Here is a stunning development: NFL officials actually flagged the Patriots for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the fourth quarter Sunday — and it cost New England dearly.

With 4:45 left to play, Patriots tight end David Thomas was flagged for a post-whistle shove. The 15-yard infraction moved New England out of field goal range.

“It was a mistake by me,” Thomas said. “Obviously, they called it, and I’ll own up to it. I felt like that was definitely a critical mistake for me, and it really cost the team.”

It wasn’t the most egregious foul ever, as Patriots tackle Matt Light noted. “Whether you agree with it or not, it was called,” he whined. “One of these days, (the officials) are going to let us play this game.”

Of course, that was one of just two penalties walked off against the Patriots during the game – as per NFL guidelines.

These same officials shrugged when Patriots defensive back Brandon Meriweather blasted Colts receiver Reggie Wayne with a helmet-to-helmet hit after his two-point conversion catch in the third quarter.

NBC noticed it, though, and played it over and over. It’ll be interesting to see if the league reviews that hit and fines Meriweather.

Earlier in the week, a video presentation spared Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork from a NFL suspension. During his hearing, Wilfork’s wife, Bianca, handed over a video showing new angles on an alleged cheap shot on Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler.

According to ESPN.com, “On the alternate DVD, Cutler could be seen picking himself up and patting Wilfork on the helmet after the play.”

No word on whether the alternate video also showed Wilfork bringing Cutler milk and cookies on the play.

(Wouldn’t it be funny if the ever-vigilant Patriots video department screwed up and produced a Rams Super Bowl walkthrough tape instead?)

If you missed the loss on TV live, here are the highlights — including replays of the end zone hit on Wayne:

Questions to ponder while the Rams start gearing up for 2009:

• Everybody appreciates Steven Jackson attempting to play hurt, but how did a strained quadriceps muscle cause his hands to stop functioning?
• Will the Rams use the Cardinals game tape as a how-to tutorial for their offense?
• Did anybody else notice that Rams castoff Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes for the Bengals Sunday.

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Dan Daly, Washington Times: “Only the 49ers could go from a coach who liked to wear suits on the sideline (Mike Nolan) to a coach who delivers pep talks with his pants around his ankles (Mike Singletary). According to a team spokesman, by the way, Singletary kept his boxers on during his halftime rant last Sunday. Rats. I was just about to type: Who does he think he is, Warren Moon?”

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “Let me summarize the just-ended World Series. Dreary, soggy and cold; temperatures in the 40s; late starts causing one game to end at 1:47 a.m.; the climactic game suspended and postponed indefinitely by rain; two teams nobody outside the two markets cared about; the worst TV ratings in history, by far; and the feel-good Rays losing to the hated Phillies. Otherwise, a huge success.”

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: “Because school officials at both Florida and Georgia are distancing themselves from the nickname and telling TV networks not to refer to today’s game as ‘The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,’ is it time to come up with a new moniker? After the way Florida fans have whimpered and cried about Georgia’s end-zone celebration last year, how about we call it the World’s Largest Outdoor Whine and Cheese Party?”

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “Isiah Thomas, what a guy. He ODs on sleeping pills then announces that it was his teenage daughter whom the paramedics came to rescue. Hey, at least Isiah didn’t blame it all on Roger Clemens‘ wife. Thomas reportedly swallowed 10 Lunesta sleeping pills. If he was that desperate to go to sleep, Zeke should have watched some old tapes of the Knicks when he was the coach.”

Cote again: “The national television rating of 8.4 for the Series was a record low. But that’s misleading. I understand it was a robust 10.3 among the participating players’ families. The Series could only have been worse for baseball if the championship trophy had been presented by Barry Bonds. Dear Bud Selig: Can we pretend like this World Series never happened and please start all over? I hear the Red Sox and Dodgers are rested and ready.”

MEGAPHONE

“We’re 0-8, but I think we’re a good 0-8 team, if that’s possible. I was just telling them: Are we going to the playoffs? Probably not. But we’re all men and play with pride. Basically, play with pride and let’s try to make this thing look somewhat respectable.”

Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh.