Now that's more like it.

The Patriots showed yesterday that they are still a force to be reckoned with in the NFL Playoffs, as they rolled over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28-0 in Foxborough yesterday. The Pats looked a lot more like the dominant team we have gotten used to seeing the last couple of years. Despite convincing wins over the Jets and the Bills the last two weeks, a lot of fans were still in "look who they beat" mode. Beating the Bucs (9-4 coming into the game) made believers out of a lot of people.

The fantasy scenario around here is that the Indianapolis Colts maintain their unbeaten streak into a playoff game against the Pats. New England beats the Colts in Indy and dashes their Super Bowl hopes yet again. At that point, under NFL rules, I think Peyton Manning would be required to commit ritual suicide.

Just kidding.

I wouldn't have had much confidence in this happening a few weeks ago, but as the Patriots get healthier and some of the replacements get used to the Belichick system, the team is starting to look like a real contender again.

Now that they've clinched the division, the Pats can continue to get people healthy and tune up for the playoffs.