In case you haven’t heard, Super Bowl 48 will be at MetLife Stadium in New York this year. That’s right, New York. In February.
Some may complain about how bad the weather might possibly be, but the frigid temperatures really do favor a team used to playing in those conditions like the Patriots.
What will the Pats need to do to get on the Road to MetLife Stadium and stay on it until the confetti falls? Here are three simple things that will need to happen this season.
1. Protect Tom Brady – It’s really quite simple, when Brady has time, he’s going to find the open receiver. Over the past decade, the Pats’ offensive line has been among the best in the NFL, but there is always a game or two per season that they’re off and the offense struggles to move the ball. The most unfortunate incidence of this was against the Jets in the 2010 AFC Divisional game. Brady was getting hit, began “seeing ghosts” and the Pats season came to an abrupt halt. WIth their full o-line returning intact, it should be a team strength, and Brady and the offense should reap the rewards.
2. Pass Rush. Pass Rush. Pass Rush. – No matter what problems your defense has, they can all be solved, or at least hidden, by a solid pass rush. The three main focal points for the Pats will be Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich and Tommy Kelly, who will all be three-down players in the Pats defense. Pass rush isn’t just a third-and-long thing, it’s an every down thing, and that’s where that threesome can make their biggest impact. No matter what happens in the secondary, the pass rush must bring the heat this season.
3. Get (and stay) Healthy – The ultimate unknown every season is health. You look at the Pats’ teams in year’s past that have made it to the Super Bowl and they’ve stayed pretty healthy for the most part. Of course, you’ll always have to overcome injuries like Ty Law (2004), Rosevelt Colvin (2007) and Andre Carter (2011), but the less the better. It’s impossible to know what the football gods have in store for the Pats as far as who gets dinged, but if they can get enter the playoffs with Rob Gronkowski fully healthy and maybe add Armond Armstead along the way, they should be primed for a run to MetLife Stadium.
Disclaimer – I am currently a member of the Road to MetLife Stadium Preferred Blogger Program and this post is part of my involvement. While MetLife provides me material and necessary resources to complete various activities, all statements and sentiment on PatsPropaganda are my own. And don’t worry, they’ll be giving me some Pats swag to give away!