Shots Heard 'Round The Web - Patriots Links 12/23/08

TEAM SHOTS

• Versatile Russ Hochstein and Matthew Slater played in all three phases of the game Sunday versus Arizona. Plus, a look at New England's playoff possibilities.
• Ask PFW - Patriots Football Weekly answers its weekly mailbag.
• Bill Belichick's Monday Press Conference.
• WEEI Patriots Monday - Matt Cassel, Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren, Bill Belichick.
  

LOCAL SHOTS

• Projo.com offers an interesting chart but it doesn't look good.  When the Patriots have  needed help to make playoffs, teams have historically not delivered.
• Chris Gasper notes the Patriots and fans must grit teeth and root for Jets Sunday.
• Shalise Manza Young lays it out there, Mangini, Jets could dictate Patriots' fate.
• Tony Massarotti writes for Pats, playoffs are spelled J-E-T-S.
• Michael Felger hands out A's in his Weekly Report Card, unless you're last name starts with Favre.
• Ron Borges was pretty generous with the A's in his Weekly Report Card as well.  Someone must have slipped something in his eggnog.
• Mike Petraglia offers his take on Pats-Cards and the playoffs.
• Mike Reiss reports Greg Gumbel & Dan Dierdorf will call Sunday's game; looks at snaps played by Patriot defenders, and positional groupings utilized; and notes fan who tackled Seau was arraigned.
• Globe Patriots Notebook: Pats beefed up running game, anticipating the weather; Players handled the ball well in icy conditions; Meriweather has 2 sacks and forced fumbles on both; Moss is tied with Anquan Boldin with 11 touchdown receptions for the NFL lead; Players practice today, will have Christmas off.
  

LONG SHOTS

• SI reports Crucial Jets-Dolphins game moved to 4:15pm Sunday.
• John Czarnecki (Fox Sports) Cardinals should be embarrassed.
• Don Banks (SI) offers his Week 16 Snap Judgments of Pats-Cards and the playoff scenario.