Discussion

Patriots carried by healthy outlook

Mental toughness helps team fight through illness, injury in AFC East clincher

Updated: December 27, 2010, 12:36 AM ET
By Mike Reiss | ESPNBoston.com

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- When the New England Patriots took the field for pregame warm-ups Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium, their two defensive captains stayed behind in the locker room. Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo both were too sick.

The flu had ripped through parts of the Patriots' locker room during the week, sacking quarterback Tom Brady among others, and the training room had no vacancies, the result of a growing list of injured players after a prime-time, pad-crunching win over the ...

Read full story

ESPN Conversations


You must be signed in to post a comment

Already have an account?

You are fully responsible for the content you post. Content that includes profanity, personal attacks or antisocial behavior (such as "spamming" or "trolling"), or other inappropriate content or material will be removed. We reserve the right to block any user who violates our terms of use, including removing all content posted by that user.

PATRIOTS 34, BILLS 3


Follow Mike Reiss' coverage
of the New England Patriots on Twitter

PATRIOTS CENTER

Check out ESPN Boston's complete coverage of the Patriots' division-clinching romp over the Bills, including analysis, commentary, news, videos and more. Patriots Center »

MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE

NFL BLOG NETWORK

EDITORS' PICKS

  • Still Up In The Air?
    Is there a reason Doc Rivers hasn't committed to next season yet?
  • The New Lackey
    One of the most pleasant surprises of the Sox season is back on the mound tonight.
  • It's Never Easy
    Tuukka Rask and the Bruins couldn't finish the Rangers, but they aren't rattled.
  • Where He Belongs
    No matter the dugout, Terry Francona is at home on a baseball diamond.
  • Airing It Out
    If Brady holds a grudge over losing Welker, he's not showing it.

Facebook » Twitter »

MORE NFL HEADLINES