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Boston Globe football writer Nick Cafardo answers your questions about the Patriots. Click here to submit a question for next week ...

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Do you think the Patriots re-established themselves as the best team in the NFL -- and Bill Belichick the best coach -- with Sunday's gutsy victory over the Rams? If they can beat a team that soundly without a secondary, they can do anything.
Sully, Waltham

A: Sully, I never thought either was in question. Pittsburgh is a very good team. Any team that can knock off a pair of undefeated teams like they did deserve the respect of being No. 1 in those silly power rankings. But seriously, which of the two teams do you think is better? The Patriots beat the Rams with a jayvee secondary. The Steelers have had a couple of losses on defense, but nothing as severe as Ty Law and Ty Poole. The second time around - let's say in a playoff game or the AFC championship - do you believe Pittsburgh could beat the Patriots a second time? I have trouble thinking that. As for Belichick, he's the best coach. Everybody knows that.

It doesn't seem as if the tight end position is getting much attention in the passing game this year. Of the 148 receptions this year, only 23 were caught by the tight ends. I know Watson has been hurt but it still seems as if Graham and Fauria would be more involved especially in the red zone. Is this cyclical or is it more performance driven ? Is there a lack of confidence in the tight ends ?
John, Portland, ME

A: John, it's all about who's open. Graham isn't getting open; he's being used quite often as a blocker because lately the Patriots are taking on a lot of blitzes. Fauria is also being used the same way - blocking first and then he releases for a pass. Brady is much different than the old Drew Bledsoe days when he would throw to Ben Coates all the time. Brady would rather throw to his receivers, and quite frankly why wouldn't he? They're always open.

Are there any free agents out there that might be able to help the Patriots' depleted secondary?
Wade, Hartford, Conn. A: If there was, they would have been here by now. Every day the league puts out a personnel notice. On it are any transactions around the league, team-by-team, and it also includes players who have visited or worked out with each team. Over the past two weeks, the Patriots haven't worked out or visited with any defensive backs.

Hi Nick, Great Column. I have a question and a comment. How many coaches in the NFL are as prepared as Coach BB? He realized way before in the pre-season that something like this might happen to the secondary and made Troy Brown play defensive back and it helped us against St,Louis yesterday. And here is my comment. I think apart from brady, it looks like the patriots cannot afford to lose Dillon. It didnt look too bad without a running game last year, but i think the patriots changed their game plan so much with the emergence of dillon, that its hard to play without him. Do you agree?
Kuha, Waltham

A: I agree Belichick thinks of everything. I just wish he had chosen someone other than a 33-year-old receiver to do it. If Brown had been hurt, you'd think about it a little differently I'm sure. Just like Dan Klecko suffered a severe knee injury catching a pass and is now lost for the season. Sometimes you can go a little too far with that stuff. I'd rather see them pick up a practice squad defensive back like Earthwind Moreland to have in case their secondary is depleted. I'm sure such a player would do a better job as a defensive back than a wide receiver. As for Dillon, I agree with your statement. What's happened is, the advent of Dillon has changed the offense. The Patriots now throw the ball down the field more than they did in their two Super Bowl seasons. The success of that downfield passing game is due in great part to having a top echelon back that teams have to be concerned about. When Dillon was out against Pittsburgh, the Patriots became one-dimentional, and that's never good.

What gives? Tom Brady is still on the injury report every week. Belichick is the man but... this is getting old. I thought the NFL told the coaches last year that they had to be more accurate/informative with the injury reports. I mean we all know that Deion Branch is not going to play but he is questionable. What is your take on all this?
Jeff, Jacksonville, FL

A: I don't get the Brady thing. I can't even answer your question on that. Branch has been doubtful for several weeks, but on Wednesday he was upgraded to questionable for the first time. I guess that's their way of telling us that he's improving. At least they're being more specific about which body part is ailing. Sometimes we get which side it's on.

Nick. I have a kevin Faulk question. I like Kevin, I think he's a very good receiver out of the back field and he does a good job as a secondary running back. But my question is: why is Kevin doing punt returns, when he only gets two yards after he catches the ball? I feel he jigs too much to get real yards in that situation. We don't have someone better? What do you think? Thanks
E.A., Brooklyn, NY

A: I guess the feeling is if you have Troy Brown playing defense, you can't very well ask him to return punts and be the third receiver on offense. I'd rather see Brown returning punts than playing defensive back, personally. I think Brown is a superb punt returner. I think Kevin is more of a kick returner, but he's proven he can handle the ball without fumbling and he usually makes the right decision. Belichick seems happy with his play there. I think another option would have been Branch if he were healthy.

Are the Steelers really this good? First they beat the Pats, then the Eagles. Will they be facing the Pats in the AFC Championship Game?
Brian, Douglas

A: The Steelers look like they're a complete team. But proceed with caution. They have an excellent rookie quarterback, but does he hit a wall? Does he eventually turn into a rookie after teams have enough film on him to begin finding his weaknesses? I suppose the same things were said about Brady after five or six pro games. But you have to love the Steelers' offensive line, running game, receivers and most of their defense. Joey Porter is an animal out there. Cowher is a good coach who isn't going to lose the game for you. I think once the Patriots get everyone back, they're still better than the Steelers.

Nick, With all of the injuries to our receivers and tight ends, what's the chance of Chad Gessner coming back? He's a pretty big receiver and he seemed to have a great preseason. Also, do you know why he didn't make it to the practice squad? Thanks
Name Michael, Washington, DC

A: I thought Chas had a pretty good preseason, but I don't know if it was what they perceived as his lack of speed or his inconsistency with routes that made them believe that he was a player they could live without. I know I've seen his name from time to time on the league personnel wire and he's had a few tryouts and he may even be on someone elses practice squad for all I know. I think he's one of those guys they know will be out there to get if they run into trouble.

Will Cedric Cobb get any carries in the near future?
Adam, Amherst, MA

A: Adam, he's got to learn the offense better and with Dillon back, I would say you won't see him too often or even activated too often for the game. I know the coaching staff really likes him and what he might be able to bring in the future. He combined power and speed and he has great instincts. It's awfully tough for a kid to come out of college, then not be healthy enough to start the season with the team. He's way behind, but they'll be patient because of his upside.

Nick, "The kickoffs"! Most of our kickoffs land between the 5 yard line and the 20. I'd like to know the average. I remember way back when Justin Canale, an offensive tackle, kicked off because he could drive it into the end zone. I recall that the team had a punt-pass-kick type competition (only kickoffs) from all the players at that time and they discovered Justin Canale. Josh Miller seems to have a strong leg, was he auditioned on kickoffs during the summer? I'm looking for every edge! Thanks for returning to this column
Roger, Monson, MA

A: Roger, the lack of deep kickoffs has always been the rap against Adam, but I think he's extended them this year. When I watch other games, I see the same thing from kickers. Kickers just can't boot it that far anymore. Mike Vanderjagt has been demoted, even. I do believe they're kicking farther back than Justin Canale did as well. If they could find a guy who could boot it through the endzone, I'll bet you they'd sign him up, but I'm not sure that person exists.

How would you evaluate Rosevelt Colvin's performance this year and the likelihood that he will ever return to form? Obviously he has been not been close to the impact player he was in year's past and in the plays I have focused on him he looks like he is getting manhandled when he gets tied up with blockers.
Thule

A: For one he's not the Colvin who played for the Bears. He may get there, but he's not there yet. Secondly, the Patriots don't use him like the Bears did. He was strictly a pass rusher with Chicago so he had stats. Lots of stats on sacks. He's often in coverage now and when he isn't, he's not getting that upfield burst that he once did. Having said that, I don't hear any complaints about him from the coaching staff.

Nick - Since moving to CA three years ago, I still closely follow the Patriots coverage. In reading the 11/4 mailbag and fan's pining of Brady's and the line troubles versus the Steelers, it sounded eerily familiar to when the innefective Bledsoe version of the offense had a shaky line and limited capabilities running corps. Beginning of the end because opposing teams that knew what they needed to do can now execute to it, or one loss does not a disasterous season make?
Barry, Los Gatos, CA

A: I think you're right on the money with that observation Barry. That Pittsburgh game was a snapshot of what Bledsoe put up with for an entire season in 2000. It was only a one-game problem, however and as you saw corrected in St. Louis.

Nick, The way Brady has been getting pressured and more importantly hit this year, the situation with the backup QB has me concerned. Specifically, do you think Rohan Davey is ever going to be a legitimite option for the Patriots ? I don't care how many MVP's he wins in Europe, he looked completely lost during pre-season. At what point do you cut your losses with this guy and find a more suitable backup ?
Pat, Portland, ME

A: I think Jim Miller is ready to go. I still think Davey gets first crack if Brady goes down. Davey has very good skills, a great arm, and hopefully he's used his time productively in practice and in meetings. It's hard to cut your losses with a guy you really haven't seen play in a meaningful game. The coaches must not feel they're thin at QB or they would have beefed it up. So they must have more faith in Davey than the general public does.

Hi Nick, Just wanted to hear what you thought about the play of Christian Fauria this year. Fauria has had some big drops lately and it would be nice if he could help out in the passing game more. what do you think?
Frank, Richford,Vermont

A: Yes, his drops have been very uncharacteristic of his career here in New England. A scout told me recently that teams are paying more attention to him because of his red zone success the past couple of years. He's not going to get all of those free open spaces he used to get, and that can be very frustrating for a player, especially for a guy who's getting a little bit up there in age.