Hockey.

For the love of God, hockey.

No disrespect to the Celtics, Patriots, or the marketing machine over on Yawkey Way, but was there any better way to wake up to an early-morning Sunday snowfall than with the news that the NHL lockout is mercifully over?

Hockey is back, and let’s not forget, the Bruins are the last team to have had a banner-raising ceremony, Kings be damned.

It’s likely to be a 48-game schedule, which, at this point, is the best thing imaginable. It will be a sprint, not a marathon, but whatever. Did we really complain about such matters in 1995? Wouldn’t we have salivated of the thought in 2004-05?

Why did it take this long?

Why?

As excited as we may be to have the game back, there should be repercussions. The NHL and the NHLPA spat on your passion for the better part of three months, a fandom they’ll surely expect to regain with some ridiculous “Thank You Fans” message etched into center ice. Not enough, Gary. Not enough, Don.

And it’s certainly not enough, JJ.

Greed may be good, but in this case, let’s give greed a message.

The thought of a boycott is foolhardy at best. The love of the professional game is a hierarchy for sure. Otherwise, how many college games have you attended the last three months? Let’s stop with that well-intentioned pretension. We all love hockey, but at the NHL level, it a competitive and historical story line that other leagues can not match.

We’re going to watch. We’re going to go.

So, send your message by hitting ol’ Mr. Burns where it really hurts; the concession stands.

Go to the games. Go early. Visit the Harp, Boston Beer Works, the Sports Grille, and any other business in the North Station area that has been hurting since the lockout began. Tip your bartenders. Tip them nicely. Then, go to the game.

And don’t spend one dime on any of Jeremy Jacobs’ draft swill, Dippin’ Dots , or hot dogs.

Yes, the players are at fault here too, but nowhere near the realm of the inept owners. The NHL is a league far too big for its britches, with franchises in cities better suited for indoor lacrosse than what hockey delivers. (That’s not necessarily a dig on indoor lacrosse. I’m sure it would do much better in Columbus as a matter of fact.) But aside from booing, how do you send that message? And are the likes of Shawn Thornton really worthy of such a target?

Nope. It may be minor, but the only way to deliver the smug, greedy Bruins owner your thoughts is to not buy his precious popcorn. After all, the guy owns the team just so he can make money on fast food. We can agree on that, right?

You have a right to be angry. You have a right to be frustrated, You have a right to express your opinion about what the NHL put you through. But we’re not the happiest people today, nor are the players. It’s that waiter or waitress who depends on the gate for his or her paycheck. The parking lot attendant. The cab drivers. The chefs, ushers, and box office personnel.

I can’t wait to watch hockey again, but to be honest, I’m most excited for those people.

Hockey. Finally.

Luongo sucks.

Remember when wild card Saturday used to start just after noon, and you’d roll right from bed to the TV in the living room?

Of course, things change with time. 1: If I’m rolling out of bed anywhere near noon these days, I had better have caught the plague of 1476, or there will probably be words waiting for me before I even descend the stairs. 2: The NFL caught onto this thing called “ratings” apparently, and understood that later starts likely meant a bigger audience since those west coast slackers wouldn’t have to roll out of bed at the wee hour of 9:30 a.m. David Stern was involved somehow. I am sure of it.

And thus, we now have to wait four more hours to see if the Houston Texans are coming to Foxborough next Sunday for the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. Not many prognosticators think they are. I would say that they are, but I’m 100 percent wrong about that whole “they’ll bounce back in the playoffs” thing 100 percent of the time it seems, and the Texans have looked like a Christmas tree discarded at the side of the road in January – a forgotten shell of beauty – since getting whooped by the Patriots last month.

So, they’re out and the Bengals play the Broncos then, is that what we’re agreeing on? Because I still kind of like the Texans. Ah, heck: Texans 28, Bengals 14. Texans-Patriots next week.

Then again, I’ve been saying all week that Baltimore was the team coming in, and that, frankly, the Ravens scare me the most of the remaining four possibilities. Remember, they were a Cundiff away from facing the Giants in the Super Bowl last season, a Lee Evans special from keeping the Patriots home from Indianapolis. The Colts are a nice story, and you know Jim Nantz has his boxers twisted in all kinds of anticipation of calling a Colts-Broncos matchup, with Peyton on the other side. Heck, MY boxers are a little twisted by the thought of it. Manning-Colts, followed by Manning-Brady in the AFC title game? Ah, heck again: Colts 17, Ravens 10.

In the NFC, it's all about Adrian Peterson. But, remember this?

Packers 20, Vikings 7.

Meanwhile, everybody’s all jacked on Seattle and Washington, where a rookie quarterback is going to win a playoff game by default. On the one hand, I’d like to see Robert Griffin III continue his success this season, but on the other … Dan Snyder. Besides, don’t Patriot fans really want to root for Pete Carroll this time around?

Oh, Richard Sherman. Right.

Let’s call it, Seahawks 16, Redskins 10. Back to the '90s with San Francisco-Green Bay going at it, while the Seahawks go and do what every visitor does in Atlanta in January.

Win.

After a season that exhibited few missed opportunities for the 12-4 playoff-bound Patriots, it’s hard to nitpick, but the fact that New England may find itself having to travel to Denver for the AFC Championship game in two weeks truly comes down to one, split-second gaffe.

Yup, that’s Stephen Gostkowski watching his potential game-winning field goal against the Cardinals sail left in the 2012 home opener at Gillette Stadium as Arizona escaped with a 20-18 win, the most inexcusable defeat of the Patriots' season. Baltimore is in the playoffs. Seattle is in the playoffs. San Francisco is in the playoffs.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, finished 5-11 and are in the hunt for a new head coach after sacking Ken Whisenhunt on Monday.

Bad loss. Awful loss.

It sort of went under the radar a bit that Gostkowski finished the 2012 season only two points behind Gino Cappelletti's franchise record of 155. In the minds of most, that would be considered a successful season for a kicker. But even putting the Arizona game aside for a moment, it was for sure an uneven year for the seven-year veteran. While few would point to the kicker as a major factor in determining just how far this team can go in the playoffs, for a franchise that polishes a pair of Lombardis in no small part thanks to the feats of Adam Vinatieri, the question as to how much you can trust the incumbent has to be of some concern, no?

Maybe there won’t be another fourth and 13 Super Bowl XLII moment in order to debate the faith that Bill Belichick has in Gostkowski, but for all the numbers he amassed in 2012, it was his lowest field goal success percentage (82.9) in a complete season since his rookie year (76.9 - Gostkowski missed eight games in 2010 due to injury and was just 10 of 13 that season). The 35 attempts were the most he’s had since the 2008 season, but the six he missed tied a career-high. And that playoff clutch kick has yet to transpire, as Pats fans hold their collective breath in the simple hopes that Gostkowski doesn’t Cundiff the kick at the most critical of times.

Gostkowski led the league in scoring, but his 29 field goals only had him tied for eighth among kickers. His 66 extra points were eight more than New Orleans’ Garret Hartley for the crown. Meanwhile, his New England teammates had a record 444 first downs this season. To put that into some perspective, the well-oiled, 18-1 team had 393 in 2007. It begs the question, is Gostkowski simply a beneficiary of his offense, or is he really, truly someone that can you count on in a clutch situation? All kickers are to great degrees, of course, but you knew you could count on that last guy. Gostkowski?

After his brutal late-season stretch when he missed three of seven attempts, the kicker seemed to have gotten back on some sort of track, making his last five against San Francisco and Jacksonville. Gostkowski didn’t have an attempt in the season finale against the Dolphins, due more to the swirling wind that invaded Gillette Stadium than anything else.

But his first miss of the season is the reason why the Patriots are not the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Let’s hope that’s as negative a thing as you can say about him in a few weeks from now.

This was the fifth year in the past decade in which Boston didn’t claim a championship.

Bummer.

It began with heartbreak in Indianapolis, where the Patriots choked away their second-straight Super Bowl. It didn’t get any better for the Bruins in April, when the defending Stanley Cup champs lost in seven games to the Washington Capitals in their first-round playoff matchup. A few weeks later, the Celtics gagged against LeBron James and the Heat, who went on to win the NBA title. Meanwhile, the Bobby Valentine experiment tossed one of Major League Baseball’s most storied franchises into new levels of embarrassment.

By all accounts, it was not a banner year for Boston sports.

The Cannons lost their only playoff game. The Revolution stunk.

Mike Napoli came and went. We think.

Maybe.

They cheered in Manhattan, San Francisco, Miami, and… at some point, Los Angeles. In Boston, there was little but angst and disappointment. The Celtics are an enigma, the Red Sox are in total disarray, and the Bruins are mixed in a web of greed that could ultimately ruin the NHL.

But yet, on the 10-year anniversary of the run that changed everything in this town, there are the constants, the New England Patriots, gunning for their fourth title in franchise history. They are a win and a pair of losses from being the top seed in the AFC, a prospect that seemed all but foolish after losing to the San Francisco 49ers.

It’s not going to happen though. Despite the emotional return of head coach Chuck Pagano, the Colts have little to play for, locked into their seeding. And can Kansas City really knock off the Denver Broncos?

Yes.

Call it a hunch, but the Pats will get the No. 2 seed thanks to a shocking upset on Sunday. Two thousand and twelve ends on a high note so missing these past 12 months.

Bobby V came and went. Gisele got into it with a fan. Benoit Pouliot was Benoit Pouliot. Tim Thomas went off the deep end. We bid adieu to Kevin Youkilis and Ray Allen, and we said hello to Mike Napoli. Maybe.

We think.

No, it wasn’t the best year for Boston sports. But it was a great year all the same.

With tragedy comes a perspective we tend to lack all too often, and nothing could remind us of that fact more than what transpired nearly two weeks ago in Connecticut. Brady’s bad pass (or Welker’s drop, your call) means nothing. The Heat winning a title is really no big deal. And even Valentine, for all his buffoonery, was at the very least, entertaining.

We still have it good here. Even in the down years.

The coming weeks could bring a Super Bowl run, a revived Celtics squad, an NHL lockout resolution, and maybe, possibly, even Mike Napoli to Fort Myers.

Maybe.

Wait ‘til next year. Good things are on the horizon.

We think.

Hey, the Patriots and Jaguars play this weekend…..

….

That’s about all the analysis I can muster for this one-sider, so instead, here’s this guy wishing you well into the holiday season with his unique version of “Hallelujah.”

This week’s picks:

Globe staff: Yawn.

Peter King, Sports Illustrated: Patriots 40, Jaguars 12. “Next.”

ESPN.com: Guess.

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Patriots 54, Jaguars 17. “So far, the reunion tour of former Dolphins QB Chad Henne through the AFC East produced three bad losses. Now Henne faces the division's best team. After last week's disappointing home loss to the 49ers, the Patriots will take out their frustrations on the Jaguars.”

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports.com: Patriots 38, Jaguars 13. “This will be ugly. The Patriots have to be angry after losing at home to the 49ers. And the Jaguars aren't good on defense. Tom Brady will do what he wants when he wants. This will be repulsive for the Jaguars.”

CBS Sports.com staff: Mike Freeman picks the Jags with the Pats getting 14 ½ points. Otherwise, business as usual.

Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com: Patriots 41, Jaguars 14. “Five years ago, these two teams squared off in the playoffs. The closest the Jaguars ever get to returning comes from periodically losing to New England.”

Michael David Smith, ProFootballTalk.com: Patriots 38, Jaguars 3. “The Patriots can’t be feeling good about themselves after Sunday night’s loss to the 49ers. They’ll take it out on the Jaguars in the day’s biggest blowout.”

USA Today staff: Ho-hum.

Yahoo! sports staff: Yup.

Peter Schrager, Foxsports.com: Patriots 38, Jaguars 14. “The last time the Patriots won a Super Bowl, it was played in Jacksonville. The last time the Jaguars played in the postseason, they fell to the Patriots in the Divisional Round. The last time I picked the Jaguars to win a game was forever ago. They’re not winning this one. The question, of course, isn’t whether Tom Brady will get the best of fellow Michigan alum Chad Henne — it’s by how much?”

It says here: Patriots 31, Jaguars 7. You should really check out his version of “The Final Countdown.”

Has anyone seen Mike Napoli?

Ever since signing a three-year, $39 million deal with the Red Sox earlier this month, the former Texas Rangers slugger has gone all Craig Grebeck, vanishing with little explanation or insight from the club. Do the Red Sox have a first baseman or not?

Napoli, who has had hip issues, is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, yet wrangled $13 million per out of Ben Cherington, only to have some red marks discovered during his physical with the team. Maybe. We think.

The thought is the Red Sox are now negotiating with Napoli on a contract with reduced years. Possibly.

Nobody’s talking.

Cherington declined to address the situation at last week’s press conference to introduce Shane Victorino. Napoli does not have any reference to his new team on his Twitter account, unless the following is some sort of brilliant code.

A

— Mike Napoli (@MikeNapoli25) December 15, 2012

Hmm.

“I understand the question,” Cherington said at last week’s press conference. “It’s a situation where we’re working through some things in regard to the player. Until every aspect of agreement is resolved, we’re not in position to comment publicly or announce anything. We’re still working through some issues. That’s all I can say at this point.”

That’s all that has been said to this point.

Aside from Koji Uehara, of all the moves Cherington has made this offseason, the Napoli one was probably the most applauded by Red Sox fans. Yes, they overpaid, but Napoli’s $13 million doesn’t look so bad when you consider Stephen Drew’s $9.5 million, and his swing seems perfectly suited to do damage at Fenway Park.

But, what a mess.

The fact that the Red Sox haven’t walked away from the deal is probably encouraging, and look, give them credit for doing the due diligence rather than get burned on more dead money wrapped up in an injured player. But what exactly is the holdup? If Napoli doesn’t want to take two years instead of three, isn’t the deal ostensibly dead? Or is Napoli insisting on a second medical opinion? Or is this all just one more jumbled chapter for the vaunted Red Sox medical staff?

Or are the Red Sox waiting for a visit from Nick Swisher before making certain they’re tied into Napoli?

If the deal falls through, it’s bad news for Napoli, obviously surrendering $39 million, but he’ll also have to deal with every other team on the market using his medical records against him in negotiations. Plus, he’s been in agreement with Boston for two weeks now. How many other teams have already spent to their limit or signed another first baseman/catcher/DH type? Napoli’s once-decent free agent market could suddenly filter into non-existent.

For that reason, the Sox probably know that they have the slugger backed into a corner. In the end, the two years may be the best he can do, considering the situation. Maybe the team will add a third, performance-based year to the contract, which doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility.

Maybe Mike Napoli will go on the disabled list on May 15 and the Sox will kick themselves for not moving in another direction.

Maybe, but who knows? In this case, that would be nobody.

If you’re playing Mega Millions next week, might we suggest the following numbers?

31-24-19-16-14.

Those are the scores the once-maligned Patriots defense has allowed to its last five opponents: Buffalo, Indianapolis, the New York Jets, Miami, and Houston, respectively.

The Mega Ball Number will come from Sunday’s 49ers tilt at Gillette Stadium. My lucky number is seven, but I’m also a realist.

This week’s picks

Vic Tafur, San Francisco Chronicle: 49ers. “I am not a hard guy to read. I like steak. I like beer. I like vigilante movies. And I like great defenses getting more than a field goal anywhere.”

Globe staff: Three out of five pick the 49ers (Patriots by 5 1/2).

Sam Farmer, Tribune Newspapers: Patriots 24, 49ers 21. “Niners look as complete as any of league's elite teams, but it's hard to bet against Tom Brady at home in December.”

Peter King, Sports Illustrated: Patriots 23, 49ers 20. “The 49ers are one of the only teams right now that can give the Patriots a good game. Justin Smith has to have his impact game of the year, and get to Tom Brady earlier than J.J. Watt did Monday night. The key to beating Brady is to make him throw before he wants to -- and that entails covering intermediate receivers much, much better than the Texans did last week. I like the Niners to be more competitive, but in this one, I think the New England running game keeps San Francisco honest enough so Brady won't be under attack so much.”

ESPN.com staff: 10 out of 11 pick the Patriots.

Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: 49ers 33, Patriots 30. “Forget the strategy of trying to run often with Frank Gore to play keep-away from Brady. The 49ers need to come out firing with Colin Kaepernick, as his big-play ability as a passer and runner is why they picked him to start over Alex Smith. Former Patriot Randy Moss and Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham will stretch the field. The Niners’ tight ends also are tough covers for New England. Expect rookie running back LaMichael James to get some snaps to cause matchup issues. Brady is the closest thing we have in the NFL to his idol, 49ers legend Joe Montana, but the current Niners makeup makes the difference here.”

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports.com: Patriots 27, 49ers 17. “This is the classic game matching the best offenses vs. the best defense. They say defense always wins. Not here. Tom Brady will make plays down the field against the 49ers. Can Colin Kaepernick keep up? Not likely. Patriots stake their claim as the NFL's best.”

CBS Sports.com staff: Seven out of eight pick the Patriots.

Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com: Patriots 34, 49ers 24. “Another prime-time home game against a playoff-caliber team, another big win for a Patriots team that is poised to make another assault on a championship.”

Michael David Smith, ProFootballTalk.com: Patriots 31, 49ers 17. “In a potential Super Bowl preview on Sunday night, I think the Patriots will show they’re playing at another level from the rest of the league. Tom Brady will have a big game against a good 49ers defense, and Bill Belichick will have something up his sleeve for 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.”

USA Today staff: Seven out of eight pick the Patriots, two as the “Lock of the Week.”

Yahoo! sports staff: Two out of three pick the Pats.

Peter Schrager, Foxsports.com: Patriots 27, 49ers 17. “The Patriots are sizzling. What they did to Houston on Monday night was all I needed to see. This is the best team in the AFC, and I may go as far as suggesting they’re better than the 2007 team. Hell, they’re four points away from potentially being undefeated right now. San Francisco will bring a little more to the table than Houston did in Week 14, but I’m not picking against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick on a Sunday night in New England after Week 4. Ever.”

It says here: Patriots 28, 49ers 24. Of course, 41-14 isn’t out of the question either.

I may be wrong – and I often am – but I just don’t see Kevin Youkilis’ legacy in Boston taking a hit now that he is…it’s OK to say it…a Yankee.

This isn’t Johnny Damon we’re talking about here. To everybody’s knowledge, the Red Sox didn’t offer Youkilis a contract this offseason. I doubt we’ll have to endure a media blitz of Youkilis shaving his facial hair for the clean-cut Bombers. There’s no way the former Red Sox infielder will feign importance, proudly announcing he knew what it “felt like to be a Yankee” a month short of his first spring training with the club.

Remarkably, Youkilis, who reportedly signed a one-year, $12 million deal with New York Tuesday in order to babysit third base for the injured Alex Rodriguez, becomes the seventh player from the 2004 Red Sox to don pinstripes (Damon, Mike Myers, Mark Bellhorn, Doug Mientkiewicz, Alan Embree and Derek Lowe). None paraded themselves in the faces of Red Sox fans like Damon did in the offseason following the 2005 season. I still find it odd that Red Sox fans are chided by certain facets of the media for greeting him with thunderous jeers upon his return here the following season, blissfully unaware that Damon spat on his Boston heritage long before his former fans turned on him.

Damon’s departure also came at a time when the Red Sox were still World Series contenders. The Youkilis trade last summer came in the midst of a disastrous season led by a bumbling fool who didn’t get along with the popular player. Will Middlebrooks is the future at third, there’s no doubting that, but it’s interesting to note that the Red Sox still don’t have a first baseman, after the Mike Napoli situation seems to have hit a snag. Had things ended better here last season, could there have been a chance Youkilis might have made a return?

Sure, his skills have diminished, and he’s another injury waiting to happen, but he’s also a guy who had an .833 OPS just two seasons ago, 18th-best in the American League. The Sox just tossed contracts for a combined $78 million at Napoli and Shane Victorino, two players coming off a couple of the worst seasons of their careers. It might be easy for the Red Sox to move on, but if the primary reason for not showing a regained interest in the player was that he was an aging risk, maybe they ought to look in the mirror and ask themselves why exactly there hasn’t been a Napoli press conference yet.

And so, Youkilis is now a Yankee. That’s OK with some around these parts. It’s not so OK with some others around these parts.

But this is different. Youkilis was one of the most popular players in Boston over the last decade despite what some would have described as a cantankerous approach at the plate. Wade Boggs jumped ship to the Bronx, and it was almost relief for Red Sox fans to finally have the chance to boo the man. Of course, Boggs signed with the Yankees following the 1992 season, the last time Boston finished in last place before 2012. Youkilis went by way of Chicago after having his manager call him out publically. Remember Sox fans, your team turned on Youkilis before he turned on you.

There has to be a significant portion of Youkilis that is thirsting to stick it to his former team. Heck, remember his 5-12 return here last July with the White Sox, the series the Red Sox shamelessly promoted as his return in a pathetic ticket push? Youkilis now gets a shot at another division title with New York, while the Red Sox flounder this offseason, still not signing the pitcher they desperately need, still, officially, without a first baseman.

It’s not his fault he’s not still here.

The Yankees don’t visit Fenway until July next season, and maybe Rodriguez will be back at that point. Perhaps Red Sox fans will get limited opportunity to greet Youkilis, whether it be with boos or “Yooooouks.”

And maybe, just maybe, he might still be here had the Red Sox approached last season’s managerial search with any semblance of competency.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Whoa.

As convincing a win as the New England Patriots’ 42-14 beatdown of the Houston Texans was Monday night, it’s a wee bit necessary to pump the brakes a bit. Clearly, the Texans are not the caliber of a team everyone assumed them to be heading into the AFC showdown, and clearly, no titles are decided in December.

Yes, yes, Tom Brady was magnificent. Vince Wilfork was a dominant beast. And Brandon Lloyd catching a touchdown pass down the middle? A cats and dogs living together moment.

But in the end, what did it all prove? The win put New England one step closer to sealing one of the two AFC playoff byes. It put them in better position to seal home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. It convinced a national TV audience that the Patriots remain the class of the NFL.

So…I suppose there’s all that.

Still, you knew the moment we discovered about those silly varsity jackets the Texans toted to Foxborough it was all over. Give the Patriots any semblance of a reason to feel they’re being disrespected and they’re going to utilize it to their advantage. The Texans looked like the big men on a high school campus - realizing they’re not all that in their first month of college.

What an embarrassment. A complete and utter embarrassment.

Until last night, the worst stain Houston had on the NFL was its disastrous attempt at hosting a Super Bowl. What was supposed to be a litmus test for New England turned into one of the most confounding collapses of the NFL season. I’m pretty sure that even Mark Sanchez was shaking his head at Matt Schaub’s performance last night, and he, as we can’t stress enough times, is a quarterback that ran into his offensive lineman’s backside.

So, what are the Texans? Are they the clichéd paper tigers of the NFL? Not to break it down with ultimate simplicity, but: Yup.

Still, at 11-2, the Texans remain in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed, and they’ve had quality wins over Denver, Baltimore, and Chicago, so perhaps it’s foolish to discount them. Maybe, just maybe, the Patriots are that good. New England was the beneficiary of a few calls last night, sure, most notably the phantom pass interference against Wes Welker (Memo: Pay the man now, Bob), and let’s not discount the fact that they put up 42 points on one of the statistically better defenses in the NFL – without either Rob Gronkowski or Julian Edelman.

Since hitting rock bottom against the Buffalo Bills in November, the Patriots’ defense has gone on to allow 24, 19, 16, and 14 points respectively. That’s what some might call a pattern. Yet the biggest test of all lingers Sunday night when the San Francisco 49ers arrive for the most anticipated game of the year. If the Patriots can offensively do to that defense even a sniff of what they accomplished Monday night, everybody else is on notice.

But, sorry. As dominant as the Pats were last night, it was clearly men against boys. Veterans vs. lettermen. Contenders vs. pretenders. The Hub of the universe vs…..well, Houston.

It was easy to reminisce Monday night about when Shannon Sharpe called the president to send in the National Guard because his Broncos were “killing the Patriots” in 1996. If I recall correctly, that Denver team didn’t go to New Orleans while the Patriots did. Confidence can breed complacency, so let’s not assume an impressive performance as we’re just coming off decides anything.

Then again, Bill Belichick isn’t exactly Mike Shanahan. As much praise as the coach gets for the 2008 Brady-less season, we’re coming to a point here where we could argue that this is Belichick’s best coaching job of his career. Maybe it’s easy with the offensive weapons at his disposal, but make no mistake, this New England defense, as porous as a wet napkin for the bulk of the season, has improved dramatically since Belichick took a more participatory role in coaching that side of the ball.

As for Brady, any MVP voter who watched that game last night and doesn’t vote for the Patriots quarterback is a dope. Maybe Gronkowski returns in time for San Francisco. Maybe the Patriots run the table. Maybe they host a pair of playoff games. Maybe they end up in New Orleans on Feb. 3. Maybe they raise Lombardi for a fourth time.

Ah, hell. Get the duck boats ready.

If this season is like your favorite TV show, these next two weeks are like ratings sweep shows. It’s when KITT met Goliath, or Sideshow Bob made his annual appearance. You love the show, even with all its inadequacies, but this, this is the business.

Pats-Texans.

Pats-49ers.

Ratings gold.

I’m a little surprised about how many, ahem, “experts” are tossing their weight toward the Patriots tonight. That’s not an argument, but it does come with a tinge of anxiousness. Dan Shaughnessy completely dismisses the Texans. I do not.

Nor should you.

This week’s picks:

Peter King, Sports Illustrated: Patriots 27, Texans 23. “Half of the Homestand From Hell (Niners travel to Foxboro next week). You wondered a couple of weeks ago why I had the Patriots winning the second seed in the AFC, behind Houston. This is why. Baltimore's offense continues to run at 35 mph while the Patriots have a Maserati, and playing at home is going to help them against the best the NFL has to offer the next two weeks. In this one, I say Aqib Talib on Houston's downfield weapons -- including Andre Johnson -- makes the risky trade for him seem very worthwhile.”

ESPN.com staff: Eight out of 12 pick the Pats.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports.com: Patriots 31, Texans 24. “This is a game to show the elite team in the AFC. The Texans have had all kinds of problems against good passing teams. I think they do again against Tom Brady. Look for the Patriots to stake their claim as the AFC's best as Brady has a huge game.”

CBS Sports.com staff: Six out of eight pick the Patriots.

Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com: Patriots 34, Texans 24. “The Pats make their move toward the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff field. It’s a great game on paper, but it’s got the potential to be a snooze-fest.”

Michael David Smith, ProFootballTalk.com: Patriots 28, Texans 14. “Now this is a great Monday Night Football game. If the Texans win, the race for home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs is pretty much over. But I think the Patriots are a better football team right now, and they’re going to take this one and make a big statement that they’re the favorites to get to the Super Bowl out of the AFC, even if they have to win a rematch in Houston in January to get there.”

USA Today staff: Seven out of eight pick the Pats.

Yahoo! sports staff: Two of three go with New England.

Peter Schrager, Foxsports.com: Patriots 27, Texans 20. “The Patriots didn’t put up 49 or 59 points like they did the previous two weeks, but they won in convincing fashion over the Dolphins last weekend. They haven’t been truly tested in a football game since the Buffalo game four weeks ago. Houston will give them everything they’ve got, but with this game being played in New England, I’m going with Brady and the Patriots. Not by much, but by enough to get the “Not so fast” message through to Wade Phillips’ Bulls on Parade.”

It says here: Patriots 35, Texans 17. Next up, top seed. (OK, we dismissed them.)

A bridge to a sale?

The heads of state at Fenway Sports Group have vociferously denied any percolating rumors that they are looking to unload the Red Sox, but here are the particulars:

- The team cleared more than $250 million from its payroll last August when it sent Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto to the Los Angeles Dodgers, nor do the Red Sox do not have a player on the books after the 2015 season, making the club’s roster an attractive salary purchase.

- Fox Business reporter Charlie Gasparino has not backed down from his report last September that John Henry was investigating a sale of the club.

- John Henry’s asset management firm is shutting down at the end of this month. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company managed more than $2.5 billion in 2006, a figure that is now down to around $100 million.

- The team just spent $120 million on short-term contracts that can either be seen as a step to rebuilding, or part of the process that assures any potential buyers that they won’t be saddled with long-term payouts.

- The Henry group bought the Red Sox in 2002 for $380 million. Forbes Magazine valued the team at around $1 billion last year, and, of course, the Dodgers sold for $2 billion earlier this year.

- Soccer.

Is it really any wonder why this story won’t go away?

The Red Sox can’t win in this regard: While the high-priced, short-term contracts being dished out to players like Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino this offseason signal a short-term solution in a long-term plan, the perception that they are also contracts to facilitate an easier takeover can also be questioned. There’s no longer a Crawford or Gonzalez to scare off any potential buyers, and that trade was made by the ownership group, not Ben Cherington, as they so proudly boasted.

When a franchise goes for a cool $2 billion and current ownership is either hemorrhaging cash, or has their fingers in too many cookie jars overseas, on the pavement, and LeBron, why shouldn’t the question arise? The Red Sox have done nothing but immediately deny any questioning on the matter, and we know that when Henry, Larry Lucchino, or Tom Werner reacts instantly with fervent denial that something might be up.

Henry normally responds to such issues with a simple e-mail, his preferred method of communication, explaining or denying each controversy (after he tells you this group has owned the team for 10 years). However, when the Gasparino story broke, Henry immediately took to the local airwaves to dismiss the story. So, why the urgency?

It seems whenever someone gets too close to a story the Red Sox owners don’t want public knowledge, they are more likely to make outward gestures to smolder the flames. Keep in mind; this is a franchise that continues to perpetrate the lie of a sellout streak that simply does not exist. They are also all wildly successful businessmen which, by nature, makes them spectacular liars.

But it makes sense to bail; nobody is questioning that fact. To refuse the fact that you’re willing to potentially make $1.5 billion on your initial investment is foolhardy. Why in the world wouldn’t you explore a sale?

It’s typical of this group though, the cloak and dagger approach. Most infamously was how Theo Epstein begged Henry and Werner ownership signed Crawford to the most idiotic contract in franchise history without a peep being leaked about it.

Baseball decision. Please.

If, like some have opined, Henry and Co. pine to get the franchise back on track before selling, well maybe there’s something to that. But winning takes money, and the best players on the market are going to take long-term deals. The Red Sox are at rock bottom right now, their popularity swimming somewhere beneath the initial beams laid in the Big Dig. Perhaps a couple of decent seasons will re-invigorate that name recognition, and within three years, it is a team that has nobody but kids on the books.

It’s not like Henry is going to sell tomorrow, but by 2015? There is no reason to think otherwise despite the denials coming from Yawkey Way.

The Red Sox will spend more short-term money this offseason, for sure. They’ll sell it as a rebuilding plan, and we buy that.

But I think we’re kidding ourselves not to believe it isn’t something bigger as well.

So, one theory being floated Tuesday was that Shane Victorino had a bad 2012 because he was stressed out about hitting free agency.

Settle down, Shane. The Boston Red Sox are on the case.

We can only imagine what Boston’s newest outfielder might have received were he comfortable with the situation last season. As it turns out, the Red Sox were more than happy to dish out $39 million for a player whose career numbers are comparable to Coco Crisp. Yay?

Look, we all understand the Red Sox’ need to go short-term with free agents, and it’s indeed a welcome process, but I can’t come away from this deal without asking, “Shane Victorino?"

I don’t mind overpaying for Mike Napoli for three seasons, $39 million, mainly because he’ll potentially crush balls at Fenway Park. What does Victorino bring that a Type B free agent – the kind you sign in January – wouldn’t? He’s got the glove and the personality. He had a great OPS (.906) batting lefty against righties last season.

Thirty-nine million?

Hate the contract, not the player. Is that how we should approach this? After all, repeat after me, “It’s not your money,” even though the Red Sox' random spending ways over the years had painted them into a corner relieved only by the power of Magic Johnson. There is, after all, a need to overpay in this free agent market for marginal talent with the limited pool being what it is. If you want players on a short lease, odds are you’re going to have to overpay in order to get them to sacrifice a fourth or fifth season. Just the way it is, and exactly how the Sox should approach it with a crop of young talent grooming.

We get all that. But can you really still wrap your head around a $39 million deal for a player coming off the worst season of his career? Yuck.

The Red Sox have spent $120 million this offseason on David Ortiz, Napoli, Jonny Gomes, Victorino, and David Ross. Is that better than awarding Josh Hamilton a long-term, $175 million deal? Maybe? I’m conflicted.

General manager Ben Cherington is approaching this fix just the way many of us hoped for, without committing to another disastrous long-term contract. And yet, here we are snickering over the players he’s managed to add, despite them being good fits for the transition period. Didn’t we pine for guys like this while Adrian Gonzalez was mumbling idiocies like “People gotta eat,” completely oblivious to his surroundings?

But the prevalent thought was that the Sox would be on the hunt for underappreciated value, and perhaps they still will be in the coming weeks. But as it stands now, the Victorino deal is one of the worst of the offseason. Decent player, by all accounts a great guy. But in what universe would anybody give Coco Crisp $39 million?

Of course, the most intriguing part of this deal will be to watch where Jacoby Ellsbury lands, and what kind of arm he can bring back in return, even though the market for his services is limited at best. Still, just can’t see the Red Sox not receiving some sort of return on the player expected to Boras the free agent market next winter. It’s either sell low, or give him away.

That would put Victorino in center field, and begin the rebuilding process in earnest, with or without Jon Lester. Maybe the Sox then overpay for Cody Ross to play right, and trade one of their 42 catchers for a second or third starter. Maybe this combination of players will even surprise and be a contender in 2013.

After a player like Victorinio gets $39 million, would anything really shock you?

The Sox and Patriots were both in play this weekend. One continued a historic run. The other delved into remarkably deeper shades of embarrassment.

You guess.

The 2012 Patriots are now 9-3, and by whatever quirk you want to reference, possess the No. 2 seed in the AFC, thanks to Pittsburgh’s last-second win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. It wasn’t New England’s finest effort by any means in Miami, where it sealed up a 23-16 win, but a W is a W is a W.

One day earlier, dozens of Red Sox fans filled Fenway Park for the 10th annual “Christmas at Fenway,” the team’s annual ticket push that this year more resembled a PBS tote bag drive than the pep rally it’s intended to be.

Pathetic.

As the Patriots continue their dominance, the Red Sox grovel to get you back. And their translucent anxiety about their ability to do so is more and more evident.

Head to Patriots Place today, and you can purchase an “AFC East Champs” T-shirt. Head to Yawkey Way and you might find some leftover 2009 Wild Card paraphernalia. Yet, there was Larry Lucchino in a cringe-inducing appearance on NESN Saturday, boasting about his team’s success over the past decade. It’s all about nostalgia with the Red Sox after all. Or have you not heard what this ownership group has delivered over the past 10 years? Ask. They’re more than happy to tell.

Of course, the Patriots are no strangers in the boasting department, but at least they have recent history to back it up. For all the suck-up coverage they receive on a weekly basis, there are nuggets of validity. On Saturday, I wanted to get to Fenway as quickly as I could to rescue Tom Caron and Jerry Remy as they hosted and endured a painful, two-hour Red Sox advertisement. Lucchino and Sam Kennedy spoke as if this were a franchise on the cusp of greatness instead of the buffoonery circus it has molded into.

Essentially, the Sox believe they can win back your trust through hot cocoa, laser shows, and telling you how good they’ve been to you. The Patriots just win, and justifiably strut their egos along Route 1. Fans salivate over their success, enjoying an era that never seems to get passé.

Meanwhile, in the Fens, ever more a suspicious eye is raised with every move or rumor. According to a NESN poll, fans want the Red Sox to sign Josh Hamilton over every other free agent available. The Red Sox will sigh Josh Hamilton too. This is how they do business. Appease the masses.

Carl Crawford, anyone?

I hope we’re wrong, that Lucchino’s grubby fingers don’t mess up what Ben Cherington has in mind, that he reads Brian MacPherson’s tremendous plea to proceed intelligently, but it’s foolhardy to think otherwise. With the Winter Meetings upon us, and the lackluster showing at Fenway over the weekend, you just know that members of the brass want to steal some headlines. After that sad display on Saturday, HWL all have to realize just how far the grace has plummeted.

So, welcome Josh Hamilton.

Meanwhile, we are thrust into the two most fascinating games of the season at Gillette Stadium, where the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers will try to sort out the playoff picture in the AFC. New England is currently the No. 2 seed based on the league’s three-way tie-breaking rule, but will drop to No. 3 even if they and the Baltimore Ravens win out. It’s a tall task for the Patriots, but the Ravens have been shaky of late, and have Washington, Denver, the Giants, and Cincinnati remaining. After their Houston-San Francisco challenge, New England has Jacksonville and Miami.

There’s intrigue in that schedule, as well as what goes down in Nashville. Will the Sox go status quo and throw money at the problem? Or will they actually, finally, build a baseball team?

They are two different franchises on two different avenues. One cares about winning. The other wants you to think they do.

It’s easy to buy into the Patriots. The Red Sox’ pronounced arrogance makes it more and more difficult to do so. Saturday was the latest farce to take place, a translucent push that exhibits just how desperate they have become.

The Patriots are desperate too. For wins.

Not perception.

“Hopefully we'll laugh about it later”. - Mark Sanchez

Later?!?!?!

Ah, but move on, we must.

This week's picks

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: Patriots 30, Dolphins 24. “As Week 13 unfurls, I have to believe my struggle forecasting Dolphins games this year is rooted in over-analysis, too much thinking. Or am I over-analyzing in thinking that? Anyway, let’s keep this one simple. Tom Brady’s TD/INT ratio (24-3) is so good it should be illegal, and the Patriots offense is so good it normally is approaching 30 points by pregame warmups. England’s defense is better than advertised, too, its 32 takeaways ranking second in the league. Oh, did I mention that Bill Belichick is a pretty good coach even when he hasn’t had extra time to prepare after playing on Thanksgiving? Pats clinch AFC East title with a win here, and have swept this series the past two seasons and won eight of past 10 vs. Miami. But I still like the home ’dog getting a touchdown-plus in a physical division rivalry. A bigger and louder than typical home crowd also should give Miami some tailwind. Who cares if a bunch of the crowd is Pats fans? Dolphins will keep it close.”

Peter King, Sports Illustrated: Patriots 38, Dolphins 20. “The Pats have averaged 47.5 points a game over the last month. Miami is scoring 19.2 a game. The Dolphins' only hope, I believe, is rolling their big back, Daniel Thomas, out against the stout Patriots interior and seeing if he can eat the clock. (Figuratively.)”

ESPN.com staff: Patriots across the board.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports.com: Patriots 31, Dolphins 17. “The Dolphins are still alive after beating the Seahawks last week, but this is a tough task against their division rival. The Patriots can lock up the AFC East with a victory and they are playing at a high level. Can the Dolphins stop Tom Brady? Not likely. They won't even slow him.”

CBS Sports.com staff: Six out of eight pick the Pats (New England by 8 ½).

Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com: Patriots 35, Dolphins 24. “The Dolphins will win if the sprinklers come on again. And if they are loaded with hydrochloric acid and aimed at the eyes of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Otherwise, advantage Pats.”

Michael David Smith, ProFootballTalk.com: Patriots 38, Dolphins 28. “I like a lot about the way the Dolphins are playing, especially defensively. And the Patriots’ secondary has a bad tendency to leave receivers wide open, so Ryan Tannehill may have a decent statistical game. But New England’s offense is such a well-oiled machine that I like the Patriots to get into the end zone five or six times.”

USA Today staff: All Pats.

Yahoo! sports staff: Two of three pick the Patriots. Mike Silver digs the Dolphins.

Peter Schrager, Foxsports.com : Patriots 35, Dolphins 17. “Dolphins defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle had a great response when asked about how he planned on stopping Tom Brady this weekend: "I'm open to anyone's suggestions." I’ve got none. Brady’s been lights-out since the loss in Seattle. The Patriots have put up 109 points the last two weeks, Vince Wilfork is in the running for Defensive Player of the Year, and New England’s looking better each week. At 5-6, Miami’s still in the AFC playoff picture, but there’s a better chance of those sprinklers going off again than them beating the Patriots on Sunday.”

It says here: Patriots 35, Dolphins 30. T-shirts on sale Monday.

Here's former Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine wearing a jester cap and rappelling down the Landmark Square Building in Stamford, Conn. today, along with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, donning a dreadlocked Santa chapeau.

Hey, remember Bobby V?

It's all in preparation for the city's "Heights and Lights" festival on Sunday. Cashman, of course, has done this before (this will be his third time participating in the event). The only freefalling with minimal support Valentine is used to was having Larry Lucchino on his side as he led the Sox to a 69-win season in 2012.

“Practice gives you confidence, whether you’re hitting a baseball or rappelling down a building,” Valentine told The Stamford Daily Voice.

Good for Valentine. You can imagine his heart skipped a beat during the practice run, but that face looks as if he saw Alfredo Aceves' reflection in one of the building windows.

Reuters Photos

Buckle up.

The 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot has been released, and the next month is going to be inundated with individual members of the esteemed Baseball Writers Association of America explaining to you why or why not they’re voting for certain nominees, most notably suspected or confirmed steroid users Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, and they may even tell you why, really, Aaron Sele deserved that fourth-place vote. Cue the non-stop fascination.

Look, I love a good Cooperstown debate as much as the next person, but it’s hard to take the BBWAA voters seriously based on how they’ve conducted their stance over the past 20 years. This was an organization that had its collective heads in the sand during the Steroid Era, repeatedly failing to bring the truth to light with an historic blank stare. The phrase, “How do steroids help him hit a fastball?” comes to mind.

Of course, once things became obvious, the BBWAA thumped its chest in judgment, decrying the Hall of Fame status of any users that may come down the road. “For the good of the game” is a phrase that comes to mind.

And now, because judgment day has come, the voting members are backtracking, mainly because they will be the ones who keep legends like Bonds and Clemens out of the Hall. Make no mistake, both will get in, and it will be the result of a flip-flopping election body that serves its own agenda.

The phrase “cowardly” comes to mind.

This space has no problem with electing Bonds or Clemens to the Hall, because frankly it is what it is. Performance-enhancing drugs were part of the fabric of the game, and if we ignore their contribution, we might as well ignore the entire Hall of Fame. If it’s all about being a squeaky-clean Walton, then nobody is getting in. The Hall is currently devoid of any users? Please. Go back to Pollyanna.

But the overwhelming stance that the BBWAA is taking is laughable. The argument seems to be that these two particular players were so important to the history of the game of baseball that to deny them entry would be detrimental. Agreed.

So, here’s what voting members need to do then: Write in Pete Rose and Joe Jackson.

Neither is on the ballot, but if voters really want to make this Hall of Fame argument about the history of the game, then give Rose and Shoeless each a first-place vote. Cross out Mike Stanton and Jeff Conine, and simply write in “Rose” and “Jackson.” If, as the voters say, this is about the narrative of the game, then lump those cheaters in with the ones that apparently pass muster in 2013.

The BBWAA members treat the Hall of Fame as if it contained the Ark of the Covenant (obviously, boxed in the warehouse), so if we’re insisting on this being a complete museum for the game, Rose and Jackson belong just as much as Bonds and Clemens. What’s the argument against it? Ask yourself who embarrassed the game more, then just for confirmation, look at the all-time home run record.

Oh, boy what a process. The reason this can’t be as simple as Springfield, Toronto, or Canton is mainly because of the sanctimonious nature of the election body. Jack Morris will likely make it in his 14th year on the ballot, a ridiculous stretch of decision time that speaks to the arrogance of a party that can never make up its mind. Morris is better today than he was when he last pitched in 1994? Flip. Flop.

The same is true with the most controversial Hall of Fame ballot we’ve ever witnessed. The very guys that the BBWAA championed against are all of a sudden darlings of the ballot. It’s just easier that way, you know?

But let’s not pat them on the back vigorously for making a stand. If they really want to make a point, put Rose and Jackson in first. Until then, save the righteousness.

(And can you throw Rondell White a late-vote bone while you’re at it?)

Ten years ago, in Theo Epstein’s first offseason as general manager, here are the free agents the Red Sox had signed by Nov. 27: Chris Coste, James Lofton, Justin Kaye, Kevin Tolar, and Steve Woodward. All, of course, were significant contributors to Boston’s 2003 appearance in the ALCS, right?

In fact, it wasn’t until Dec. 12 that the Red Sox pulled off their first big move of the offseason, trading for second baseman Todd Walker. It wasn’t until Jan. 6 that they signed Mike Timlin. It wasn’t until Jan. 10 that they brought in Bill Mueller; Jan. 22 when they decided to take a chance on David Ortiz. It wasn’t until Feb. 4 when they plucked Bronson Arroyo off waivers and Feb. 15 when they finally wrangled Kevin Millar from the Marlins.

The result was one of the best teams in Red Sox history, and helped put the pieces in place for the franchise’s first World Series title in 86 years one year later.

A decade later, Red Sox fans grumble and groan over the fact that the two big moves Ben Cherington (He’s in charge, right? I wish they’d make that more clear) has made were to sign David Ross and Jonny Gomes, albeit to a ridiculous, two-year, $10 million contract. Where’s the first baseman, they cry. Where’s the splash, the beat writers wonder. What’s the plan?

It borders on ludicrous. Much like the game itself, an offseason like 2002-03 should preach a certain semblance of patience when it comes to assembling a roster. Then again, in 2002, there was no Christmas at Fenway event in order to drum up ticket sales, and an offseason splash has become the annual rite of passage to stoke the coals in the fans’ checking accounts. How’s that working?

If the point is to revive interest in the club, there are far better ways – if not exactly easier – than inking Josh Hamilton to a seven-year deal. Do you remember anybody being overly enthusiastic about bringing Timlin or Mueller aboard? Those guys at least brought a lot less angst than Ross and Gomes, albeit to a ridiculous, two-year, $10 million contract.

There’s an anger directed at this franchise unlike any I can remember, and much of it is with good reason. But if the last two seasons haven’t instilled a lesson on Yawkey Way, then what possibly ever could? The Sox need to go back to being smarter, loading up on the Marvin Gardens and Pennsylvania Avenue free agents and not being tempted to build the hotel on Boardwalk. Signing Hamilton to a long-term, big-dollar deal puts you right back where you started.

If you have to overpay and convince Hamilton to take three years, then the story line changes somewhat, but the reports of Mike Napoli wanting five years have to make fans stop and hope that Cherington isn’t that desperate to grab some attention. Hamilton had an .890 OPS last season and is looking for $175 million, or $165 million less than the ridiculous two-year, $10 million Gomes contract. That was second among all AL outfielders, followed closely by Josh Willingham (.890), who signed with the Twins last offseason for three years, $21 million. Cody Ross was 16th (.807) and made $3 million. The Rangers’ Nelson Cruz was just below him and is due to make $10.5 million in 2013. Ross is due a significant raise, but he won’t make that much. The point being; would you rather have a Ross and a Willingham or a Cruz on your roster?

Or do you want Jacoby Ellsbury at Scott Boras dollars?

There are guys, of course, you give that sort of money to, but to me, they’re usually transcendent players. Is Josh Hamilton really that guy? Maybe. But he’s 31 and I wouldn’t be willing to risk $175 million to find out. The flip side is that the Sox have cash to spend thanks to Magic Johnson’s generosity last August, so it’d better go somewhere other than to mere diamonds in the rough. So, what the heck, offer Hamilton $30 million for three years. But to sink $85 million more into a deal when guys like Felix Hernandez or David Price might be available down the road? No thanks.

Otherwise, it seems like there finally may be a semblance of patience on Yawkey Way, which is what we yearned to return for years.

So, why exactly are we complaining about it?

We could write 1,000 words about last night's Patriots-Jets game, dominated by New England, 49-19 (they ran up the score!!!), but a few seconds of video pretty much sums up the entire night - and season - for Rex Ryan's squad.

Repeat, repeat, repeat in all its glory.

Am I just jacked and pumped, or is this one of the best NFL Thanksgiving Days in recent memory?

The Lions have a legitimate shot of knocking off the Texans, which might put the Patriots one step closer to a playoff bye.

Redskins-Cowboys is always a treat, but thrust Robert Griffin III into the mix, and you have Fox ratings gold.

After all that, we have Patriots-Jets, coming off one of the most entertaining, nerve-racking, confounding games these two teams have played in recent memory.

That, as they say, is one rad troika of games.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving. Go, Stang.

This week’s picks

John Boell, Newsday: Patriots. "I've had more fun at Rex Ryan's expense in this column than I care to admit. But I have to say, I like the way Rexy handled things this week when it came to New England. Ryan gave the Patriots plenty of praise (even calling Tom Brady a "machine"), and basically kept his mouth shut, not poking the bear, in this case, the Kings of the AFC East. The Jets played one of their best games of the season in Week 7, but still lost in OT to New England, 29-26. Gang Green dropped two more games after that, before rebounding Sunday in a win at St. Louis. The Jets' inconsistent running game came to life vs. the Rams with the two-headed attack of Shonn Greene and Bilal Powell, who registered his first two TDs of the season. Could this be a sign of things to come? Maybe. Many have spoken to the injury to Pats TE Rob Gronkowski (broken forearm) as a plus for the Jets. New England (NFL-best plus-20 turnover margin) should have TE Aaron Hernandez (ankle) coming back. But Hernandez hasn't played since Week 7 vs. the Jets, and I'm not sure how effective he'll be. However, the Pats are one of the NFL's best road teams this decade: 53-25-3 against the spread (ATS) in their last 81 road games. Plus, the Patriots are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. the Jets. I believe the Jets' slim playoff hopes end here."

Peter King, Sports Illustrated: Patriots 33, Jets 20. “I went 13-1 picking games last week. The only game I missed was the Jets winning in St. Louis. I don't believe I'll be wrong again this week, particularly with tight end Aaron Hernandez likely returning from injury to make the sort of impact Rob Gronkowski won't. Hard to feel sorry for a team when it lines up a star (Hernandez) and a long-time solid starter (Visanthe Shiancoe) at tight end.”

ESPN.com staff: Patriots across the board.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports.com: Patriots 30, Jets 17. “The Jets are playing for their season here, but the question is whether they are good enough to beat the Patriots, even at home. I don't think they are. The Patriots will be without Rob Gronkowski, but as long as Tom Brady is throwing it around they will be fine. Patriots put a real damper on the Jets playoff chances.”

CBS Sports.com staff:Seven out of eight pick the Pats.

Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com: Patriots 38, Jets 24. “A possible classic is in the offing, the first-ever nationally-broadcast Thanksgiving night NFL game on a major network.  The fact that the Jets won on Sunday makes it more interesting.  The fact that the Pats have been pounding teams lately makes it potentially less interesting — except to see which players get hurt on the PAT team in the fourth quarter.”

Michael David Smith, ProFootballTalk.com: Patriots 17, Jets 10. “I give Rex Ryan a lot of credit for having his team playing hard in the face of adversity last week, and I think Rex will put together a good game plan to stop a Gronkowski-less Patriots offense. But the problems with the Jets’ own offense are real, and not getting any better. The Patriots will win a low-scoring game.”

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: Patriots 27, Jets 17. “Tom Brady last week put up his fifth career 50-point game. Only Len Dawson (six) has had more. Injured TE Rob Gronkowski is a huge loss for Pats, yes, but Brady still has plenty left to outscore a modest NYJ offense. Also think a New England defense leading the AFC in takeaways (27) will remind Mark Sanchez he’s mistake -prone. Only concern here is that intangibles favor the Planes in this prime-timer. Rex Ryan lost to Patriots in OT in October and has lost 9 of 12 at home to Bill Belichick. Rex’d sell his soul to win this, but the presumption he has a soul left to sell is too big a risk. Talent trumps want. [Cote Family Timeline: As this game kicks off my eyelids will feel like lead curtains lowered to indiscernible slits after the turkey’s Trytophan kicks in along with one too many reacquaintances with Mr. Miller].”

USA Today staff: Patriots all the way.

Yahoo! sports: Pats. No Jets.

Peter Schrager, FoxSports.com: Patriots 38, Jets 20. “Watching the all-22 film this week of their 59-24 win over the Colts last Sunday, I’m pretty sure the 2012 Patriots are New England’s best team since the 18-1 squad of 2007. The Jets’ home crowd will be nice and loose — in a Brad Keselowski kind of way — on Thursday. Expect the boo birds to come out in full force if this one gets out of hand early. The Pats D is significantly better now than it was when these two teams played in October. They made red-hot Andrew Luck look average last week. What will they do to Mark Sanchez?”

Globe staff: Greg Bedard picks the Jets against the spread (Patriots a 7-point favorite). Shalise Manza Young, Chris Gasper, Jim McBride and Scott Thurston take the Patriots.

It says here: Patriots 31, Jets 21: How cool would it be if Belichick busted out the Wishbone just to mess with Rex Ryan?

Who’s to blame for Rob Gronkowski’s broken forearm? Was it Bill Belichick’s for leaving his star tight end in on the extra point kick during a blowout? Was it the football gods punishing the Patriots for…wait for it…running up the score? Was it Gronk’s fault himself for actually making a block and not giving up on the 59th point of New England’s win over the Colts on Sunday?

“The Patriots lost Gronkowski, who underwent surgery on his broken left forearm yesterday, because Belichick left him in to block for the extra point that concluded the 59-24 New England Massacre of the Colts,” writes the normally subdued Steve Serby in the New York Post, which wrapped itself in journalistic glory with its back page today.

“Belichick defenders, such as Tedy Bruschi and Tony Dungy, will give you the 'that’s football' argument.

“I will give you the 'that’s stupid' argument.”

See what he did there?

In our rush to lay blame for the Patriots’ loss of their most vital receiving threat, the media and fan base have all gone bezerk. I mean, it’s certainly questionable why, with a double-digit lead over Indianapolis, Belichick didn’t sit Gronk, Tom Brady, Stevan Ridley, Sebastian Vollmer, Vince Wilfork, Aqib Talib, Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, Devin McCourty, Brandon Spikes, Jerod Mayo, and the entire Minuteman squad.

Then again, maybe they should have suited up.

The Gronk injury was a freak thing that could have happened in the first quarter, or in the final minutes of a blowout. Why is it so difficult to agree on that? While Belichick didn’t exactly handle himself with any semblance of dignity on Monday when asked about the injury and subsequent surgery, it’s not his job as a professional coach to predict the possibility of the most miniscule of chances on the field.

Instead, it’s just another example of Belichick’s “arrogance.” Maybe we could all get along better if the Patriots sat on a seven-point lead just so nobody’s feelings get hurt. I’m surprised we didn’t get an interview with Andy Luck’s Mommy yesterday complaining about big, bad New England.

Now, here come the Jets, with the same, old, tired story lines popping up in the wake of what happened with Gronkowski. Here’s Gary Myers of the New York Daily News with a passage presumably written a half-decade ago.

“Although he always has one of the best teams in the NFL, and this season is no different, it’s been seven seasons since Belichick last won the Super Bowl and his three championships in his first five years in New England all came prior to being exposed in the SpyGate scandal at the beginning of the 2007 season.

“The longer Belichick goes without winning a Super Bowl after the Jets and the NFL put an end to his intricate spying operation of opponents’ defensive signals, the more a case can be made that his championships deserve an asterisk.

“The mystique and aura of Belichick has (sic) taken major hits.”

The Patriots are 55-19 since the beginning of the 2008 season.

That’s some hit.

If Belichick were able to predict the future, he’d probably use that power to much greater use than removing his tight end on the final score of the game. His failure to remove Gronkowski wasn’t steeped in any sort of intentionally sticking it to the Colts, nor was it by design to spark a furor leading into Jets week. Perhaps the most logical conclusion we can come up with for the injury is that it happened. Gronkowski is just as liable to get injured on any other dive into the end zone. Moreso, actually. Maybe he should stop catching touchdowns until playoff time. That’ll keep him healthy.

So, here we go. On one side, we have the arrogance of the Patriots. On the other, the dysfunction of the Jets. But you know if the Patriots win big on Thanksgiving night, it will be the former that is the story line in the New York media, continually hanging onto expired theories and controversies. But hey, the blame for the Jets’ mess has to lie somewhere.