Like everyone else, I HATE HATE HATE losing to the Patriots, and my stomach was in knots for the whole game (although this week I didn't cover my eyes when the FG team was on the field).
BUT....
1. If the most important thing is winning in the playoffs, then a loss yesterday means we can rest our starters for some or all of the Jets game and give the guys who are banged up an extra week to recuperate.
2. If we had won and needed Miami to win in NE next week, what would we do if the Patriots are winning by 17 at halftime? Pull the plug on the Jets game and get ready for the playoffs? What if the Patriots are up by 3 at halftime? You still KNOW that they're going to do what they almost always do...
3. Lots of criticism here about the plain vanilla game plan but it may have been smart not to put too much on tape for playoff teams to study. Don't forget that we may be back in Foxborough in a few weeks. The only wrinkle was the tackle-eligible play to Dawkins but the world has seen that one already.
Going in I felt that it was an ideal situation: nothing to lose and everything to gain, play your hearts out but keep focused on the long picture. As it turns out, we escaped the game without serious injuries (except maybe Morse) and if certain players needed to lay an egg it was as good a time as any.
On to Houston!!