... on calling Rosevelt Colvin "Rosie"?

I've watched several games, and I've recognized only Jeff Tripplette and Mike Carey.

Funny. They weren't particularly good last year, and those were the guys with experience. Now there are all these "rookies." Are we supposed to be happy or not?

Not a good finish. I need to see that replay again.

I wonder of the Patriots will beat the screen to death in the regular season? Seems to me that they're taking what they have with Randy Moss absent and the other receivers still ramping up. Maybe they're running the screens to make other teams to think they'll go short early in the season.

Or maybe they will go short. Maybe Moss isn't nearly ready to go, and the Patriots are preparing for an offense without him.

There were some nice running plays in there, especially the fourth down run by Morris and that right-side run by Maroney.

I'm calling it now.

Looks like the box score and play-by-play are there, but no stats or other stuff on the main page. (Using Safari on Mac OS 10.4)

Sure, they gave up a few plays. You can't hold them to 0 yards. But they look speedy compared to last year. They're hitting. And they're not allowing teams to "matriculate the ball down the field." And, most importantly, they're keeping points off the board. Great block and pursuit on the field goal.

I could get used to seeing this for 19 or 20 weeks.

Who?

Manning would never throw to that guy.

Maroney has 15 carries (58 yards) barely more than halfway through the second quarter on his first night on the field.

Brady is 7 of 9 for 60 yards and a touchdown. He doesn't look distracted by his supermodel girlfriend like the haters promised.

The Patriots have 11 first downs so far. Carolina has 2.

New England's two scoring drives: 18 plays, 9:43, and 10 plays, 5:15.

Dierdorf. What a maroon! "Good job by the Carolina defense." Of course the replay official turned a first down into a third down (correctly) and then flagged New England for holding (correctly - though that wouldn't be called on Indy), but Carolina's defense had pretty much nothing to do with it.

Patriots dominating entire first half. Patriots defense destroying Panthers offense. One lucky play and a couple holds (Wilfork, Gay) that Carolina got away with, and it's a 3-point game. Go figure.

Brady: 12 of 15, 94 yds, 1 TD
Delhomme: 8 of 12, 111 yds, TD

Maroney: 15 carries, 58 yards
Morris: 6 carries, 23 yards
Evans: 2 carries, 5 yards
Williams: 4 carries, 13 yards
Foster: 3 carries, 0 yards

Welker: 3 catches, 30 yards
Morris: 2 catchs, 23 yards
Watson: 3 carries, 20 yards
Colbert: 1 catch, 48 yards (TD)
King: 3 catches, 25 yards

Harrison, Adalius Thomas, Eugene Wilson: 2 solo tackles each.
According to NFL.com's stats, all tackles by the Patriots defense have been solo tackles.

Patriots: 13 first downs
Panthers: 4 first downs

Patriots: 85 yards rushing, 94 passing, 179 total
Panthers: 13 yards rushing, 111 passing, 124 total

Take away that 48-yard touchdown, and Delhomme has 63 yards, and the Panthers have 76 total. But you can't take it away, can you?

But the Patriots don't get those calls. If that was a Colts receiver, there would be flags everywhere.

Despite that wounded duck. But that should have been pass interference anyway. Besides that bad throw, Brady was right on the money on a few different types of passes. The receivers are running good routes for a preseason game. Carolina's defense can't be that out of sync, can they?

The stripes got both "questionable" calls right. And Dierdorf was right too. (Kind of spooky.)

Gay had position both times, and he was playing the ball both times. The first time, Smith push him down: Clearly pass interferences. The second time, Gay probably would have intercepted, but he had several steps on Smith and had to slow down. Smith just ran into him.

Let's hope the refs call them that way during the season.

Delhomme got in a few passes, but that's fine. The D gave up just 6 first downs, only one rushing, just 29 total rushing yards. And two blocked field goals. New England is getting a great push off the snap, and that bodes well.

Fans have to be happy with tonight's performance.

But it's just preseason. Don't get too excited.

Cassel still looks uncomfortable, but he performed well, and prevented a big mistake on that muffed snap at the goal line. Heath Evans is putting in an impressive performance, fighting for his job and probably earning it.

Carr didn't look like he knew what was happening out there. Patriots 1st string D has been ruthlessly efficient all preseason. Can they be even better with Asante Samuel, or will he upset the balance? Or is he really worried about not being part of this, especially since the rest of the defense excelling makes his job easier and can make him look even more valuable? Or is it just preseason, and we're looking too deep too soon?

Our team is looking fine, boys and girls. But let's not lose ourselves. It's still one game at a time. It's a long season, and fortunes can change quickly. Stay health, stay focused.

Have a good night. The Patriots did.