I spent the better part of my weekend in Foxboro, Massachusetts, or perhaps more accurately, several towns away in Sharon, Massachusetts. Rather than tailgating in the cold for four hours in preparation for watching a football game in the cold for four hours, I tailgated with a friend in an EconoLodge several miles from Gillette Stadium. It was great. Food, beers, 49ers-Saints on the television, music amplified from my much-discussed new iPod, and, most importantly, warmth. My old military ID provided a cut-rate, well, rate and a "Thank you for your service" that always makes me feel a bit awkward. We walked three miles to and then from the stadium. People say that's crazy. But paying $40 for parking and sitting in traffic for hours after the game is crazy. My most memorable experience at the Patriots-Broncos game was catching some of the last manic minutes of the 49ers-Saints game on the jumbotron. That said, as a Patriots follower, I've come to appreciate the art of the blowout. Whereas other fans get bored with the blowout, I stand in awe of the precise execution of New England's offensive juggernaut. Brady and company resemble a video game. I can't say the same for Mr. Tebow, who, at his most Tebowish, resembles less a video game quarterback than a pre-television-era leather-helmetted fullback. As much as I admire the guy, it would be a lie to say that I wasn't one of the 68,000 people chanting Teeee-bow, Teeee-bow. The quarterback looked hurt. But he shielded his pain better than I did. If you could have seen my face when I took a spill on the side of Route 1 on my trek back to the EconoLodge. I would say don't drink and walk. But really it was my preoccupation with safety that made things unsafe. Making sure to walk on the grassy shoulder protected from oncoming traffic by the metallic roadside barrier, I overlooked the dangers of nature admidst obsessing over the dangers of machines. Unlit, icy, and suddenly sloping, I took a header that left my head unscathed but impacted my shoulder like a Shaun Ellis sack might. My knee got the worst of it, damaged from the initial slip but not from the impact. Fear not friends, I will not be listed on the football fan injury report as "questionable" or "doubtful" for next week's games. I will be watching, if not from Foxboro than from my living room. It's safer there.

Now that's a smart way to attend a Patriots playoff game! The downside of attending a game is usually sitting in a cold parking lot, eating warm greasy food and drinking cold beer while thinking about sitting in a cold stadium eating expensive warm greasy food and drinking expensive cold beer. I like the path taken here. Call me old, comfortable and wimpy.

And I have to agree with your take of the blowout. I can never get enough of the Golden Tom and his awesome weaponry this season and with the reality of their porous defense, there can't be enough Patriot points on the board for me.

As I trolled in the previous post (mea culpa), no deer in the headlights look from Brady in this game. He was viciously focused. And that's the way we like him. And it appeared that the Defense was taking a page out of his playbook with regard to that. Albeit, they were playing the Broncos but I have not seen them play with such intensity all season.

It seemed like Brady got sick of hearing "Tebow Time" references and the 'D' got sick of hearing how much they sucked.

Onward and upward to the Giants re-match!

And take care of that knee, which shouldn't prevent another full report after next week's match.

If you want to win football games in the NATIONAL Football League, you have to score more points than the other team. If anyone tells you different, they don't understand the modern NFL.

As a 25 year season ticket holders, our group has amassed enough tailgating equipment to have made the Broncos tailgate a very comfortable experience. Tents, heaters, etc had the temp close to 50 degrees, and a HDTV with rabbit ears pulled the early game in quite well. We also sprint across Rt 1 at a time when we determine that the game is safely won, so I haven't had any trouble beating traffic. After 25 years, I guess it has come down to a game day science for me. You are welcome to join our group sometime. That Econolodge is a long (and dangerous) walk away.

In my humble opinion, sports "fans" who prefer a close game to a blowout, even when their team is playing, are not true fans. The greatest Cowboy game ever was the Super Bowl domination of the Bills, 52-17 (should've been 59-17, but Leon Lett started his end-zone celebration five yards too early). I would much rather see that, than a game won on a last-second field goal.

Hard to bet against the Pats now. The best matchup, I think, would be NE and SF. The Niners have a great D, especially their front seven.

Rich, I may take you up on your offer. I usually go to a Pats game a year, so I am a novice in comparison.

As much as I can appreciate the adventure of being there, my small pigskin party on Saturday featured hot food, cold beer, full bar, heat, lights, twenty foot walk to running water and flushing toilet and a 50" plasma HD TV with surround sound that provided ten different camera angles, instant replay and professional commentary.

Being there still would have been nice, but I don't feel as though I missed all that much.

F the Ravens - Go Pats!

asdf: Everyone says that, but there is NOTHING like being there.

Dan: Anytime.

I get it and agree to an extent. But, my necessary alternative is not hard for me to take.

Last time I went, it was a happening and was fun. But I've been offered tickets twice this season and have deferred twice.

I think this weekend we are in for another very exciting and entertaining contest, albeit not a blowout.

People keep going back to the last time these two teams met in the playoffs and the Patriots got blown out. But this ain't the N.E.P.s of 2009 or, for that matter, the same Ravens team either.

For those who will be there, should be a rocking time. For those of us camping in front of the tube, it will at least be entertaining.

I see our host tailgating in a heated tent with all of the comforts of home with limited injuries this time around.

Just remember: You've got to score points to win football games.

Yes, and in addition you have to protect the ball and play the full 60 minutes.