Players hand it to embattled coach
FOXBOROUGH - One wondered if the events of last week had penetrated the normally iron-clad concentration of the New England Patriots.
Speculation was rampant leading up to last night's emotional game against the San Diego Chargers on how the disciples of Bill Belichick would respond to a national assault on their coach, their honor, and their credentials after a sideline video flap.
Any more questions?
What happened last night was an annihilation. If it was a prize fight, it would have been stopped in the first half, and the Chargers would have been carted off to Massachusetts General Hospital for observation, in the event they never recovered from the beating the locals delivered with all the subtlety of a Roger Goodell sanction.
The chirpy Chargers, who boast the best running back in the game, LaDainian Tomlinson, happily added fuel to the Videogate fire during the week, with LT declaring, "I think the Patriots actually live by the saying, 'If you're not cheating, you're not trying.' "
The Patriots sure did look like they were trying last night. And, as far as we know, they weren't cheating. They were far too busy scoring touchdowns - for their coach.
After putting the finishing touches on their 38-14 pummeling of the Chargers, owner Robert Kraft presented the embattled Belichick with the game ball.
"He's always had our backs, now we have his," said running back Laurence Maroney. "He's like our brother. He's family. We look after family around here."
The Patriots presented their coach with the most precious gift they could offer him: a total domination of their AFC rival.
New England scored on the first possession of the game. It scored 24 points by halftime. Its offense scored (hey, that Randy Moss guy sure seems to like it here), its defense scored, too (and that Adalius Thomas sure has some pretty nifty wheels.)
This was a critical game for the Patriots. The Chargers are among the elite of the AFC. They should have eliminated New England in the playoffs last year but couldn't close the deal. It's never too early to consider home-field advantage for the postseason, particularly with head-to-head results the first tiebreaker.
Had the Patriots lost, they would have been subjected to an avalanche of skepticism over their feats. They would have endured another week of derision until they proved they don't need technology to win, only the collection of athletes they have in their locker room.
"This might be the most satisfying win of all," said an emotional Tedy Bruschi. "I've never been in a situation where people were doubting us, our integrity. I care about that logo, as much as anyone in here. And I care about how we're perceived. What we do is win football games. What we did tonight speaks volumes about who we are."
The biggest winner last night was the coach in the gray hoodie. Belichick finally can exhale. As he acknowledged in his statement during the week, he had created the kind of distraction for his team he abhors. Yet, in the short term at least, it did not cost him. His team rallied around him and made a statement that was accompanied by a dozen exclamation points.
The fines, the likely loss of a first-round draft pick, and the embarrassment Belichick's actions created remain, but now, as their coach kept imploring everyone to do, the Patriots can move on.
Or can they? Belichick, it appears, isn't out of the woods yet. Commissioner Roger Goodell revealed on national television last night he has requested - and expects to receive - additional video from the library of your New England Patriots. But nobody in a raucous Gillette Stadium was dwelling on that news last night, least of all the players.
Videogate had become a tiresome subject for this football team before it developed into a source of extreme irritation. The players have said they had no knowledge of their coach's video tendencies, and were offended by suggestions their accomplishments were negated by revelations their organization had access to defensive signals of the opponent.
To them, the notion their three Super Bowl wins were invalid was not only absurd, but unfair.
"Yeah, that's probably what bothered me the most," Bruschi said. "Something like this happens, and all of a sudden, what, we're less of a team? What did you see out there tonight? That's who we are."
The plan, Patriot players revealed in the aftermath of this win, was to mute their critics swiftly and definitely, early and often.
To wit, quarterback Tom Brady shredded the Chargers on his opening drive with six completions that marched his club 69 yards into the end zone.
Conversely, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers's first series began and ended with a tepid throw to Buster Davis that linebacker Rosevelt Colvin all but devoured in intercepting it.
The contrast was striking. One team looked ticked off, focused, and motivated. The other looked dazed, confused, and overwhelmed.
It didn't get much better for the beleaguered Rivers and his boys. In the waning minutes of the second quarter, with his team already in the hole, 17-0, Rivers wisely began handing off to LT (18 carries, 43 yards).
San Diego desperately needed a score, and, with 5:28 left until halftime, Rivers was staring at third and 1 from the New England 31-yard line.
His plan was to dump it off to Malcolm Floyd, but his floater was immediately intercepted by a leaping Thomas, who sprinted 65 yards for the score.
It was a devastating play. It almost looked like Thomas knew what Rivers was doing before he did it.
But then, that couldn't be possible. There were no Patriot cameras in sight, only a bunch of football players hell-bent on silencing their critics.
"They just jumped on us like a spider monkey," said Chargers fullback Lorenzo Neal.
"Bill is our guy," said Patriots safety James Sanders. "We were going out there to bleed for him. Hopefully this win will ease some of the tension that's been around here."
The Patriots are 2-0. They destroyed the team many felt would challenge them for a berth in the Super Bowl. They shattered the theory their success is predicated on stolen signals.
In other words, it's back to business as usual in Foxborough.
Jackie MacMullan is a Globe columnist. Her e-mail address is macmullan@globe.com. 