I knew this game would be close (though I wasn't expecting Buffalo to morph into the early 90's offensive unit) but it looks like I patted myself on the back about the defense a bit prematurely. The speed and decisive aggressiveness from the first game are gone, at least from what I've seen in the past couple weeks.
I only watched a handful of snaps in this one and listened to some of the rest, so please correct what seems off.
* At the end of a long BJGE run, I noticed Moss running away from the play with his arm up waiting for the ball. The ploy worked as the defender was chasing after him despite the fact that the guy with the ball was less than 5 yards behind him! Little things like that give me a thrill.
* Nice to see the team being able to bully for 6 yards at the end when they needed to ice the game.
* That said, the offensive set just prior to that was probably the worst attempt at a game ending drive I've ever seen. At one point the only play they had were the clock didn't stop was on a 12 yard sack.
* I'm disappointed in Tate. The fumble on what should have been a key first down was a killer and he also must have run the wrong route on Moss' 2nd TD. No play is designed to bring two receivers together in the deep middle of the field.
* I have to imagine NE set a record for "most times a team has been in 2nd and 20 in a game they scored 38 points". NE had 10 non-half-ending drives with 6 ending in points (5 TDs, 1 FG). Of the 4 remaining, three of them had a 10 yard penalty on the very first play. I'd like to see what these guys could do if they can get out of their own way.
* I gave BoB a lot of guff about the playcalling against the Jets, but this was an impressive effort on his part. NE returned to consistent ball movement rather than focusing on the big play. I even liked the calls that didn't work, like the Welker screen early on that went nowhere, so it isn't as if I'm solely going by which was more successful. This gameplan just seemed much more intent and purposeful. Of course, it helps when you can run the ball like they did.
* Midway through the third quarter I had come to the opinion that NE's pass D issues are more on the safeties than the CBs. Perhaps I should rephrase that. More on the interaction between the CBs and safeties. In the days of yore, CBs were able to take more chances knowing someone had their back. On top of that, I can recall more coverage interaction (I can't explain it better right now, brain lock). Now, it seems like guys are struggling to hold their own ground, let alone lean on each other.
The best way I can think to illustrate this is the Miami/NY game last night. Late in the game, needing a first down, NY went to Edwards on a successful comeback route. That play never should have worked. The CB had help over the top and his focus should have been staying in front of Braylon, forcing Sanchez to make a much more difficult toss between the defenders. That kind of mistake is happening virtually every play with NE right now, but it is occuring all over the place, LB, S and CB are equally guilty.
Anyway, it was nice to see Chung and Meriweather answer my pleas to make a play or two, even if Fitzpatrick airmailed both of those throws.
* I find it interesting how similar NE and NO are right now. NO has better pass D, but their run D makes NE's look like the 2000 Ravens. Both have sloppy wins over lousy teams, both have wins over teams that we aren't sure how good they are yet and both lost to the best division team they've faced so far. Hell, even Indy follows that pattern. And Denver spent 55 minutes trying to give that game to the Colts, who begrudgingly took it with only a handful to spare.
* A couple press conference items.
1) Did anyone else hear BB's jab at Indy when describing the gaff by the officials?
2) Both Brady and BB seemed more satisfied with that win than the fans.
3) Brady made a remark when asked about the quality of a win that reminded me of something Reggie Lewis said back in the 90's. The Pacers wer facing a great Bulls team in the ECF and had been destroyed in game one by 30+ points and Lewis commented how basketball isn't the Tour-de-France. They aren't going to start game two down 30, and that gives them an advantage. I chuckled at the time, but his words proved precient as Indy forced Chicago to go 7 games.
* I'm intrigued by the fact that NE gets all three division foes right off the bat and then gets a bye. How are they approaching these games? Are they still getting comfortable with packages and working on them in a quasi-preseason approach? It is well documented that BB holds things in reserve until the second division matchup, how is that impacting things?
All told, I'm still optimistic these guys are going to make the playoffs and be a more consistent group by then. But I'm not confident at all about their chances on Monday night. I'll be pleasantly surprised if they aren't 2-2 heading into the off week.
WTF? at Mike Reiss for this gem:
at the best of times, but if you're going to spank the unit for it's failure, you might at least not single out the one guy who was double-teamed by the wall. 
If one guy is drawing the two biggest blockers on the return team, and another guy is toting the rock, that leaves two unblocked coverage guys somewhere. One of them was Gostkowski, who flunked remedial form tackling for Place Kickers, but Guyton? "Wholly Rex Ryan's jowls" Mike!
