Felger & Mazz: Pats Respond Like 'The Old Patriots' In Blowout Over Bengals
BOSTON (CBS) -- After an uninspiring and embarrassing loss on Monday Night Football last week, the Patriots responded in a big way by blowing out the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
After a week of criticism and speculation that things could be coming apart at the seams in New England, the Patriots put all of that behind them and focused on one thing: Kicking the crap out of the Bengals.
They did just that with a complete team effort Sunday night at Gillette, trouncing the once-unbeaten Bengals to the tune of 43-17.
"There was far more intensity and focus on both sides of the ball," Michael Felger said to open Monday's show. "They just got after it, finally."
The last week was filled with criticism of Tom Brady, capped off Sunday morning with a story from ESPN that the Patriots and their quarterback are at odds about the current team and Brady's future. But on Sunday night, it was Brady leading the way on offense, and all the players around him -- especially his offensive line -- rallied behind their quarterback.
"Brady led the way, which is the thing I was happiest to see. He wasn't invested in the first month," said Tony Massarotti. "Whatever realization he came to himself, he believed in that team and they knew it. And they responded to him."
While the final score shows total dominance on the Patriots part, what is most encouraging to Felger is the way the Patriots responded following such a rough week leading up to the game.
"It's [encouraging] that these are the same Patriots that we've come to know and love over the last dozen years. I don't know if they're championship caliber; I still think they have a shot and I didn't rule them out last week and I won't rule them out or in this week. We still need to see, long term, if the talent is there," he said.
"But it's not going to end like this, with Brady fighting over the team and the coaches spilling things out publicly, and then with a loss to the Bengals at home – it can't end like that? It's not," said Felger. "They responded like the old Patriots did – the championship caliber Patriots. Isn't that great? We have a football season and our team back.
"That doesn't mean they're good enough to win it all. I don't know if they're good enough to win it all. But in terms of makeup and character, OK, that's the team," said Felger. "We're not going to have one of these situations where it's 2009 all over again and they're limping to the finish line a mess and waiting to get their doors blown off in the playoffs. Last night told me it's not going to be that kind of season. It might not be a championship season, but it's not going to be one where you look at and be like 'what is wrong with this group?'"
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