01:00 AM EDT on Monday, September 20, 2004

TEMPE, Ariz. -- This is why the Patriots have won two world championships in the last three years, and the Red Sox haven't won one in 86 years.

This is why the Patriots hold the Lombardi Trophy, and the Europeans once again have the Ryder Cup.

That was hardly the Patriots' "A" game that was on display yesterday in the desert, but it was good enough to win.

Again.

For the last 17 consecutive games, the Patriots have walked off the field winners. For nearly a year now -- ever since last Sept. 28 at Washington -- the Patriots have done whatever they have needed to do to win.

Against good teams, and mediocre teams, and bad teams -- in the snow, in the bitter cold, in the pouring rain, in oppressive heat and energy-sapping humidity -- whether a season opener, or a Super Bowl, the Patriots always find a way to win.

The Red Sox, with Pedro Martinez on the mound, blew a chance yesterday to gain ground on their perennial nemesis, the Yankees, in the A.L. East. They went into the weekend with momentum, and presumably added more with a dramatic, 9th-inning victory Friday night. Then the Yankees won the next two, beating Boston's ace in the crucial third game.

The American golfers, favored to win the Ryder Cup with a roster filled with the world's top-ranked players, were blown out by the Europeans.

The Patriots could have blown yesterday's game. But they didn't.

And don't say that was no big deal, because it was only against the lowly Cardinals.

The Packers lost their home opener yesterday to the Bears, who were beaten in Chicago a week ago yesterday by the Lions, who hadn't won a game on the road in three years. Denver, a week after routing Kansas City, couldn't score a touchdown at Jacksonville.

At a time in the National Football League when there is more parity than ever before, when the margin between victory and defeat is closer than ever, the Patriots are on the brink of breaking the all-time record for consecutive victories.

They have two weeks to prepare to play the Bills in Buffalo, where they can tie the league mark of 18. They could then break the record at home the following week against Miami.

More media attention than usual will be focused on the Pats as they attempt to extend The Streak.

"What streak?" coach Bill Belichick said, without even the hint of a wry grin, when asked about it following yesterday's 23-12 victory over the Cards.

"We're not worried about the streak," offensive guard Joe Andruzzi said. "We're only worried about the Bills. Nobody even talks about it -- ever -- unless you media guys come in and ask about it."

Okay, well, as long as we're asking . . . how do you football guys do it? How do you somehow manage to continue to come out on top -- week, after week, after week?

"There's so much that goes into it," offensive tackle Matt Light said. "It's not just one or two things that determine why and how we do what we do.

"Collectively, everybody is on the same page. A lot of it is experience. A lot of us have played together for quite some time now. It's not like we haven't been there. We know what it takes. We never take anything, or anybody, for granted.

"The coaches," said Light, "work as hard as any staff in the league. They prepare us so well. We see the work they put in, and we try to match it."

Veteran linebacker Ted Johnson said: "This team has a lot of character. We have a lot of older guys who have proven they can handle things, and a mix of new guys who want a taste of winning. So we've always got guys who are hungry. It's a nice blend. The dynamic works."

It wasn't working as smoothly yesterday as the Patriots would have liked. But, in the end, everything worked out.

"Any time you go on the road and win," quarterback Tom Brady said, "you're happy about that. But we left a lot of plays out there, and have stuff we are going to have to correct."

Asked about the Pats' long winning streak, and their chances of breaking the record, Brady replied:

"You know what? The thought hasn't even crossed my mind. It's so challenging every week that, no matter who you play, or where you play, it's always tough, it's always a challenge.

"We have to stay tough. We have to focus. And we have to get better.

"You come out of these games sometimes almost with a sour taste in your mouth," Brady said, "knowing you could have performed so much better. The expectations going in are so high, and then you go out and kick all those field goals.

"We feel that is just not where it needs to be. We need to start scoring more points. I think the way we're playing now won't be good enough much longer."

Though they weren't at their best, the Patriots impressed Arizona coach Dennis Green.

"I have to congratulate Bill Belichick and his team," Green said. "Winning 17 games in a row is absolutely incredible."

As The Streak continues, the pressure mounts. But that doesn't bother the Patriots.

"It's going to be hard to ignore," Light said of The Streak. "We know there'll be a lot of talk about it the next few weeks. But it's not what we're focusing on. We have so much more to take care of than wondering how we're going to look in the record book."

New England's record now is 2-0 this season, after having won their last 15 games last year on their way to the Super Bowl.

The Pats have put together a winning team, starting with the owner, Bob Kraft, to the front office headed by Scott Pioli, to the coaching staff, to the players.

They take care of business. They take advantage of opportunities. They take nothing for granted -- not even the Cardinals who have had just one winning season in 16 years in Arizona.

"It's the type of situation," Light said, "that produces championship football teams."