Can you believe it? Better wait

October 19, 2009|Bob Ryan, Globe Columnist

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“Coach [Bill] Belichick was on us about being the only team in the league without a 40-yard pass play or a 20-yard run,’’ Brady said. “I guess this will keep him quiet for a while.’’

For the Titans/Oilers, it was a certified nightmare, the logical assumption that this 13-3 team of a year ago finally has bottomed out. For the Patriots, it was sheer reverie, with every possible thing that could go their way going their way. The good news carried over into the evening, because the Jets’ stunning OT loss to Buffalo left New England as the first-place team in the AFC East.

But how good are the Patriots, really? How much can anyone take from such a bizarre game? All we can say is that they will surely mop up the Buccaneers next Sunday in London to hit the bye week at 5-2. After that: Miami, at Indianapolis, the Jets, at New Orleans and at Miami.

This was great. This was fun. This was history. But was it meaningful? Let’s watch the next six games. Then we’ll talk.

Bob Ryan is a Globe columnist and host of Globe 10.0 on Boston.com. He can be reached at ryan@globe.com.