After a long hiatus, I once again to return to the NFL and the New England Patriots.

Instead of rehashing the Chargers game, I like the Pats, will focus on the task at hand - beating Indianapolis.

To do that we solicited the help of "Game On" blogger, Jim O'Brien to partake in a simulated AFC championship game using Madden '07 on Wii.

Wii is something completely different, than say PlayStation.

With my only experience playing Wii being a game of tennis versus an eleven-year-old, I was a little apprehensive.

I must confess when playing video games, I'm used to my thumbs getting a workout.

But after hearing that O'Brien had not played Madden '07, my confidence was restored.

I quickly went through the four trials, learning how to pass, run, defend and kick. It all seemed so simple. I was ready.

I looked to my opponent to take his tutorial, he declined. He was ready.
I put up my first red flag. Hmm.

Oh, well, I knew I was fielding a better team. Right? Indy's defense isn't that good. Brady has only lost once on turf.

I won the toss and received the ball.

Three and done.

I strategized: To beat Indianapolis, put pressure on Manning and stop Harrison.
Fumbling around with controllers yes, Wii has two, I quickly found that easier said than done.

My kick, like my confidence, was shaky.

I went into defensive mode. Focus.

Whoops! There goes Wayne. The schooling had begun.

I tried to think like Belichick. I tried to set up my passing game with the run. I made some progress. I started to pass. I made more progress.

"This isn't so bad."

But once again I had to punt. The Colts scored again and I was quickly in a hole.
I regrouped using an air attack; Fight fire with fire, Right?

I scored. Hooray! Caldwell down the right side virtually untouched.

He would turn out to be my best receiver.

"Why is Brady running?" Did I really mean to select a two-point conversion?

The battles continued, the one in my head and the one on the screen.

The mistakes started piling up like the Colts score.

In frustration, I questioned the game.

"Was it press 'A' then swing my arm?"

"How do you call a time out?"

"Damn, B=dive!"

In agony I watched as my team struggled and fumbled.

"Nooo, I didn't mean to do that."

"Tackle with two hands and press Z."

As I tried to think like Bill. I tried to intercept with little understanding of how and at least once I thought I had.

My opponent went into gamer mode, throwing his football playbook out the window.

At the half I was behind by two scores - down but not out.

I would get more chances; I would blow more chances.

The Patriots remained within two scores.

Then O'Brien, Manning and the Colts got out the hammer.

The Colts looking at 4th and 10 on the 49. My defense was set. The Patriots still have a shot! We're still in this!

I awaited the punt. The punt that never came. Instead Marvin Harrison took a lonely strole down the sideline.

"What? You went for it on 4-10? That would never happen."

"Sure, I went for it," said a now cocky O'Brien.

The score 50-27. I stormed down the field in a blur. Now it was 50-34.

In desperation, with only a few minutes remaining, I attempted an on-side kick. The Colts anticipating the move recovered the ball quickly. And although I stopped the last drive, the game was lost. My heart sunk.

Surely this is not the way the Pats will go down.

So, here's what the Pats have to do to win:
Manage the clock with its running game.
Contain Harrison.
Limit turnovers.
Make the most of opportunties.
Stop the big play.
Certainly they can do a better job of this, than I.

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