Prior to the Indianapolis game, without the question even being finished, rookie S Patrick Chung told PFW that Jerod Mayo was becoming the leader of the Patriots' defense. But really he started the process last season, when Chung still was at Oregon, and Mayo has been needed no more than at this time. Many observers have said that head coach Bill Belichick's fourth-down decision at Indy was a slap in the face of his defense, but Mayo said the defense has turned that notion on its head. "We looked at it as a challenge," he said. "People say that it was a lack of confidence in us, but we looked at it as a challenge and we looked at it as Coach having enough confidence in us to give us a short field. Unfortunately, we were unable to step up to the challenge and get the job done." Team insiders expect Mayo to lead the charge down the stretch and play his best football of the season, all while carrying this young defense on his back from a leadership standpoint, as well.

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