That was, obviously, not all that enjoyable.
They then watched Mark Sanchez, Dustin Keller and LaDainian Tomlinson drive down the field and tie their game against the Lions. A Sanchez-to-Santonio Holmes bomb thereafter set up the game-winning score. Goodbye, first place.
With things looking about as bad as bad can be for football fans in New England, they at least could find some solace in a Chiefs victory over the Raiders, one that would go a long way in helping the Patriots move toward the top 10 of next year's draft. (If, somehow, you're not aware, the Patriots own the Raiders' first-round pick in 2011, which they received in the Richard Seymour trade.)
For a while, the Chiefs looked to be in control. Then, a Matt Cassel interception in the end zone before halftime. Next, a 94-yard kickoff return by Jacoby Ford (who?!) to open the third quarter. Then, a deep ball to Ford (again — who?!) to set up the game-tying field goal.
At least the Chiefs won the coin toss to begin overtime, right?
Well, that didn't turn out so well, either, as Cassel and the Chiefs went three-and-out, and the Raiders took over at their own 38-yard line … just before Ford caught a 47-yard bomb to set up the game-winning field goal.
Final score: Raiders 23, Chiefs 20
With the win, the Raiders improved to 5-4 and have now won three straight. The Raiders now have the 15th-best record in the NFL, which won't secure any Super Bowl trips but could very well turn what was expected to be a top-10 or top-five (or top-one) pick into a middle-of-the-pack first-round pick.
Chances are, Mr. Seymour, who led the Raiders with seven solo tackles and eight overall, doesn't feel all that badly about it.
No, from a football perspective, Sunday was not a marvelous day for New England, making Monday morning's rain/ice/snow/leaf storm all the more appropriate.
