Touchdowns to Watson, Graham and Johnson speaks volumes for the offensive draft picks the Pats have made in the past few years. I have since the start of the season, and still do believe that Cedrick Cobbs should be returning kickoffs. Bethel was close to losing even that coming into this game…you could sense it. So that catch on the fade may help work towards this guy living up to the second round pick we spent on him. As for first rounders Graham and Watson, Pats fans have been expecting to see this for two years now.
Brady is still the straw that stirs the drink. The secondary and coverage/zone skills of our linebackers are not what I’d hope they would be at this point, but with Brady playing at this high of a level that can be covered up. Teams have been playing two deep with their safeties, with playcalling looking to put the ball in the air deep. I felt throughout the San Diego game that they were making a huge mistake not mixing it up more with short routes, quick hitches…the stuff we’ve run today mostly. What it does is keep the defense on the bench. I always thought it was our unpredictability on offense that kept opponents on their heels. You establish that sense within the opposing defense that they can’t “expect” anything at any time. This dynamic is what allows the offense to run and go deep. When they can’t move the chains like in the SD and CAR games, the D gets tired and the Patriots become an average team.
I do not see the patriots winning it all this year Chris. They are beginning to look beatable.
I think that on any given Sunday, they can outscore their opponent. We’re still waiting to see who steps up in the defensive backfield, but as long as Brady has these weapons, I’m not counting them out.
They are not out. I just think they are beatable now. Pro football is about cycles . 🙂
Parity is a good thing, everybody but the Cardinals has a chance.
Pro football is indeed about cycles, but the teams that manage to escape that cycle are able to score and stop the run in December. New England’s defense typically gets better as the weather gets colder, and if you look at the big wins they’ve had, not many of them are blowouts. Several have come down to who has the ball last, and with Brady/Viniteri – that’s a huge plus for the Pats.
karl is right about parity. The NBA is getting there as well now. The salary cap is a great thing!
Like sands through the hour glass so are the days of the Patriots coming demise. Mark my words Chris.
I look forward to you eating those words Paul.
That is possible, but I see signs of a changing of the guard bro!! 🙂
Word on the street is…Tedy Bruschi is coming back! I’m praying that we don’t see him taken off of the field, but I’m sure that if he’s in there, more than a couple doctors have cleared him to play.
This thing is long from over. As we often forget in sports…it’s only week 6, and it’s a LONG season.
Paul, the Pats beat Indy in the playoffs with Randal Gay (undrafted rookie) Asante Samuel (4th rounder) and Troy Brown (WR) at the corner position. The scheme can be developed for the tallent Bill has right now. It’s a matter of figuring out who to do what and most importantly, WHEN?