It's their kind of day

By MIKE LOWE, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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	Associated Press New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi jars the ball loose from Baltimore quarterback Kyle Boller in the fourth quarter Sunday. The Patriots' Jarvis Green recovered the ball in the end zone for the touchdown that buried the Ravens.
	Associated Press Corey Dillon, front, carried the Patriots on the ground with 123 yards. He's also got quarterback Tom Brady on his back after scoring on a 1-yard run on the Patriots' first possession of the fourth quarter.
	Associated Press The harder it rained and the muddier it got, the more dominant the Patriots' defense became. Tedy Bruschi does the job with a big hit on Ravens running back Chester Taylor during New England's 24-3 victory Sunday at Foxboro, Mass. The Pats held the Ravens scoreless in the second half.
	UP NEXT WHO: Patriots (11-1) at Cleveland Browns (3-8) WHEN: 1 p.m. Sunday TELEVISION: Channel 13 AFC PLAYOFFS SIX TEAMS make the playoffs. SURE THINGS: Patriots (10-1) and Steelers (10-1) GOOD BETS: Chargers (8-3), Colts (8-3), Jets (8-3) WITH A CHANCE: Broncos (7-4), Ravens (7-4), Jaguars (6-5) To top of story

FOXBORO, Mass. — Say this about the New England Patriots, they always play their best when faced with adversity. Sunday's was the weather.

As the rain and wind worsened Sunday afternoon at swamped Gillette Stadium, the Patriots played better. And better. And better.

New England turned a defensive mudfest into a rout in the second half, getting two field goals from Adam Vinatieri in the third quarter and two touchdowns in the fourth to pound the befuddled Baltimore Ravens, 24-3.

It was 3-3 at the half. It was a mismatch in the second half, leading to New England's 17th consecutive home victory.

"I think we did a much better job in the second half of coming out and playing more of a complete game," said Patriots Coach Bill Belichick. "We took care of the ball, we played well defensively, we were able to eliminate the penalties in the kicking game . . . we played a solid second half.

"This was a good team victory."

New England improved to 10-1; Baltimore dropped to 7-4.

The Pats' defense outplayed one of the best in the game in the second half. Baltimore had only 29 net yards of offense in the final two quarters, 124 in the game.

The Ravens didn't get a first down in the second half until 13:36 remained in the fourth quarter. By that time, New England had a 24-3 lead.

"It was a matter of us saying (in the second half), 'Look, we need to play well, play the game like we know how to play it,' " said linebacker-turned-safety Don Davis.

That meant stopping the running game, defending the deep pass and putting together an offense that controlled the ball. Defending the deep pass was no easy feat with the slippery conditions and a secondary further weakened when cornerback Asante Samuel (shoulder) joined Ty Law and Tyrone Poole on the inactive list.

"This is a team that always does well coming back and fighting back, especially in the second half," said Davis, who had his most plays at safety this season. "It was no different (Sunday)."

The Patriots should have had a shutout but mismanaged the ball at the end of the first half, resulting in a 22-yard field goal by Matt Stover.

Leading 3-0 on Adam Vinatieri's 28-yard field goal in the second quarter that enabled the Patriots to set an NFL record for scoring first in 16 consecutive regular-season games, they got the ball with 1:08 remaining but had to punt after gaining just 3 yards in 22 seconds. Then they were hit with two 15-yard penalties on the punt, giving Baltimore a first down at the New England 16 with 36 seconds left.

"Just about all the things you could do wrong, we did wrong," said Belichick, including himself in the criticism. "Fortunately we were able to make a couple of plays there defensively to keep them out of the end zone and at least come in 3-3, but that was really like the 'Bad News Bears.' "

The second half started much better for the Patriots, with a long kickoff return by Bethel Johnson. That led to Vinatier's 40-yard field goal and a 6-3 lead.

After forcing Baltimore to punt, the Patriots drove again. But a pass interference penalty against David Patten in the end zone wiped out an apparent touchdown pass from Tom Brady, and New England had to settle for a 48-yard field goal by Vinatieri.

Both came at the field's north end, facing the lighthouse. Had the attempts been at the other end in the quagmire, Belichick wasn't so sure the Patriots would have even attempted them.

"Those were tough conditions," said Belichick. "There is no kicker I'd rather have (than Vinatieri), let's put it that way."

The Patriots forced another three-and-out from the Ravens, then drove 48 yards for a touchdown, a 1-yard rush by Corey Dillon on the first play of the fourth quarter. Defensive end Richard Seymour was the lead blocker at fullback and cleared out safety Ed Reed and linebacker Ray Lewis with his block.

Dillon, who rushed for 123 yards and went over 1,000 for the season, also rushed for the two-point conversion.

"The guy runs the way a running back should run," said linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who made the game-clinching play seconds later. "He has great instincts and vision and he's been great for us this year."

Baltimore started its next drive at its 30. On first down, Ted Johnson sacked Kyle Boller for a 10-yard loss, Johnson's first sack since Dec. 8, 2002, and then Bruschi struck.

On second-and-20, Boller ducked under Mike Vrabel to avoid a sack, then scrambled to his right. Bruschi ran down Boller and knocked the ball out of his hands as he tackled him. Baltimore's Chester Taylor missed a chance to recover the ball at the 5 and it squirted into the end zone where defensive end Jarvis Green recovered it for the clinching touchdown.

"Every Friday we practice scoop and score," said Green. "So I knew I was going to score. My head was saying, 'Don't let the ball get out of my hands.' So I went in there and slid right into it and protected the ball."

And the Patriots had another victory.

"This is what it's all about," said Seymour, "going out and having fun."

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:

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