I feel like the Pats will need someone other than Edelman and Amendola to step up in the passing game to win a tough play off game. I’m hopeful that either Thompson or Dobson can recapture some of the ability they flashed earlier in the season. Even Vereen had a pretty quiet December, and I feel like the Pats will need more than 2 receivers to put up enough points to win one of these games. Thoughts?

I agree 100 percent. If the offense becomes the Edelman with a sprinkling of Amendola show, they’re probably not going very far. Has to be the running backs that step up – Vereen, Ridley, Blount.

Who knows if Dobson will even dress after re-injuring his foot, and Thompkins was little more than a decoy against the Bills. He hasn’t caught a pass since Week 12 against the Texans. 

So I’m not expecting much out of Dobson or Thompkins, and it’s hard to think Hooman, Mulligan or Develin are going to have a breakout offensive performance either. Maybe Austin Collie suddenly emerges, he’s made a few clutch catches in limited time and stints with the team this year. He could be an X-factor.

So it comes down to Blount, Vereen and Ridley. They’ve all shown elements of explosiveness at various times and in various combinations. All three of them have to be lights out for the entire playoff run.