Patriots WR Wes Welker leveled by rough hit

Posted by Boston.com -- New England Patriots news November 30, 2008 at 11:58 pm New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker did not return Sunday after being leveled late in the third quarter by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark.

Patriots WR Wes Welker leveled by rough hit

Posted by Boston.com -- New England Patriots news November 30, 2008 at 11:58 pm New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker did not return Sunday after being leveled late in the third quarter by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark.

Pats In Bad Position

Posted by Mike Giardi November 30, 2008 at 11:49 pm

Remember that Eddie Murphy skit in “Delirious,” when his aunt falls down the stairs, calling out to Jesus periodically on her way down? That’s what happened at Gillette Stadium today to the Patriots, especially in the second half. They kept falling, and no one could help them, not even Jesus. Trust me on this too, I think the Pats were asking. Either that, or they were hoping the game films wouldn’t catch the latest screwup.

How many mistakes did you count? I’ll start with the defensive backfield. They can’t cover on dry days or wet ones. I mean, how many times can you give receivers big cushions on third down? How many times can you try to jam that receiver and just whiff? Deltha O’Neal got cut by Cincinnati. We all thought it was because the Bengals were too cheap to pay him and a couple other vets. Turns out, they made a rare, wise personnel decision. O’Neal is what you would get if you left the turkey in the over since Thanksgiving. An overcooked bird.

On offense, five turnovers. five sacks and a slew of drops makes you wonder where the offense we’ve seen the last few weeks went? Matt Cassel will shoulder a chunk of the blame, and he deserves it. For as good as he was at Miami, or in the second half against the Jets, Cassel was that scattershot Sunday. No doubt the weather got to him. Well Matty, this is what its like here in November, December and - if you’re lucky - January. A clunker like that just won’t do.

Still, Cassel’s got his team even at 10, inside the Pittsburgh’s 10-yard line and a wide open Randy Moss in the back of the end zone just before the end of the first half. Easy six, right? Wrong bucko. Moss tried to body the ball and brace for a hit that wasn’t coming. Or at least that’s how I deciphered his body language. The ball bounced off him and harmlessly hit the turf. Forced to get 3 instead of 6, the Pats watched Mr. Reliable, Steve Gostkowski, miss a chippee. Just plain awful, and a critical momentum turn.

From there, it got worse. Matthew Slater fumbling a kickoff return (Ellis Hobbs was on the sidelines throwing up. Seriously), James Harrison using Matt Light as a turnstile, more drops and a couple of Cassel picks. All in all, a bad day at the office for a team that - as I’ve made the case - has (had?) a legitimate chance to make a run in this convoluted AFC. But faced with another team that’s harboring the same dreams, the Pats stuttered, stumbled and eventually lost their legs. Or maybe the Steelers took them. It doesn’t matter now. What matters is that the Pats are 7-5 and in a very unfamiliar spot as we trudge into December.

Ups and downs

Posted by Reiss' Pieces November 30, 2008 at 10:07 pm A look at who's up and who's down from the Patriots' 33-10 loss to the Steelers at Gillette Stadium.

Video: Reaction roundup

Posted by Reiss' Pieces November 30, 2008 at 10:06 pm FOXBOROUGH -- Globe football writers provide insight and analysis following the Patriots' 33-10 loss to the Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Gasper recaps Pats vs. Steelers Reiss: Slater's miscue a microcosm of the night (More videos coming soon)...

Game notes

Posted by Reiss' Pieces November 30, 2008 at 10:06 pm Game notes from the Patriots' 33-10 loss to the Steelers, courtesy of the Patriots' media relations department (click 'full entry' for complete notes): FAULK MOVES INTO FOURTH ON PATRIOTS ALL-TIME RECEPTIONS LIST On a 9-yard reception in the third quarter,...

Patriots Postgame Quotes

Posted by New England Patriots News Feed November 30, 2008 at 10:00 pm New England Patriots players comment on their 33-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, November 30, 2008.

Patriots chatter

Posted by Reiss' Pieces November 30, 2008 at 9:59 pm Comments from Patriots players following the team's 33-10 loss to the Steelers.

Steelers Postgame Quotes

Posted by New England Patriots News Feed November 30, 2008 at 9:59 pm Pittsburgh Steelers players comment on their 33-10 win over the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, November 30, 2008.

Wet Blanket

Posted by ssilva November 30, 2008 at 9:58 pm

Steelers Walk All Over Door-Matt, Patriots

Pittsburgh 33, New England 10
Steeler Defense Does In Pats
Foxborough Is Turnover City on Sunday
Cassel Just 231 Yards Shy of Third Straight 400-Yard Game
Steeler Nation Just Leaving the Stadium Now
Moss Had a Terrible Case of the Gaffneys
Are You Ready for Some Hockey?

Randy Moss: "I didn't play good today. I'm not blaming it on the weather." (He didn't play well, either.)

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