Andre Carter checked in to the Mut & Merloni show yesterday to talk about his two sacks on Tony Romo and the Patriots defense.

"Numbers are one thing, but I just think in general just continue to be successful, especially in those situations that you witnessed yesterday," Carter said. "That was just another steppingstone as far as our development, as far as becoming a good defense. There was definitely that one particular series where they had that long drive, but besides everything else, we got ourselves a turnover and provided some field position. We held our ground and did our part. That in itself shows what our potential can be if we continue to play that way."

"The scheme, especially this 4-3 scheme, it is a little bit different. I’m still trying to find a way to understand it," he said. "But I think one thing, like any other defense, communication is always the key. Communication on where guys need to be at any given play or any given time. During the beginning of the season, it has been inconsistent. As a group, we’ve discussed, ‘OK, what do we need to do to get better. How do we continue to get better?’ It starts through practice. It starts through game study. So, we’ve talked about this. The coaches have always discussed each and every day what we need to do to, how we can be a good team, just to evolve, being the defense that you have seen, as you know, last night."

"There’s still little things that we can always clean up each and every week. Not every game’s going to be perfect. But overall, we can just kind of shake our heads and say this is a steppingstone."

Bill Belichick responds to a question about Brandon Spikes' performance.

I think Brandon has been improving a little bit every week - increased his practice reps and his playing time and all that. I think I said earlier this week that he really missed the entire preseason and he missed the Miami game, so his preseason is kind of coming to a close right now, I'd say, in terms of timing and practices and all of that. He's getting better and he made some plays for us on the next-to-last possession defensively. When they were trying to run the clock, he blitzed up the middle a couple times and was disruptive and we were able to get the runner for little or no gain. He showed up on a few plays.

Mary Paoletti notes Wes Welker was asked on the Dan Patrick Show if he is confident enough in the QB to bet a game check on a must-score march.

"My game check? Yeah, sure. I'm like the 40th highest paid receiver in the league," he laughed.

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino briefs us on PFW's Bye week coverage.
• Patriots Post Game Show with ESPN Boston's Adam Jones. Rob Gronkowski joins the program this week. (2 hour program)
• Tuesday Conference Calls: Bill Belichick (11.35 min. plus Transcript), Bill O'Brien (8.16 min. plus Transcript) and Nick Caserio (8.53 min. plus Transcript)
• Patriots Today - Breaking down a Brady comeback. (3.32 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Arrington's INT & the Bye week. (3.12 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Carter racks up two sacks. (2.26 min. video)
• WEEI Patriots Monday: Tom Brady (14.30 min.), Deion Branch (11.30 min.), Andre Carter (10.14 min.), Vince Wilfork (10.58 min.) and Bill Belichick (30.29 min.)

LOCAL LINKS

• Tom E. Curran has seen a solid performance from Andre Carter all year.
• Mike Reiss reports the Patriots staff is sticking behind Chad Ochocinco.
• Shalise Manza Young hears the Patriots are all in full public support of WR Chad Ochocinco, despite his seven measly snaps on Sunday.
• Tom E. Curran thinks the Patriots defense of Ocho is becoming absurd.
• Jackie MacMullen says it took a while, but Tom Brady solved Rob Ryan's defensive puzzle in the end.
• Mike Reiss shares some leftover thoughts from the Patriots 20-16 win over the Cowboys.
• Steven Krasner reports on how Aaron Hernandez made up for an earlier fumble with a game-winning TD catch.
• Chris Forsberg takes a closer look at Aaron Hernandez's 8-yard TD.
• Shalise Manza Young points out Albert Haynesworth had an impact in Sunday’s win over the Cowboys, even if the stat sheet didn't show it.
• Ian Rapoport notes Tom Brady & Co. saved their best for last Sunday.
• Ian Rapoport analyzes the Patriots final drive Sunday with a play-by-play breakdown.
• Tedy Bruschi looks at the Pats heading into their bye with a win thanks to a solid defensive performance.
• Mike Reiss takes a look at the snaps played by Patriots defenders and offers his analysis.
• Mike Reiss looks at the Patriots players who appeared on multiple special teams units Sunday.
• Christopher Price breaks down the Patriots penalties through six games.
• Chris Forsberg focuses on the Patriots' reserve/PUP list.
• Michael Felger, Ty Law and Troy Brown break down another fourth-quarter comeback engineered by Tom Brady. (1.58 min. video)
• Jeff Howe breaks down DeMarcus Ware's 62 snaps and how he wreaked havoc on the Patriots offense.
• Mike Reiss gives us Part 6 of his weekly series: Catching up with former Pats.
• Mike Reiss notes Bill Belichick's thoughts on post-game handshakes.
• WEEI highlights Boomer Esiason's guest appearance on the Dennis & Callahan show Monday morning.
• Jeff Howe issues his Week 6 Report Card. Wilfork, Defense to thank for Brady's last-minute magic.
• Ron Borges grades the Patriots in his Week Six Report Card. Defensive line improves.
  
• Chris Forsberg hands out his grades after the Week six win over the Cowboys.
• Shalise Manza Young Patriots Notebook: Albert Haynesworth being back at regular practice was encouraging to Bill Belichick, who acknowledged he had several good plays Sunday; Pats released two DBs to possibly clear the way for some players they have on PUP who are ready to return; Pats are unlikely to participate in any trades by the deadline; Tom Brady said the wrap he was wearing on the sideline on his throwing arm was "just a little precautionary; nothing to worry about."
• Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: For the first time since 2009, Chad Ochocinco recorded 0 catches in a game and participated in fewer than 10 plays; O'Brien blamed himself for the miscommunication on the one time Tom Brady targeted him; PUP players are now eligible to come off the list - Teams have 3 weeks to activate them and then 3 weeks of practice before they are called up; Matt Light continued to play after Brady fell on his right leg; Brandon Spikes thrived as a rusher on third downs and being disruptive to the QB.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Brian Baldinger (NFL.com) Drive of the Week: Brady at his best. (4.26 min. video)
• Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Handing out the Week 6 Sunday game balls. One tossed to Tom Brady.
• Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) Patriots stock report: Week six.
• Jeff Darlington (NFL.com) Surprise, surprise: Dallas strategy plays right into Brady's hands.
• Michael Silver (Yahoo! Sports) Garrett puts tight leash on Romo down stretch.
• Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) Cowboys show blueprint to slow Brady, but not to beat him.
• Clark Judge (CBS Sports) Week 6 Judgments: "Watch that last New England drive, and you'll understand why Tom Brady is the best in the business."
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) NFL Grades: Week 6. Pats earn B+