Even with interceptions, this group picky

It happened. It always happens.

The Patriots won their 10th straight game to improve to 12-2, yet it wasn't the media being picky. It was the players looking at the defensive effort and feeling they weren't satisfied.

Oh, the streak of 62 possessions, covering 19 quarters, without allowing a touchdown at Gillette Stadium ended with 3 minutes 22 seconds remaining, and maybe that had something to do with it. Until garbage time, when Leftwich connected with Kevin Johnson over Asante Samuel for the Jaguars' only touchdown, you almost felt as if there was an invincibility to this defense; that maybe they'd never allow another touchdown until sometime after boarding the plane to Houston for the Super Bowl.

"We're disappointed because we know we didn't play the way we were capable of playing," said safety Rodney Harrison. "We made some mental errors defensively and they were able to go up and down the field with the ball. We have a lot of things we have to improve on, so as happy as we are about a win, we understand we have a lot of work to do."

Maybe the Patriots were being too hard on themselves, or maybe that's just what makes their defense so good. Harrison might have been upset the Jaguars marched down the field on their first two possessions, but they could muster just a pair of field goals. And when the Jaguars got close again, the Patriots' 16 on their fourth possession, they missed a 34-yard field goal attempt.

Do you beat yourself up over this?

Anyway, the Patriots weren't exactly playing the '72 Dolphins. Of course, there was the usual buildup of the opponent during the week. But the Jaguars entered the game 4-9 for a reason. Sure, they're a young team, playing tough in the image of coach Jack Del Rio. But come on. You've got a rookie in Leftwich, who's going to be a good QB but isn't yet -- not against a defense that might not have an equal when it comes to making big plays at big times.

For sure, the Patriots have a defense that can give up big plays, but normally it doesn't spell doom. Jimmy Smith torched the Patriots' secondary for a 67-yard gain to the 9 in the first quarter. But Harrison made a touchdown-saving tackle and the Jaguars, already down, 7-0, couldn't punch it in.

The Patriots' defense again set the tone.

And it was Poole, who has six interceptions, who would step up with a pair of big plays. Because he doesn't have the reputation of Ty Law, he likely won't get much Pro Bowl consideration, but on this day, he not only had two picks, he also provided the comic relief.

His first interception came at the Patriots' 48. Leftwich tried to get a pass over Poole, but he stepped in and returned it to the Jacksonville 35. The Patriots' offense soon made it 20-6.

On Poole's second, he read Leftwich's eyes and stole a pass intended for Troy Edwards at the Jacksonville 47. Poole ran down the left sideline but celebrated prematurely and was caught from behind by running back LaBrandon Toefield at the 3.

"It was a little premature," said Poole. "I told some of the guys that I might have made the Bill Belichick what not to do tape.

"It's a turnover. It's an opportunity to give our offense an opportunity to score, so I was just thankful that I was able to hold on to the ball and go from there."

Poole has been in the league since 1995, so young quarterbacks like Leftwich play into his hands.

"Like all young quarterbacks, they have a tendency to zero in the way they're throwing the ball," said Poole. "It kind of helps when you're a defensive player when you're playing against guys like that because it gives you a better opportunity to get a better jump."

"A great lesson to young kids," said Harrison. "Get into the end zone before you celebrate." And that's what it's come to. Now, a win isn't enough. Now we're evaluating each win and playing a game within a game. Everything is dissected. It's called nitpicking. Everybody does it. Even players who have won 10 straight games.