Slow Down Patriots Fans

I think every Patriots fan went into this season with a certain bit of uncertainty. Sure the offense could score points, but what about the defense? Most power rankings had them around #10, many prominent prognosticators picked the Bengals to pull of a week 1 upset. Well, the Patriots easily handled the Bengals, and now popular opinion has changed. A quick glance of this weeks power rankings have the Patriots hovering around #4 or #5. It seems as if one game sold everyone on the Patriots defense. This is classic week one over reaction, it happens every year. We can't really know how good this defense is until they are tested. Last season the Patriots specialized in letting the opposition convert on 3rd and longs. The Bengals hardly challenged the Patriots defense. I am not saying that the Patriots defense can't be good, I am just not sure it should be considered a certainty.

The Patriots are heading down to New Jersey to play the rival Jets. After the Jets dismal performance on Monday night, it would appear that the Patriots should handle them easily. I am not so sure that this is a given. The Raven's defense does something that the Patriots don't, they put massive amounts of pressure on the quarterback. I am not so sure that the Patriots can achieve this task, it hasn't been proven yet. We know that the Jets defense is better than the Bengals, so the offense is not coming as easily. Matt Sanchez had no time on Monday, and looked awful. However, if the Patriots give him an extra second or two, he should be much more effective.

This game is a prefect test for how good this Patriots team really is. The Jets are going to be playing aggressively, you can't bet that they will use every trick they have to win this game. If Sanchez in ineffective, you can bet you will see a healthy does of Brad Smith running a gimmick offense. Remember, it was week 3,  two years ago that the Dolphins unleashed the Wildcat on the Patriots. That Dolphin team was 0-2 and needed a win, this Jets team does not want to go 0-2. They are going to do anything to win this game, and the Patriots much be ready.

This game is going to be the first true test of how good this Patriots defense really is*.


*If Tom Brady just tears up the Jets secondary for 400 yards and 5 Touchdowns, then we will have to wait another week to find out if the defense is good. However, if the Patriots offense is that good, then the defense wont matter (until the Super Bowl).