photoshopped Christian McCaffrey. Running backs his size are usually off the field on 3rd downs but Stevenson was their leading receiver on Sunday with 72 yards, on 7 receptions. 

Pay Jakobi Meyers

I'm not saying you make him the highest paid WR in the NFL. Just saying you drew a salary cap line in the sand when you signed Agholor and Bourne. 

Mac Jones has Pigskin Backpfeifengesicht

A face that should be slapped. I don't know how or when Griddy McCorkle turned into the guy everyone loves to hate but it sure seems Mac Jones is the guy everyone loves to hate.

It may have contributed, ironically, to McCorkle hanging onto the starting QB gig, given that a roughing the passer penalty wiped out the ugly pick 6 Mac threw in the second quarter. (Seemed pretty obvious the Jets were trying to get in Mac's head given the number of shots to the head he took in this one. Not to mention the late hit out of bounds that wasn't called because they'd called roughing on the previous play.) I'll admit, before the announcers spotted the yellow hankie, I had mentally noted Bailey Zappe would have to start the second half.

I felt a tinge of sadness at the thought but real life isn't a movie.

(Or is it?) 

Alas, the QB controversy in Foxborough is not over and given the inconsistent play from the offensive line combined with the curious call sheet of OC Matt Patricia, that controversy is unlikely to end any time soon.

Time to Buy a Nick Folk Jersey

Only the name on the back should really read "Folk Hero."

Jets gonna Jet

Before Robert Saleh had the epic sideline meltdown that made me think we really don't do enough about mental health in America, it looked to me like the Jets were going to break their six year losing streak to the Patriots. I can't say there's a straight line from their HC losing his shit to his team's - and specifically QB Zach Wilson's - disastrous second half, because correlation is not causation. Still, and I don't think this was intentional by any means, Saleh, in his vein-bulging rant, cast the Jets as victims. And they then played that way until Belichick decided he'd gladly trade seconds and minutes for first downs and a meaningless score in the 4th quarter.

What happens before Tuesday at 4:00pm ET?

While I would've been a seller had the Patriots fallen to 3-5-0 on Sunday, I'm not so sure Belichick would have. With the win, there's some reason to believe the Patriots will be buyers. Of course, "Dollar Store" Bill will be looking for depth pieces on the offensive and defensive line, which is always the sexy. 

Or more likely, the Pats will be stand patters.

Having said that, I just checked and so far, no trades involving New England.

And yes, I watched the "highlights" from the Commanders-Colts game looking ahead to next Sunday and I didn't realize you could make a highlights package out of failed 3rd down conversions. 

Hope. 

I still have it. 

Go Pats!