Mascots are just funny like that...

Stop scoring once you hit 38...

So even though I accidentally discovered the outcome of the Patriots-Chargers game while I was in Germany, I watched my recording of both that game and Pats-Bills game once I returned back to the States. Both ended with the Patriots scoring 38 points! Yikes! When was the last time the Pats offense caught fire like this?

Brady now has 10 TD passes through 3 weeks! This can't possibly last, can it? Thoughts on what I saw, as well as the aftermath of the videotaping scandal:

-Much has been written on this blog about Bill Belichick's illegal use of a camera during the Jets game. But this is easily the most disturbing development to date.

-I'm not quite sure how he engenders such loyalty, but the aftermath of the Chargers game shows there's no question the Patriots love playing for Bill Belichick. The guy gave away the integrity of their past accomplishments, and they still love him. Even if you take away the "genius" label and his scheming ability, this guy is the still best coach in the NFL.

-As impressive as 38 points per game is, I can't help but feel that it has been against inferior defenses. Certainly the Bills and Jets are terrible, but is San Diego really that bad? Given their inability to hold the lead against the Packers last Sunday, I think the answer is that they are definitely flawed. Thankfully, another crappy defense is on the slate for Week 4 (the 29th-ranked Cincy Bengals), but if the Patriots offense were stock, I'd be selling high right now.

-The defense also looks lights out, but I think we'll really see what they're made of once they face the Carson Palmer and the Bengals high-powered offense. The front seven looks great, as they're stuffing the run and also rushing the passer with ferocity, but I'm suspicious of that Pats secondary. They all look pretty good, I guess, but I'd like to think that those guys would have more than just one interception through 3 games.

-Another concern pointed out by Belichick this week: in 5 trips into the red zone, opponents have scored a TD every single time. Not good sign.

-This is pretty easy to point out, but once Rodney Harrison comes back next week, this defense may just be scary good. And if Richard Seymour comes back, it could be positively terrifying.

-Back in March, I knew I'd love watching Wes Welker and I was right. Impressive as Randy Moss is (his speed and hands are crazier than I had thought), I'd much rather watch quick, scrappy guys like Welker juking opponents out of their socks and making them look foolish.

And for you Cincy fans out there, some words on the Bengals:

-After watching the Monday night opener against the Ravens, I thought the Bengals might have turned the corner and become a solid playoff team. After all, not many teams can come up with a game-clinching goal-line stand in the waning seconds (even if they did have some help from the refs). Amazing how giving up 51 points to the BROWNS can take a little luster off of that defense. I don't think the Bengals defense is that bad, but there's no denying that they're not as good as they appeared in Week 1.

-Although calling the Colts' team building philsophy a "losing formula" seems to have been somewhat inaccurate (given the events of last year), it certainly seems to be true for the Bengals. I don't think it's too reliable to have a defense built on good pass defense alone. Like the Colts did in last years' playoffs, the Bengals are going to have to become a lot stouter against the run if they are going to start consistently winning.

-Color me disappointed that Chad Johnson decided not to playfully trash-talk the Patriots this week. He might be the only one that can goad Bill Belichick into trash-talking him back.

-Though I think the game could be closer than the 7.5 point line, I have a hard time seeing the Bengals pull off an upset here. The defense is too porous, and without Rudi Johnson, I can't see the Bengals offense avoid becoming one-dimensional. Final outcome: Patriots, 38-24.

Wacky Chinaman's European Vacation Part 6: Farewell, Munich

And on the last day of our trip, we decided to take it easy. Our energy was pretty much sapped from Oktoberfest anyway. Munich is a beautiful city, and I wish I'd allotted more time to take it in.





And for our final meal...more German food! (and German beer!)



Lastly, if any of you readers out there know my friend Stimpe, ask him to tell you about the final night at Lucky's with Old Man Farmer, JoJo the Russian, and Dragon the Croation Bartender. A hilarious and delightfully weird story that sounds made up, but isn't.