You know you’re have a good season when you’re randomly setting NFL records and winning games that you really shouldn’t have won. The Pats did both of those things against the Packers, moving to 12-2 with two more games to play.
The Patriots are now one win away from clinching homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Packers pulled the tricks out early, recovering an onside kick on the opening kickoff. The Patriots offense seemed to be inconsistent all day, but pulled out plays when they had to, getting contributions from who else, everyone.
The defense was very much who they’ve been all season. It’s an easy cliche to say the Patriots defense has gotten better all season long, but the truth is that they’ve been pretty consistently sub par, the only difference being when they get turnovers.
Tonight they only had one, though they should’ve had two (thanks TBC, who’s developing a bad habit for 3rd down-stop-nullifying penalties), and it was a close game that went down to the end.
Yes, the defensive line is really starting to miss Mike Wright, Myron Pryor and Ron Brace. They’re having a lot of trouble getting pressure up the middle.
Biggest problem of this game for the Patriots was the runs against their sub packages, a problem that reared it’s head for the first time since earlier in the season. A lot of this is tied to the absence of Wright.
Devin McCourty didn’t have an INT but he played a strong game, especially in run support.
Kyle Arrington with a pick six, about time he got one.
Nice to see Dane Fletcher and Eric Moore getting some pressure. Moore seemed to poop out a little bit after a strong start to the game. He’s doing a better job that Crazy Legs did, so he’s fast becoming someone to watch.
Pats need just one more win to lock the number one seed up, hopefully they get it in Buffalo and get a little extra rest for some of the walking wounded.
A realistic hope for AFC seedings:
- Patriots
- Ravens
- Chiefs
- Colts
- Jets
- Steelers
Gonna take a Chiefs meltdown for Indy to get up to the 3 seed and thus have a really hard route if they’re going to make it to New England for the AFCCG.
Big play by PatChung again to hold Green Bay short of the first down on the second to last play. The ensuing confusion sealed the game. Had it been a first down they could’ve spiked it dead.
All in all BB will be able to turn the screws and demand a focused finish to the season. Sometimes games like this are just the scare you need to help you avoid an early letdown in the playoffs.
