Like most Pats bloggers and writers I re-watched the Patriots and Broncos week fifteen game to try and glean some insight into what things might stay the same and what things might be different this time around with everything on the line. My notes below…
- A lot was made after the game (especially by me) how the switch to a 3-4 front on the fly was the reason for the Patriots defense turning it around after looking like swiss cheese early on. I don’t stand by this any more. The only real difference was turnovers and better tackling.
- Yes, the Patriots looked better after the fourth drive, but the difference was not the scheme, it was that the Patriots built a lead and that affected how the Broncos had to play.
- The Broncos still got a number of big yards on the ground and through the air after the Pats went to the 3-4.
- I expect the Pats to go back to the normal 4-3 base they’ve used this year to start to the game. If they can just tackle and keep contain they won’t have to switch it up to the 3-4 that they have less experience in.
- HUGE KEY PATRIOT #1 = Rob Ninkovich. Ninkpoop had one of his worst games in Denver, that cannot happen again. I expect him to play with something to prove this time around. His missed tackles were embarrassing and despite coming away with a sack at the end, I still expect Ninkovich would like to make up for his performance early.
- HUGE KEY PATRIOT #2 = Brandon Spikes. It’s elementary football that you want your biggest meanest middle linebacker when you’re playing the league’s best rushing team. The fact that Spikes played with and practiced against Tebow is just an added bonus. I know Spikes had been out a while, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he plays a ton this weekend.
- HUGE KEY PATRIOT #3 = Patrick Chung. Chung’s tackling and aggressiveness will add a whole new dimension to the Patriots defense that the Broncos did not see last time. And the fact that he’s the only drafted safety on the roster won’t hurt either.
- Say what you will about the “bend don’t break” but I don’t think we’ll see the Patriots give up the number of long bombs the Steelers. Of course Patriots fans know that long bombs completed on the Steelers in the playoffs are pretty much how they do it.
- The Pats couldn’t get much going on the ground early on vs. the Broncos with Benjarvus Green-Ellis struggling mightily to find any running holes. Once the Pats switched it up with some Woodhead and Ridley things started to open up. By the second half the Pats were having good success on the ground, with Law Firm leading the way.
- I expect this game to be reminiscent of the 05, 06, 07 divisional games with the Pats rolling. It’s just a perfect storm between the re-match, the Broncos short week, McDaniels, and the lack of a Pats playoff win since January 2008. The signs are pointing to a big Pats victory to me.
