sure the 4th down thing looks bad but kicking a sure field goal from the 10 yard line is just as insulting.. atleast with a 4th down run play like the eckel and cassel plays the other team had a good chance to stop any scoring with a stop against a 2nd string qb and a 4th string RB. Now about the passing... this is a pass first offense they are not a great running team so they don't want to go three and out for the whole forth quarter and give the other team a bunch of chances to come back.
Ne and pittsburg have two totally difference offenses.. the steelers don't throw the ball nearly as much as NE even in a close game.. and I don't think the defense let the redskins back in the game... In the dolphins game the backup qb's started turning the ball over and that lead to a few quick dolphins scores they had to put brady back in because those two clowns could not even run ball control offense that week...
BTW I think all this run up the score crap is silly.. you play the game until the other team can't win.. We have all seen miracle come backs before when a team let up on the gas pedal to early. Plus in the pats case they are playing with a chip on their shoulder right now. If you think about it from a patriots player or coaches point of view you probably would feel the same thing. I know we will disagree but remember I am talking about THEIR point of view. This is not pop warner these are all adults playing this game it's more important to keep players sharp and to make sure the other team don't come back than to worry about feeling getting hurt.
It's not the job of a NFL player or coach to keep their own scoring down.. it's the other teams players and coaches job to that. I think we all need to step back and remember that