PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Let’s regroup on potential Patriots playoff opponents

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Now that the pairings are finally set we can say for sure the Pats will play the winner of the Ravens at Chiefs game unless the Jets upset the Colts.

I’m going to stick with what I’ve believed the last two weeks and that is that the Patriots will host the Ravens on Sunday January 16th. Obviously once the matchup is set in stone we’ll analyze the bejeezus out of it. 

For now let’s talk about the upcoming two games and what our Patriots-skewed perspective is.

Jets @ Indy

The good thing is that we’ll know Sunday morning if the Pats are playing the Jets or if it will indeed be the winner of the Ravens – Chiefs games. If the games were flipped there would still some doubt.

The Jets are of course already talking a lot, about how they owe the Colts for last year, and how the Colts are beatable this year, and how the Jets have all these new pieces for the Colts to deal with.

I still like the Colts. For the Jets to go to Super Bowl they’re going to have to beat Indy, the Pats and then the last remaining team out of Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Kansas City, and they’d have to do it entirely on the road. No way. No how.

Nothing the Jets have done this season points to them being able to go on an unstoppable three game tear against three elite teams. I think it ends for the Jets in round one. Peyton Manning will pick the middle part of their defense apart, and the Colts defense will take advantage of the suspect Jets offensive line.

Ravens @ Chiefs

This is an interesting match up, and I’m happy to see the Ravens have to play a team they’re not too familiar with in a tough road environment. It will really come down to whether or not Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles are able to run the ball on the Ravens. If they can, the rest of the KC offense will be opened up. If they can’t the game will be put entirely on Matt Cassel.

I just think the Ravens are a little more talented and a little more experienced and should be able to squeak it out.

Patriots close out 2010 with solid 3rd down defense improvement

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As you’re probably aware I’ve been harping on third down being the key for success this season. That’s because the Patriots defense has demonstrated that they’re good tacklers and don’t give up a lot of big plays. Most of the time they’re winning on first and second down, so it’s just a matter of winning third down, getting off the field and letting the offense do what it does best.

While the Patriots will finish as last in the NFL by allowing a first down on 47.1% on the third downs they’ve faced, things have been remarkably better in the last five games of the season:

  • Jets 3/12 = 25%
  • Bears 3/8 = 37%
  • Packers 11/19 = 57%
  • Bills  3/10 = 30%
  • Dolphins  4/13 = 30%

So for the last five games, nearly a third of the season the Pats have been performing at a 38.7% clip on 3rd down. This would rank in the top half of the NFL.

These numbers having me believe that coupled with all the turnovers they get this is absolutely a defense that is capable of winning a Super Bowl.

More Edelman!

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Since there are so many Edelman fans out there in cyberspace, here’s his second best play from the Dolphins game.

It’s nice to see good things out of JuJu and Taylor Price, we sure could’ve used wide receiver depth like this in 2009. It will be hard for them to get on the field with Branch and Welker in the mix, but it’s good to know they’re there if needed.

Hopefully Edelman will be able to make an impact in the punt return game in the playoffs.

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14-2 and streaking in to the playoffs!

The Pats couldn’t have looked much better today, granted the Dolphins never even got off the bus. But this is just the way you want to end the regular season and head into the playoffs playing your best.

Updated list of probable first round opponent:

Winner of Ravens at Chiefs, unless the Jets upset the Colts.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/14-2-and-streaking-in-to-the-playoffs-the-pats/