The Patriots’ First Shot

Good morning! The First Shot provides you with a healthy helping of links to the top Patriots-related stories around the internet to get you in the gift wrap-tearing mood. Enjoy your breakfast, your coffee, kick your feet up, and get in your Patriots fix before you set out for a day with family and friends. The links begin after the jump…

• The Patriots were able to overcome a terrible start to beat the Dolphins yesterday.
• Down on the Patriots? Here’s why you should feel good about this team.
• Check out the postgame press conference transcripts of Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and Wes Welker.
• Giants RB Brandon Jacobs said to Rex Ryan after the Giants-Jets game what all of us have wanted to say.
• Devin McCourty’s sophomore slump continues…
• It seems as though we’ll have to wait until at least Monday to hear about the status of Logan Mankins.
• Rookie RB Stevan Ridley took the majority of the carries yesterday.