Baltimore fans are going to be talking about that timeout for a long time. The timeout called a split-second before the Ravens defense stopped the Patriots on fourth down and would have ensured a victory.

Instead, the Patriots got a first down and eventually won the game, keeping their perfect season intact. But this was the second close call in a row.

I’m now thinking the Pats aren’t that good. Yes, they are incredibly good, but they can’t be dominant all the time. And the pressure on them, the target they pose, will increase as they chase perfection, then multiply even if they go 16-0 in the playoffs. Maybe they are better off losing one game. What’s more important 16-0 and no Super Bowl victory, or 15-1 and less pressure in January. It was sad when the Bears lost that one game in 1985, but they weren’t challenged in the playoffs that year. Perhaps the Pats can do without that monkey.

One other thing: Think the spread against the Steelers next week will be quite as enormous?