TEAM SHOTS
- Injuries force backups to play more; Monday notes.
- Patriots Football Weekly will be blogging throughout the Patriots west coast road trip in California. Be sure to check out the blog and send us your comments and questions.
- Monday Conference Calls: Bill Belichick, Junior Seau, Wes Welker.
- WEEI Patriots Monday: Rosevelt Colvin, Bill Belichick.
LOCAL SHOTS
- Karen Guregian headlines Tedy Bruschi's likely done for season; says for the Defense, it's now a game of survival.
- Shalise Manza Young analyzes the injuries on defense and the play of the backups, and learns Junior Seau is 'at peace' with his return to the field.
- Chris Gasper notes Pats playoff chances hinge on other teams losing, even if Pats go 11-5. How crazy has this season been?
- Mark Farinella updates the playoff race, predicts it doesn't look good for Pats.
- Bill Reynolds says it's time to praise these Patriots and Belichick -- Hard times haven't gotten them down.
- Mike Reiss gives us the Tedy Bruschi impact, and looks at the snaps played by offensive skill-position players, positional groupings, and snaps played by Patriots defenders in Sunday's win over Seattle.
- Herald Staff notes Patriots' roster in world of hurt, lists players and their injuries.
- Globe Patriots Notebook: Tedy Bruschi is back in Massachusetts having his left knee examined; Wilfork's shoulder should be alright plus other injury updates; Vrabel was the glue holding defense together Sunday; Seau feeling okay after first game back; and more.
- Ron Borges notes Matt Cassel played both solidly and under control despite blitzes all around him, and issues his Weekly Report Card.
- Michael Felger issues his Weekly Report Card and feels the race for the Pats' mythical MVP award comes down to Matt Cassel, Kevin Faulk and Wes Welker. And right now, Welker is the leader in the clubhouse.
LONG SHOTS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) thinks AFC East likely will likely send only one to playoffs.
- K.C. Joyner, The Football Scientist (NY Times) offers up his No-Hype Review: Every Game Counts (Almost).
- Thomas George (ESPN) believes the numbers suggest Dolphins are favorites to win AFC East.
- Dennis Waszak (Yahoo! Sports) Jets struggling, but still control destiny.