Archives for January 2012

Only thing I’ll add to this “no faith in the Patriots” article is that the same thing could be said for just about every team in the playoffs. The Ravens have looked like a mirage when they’re on the road, the Steelers have a banged up Big Ben who’s going to have to deal with Denver’s defense before ever getting to Foxboro.

It’s entirely possible the Patriots can keep this mirage up until the Super Bowl. But there, against the Saints or Packers, they could be completely exposed. But even then, we’ve gone against unstoppable offenses in the Super Bowl and won before.

Since losing at home to Eli Manning and the Giants, the Patriots have faced quarterbacks Mark Sanchez, Tyler Palko, Vince Young, Dan Orlovsky, Rex Grossman, Tim Tebow, Matt Moore, and Fitzpatrick. Only Tebow is going to the playoffs – because of his legs, not his arm. But it wasn’t how the Patriots played against the Bills that was noteworthy. It was what they played.

For the first time in weeks, the Patriots played man coverage. Nearly wire to wire, be it man-under (one deep safety) or two-man (two deep safeties), the Patriots were matching up with the Bills all over the field.