I don't know why, but Jay Cutler always looks like poker player, Phil Helmuth to me for some reason. Anyway, I'm honestly curious as to whether ESPN will spend more time talking about the Pats or the Cowboys tonight, but I think I already know the answer to that one. As far as the game itself, it's the Broncos and Pats tonight and the action gets underway in this space around 8ish or so. See you then.

"We've got a cast of thousands from Foxboro, who'll shake you all night long with the music of ACDC."- Chris Berman

"This kid, obviously, has not earned the rights of patches in the locker room."- Emmitt Smith

EMMITT'S BACK, BABY! I'll try to have that one up by halftime. Too funny. Mort finally addresses the Favre-Romo call situation, after an entire two days of nothing from the "Leader", and says Romo was the one who made the call.

7:50- Another funny Glazer-ESPN moment just went down. At the same time that Mortensen was on Monday Countdown reporting that Mike Nolan "might be fired tonight", Glazer reported that he HAS been let go. ESPN....you're now on the clock!

Annnnnnd.....time! 8:04pm. The Countdown crew seems heartbroken about this firing, especially Berman. Odd. Mike Singeltary is now your Coach of the 9ers.

Picks:

Berman- Patriots
Ditka- Broncos
Key- Patriots
Cris Carter- Patriots
TJ- Broncos
Stu- Patriots
Emmitt- Patriots
Steve Young- Broncos

It's amazing that Steve Young is the only one of them that's actually over .500....actually no...that's not surprising at all. I'm also surprised that ESPN didn't make a bigger deal about this being the 600th game in MNF history. Oh well....kickoff coming up shortly....

Wow. Tony actually makes a good point about the Pats' D playing ahead and knowing the other team had to pass every down. I'm amazed.

(Stu) Scott just said Cassel has backed up Palmer, Leinart, and Brady. Cassel is the only one with a job currently so that's enough of a reason that the Pats will win? Why does he get paid again? (Via Jonathan)

Not really sure, but if he's going to do well against a defense....it'll be the Broncos.

Oh and everyone get ready for Jaws to praise Jay Cutler for about three solid hours tonight. He could throw four picks to one TD and he'd still be slurping all over him.

"That's John Elway-like."- Jaws on Cutler

Oh god....here we go....

"Shanahan motors through quarterbacks like he's speed dating."- Tony Kornheiser
__________________________

8:40- This game hasn't even started yet, and I'm already bored with it. That's not a good sign. Broncos get the ball first...let's get this over with....

Andre Hall makes a few people miss and he'll get it out to about the 27. Cutler gets hit on first down and he's hurt already. Looks to have hit his hand on a helmet. Second down pitch goes for a few and that's it for Cutler....he's off to the sideline. Wait....no....he's back in and I think you can guarantee a run right here.....

Draw and somehow Pittman still gets a first down. The Pats D is just terrible. Pittman with another nice run and he takes it out to about midfield. Cutler incomplete on second down and he's flexing that hand after every throw.

Patrick Ramsey is still in the NFL???? Well, you learn something everyday... (Via JFein)

Worst. Backup QB. Ever. Third and four....first down to Eddie Royal. Pittman for four or so on first down, then another four on second, and it'll be third and short....Pittman for another first down. Too easy. Pittman again and he got dropped by Warren after 3 yards. He almost got knocked out on the play and he's going to stay down. Injury timeout. More ACDC....YES!!!!

2nd and 7 from the Pats' 34....Play action to Nate Jackson and that goes for a few. 3rd and 5....

Pitch to Hall....FUMBLE!!! Pats recover at their own 32.

"You gotta protect the ball." - Mike Tirico (Via SS)

Thanks Captain Obvious!

8:55- "The Patriots Defense causes a turnover as Andre Hall spits it out."- Mike Tirico

Eww....Sammy Morris reels of 8 and that's followed by a Morris run for ten and a first down at midfield. Annnnd Morris again for another five. These are some good defenses we have on the field tonight. 2nd and 5....play action, Cassel to Watson for a huge gain! Great block downfield there as well. Pats ball inside the redzone....

Morris can only get a couple on first and Cassel gets sacked on second....3rd and long....complete to Welker but he's well short of the marker. FG attempt....

Good. 3-0 Pats with just over 5 minutes left in the 1st quarter

I could improve Denver's D. (Via Mike Nolan)

Yes....yes you could.

"We're going to talk about Tom Brady, obviously, a lot" - Tony Kornheiser (Via Anon)

Greaaaaat.

The New England fans are competing the Cleveland fans for worst teeth. (Via bwalaska)

9:02- Denver's ball at their own 36. Pittman for a few and then Cutler hits Marshall for 11 and a first down at the 50. Pittman gets another first, followed by.......

ANOTHER FUMBLE! Huge scramble for the ball. Still bouncing.....STILL BOUNCING!....and the Pats pick it up in Broncos' territory again. A personal foul on Denver will send it all the way to the Broncos' 22.....Andre Hall with his second drop of the night.

1st down....Sammy Morris goes nowhere. 2nd down....Cassel to Watson is incomplete. 3rd and 10....

"You could toast marshmallows on his forehead right now. He's really steaming."- Tony Kornheiser

Incomplete. Champ Bailey bats it down and we'll got another FG attempt for the Pats....

Good....6-0 New England

"One of the great things of being on Monday Night Football, is that we all get to play doctor" - Tony Kornheiser (Via BW and JFein)

Ummm...sure?

9:13- Andre Hall is still doing an okay job at return kicks....Broncos ball at their 34. Cutler throws quick to Royal and that's a first....

"That's the first time the ball has been thrown his way."- Mike Tirico

Or second...who's counting though? Pittman goes for zippy, Cutler picks up six on a short run and it'll be 3rd and four....Cutler floats one and it falls incomplete. Broncos to punt. Faulk with the fair catch at his own 16.

Morris with a nice run out past the thirty and a first down....and that's the end of the first. 6-0 Patriots.

"He misses the tackle...other than that, it was good defense."- Jaws (Via bwalaska)

9:20- 1st and 10 for the Pats and Cassel hits Welker for eight. Morris then picks up another big gain of 20 and that'll be Pats ball at the Denver 41.

Webster on a blitz and Cassel is brought down for a sack. I'm honestly surprised that Tony isn't harping on Randy Moss not being involved yet. Morris with another nice run and it'll be 3rd and 5 now....Cassel sacked! And that'll be out of FG range. Pats to punt....fair catch by Royal at the 10.

Pittman for six and then Cutler hits Marshall with a corner route, but there's an Offensive P.I. on Brandon that will bring it back. Not much there either. Pittman for about two and that will make it 3rd and 10 for Denver....Cutler runs it, and he gets smacked short of the marker. Broncos to punt....Welker brings it back a few yards to the Pats' 44.

Looks like Nick Kazcur has got the entire O-line addicted to Oxycontin this season. (Via SS)

Too funny.

9:31- Cassel to Moss on a slant, and Tony goes into yet another comparison between this year and last. MORRIS WITH A MONSTER RUN of 32 yards and he takes it all the way to the Broncos' 14. Sammy Mo already has 100 yards in this one.

Morris for about three on first down is followed by a Cassel incompletion to Moss. 3rd and 8....Watson tries for the first....he looks to be short. Great effort there, but the mark will have it short. Pats are going for it either way. 4th and a yard....

Sammy Morris to the left....TD Pats! 13-0 NE with 7:30 to go in the half.

9:39- Kickoff downed by the Broncos, they'll start from the 20....

TD Pats. 13-0. Why does it seem like every football game I actually bother to sit down and watch turns into a rout? (Via NHZ)

I'm beginning to feel the same way myself. Especially on these Monday nighters.

Patriots play U2 in the background after the score. (Via bwalaska)

Lame. A false start on Marshall is followed by a five yarder from Pittman and then an incomplete pass. 3rd and 11....Cutler hits Royal with a 13-yarder and it looks like Woods is hurt for the Pats. Timeout.

"That creates the rotating of the spheroid."- Jaws on the index finger

A pass to Marshall and a run by Pittman that goes nowhere makes it 3rd and short....

CUTLER GOES DEEP! Picked off. Terrible pass and Merriweather grabbed it for the Pats. NE ball at their 15.

P-Ram is officially getting ready to come in the game as Sammy Morris goes nowhere on first down. Cassel is sacked on second down and neither team is looking that great at this point. 3rd and 17....Cassel throws it away....but a dumbass play by the Broncos gives the Pats a first down. Facemask on Winborn.

Morris for a couple is followed by a pass to former Tarheel Sam Aiken, but ANOTHER personal foul tacks on fifteen. Pats ball, first and ten, at the 49. Play action screen to Moss nets nine and Champ Bailey is officially out with a groin.....2-minute warning.

Can we just live blog a game from 1988 from ESPN Classic? (Via SS)

Sure...what's on at the moment?

9:54- Morris gets stopped on a third and short, but it looks like the Pats are going to go for it yet again....I'd personally punt because a turnover would let the Broncs right back in it.....

Nevermind....Sammy Morris all the way down to the 13-yard line on the exact same play as the 4th and goal. Cassel rolls.....

TD to Randy Moss! Every single throw to Moss is offensive pass interference, but it's never called. Dre Bly gets shoved down but the TD stands.....

20-0 Pats.

"It's gonna hurt him for Dancing With the Stars." - Tony K referring to Bailey's groin (Via SS)

That makes no sense whatsoever.

How about a live blog of WWE Raw on USA? I'm hanging on for college bowl season: stupid bowl names, band shots and Bonerama! (Via Mal)

I hear ya. Ramsey completes a pass and Harrison adds a roughing the passer penalty to give the Broncos the ball at midfield. Just dumb. P-Ram is almost picked, but it's dropped by Hobbs. Ramsey to Jackson and the Broncos call timeout with :25 left in the half and the ball on the NE 38.

Ramsey hit...fumbles....no picked by Guyton. NE ball at the 50 and they have some time left to do some damage....

....or not. Cassel sacked and that will be the half. I'll see you in a new thread if you want to watch the rest of this boring game with me.

20-0 Pats.