Chris Hanson News

NEW ENGLAND At MIAMI  1 p.m. ET, CBS OPENING LINE -- Patriots by 41/2 RECORD VS.

The defense rests is frequently a good thing in a courtroom. Not so much in Football, as the Patriots discovered in their 38-17 meltdown against the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.

Running back Fred Taylor [ stats ] returned to the locker room yesterday, making his first appearance in front of reporters since tearing ligaments in his ankle in early October.

It seemed like Leigh Bodden was wearing a magnet yesterday. No matter where he was on the field, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez found the Patriot cornerback.

Next game: New England at New Orleans, 8:30 p.m. next Monday . The Jets didn't do much offensively in the first half, but special teams provided a boost when Eric Smith blocked Chris Hanson's punt and Brad Smith returned it 4 yards for a touchdown with 50 seconds left.

Two of the more interesting questions following the Patriots ' 31-14 win over the Jets on Sunday concerned their two Pro Bowl receivers.

Ten games into the season, and this is what we know about your New England Patriots : Bernard Pollard is no different from any other defensive player in the NFL .

The defense Bill Belichick didn't want to put on the field a week ago kept the offense of the New York Jets off it Sunday.

Leading up to the 2004 draft, the Patriots did their due diligence when it came to the Texas Tech players who would be available come April, as they do with players from schools across the country.

In a season spiraling out of control, Darrelle Revis certainly held up his end of the bargain putting the clamps on Randy Moss for the second time in two months.

Regardless of the mind-boggling outcome in last night's 35-34 Colts victory, the Pats cashed as three-point underdogs, moving to 5-4 against the number.

By and large, fourth-quarter strategy is discussed in terms of timeless horse sense.

In today's blitz, Bill Belichick comments on the failed fourth-down call, Tom Brady weighs in on the controversial move, the team loses a pass rusher and one source believes the Patriots were destined to lose before the fourth-down play.

Three o'clock in the morning, and I'm still rolling Bill Belichick 's call around in my head.

OK, first let me say that Bill Belichick made a completely outlandish coaching decision Sunday night.

The New England Patriots announced today that K Stephen Gostkowski has been named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week by the National Football League for his performance in the Patriots' 27-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins last Sunday.

Last year, the Patriots missed out on the playoffs because they didn't have the best record within AFC East divisional play.

About two and a half hours before kickoff, Patriots and Dolphins players began to trickle on to the field for warm-ups. Among the first Patriots out there are Brian Hoyer, Stephen Gostowski, Chris Hanson, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Eric Alexander, and Bret Lockett.

The New England Patriots return from the Bye Week to face AFC East Rival Miami at Gillette Stadium.

When CBS flashed a graphic on yesterday's telecast that the wide receiver was the NFL 's most prolific after the catch, it was no surprise to him.