NFL Playoff Thread

If they do all of what you're saying, they're going to be so far over the cap that not even Belichick and Kraft are going to be able to cheat them back under it.

They have a good offense but one that is eminently stoppable for the better defenses in the league. They scored two touchdowns yesterday, two touchdowns when they played the Steelers, and two touchdowns the first time they played the Giants. Those are the only teams they played this season that finished with a winning record.

 

I think this is different because of the simple math. In order to stop them you're going to have to short yourself somewhere else. As OoP pointed out, it's been shown over a good stretch that linebackers can't cover these two guys. Mike Smith was dead on -- they are the queens on the chessboard.

 

It's a legitimate approach . . . yet, how many TD passes did The Michigan Man toss, yesterday?

 

LongTime, I think Belichick can restock that defense on the cheap. It doesn't even really have to be completely overhauled.

 

The Pats were using Edelman as a DB yesterday. That suggests one area in need of an overhaul.
PS: A technical note. Sending those TEs down the middle in the 15-25 yard range can and does create huge plays. It also heightens the risk of tips and interceptions.

 

Bill Belichick just needs a healthy secondary with upgrades at cornerback and outside linebacker. Patrick Chung was out for a good chunk of this season, and he is the Patriots' best defensive back.

Kyle Arrington is a fine second cornerback. Devin McCourty had a down season but has a ton of promise. But they could really, really use another good coverage player, either to push one of them into the nickel role or to play the nickel role. That would make sense for a second-round pick.

Brandon Spikes and Jerrod Mayo are terrific inside linebackers, but adding an outside linebacker should be top priority. This defense was built on outside linebackers: Willie McGinest, Rosevelt Colvin, Mike Vrabel, Adalius Thomas, etc.

 

Again, though, all of the fawning over their dominance and unstoppability is based on what they've done against the bottom half of the league. They have had limited exposure to the top tier, but they certainly haven't wowed anyone in those games.

 

I think it's worth noting that when Belichick describes this team, especially the defense, he often emphasizes that what he likes most is its competitiveness, which strongly implies that in his mind he's adding the phrase "despite its inherent physical limitations." And I think that's an accurate assessment for both good and bad.

 

LTL will tell you that is a good offense, the Tebow offense.

 

Which teams do you propose have the linebacking or other personnel to stop them? If you're tearing up one half of the league, you're dominating. This isn't college football.

I am fawning insofar as I love tight ends (hey, oh!) and glad to see their resurgence.

 

Based on New England and Denver, Urban Meyer has had a real impact on NFL offenses and the defenses have yet to adjust.

The Pats kill teams on the crossing routes that require LB's to cover and get good drops.

To keep up defenses are going to have to adjust their personal.

The 49ers are one of the few teams built to really handle an offense like the Pats.

 

We've already seen that the Giants, Steelers and Ravens can stop them pretty well. I would guess the 49ers would do as well or better. So that leaves the Patriots among the league's best, which is why they're in the Super Bowl, but not nearly as historic or revolutionary as you seem to think they are or can be.