FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -The big day Tully Banta-Cain waited for finally arrived.

It wasn't the 2 1/2 sacks the Patriots' backup linebacker got last Monday night in the best game of his career. That was nice, but not as nice as the news he received before the game.

About a half-hour before kickoff, he checked his cell phone as he had done many times that day. And there it was, a picture of newborn Tavian. That's how he found out that his first child had just been born in Providence.

Then he took the field in Minnesota and capped off the special day by helping New England pummel the Vikings 31-7.

``I got a text message of the picture,'' Banta-Cain said Thursday. ``I was just like, ``Wow, he looks just like me.' It took my mind off the game for a split second and then I finally got back in my focus and I said, 'This is going to be for my son.'''

Banta-Cain had spent his first three seasons mostly on special teams since the Patriots drafted him in the seventh round out of California in 2003. They were deep at linebacker and he had to wait his turn.

But this season, Chad Brown and Monty Beisel were released after seeing considerable playing time last year. That made Banta-Cain, who plays on the outside, the No. 1 backup linebacker.

``I think that (the coaches) know I could possibly play an every down linebacker, too,'' he said. ``I think they're confident in my abilities.''

Coach Bill Belichick has seen plenty of improvement.

``Tully has made a lot of progress all year,'' Belichick said. ``He's just gotten a lot more opportunities this year.''

Against Minnesota, he had one sack against Brad Johnson and 1 1/2 against Brooks Bollinger. On Sunday, the competition will be much tougher - Peyton Manning, the NFL's top-rated quarterback and the undefeated Indianapolis Colts.

``I didn't play, I don't think, at all'' on defense in the Colts 40-21 win last season, Banta-Cain said. ``I know what he can do and I've seen what other guys have done against him and I just hope when I get my chance I'll be able to make that impact.''

At least he won't be thinking about when his son would arrive, although he may not be as rested as he'd like. He said he was awake until 1 a.m. Wednesday trying to help Tavian go to sleep.

``He's fun to look at,'' Banta-Cain said, ``but not at 1 o'clock in the morning.''

He had hoped he could be home for the birth. But his fiance, Brigette Hernandez, went to the hospital the morning of the game. The thought of missing the game crossed his mind, but she was fine with him playing.

``I asked her if she wanted me to do anything if I got a sack and she told me blow her a kiss,'' Banta-Cain said, ``so (on) my first sack, that's what I did.''

It came on the next to last play of the first half.

``I kept telling myself every time I'm on the field I'm going to do something for him,'' Banta-Cain said. ``The whole day was a great day for me, best day of my life.''

At halftime in the locker room he looked at Tavian's picture again.

``My son would probably want me to play and have a good game and he can tell all his friends when he grows up,'' Banta-Cain said. ``My son isn't going to really notice if I'm not there.''

After the game, he flew home with Robert Kraft on the team owner's jet - ``sweet plane,'' he said - and was at the hospital by about 3 a.m.

``There he was, fast asleep,'' Banta-Cain said with a smile. ``He was tired from the game.''

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