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New England Patriots Links 1/03/11 - Patriots Bulldoze Dolphins To Finish 14-2

By Marima

Bill Belichick addresses the media following the Patriots 38-7 victory over the Dolphins in the final game of the regular season.

Well, once again, I give our team a lot of credit. The players really did a good job here today. They've really been focused and I thought [they] played well today in all three phases of the game. We had big plays on offense, defense, special teams. We had some guys step up that hadn't played a lot and made some big plays for us. Overall it was a pretty solid effort. It's good to end the season on this note, but right now we're just like everybody else; everybody is 0-0 at this point in the playoffs, so it's time for us to get focused on the next target. But it's a nice way to end the season. I'm proud of the way the guys played today; they stepped up and played like the AFC [East] champions that they are.

Tom Brady is asked if he's going into the playoffs this year feeling differently about the running game than he did last year.

Sure. Look today, the weather was an anomaly out there. That's not usually the way it is in Foxborough in January. Our playoff games have always been cold, windy, snowy, tough conditions. So, you've got to be able to be a tough, physical football team and that always starts with the running game, both running the ball and stopping the run. And if you want to be a tough, physical team, you can control the tempo of the game rushing. At times we've really done that this year. That's been hugely important to our success. We haven't had to drop back 50 times a game and it takes a lot of pressure off the passing game when you can hand it off and gain yards on a consistent basis.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis was asked to explain his running style.

Whatever it takes.

TEAM TALK

LOCAL LINKS

  • Chris Gasper reports the Patriots closed out a remarkable, enjoyable, and unexpected regular season at 14-2 with a 38-7 demolition of the Miami Dolphins.
  • Ian Rapoport notes the Patriots plowed through another overmatched opponent, through one of the league's toughest schedules and out into the playoffs on a wave of momentum.
  • Mike Reiss gives his initial reaction to the Patriots 38-7 victory over the Dolphins.
  • Shalise Manza Young recaps Sunday's win over the Dolphins and sees the Patriots finishing on a high note and in complete control throughout.
  • Karen Guregian surveys the playoff picture: There’s the Patriots, then everybody else.
  • Mike Rodak talks about how the Patriots players plan on spending their second bye week of the season.
  • Mark Farinella reports on how the Patriots put the finishing touches on a best-in-the-NFL 14-2 season with a 38-7 win over Miami.
  • Dan Shaughnessy writes the Steamroller Patriots closed their 14-2 season with 8 straight wins, scoring at least 31 points each and compiling a 24-1 turnover differential.
  • Steven Krasner talks about how Brady's intensity shines through and drives the offense.
  • Kirk Minihane tells us why Tom Brady is three wins away from history.
  • Ron Borges writes about "The Back Nobody Wanted" BenJarvus Green-Ellis reaching his first 1,000-yard season with the relentlessness of a John Deere tractor.
  • Steven Krasner reports the Patriots made sure BenJarvus Green-Ellis got to 1,000 yards.
  • Tom E. Curran points out Green-Ellis' milestone was a full team accomplishment.
  • Steve Buckley focuses on Julian Edelman, noting yesterday was this receiver's time to shine.
  • Mike Petraglia reports Deion Branch showed Taylor Price the ropes and Price proved he paid attention.
  • Dan Ventura says the Dolphins can't blame their ex-special teams coach John Bonamego for this one: Julian Edelman's 94-yard punt return for a TD, the longest in Patriots history.
  • Dan Ventura highlights Rob Gronkowski's record day, catching six passes for a career-high 102 yards and a TD.
  • Mike Reiss reports Vince Wilfork says there's 'something different' about this Patriots team.
  • Dan Duggan reports Vince Wilfork drilled Chad Henne with a pair of third-quarter sacks.
  • Danny Picard notes Eric Moore has been nothing less than stellar for the Pats.
  • Mike Reiss lists some of the records and milestones reached by the Patriots this year.
  • Mark Farinella mans up and revisits his preseason Patriots preview. He also looks at how the questions surrounding this team in August have been answered.
  • Mike Reiss looks at the snaps played by offensive skill-position players in Sunday's win over the Dolphins. Rob Gronkowski played in all 75.
  • Christopher Price offers Ten Things we learned Sunday. These 2010 Patriots are carving out their own identity as they head into the playoffs.
  • Tom E. Curran offers his five thoughts from Patriots-Dolphins.
  • Chad Finn offers ten brief, possibly coherent, and overwhelmingly positive thoughts on the 14-2 Patriots.
  • Tom E. Curran and Mary Paoletti offer the best and worst of Patriots vs. Dolphins.
  • Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak give us their 3 up and 3 down for the Patriots.
  • Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: Brian Hoyer was given no warning when he was told by Bill Belichick to "go in" in the 2nd quarter; The team ended the regular season at 14-2 and with an armful of records and honors; Pats will play their first playoff game Jan. 16th at 4:30; Danny Woodhead declined to be interviewed but joked that he was "still breathing"; Myron Pryor left the game with an eye injury; Taylor Price saw his first action as a wide receiver (3 for 41).
  • Boston Globe Patriots Notebook: Danny Woodhead sustained a concussion in the 1st quarter yesterday and at least appeared all right in the locker room after the game; Rob Gronkowski captured the Pats rookie record for TD receptions by a TE and had his first 100-yard game; Tom Brady ended with a 111.0 QB rating, 5th best of all time; Devin McCourty finished the season with 7 picks, the 2nd most for a rookie; Great picture of Vince Wilfork flattening Chad Henne with one of his two sacks in the game; Rob NInkovich also picked up two sacks; Injury update.
  • Mike Reiss breaks down the Patriots schedule for the 2011 season.

NATIONAL NEWS

VIEW FROM MIAMI

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