The Upcoming NE Game

[WMH]

Yes it's Monday, but dammit, I am excited.......

From PFT regarding some info on Brady's approach to next weekend.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/rumor-mill.php

Brady wants to "carry over" strong week
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on December 28, 2009 11:38 AM ET
Tom Brady says the Patriots are coming off their best week of practice of the season and "one of" the team's best games. He wants to keep that momentum going next week in Houston.

"You don't want to make it seem like one week we're a team that looks like we did yesterday, and the next week we're a team that looks like we played against the Bills," Brady said on WEEI Monday morning, as transcribed by Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com.

"I'd love to see us go down there and put together the same type of effort," Brady said.

We wouldn't be surprised to see the Patriots play Brady all four quarters. Bill Belichick faced nearly the exact same decision in Week Seventeen of the 2005 and 2006 season. In both cases, the Patriots had the division clinched but no chance at bye. There was little at stake.

In 2005, Matt Cassel replaced Brady in the first half of a narrow loss to the Dolphins.

In 2006, Brady played until the game was decided in a win over a streaking Titans team. The difference in approach may have had to do with how the Patriots were playing.

The 2005 team was on a four-game winning streak. The 2006 team had won two straight, but had lost to Miami 21-0 in Week Fourteen.

It's just an educated guess, but we suspect Belichick feels similar to Brady. The 2009 team looks like one that needs to improve on Sundays before sitting anyone. Injured players like Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren will clearly rest up for the playoffs, but Brady may just get his wish.

That doesn't mean the Patriots will prevail -- their best road win thus far is Buffalo -- but it certainly wouldn't help Houston's playoff hopes.