It must be December because the New England Patriots are headed into that time of year where everything always seems to fall into place for them.

Tampa Bay was a first place team -- above .500 -- and shutting them out last Saturday may prove just where the Pats may be headed in the next few weeks.

Note: For those of you who got your playoff invoices last week, make sure they're paid in full by December 20th.

For most of the season, the Patriots have been riddled with injuries, allowed teams to run, complete long passes, convert third downs, score from the red zone, and, at times, played downright lousy, flat and without emotion.

However, as I said, this is December and these guys know what is up for grabs, so to get guys back like Tedy Bruschi, Richard Seymour, Patrick Pass, David Givens, Corey Dillon and Kevin Faulk, there has to be plenty of smiles in the locker room and coaching offices.

These guys aren’t just players. These guys coming back are some of the cogs needed to turn the machine we call Super Bowl Champions. But you can't just take these cogs for granted because those cogs had some support, and with guys like Vince Wilfork and Ellis Hobbs finally stepping up, this team is finding a groove.

The offense is moving the ball on the ground and through the air, the defense is keeping teams from converting third downs, scoring in the red zone, and now that they are stopping the pass, they are getting pressure on opposing QBs so early in the game, you can almost feel the intensity this team is playing with to make a statement.

They made that statement this past weekend with one play, a one- yard TD pass to OL Tom Ashworth, who was called in as eligible. However, what defensive coordinator, linemen or outside linebacker would have thought of him as nothing more than a decoy? That one play defined "who" the Patriots are heading into this post season.

Next week, the Patriots and I will be in New York for the final Monday night game of the season on and ABC before their switch to ESPN next year, and to be honest I’m looking forward to the match up because even though they have earned the AFC East title the Pats want to finish with the best record possible.

This brings me to the Indianapolis Colts who lost to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. The Colts have clinched home field throughout the playoffs, which means there's a good chance their only path to the Super Bowl may be through the Patriots in the RCA Dome.

Wouldn’t sports karma be great if the Pats have to go into the RCA Dome for an AFC championship game against a 14-2 Colts if they drop one of their last two games?

To be honest, now that the Colts have lost, I’m sure the talk is going to turn on QB Peyton Manning and how he has yet to win the big games. This season for the Colts won’t mean squat unless they get to the Super Bowl, so if it comes down to my predicted game, the Colts will have to…

"BUZZ!"

Stop right there because the Pats won't lose to this team twice, especially after being beat in their own house with a lackluster roster. This coaching staff will have this team ready to eat rocks if this day happens, and the cameras will be taping when Manning has to leave the field once again without his shot at a ring. You can't have all that money (contract) and a ring ... Karma doesn't allow it.

Last on my topic list is this story about the Minnesota Vikings and how their charter boat trip turned into a cruise that could have ended up in Penthouse Forum. To be honest, if I was on the Vikings, I’d want to know why I wasn’t invited. And, I don’t think there is any guy in America sitting back reading the detailed reports of what happened on that boat and saying to themselves…

"Those guys should be ashamed of themselves… What kind of actions are those?"

When I read the reports I had several things come to mind…

1. Damn… Where was my ticket?
2. And the NFL said "Playmakers" and "Any Given Sunday" doesn’t depict the true happenings outside the NFL?
3. Wasn't this how the true Vikings acted on their ships years ago?

All kidding aside... These actions happened on a "charter" cruise, and the complaints were filed by the owners of the ship after hearing about the night from the ship's employees. Isn't there some sort of privacy disclosure when renting a ship like this? There was no damage to the boat and, if anything, maybe there were some cleaning costs to be paid.

I can't see how there can be charges filed if the ship was hired for a private function. It's the same as renting a limo for a date, then ending up getting hot and heavy in the back with whomever. Most limo drivers have certain codes with their passengers and get tipped accordingly.

Remember the Tommy Lee/Pam Anderson sex tape? The boat they had for their anniversary was chartered, and no charges were filed on their actions.

So what do the owners get out of this? They get all types of notoriety and free advertising for their business at the cost of (in my opinion) violating a certain code of ethics for privately chartered cruises.

I'm curious though... What are your thoughts on this matter? Let me know, I'm anxious to see who has a problem with this and who doesn't.

Questions, comments. Hit me up at sinista1@msn.com