01:00 AM EDT on Monday, October 13, 2003

FOXBORO -- Resourceful. That would be one way to describe your 2003 New England Patriots.

They had injury problems, and penalty problems, and offensive problems yesterday, yet still found a way to win, solidly and decisively, if not entirely impressively.

They had 29 yards total offense in the first half while quarterback Tom Brady was completing just 1-of-10 passes for the not-so-grand -- in fact, downright pathetic -- total of 7 yards.

But, thanks to a 38-yard fumble return for a touchdown by linebacker Matt Chatham -- who, at the start of the season, was only supposed to play on special teams -- the Patriots led at halftime, 7-3.

The defense, which intercepted two passes in the first half, picked off three more in the second as the Pats put away the Giants, 17-6.

"The defense did a wonderful job," Brady said. "They stepped it up again, which they continue to do, even with all the guys who are out. Our offense has to be more consistent and stop shooting ourselves in the foot every time we make a play."

Resilient. That would be another way to describe the now 4-2 Patriots.

They've been riddled by injuries on both sides of the ball, but they keep plugging in players, and keep on winning.

The defense was missing Ted Washington, Ted Johnson, Mike Vrabel and Rosevelt Colvin (who's out for the season) yesterday, and Pro Bowl corner Ty Law didn't play the fourth quarter because of his bad ankle.

Yet the patchwork Patriots held the Giants to just two field goals.

"To hold a team like that to two field goals," said Pats safety Rodney Harrison, who intercepted two passes, "with all the adversity, all the trials we've gone through, speaks a lot about this team."

Tenacious. That's certainly accurate. Because these Patriots keep coming after you.

"We leave all the adjectives to you guys," said linebacker Tedy Bruschi, when asked what word

he'd use to describe his team. "When guys go down, we don't hang our heads. We expect whoever is in there to do the job."

The New England defense did a fabulous job yesterday. A wonderful job. A terrific job.

"That was a great win," a smiling coach Bill Belichick said, not just proudly, but also a bit emotionally. "A great win. You've got to give the defense a lot of credit. They were out there a long time. Man, they played hard."

Relentless. That, too, would apply to the Patriots.

They never quit, as was evidenced two weeks ago at Washington, when they fell behind, 20-3, with 20 minutes to go, and were missing three starters along the offensive line. But they battled back to 20-17, and were in Redskins territory late in the fourth quarter.

"I can't say enough about these guys," Belichick said yesterday. "They keep fighting. They keep scrapping."

They are responsible, these Patriots. They hold themselves accountable. They don't make excuses. Instead, they make plays.

Are they exciting? No, not really.

The precision passing game that helped them win the Super Bowl is obviously out of sync, and the wide-open attack they used to light up the scoreboard like a pinball machine the first four games last year is long gone.

So you can't say they're flashy. But physical? You bet, as they proved a week ago in pounding the rough, tough Tennessee Titans.

Successful? Somewhat amazingly, yes. So far, at least. Despite all their misfortune, all their bad luck with injuries, they're still 4-2, a half-game behind the division-leading, 4-1 Dolphins heading into Sunday's game in Miami.

What word, Belichick was asked, would he use to describe his club at this stage of the season?

"Tough," he said.

Absolutely. No question.

Given the warm and fuzzy feelings they evoke among the populace that follows the team, could these Patriots perhaps be described as cuddly, too?.

Nope, sorry.

How about lovable? Oh, yeah.

Assuming, that is, you like your football teams resourceful, resilient, relentless, tenacious, and, as Belichick says, tough.