What a game Sunday night in Foxboro!! Sure, the Patriots won, but they had to make a couple of big plays down the stretch…at home…against a .500 team in the Eagles. What can we take away from that game?
First, give the Pats their just due: they outplayed the Eagles, and showed that even when they aren’t playing at their highest level they will still be tough to beat. Tom Brady had another good game, the defense contained Brian Westbrook, and the lesser-known WRs on the team, led by Wes Welker, came through when it mattered most.
Having said that, the game exposed several chinks in the Pats’ armor. #1, their secondary is weak aside from top corner Asante Samuel. A team with two or more good receivers should be able to make plays against them. #2, their linebackers aren’t good in coverage either, so backs and tight ends can get open over the middle. #3, aggressiveness is a MUST when defending the Patriots. The Eagles consistently jammed the New England receivers, double-covered Randy Moss, and sent a variety of blitzes at Tom Brady. Sitting back in a deep zone is a sure way to lose against that team, Brady and Co. are just too good. Defenses must attack, try to force turnovers and at the very least upset the offense’s timing (and if you rattle Brady a little in the process, that’s icing on the cake).
So, among the teams left on the Patriots’ schedule, who has a legitimate chance? Well, first let’s talk about who DOESN’T have a chance: The Ravens are up this week and they’re toast. Their offense is so predictable and anemic that even if they miraculously hold the Patriots under 24 points, they will still lose. The Jets and Dolphins have to travel to Foxboro and are a combined 2-20. No chance.
That leaves the Steelers and the Giants. The Giants have the best chance only if the Patriots choose to rest their starters in Week 17. If the Patriots keep their top-shelf talent in the lineup, I believe Eli Manning is too mistake-prone to score with the Pats. The Giants’ ‘D’ can pressure a QB, but their secondary will be exposed somewhat in the game, and the Giants’ offense has no real rushing threat to control the clock. The Steelers, on the other hand, have several good matchups: the best defense (statistically) in the NFL this season; a defensive coordinator who can devise unpredictable schemes and blitzes; a commitment to running the football, thereby controlling the clock; and a QB who, if given enough time, can make enough plays to score with the Pats’ offense. The wildcard here is the Steelers’ offensive line: the past few weeks it’s been more like a sieve, especially up the middle. If the line can open some holes and give Big Ben a few seconds to throw, this game will be close. If the line continues to fail, the Steelers will lose by twenty points.
My prediction: well, check back next week for that, once we’re closer to the game.
Dave Glass lives in Clearfield with his wife, Suzanne, and their six children. He can be reached at buggyracer@verizon.net.