Patriots are not an elite team

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Tell me what team just played against the undefeated New Orleans Saints?

That wasn't the New England Patriots. No way, no how.

The Pats were just plain awful and there's plenty of blame to go around ...everywhere.

I'm not going to take anything away from the Saints, they are legit and it's hard to argue that fact. That offense is virtually unstoppable ...the Pats sure couldn't stop them. And New Orleans' defense, despite a lack of depth in the secondary, absolutely baffled Tom Brady.

How can Randy Moss and Wes Welker be non-factors in the entire game? That is totally unacceptable.

The Pats, not the Saints, played scared. I thought the Saints would crumble under the pressure of being undefeated and playing the Pats, but they weren't shaking one bit. This team has championship talent and a tough-as-nails approach that produce on offense and defense.

The Pats didn't tonight.

Back to the lack of execution for New England.

How could the Saints get heat on Brady on just about every play with only rushing three guys and dropping eight into coverage? Easy, the offensive line was terrible ...shame on them.

And when the Saints did blitz, Brady couldn't get the ball to Moss and Welker because they were blanketed by some very good coverage.

Like I said, there's plenty of blame to go around for the Patriots.

A lack of execution -- and some real bad play calling (I'm tired of this team running the ball and then hurting themselves with second- and third-and-long situations because of small pickups on those running plays) really ticks me off.

But the Saints no doubt had a lot to do with that.

What I learned tonight is that the Pats have no shot, yes I said NO SHOT at winning the Super Bowl.

With a defense that can't stop the pass -- the Colts shredded them and now Brees and Co. picked them apart -- or get any kind of pressure on the quarterback, there's no way the Pats can beat the elite teams in the NFL. The defense just isn't up to snuff (now you see why Bill Belichick went for it on fourth down against the Colts) Plus, the Pats can't win on the road.

The Pats are a better-than-average team, but they are not in the elite class. And that pains me to say that!

The Saints are elite and the Colts are elite. The Pats are not, and don't fool yourself.

I'm not giving up the Patriots, but numbers don't lie. You don't lose four games already and be considered Super Bowl contenders.

But if they get hot from this point on, the Pats couldn't give us a lot more to cheer about and make a nice run in the playoffs.

It's not all doom and gloom, but now is the time to man up.

What we learned this week in college football: Week 13

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Oklahoma is still a pretty good football team
It's been a pretty heartbreaking season for Sooner fans, but if there is a consolation, they destroyed Oklahoma State and ran off with the Cowboys' dignity. The Sooners' strength won them this game as they frustrated Zac Robinson, allowing him to complete just nine passes in 21 attempts. Ohlahoma picked up just 109 yards of total offense and was shut out for the first time since Dec. 10, 2005. Despite the 7-5 record, this game should propel OU into a somewhat decent bowl.

Pitt needs solid quarterback play if it wants to beat Cincinnati
Bill Stull has been a pretty effective quarterback this year after throwing more interceptions than touchdowns last season. But Stull's game in the Panthers' 19-16 loss to West Virginia was by far his worst of the season. It was the first game this season where he threw more interceptions than touchdowns, completed just 53 percent of his passes and averaged just six yards per pass. Cincinnati does give up yardage through the air, but they do have their share of ball hawks, nabbing 14 interceptions on the year. They also do a good job of getting to the quarterback, so Stull will have to make sure he stays composed and makes good decisions.

Max Hall is a pretty good quarterback
This isn't something that's new to anyone who truly pays attention to college football, but if you weren't paying attention before, perhaps you did after the BYU's 26-23 overtime win. Hall did not have a great game at all against the Utes, but came through with a clutch touchdown between two defenders in the middle of the field when it mattered most. Hall has flown under the radar all season, but his 30 touchdowns, including the game-winner against Utah, is good for fourth in the nation. He has 14 picks, which is taking him out of any rell consideration for any postseason awatds, but he's also in the top-10 in total yards, yards per game, completion percentage.

Notre Dame was the team just good enough to come close
A lot has been made about the fact that their six losses came by a combined 28 points. And while it's true that that meant they were that close to an undefeated season, a great team would have been able to turn a few of those into W's, or even better, not have been in a close game at all. Let's also not forget that Notre Dame is very lucky not to be 5-7, as Michigan State just missed an open receiver in the end zone and ended up throwing it away to Kyle McCarthy. The game against Stanford was eerily similar to the 2008 season, blowing a double-digit lead and losing the game in crushing fashion.