Last week I wrote about how the Pats lost a game that they should have won, and went through my explanation on what they have to do to turn things around to win, but I wasn't expecting such a quick turn around since everybody and I other than my son Tyrique, and two Kevin's I know were the only people I had talked to who had the Pats winning this game. I feel like I need to send a card of apology to the team, since I had wrote this game off from the day the schedule was announced, after yesterday I took the wet noodle lashes from my girlfriend, and packed the crow I must eat till next weekend.

So what happened on top of  the Bengals being sore losers? The Pats repaired their issues, and exploited the Bengals in which I will take my quotes from last week and show you the differences this team made in their win.

"On Sunday night, Brady threw 31 of 55 for 320 yards with no interceptions, which to most sounds impressive, but I was there with the masses and Tom Brady was 'shook'."

Last night Brady was 15 of 26 for 188 yards with 2 TD passes and one pick that was off a tipped pass. The big difference here was the fact that Brady looked cool in the pocket, took his time reading the open man, made smart decisions with his passes and logged off a 22 yd rush when the opportunity presented itself. Brady was on point despite getting a much needed rest with threat of a tandem running game making a big return to the Pats arsenal.

"Which now brings me to the running game... A game that had been a monster the last two weeks came to an end when RB Corey Dillon (5 for 16) left the game with an arm injury, forcing Laurence Maroney (12 for 18) to take the bulk of the carries looking like a rookie because at times he seemed hesitant to hit the holes. I must give him credit whereas he was more of a threat when receiving (5 for 61)."

I don't think there was any injury that was going to keep Corey Dillon down for this matchup, and from what happened on his 1 yd TD run the team was also well aware of it. Dillon returned to the place that bad mouthed him to death by racking up 67 yds on 17 carries, a 15 yd penalty for his end zone dance with TE Ben Watson, and a $5000 fine for throwing the ball into the stands. A ball that was abruptly thrown back into the field of play by the Bengals fans who booed his TD with much hatred. Now this is something I don't understand. When Corey was there he voiced his opinion about how the Bengals organization wasn't committed to winning a Super Bowl, and was labeled as a trouble maker, and selfish. Corey came to New England has his share of Super Bowl rings, and has never once had any bad press about him in his time here. Shortly after Dillon winning his Super Bowls here it seemed someone in the Bengals front office felt his opinion of the team was true, and have now built the team into what they are today. So shouldn't those fans who threw the ball back be thanking Corey?

Laurence Maroney was a monster and exploited the fact that the Bengals have a horrible run defense amassing 125 yds on 15 carries and two TD's proving that this dual running attack is something opposing teams will have to be up for.

"And please hold the applause for WR Doug Gabriel (6 for 65) who seemed to be a savior for a receiving corps. By the time he made an impact the Broncos were well ahead, and very much in control of the game, with a secondary that was playing off the receiver to let the clock tick away knowing the Pats needed two possessions to win the game."

WR Doug Gabriel led the team's receiving corps pulling down 4 receptions over 57 yds and a TD. Doug Gabriel seems hungry, and if WR's Chad Jackson (2 for 9) and Reche Caldwell (2 for 20) can become consistent our financial savings will be a plus. As for the TE corps, Watson had 1 reception while Daniel Graham shined with a TD and 4 receptions over 30 yards.

"The defense played a tough game, and you have to expect the fact that they can't always make plays on days when the offense isn't putting the ball in the end zone. However, you can't let the defense entirely off the hook. This Pats defense can lay teams out, but they have some flaws, and that is giving up the big plays on third down week after week, not forcing as many turnovers (despite Saturday's refs), and not pressuring the QB again. I don't think Jake Plummer's back saw the grass once."

The defense set the tone early by holding the Bengals to two field goals, but the key to the defensive gain was getting pressure on QB Carson Palmer which was something noticed as the game progressed. The Pats DL was getting in on Palmer after the half, and when that begins to happen it signals a breakdown of your o-line and not before long the floodgates open and things like the fourth quarter happen where guys like DE Jarvis Green nails three sacks and forces a fumble that he also recovers while LB Tedy Bruschi and DE Ty Warren combine for sack causing a fumble which Warren recovers. There was also a sure six pick that was dropped by LB Rosie Colvin after hitting him in the numbers. The Pats D shut out the receiving corps and allowed only 71 yds on the ground.

"As for the weak link in this chain... Special teams! Two weeks in a row, the special teams allowed their opposition to block a crucial FG attempts. This is something that needs to be addressed."

Special teams also changed their ways somewhat providing the blocks that allowed RB Kevin Faulk to average 18.3 yds on punt returns including a 43 yarder. On kick returns Tully Banta Cain racked up a 16 yd gain while Faulk had 3 returns averaging 20.7 yds and a 22 yard return. K Stephen Gostowski missed a 48 yarder, that kept the game close until the defensive onslaught, but nailed a 24 yarder when it mattered.

So what about those Bengals? What do they have to say about the win?

Well DB Kevin Kaesviharn had nothing to say despite getting flagged after laying WR Reche Caldwell out with a vicious helmet to helmet hit, but I was wondering after seeing this guy on the sidelines without a helmet if Vulcans really do exist... Has anyone seen this guy's ears? Even his name sounds Vulcan!  Instead of shaking hands at the end of the game I was expecting him to hold his hand up and say, "Live long and prosper."

And too prove my point further...

QB Carson Palmer was vocal though...

"It's tough to say after a loss like this, but hopefully well be able to look back in a month or two and say we needed this," Palmer said. "I don't know if we were too cocky or too confident, but I know this is a team that we should've beat. Hopefully, well get another shot at them. I know if we play our best football, we can beat them."

He's right, but he's forgetting about the fact that this team only exploited what the Steelers did last week with their run defense, and if it doesn't get addressed Palmer will be in a lot of these woulda, coulda, shoulda games.

As for WR TJ Houshmandzadeh...

"They knew they couldn't stop us, but you need the team as a whole to succeed, there aren't any (defensive backs) on that team that can cover us. That's why they played the coverages they did. They did a good job of mixing it up."

He's also forgetting it's hard for QB to complete passes when he's spending too much time on his back or running from defenders. I'm sure the Pats game plan was to get in and test his mobility, and it may have worked because most of the time Palmer ran backwards to try and elude defenders. I didn't see him roll or sidestep which may also be a sign.

Next Week the Dolphins come to town, and the masses will be pumped before heading in to the bye week... And speaking of bye weeks that means my yearly bye week article is on it's way!