New England Patriots defeat Cleveland Browns, 34-17

CINCINNATI - You expect them to win just by showing up.

This must have been what it was like watching UCLA when Lew Alcindor, then Bill Walton dominated college basketball. This must have been what it was like when Sonny Liston, then Mike Tyson, KO'd a succession of tomato cans in the heavyweight division.

Your Patriots took their game to "Monday Night Football" last night and New England fans arriving home from the embarrassing Red Sox rally (are these things MLB-manda...

FOXBOROUGH - I may have mentioned this once or twice, but it bears repeating after a day like yesterday: if you are a Patriots diehard, never, ever forget one very important thing: These Are The Good Old Days.

Your team wins when it plays well. Your team wins when it doesn't play so well. Even against a half-decent NFL team (which Romeo Crennel's Cleveland Browns have become) it doesn't need its 'A' game to win, and to win by 17 points. Its 'B-' or 'C+' game will do.

...

FOXBOROUGH - It started before the Patriots took the field.

Dressed for action and with the clock ticking closer to yesterday's opening kickoff, Patriots players came together in the locker room one final time. They listened to the words of linebacker Junior Seau.

Don't get complacent, he told his teammates. Play with emotion and passion. Seize the moment.

Just as linebacker Tedy Bruschi regularly leads postgame celebrations following victories, it seems as if Sea...

FOXBOROUGH - Five games into his Patriots career, Donte' Stallworth obviously has mastered the team blueprint.

For instance, about his big game at Gillette Stadium yesterday . . .

"I wouldn't say it was a big game. I dropped a third-down ball," said the sixth-year wide receiver.

OK, then. We'll downgrade that assessment. How about his good game . . .

"We got the win and that's the most important thing. But I'm sure there are a lot of things I'll be mad about [w...