New England at New York Jets 10 a.m.

SO THIS IS THE BIG TIME. CAN WE GO HOME NOW?

For years now, New Englanders have stared at the limp clams in their chowder, silently mocking them and their NFL aspirations, and wondered, “Isn’t there anything else to eat around here? And wouldn’t it be something if the Patriots ever played a meaningful game in December?”

Well, here it is--New England, 6-3 in its last nine, at AFC East co-leader New York--and there go the Patriots, completely off the boil.

Drew Bledsoe is sulking on the sideline, counting his millions while his replacement, second-year pro Tom Brady, racks up touchdown passes.

Terry Glenn refuses to practice, prompting the Patriots, who have refused to pay Glenn his $8.5-million signing bonus, to suspend him and clean out his locker.

Bryan Cox questions the Patriots’ resolve, telling reporters, “We’re still a team that lacks confidence.... It’s like your wife. If you don’t tell her how beautiful she is every day, she won’t believe it. Until we really believe that we have it, it’s hard to instill it on all the guys on the team.”

Do you, Impartial NFL Observer, believe in the Patriots? Didn’t think so.

The line: New York by 3.