Shots Heard 'Round The Web - Patriots Links 11/04/08

So they lost. So what? The gains of this game far outweighed the losses because the Patriots last night showed us that they are getting better, which suddenly makes the second half of this season far more interesting than we might have guessed.  -- Tony Massarotti

TEAM SHOTS

In the Patriots' 18-15 loss to the Colts, New England's tight ends were let loose, while the Pats defense tried to keep Indy's talented tight end corralled.

LOCAL SHOTS

• Chris Gasper notes that the next three weeks will be against Division rivals.  The Bills and Jets at home, and in Miami against the Dolphins.
• Chris Gasper reports Matt Light is more frustrated with how the league deals with penalties and players, than with any calls or non-calls from Sunday night.
• Christopher Price offers his Ten Things We learned Sunday night.
• Mike Reiss gives us a look at the snaps played by offensive skill position players, a look at the positional groupings utilized by the Patriots, and a look at the snaps played by defensive players from Sunday night.
• Tony Massarotti says in the final analysis, as silly as it sounds, the Patriots need more games like this, not fewer.
• Gerry Callahan doesn't feel too bad after the loss, "The Patriots lost the game, but found a quarterback.  All in all, a good night, a good tradeoff, and a very good half a season."
• Bill Reynolds tells us to quit worrying about Matt Cassel.  He's already better than any of us had a right to expect.
• Mike McDermott focuses on the Patriots inability of anyone to come through with a big play.
• Robert Lee focuses on the Patriots problems in the Red Zone, both on offense and defense.
• John Tomase analyzes each snap the Patriots played in the Red Zone on Sunday.
• Michael Felger issues his Weekly Report Card.  Belichick and the receivers will need theirs signed by their mothers.
• Ron Borges issues his Weekly Report Card, putting Vrabel, Mayo and Faulk at the head of the class.
• Art Martone provides us with the transcript of Bill Belichick's Monday Press Conference.

LONG SHOTS

• Tim Graham (ESPN) looks at the three-way tie for first place in the AFC East.
• Don Banks (SI) says at the moment, the best quarterback in the AFC East is either New England's Matt Cassel or Miami's Chad Pennington.