The Patriots became only the sixth team in NFL history to start the season 12-0. However, they’ve shown in the last two weeks by barely scraping by with victories that they are far from perfect.

In last weeks 31-28 victory over the Eagles and particularly in last nights’ 27-24 edging over the Ravens, the Patriots have shown they are beatable in all phases of the game. The Ravens did what any team hoping to beat the Pats was supposed to do. Control clock with a running game and force Tom Brady and Co. to punt occasionally. The problem was that they were only able to do this for 3 quarters.

It doesn’t hurt to also be lucky and gain some turnovers. Kyle Boller reverted to his old self in the second half after a heroic and surprising first half. Boller threw a key interception in the second half that led to a Stephen Gostkowski field goal, but more importantly, returned momentum to New England’s side.

On the last drive of the game by the Pats, the weary Baltimore defense came up with a stuffing of Tom Brady on 4th and short. Unfortunately, the officials whistled the play dead based on a timeout being called by Ravens’ Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan. However, per NFL rules only the head coach can call a timeout from the sidelines. Instead of giving the ball back to Baltimore and ending the Pats’ perfect season, the Pats converted a first down and continued on to win the game.

Will the Pats go on undefeated? It’s hard to go against them, but the argument can clearly be made that 1) they are beatable and 2) someone will beat them before the end of the regular season. They have an extremely stiff battle awaiting them in Foxboro when the Steelers come to town. Pittsburgh boasts a very strong defense and they play the type of ball-control game on offense behind Big Ben and Willie Parker than can beat the Pats. You’ve got to wonder how much longer the Pats luck will last.

-Freddie