Welcome to our weekly Q and A, with fans reflecting on the Patriots' win over the Colts on Sunday. Join my weekly chat every Monday at 11 a.m. ET to have your question considered. Here we go...

Q. Tedy, what's the mindset when you have a big lead in the fourth quarter with seven minutes left, to stay no huddle and don't take any time off the clock with incomplete passes to give the other team a chance to catch up? If Branch doesn't get the onside kick at the end, they may have scored again and that would have been the biggest embarrassment in the history of the Pats. Why didn't they try and run out the time? -- Sam (Gloucester, Mass.)

A. Sam, has this team ever shown in its recent history that it takes its foot off the pedal? Their way to run the ball in this offense is the passing game (short passes). They were just being true to who they are.

Q. Tedy, some core special-teamers such as Tracy White and Matthew Slater are playing more on defense this season, and I am worried they are worn out by January. You have spent some years playing both special teams and defense. How did you manage yourself in terms of physical and mental aspects? -- Mark J. (Japan)

A. The heavier the workload the more likely the chance you get worn down. With all the injuries on defense, other players are going to have to step up. Depth is one thing on this team that is being tested. You'd rather leave your core special-teams players to play on special teams, but the Pats have no choice. It took me a decade to get off the punt team, but that added responsibility was something I was proud of.

Q. Fans trust Bill Belichick. We know that this team will make the playoffs with most likely home-field advantage. But there have been a number of questionable moves this year and the latest is the Patriots cutting Taylor Price. I feel that the team owes (not true, of course) the fans an explanation on Price's cut because of the talent and potential we saw in the preseason combined with the team history of drafting WR busts (Randy Moss and Wes Welker were established WRs before they arrived). I just want a clear explanation of why the team cut a talented player before giving him a chance on the field, because a personnel move that drastic (not even two years in the league!) needs to be justified in the minds of fans. -- Eric (Massachusetts)

A. When Tiquan Underwood is signed last week and they promote him ahead of Taylor Price, that's your answer. This organization won't publicly admit at times that they've made a mistake, but when a third-round pick is cut in his second year, they are acknowledging it being a mistake without saying it.

And remember this, it is only his second year. If the Patriots have come to a conclusion that they want to move on from him, why publicly demean a player when he has a chance to get signed by another team? Let other teams come to their conclusions on their own.

Q. What happend in the fourth quarter? Did the defense just decide to shut it down? -- Charles (Rhode Island)

A. It looked like it to me, that they shut it down. They played well up to that point. I saw a defense playing with an attitude of "we got this."

Q. Tedy, are the Jets back? The wins are coming and the weather is getting cold! Is this a playoff streak we're about to witness or are they pretenders? -- LeAnne (Washington)

A. As Lloyd Christmas once said, "so you're saying there's a chance." Yes, what I'm saying is that they have life. They are a team when given life, they turn it on. Over the course of a season, the Jets are inconsistent but in a one-game playoff matchup, they can be dangerous.

My question to you chatters out there: What's the problem with the Detroit Lions? Obviously it's just not Ndamukong Suh; that entire team loses its composure.

Also, what do you think about what Cowboys coach Jason Garrett did with his timeout? Food for thought.

Another question: Do you think the Packers will pull a "Colts" and shut it down with two games to go?

Q. Do you think that the Denver Broncos will be successful in the playoffs? --Ryan (California)

A. Successful in the playoffs, to me, means making it to the conference championship game. I like what the Broncos are doing but I don't see them going that far.

Q. Will the 9-3 Steelers overcome the two losses to the Ravens and still win their division and do you see Pittsburgh going back to the Super Bowl? -- Jayson S. (Pittsburgh)

A. I've got to stay with the Ravens. They were my preseason AFC Super Bowl pick. I don't know what Flacco you will get on a game-to-game basis. This team has played down to its competition, but the Ravens are dangerous, especially at home.

Q. If the Pats' secondary continues to allow huge gains it seems as though the Pats could easily lose in the first round of the playoffs. The remaining serious challenge of the regular season looks to be Miami. I'd prefer to see Miami crush the Pats so they develop a chip on their shoulder that enables them to avoid an early playoff loss. Would be a tough pill to swallow, seeing as I hate to see the Pats lose (especially on Christmas Eve), but in the end it could be the best thing for them. -- Mike (Westford, Mass.)

A. I see where you are coming from. This team has needed a wake-up call at times over the last two seasons, but I think they might have gotten one against the Colts without losing. You let Dan Orlovsky put his team in position to tie the score late. They were one onside kick recovery from seriously being threatened. Bill Belichick has plenty of motivational material for this week.

Q. Hi Tedy, my question is about the pass defense. Forgetting about the yards and the late TDs and the spotty play and the personnel shuffling, for me it boils down to completions. Why can't this defense seem to force ANY incompletions?? It seems like every completion is an easy one with tons of separation by the WRs. When the Colts were putting together two 15+-play drives, I couldn't help but notice those and think that Belichick expects the opposing offense to eventually make a mistake, but it hasn't happened enough! I'd love your input. -- Jim (Illinois)

A. It is one thing to be well coached and in position to make plays. Coach Belichick and that defensive staff can tell them how to adjust, where to line up, and where to be in the framework of the defense called, but once the ball is thrown and it's in the air, good coaching can only do so much. It then comes down to 'Does the player have the ability to make the play?' The one player I want to see that from more is Devin McCourty.

Q. Tedy, are you concerned about Devin McCourty? I cringe when I see him play. The defense performed better the past four weeks he's been out. I'm tired hearing people defend him by saying he plays against the No. 1 WRs from each...