New England Patriots: 10 Reasons the Pats Are the Team To Beat In NFL
Another week, another big win. The New England Patriots put another pounding on another contender this week, laying a 36-7 drubbing on the Chicago Bears in the wintry conditions at Soldier Field.
As they have been so many times in the past, the Patriots have moved themselves into the discussion of "the team to beat" in the NFL. While that's an ambiguous label that doesn't really mean anything, the Patriots are showing that they have a ton of confidence heading into the playoffs.
Here's why:
Tom Brady
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An MVP-caliber season from Tom Brady has garnered much attention for an MVP candidacy. In fact, in tying Don Meredith's long-standing record of six consecutive games with two-plus touchdowns and no interceptions, he has all but wrapped it up.
His numbers are tremendous no matter how you look at them, with 3,398 yards, 29 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He is on pace for his second-highest career marks in both yards and touchdowns, and is doing it all without a big-time receiver.
You really can't say enough about what Brady has done this season. The only way you can is to give him the MVP.
Bill Belichick
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I would also be willing to crown Bill Belichick as the head coach of the year if I didn't have the sneaking suspicion that the AP would find some .500 team where the coach has made drastic improvements and award that head coach.
Still, it's hard to argue that this isn't one of Belichick's finest coaching jobs in his career. Yes, even better than the season his team went 16-0.
The Patriots have adjusted to everything, be it a top-ranked offense, a top-notch defense, a trade or you name it.
And he's done it all with one simple motto...
"One Game at a Time"
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I think this article I wrote a few days ago pretty much says it all about this Patriots team.
"One game at a time" has been the mantra for years, and this year more than ever, that's been the key to their success.
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Making Statements
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It's not just that the Patriots keep on winning. It's how they are doing it, and who they are beating.
This five-game winning streak hasn't come against pushovers. Even the Detroit Lions are playing much tougher than their 3-10 record, and they just beat the Packers today.
The Steelers, Colts, Lions, Jets and Bears are all considered the cream of the crop. Three of those teams have a very good shot at making the playoffs, and one (the Colts) is teetering on the edge of the postseason with a few wins to close out the season.
Many thought that big wins like the ones we've seen over the past five weeks weren't in the books for the Patriots this season, but those people are eating their words.
Scoring Against Everyone
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I mentioned earlier the tough teams the Patriots beat on their five-game winning streak.
Hanging 39, 31, 45, 45, and now 36 points on the board in those games is nothing short of remarkable, considering three of those teams were considered some of the best defensive teams in the league.
No matter how tough the defense, the Patriots don't seem to have any trouble putting up a lot of points against them. It's been like a clinic on putting the ball on the end zone when watching them go to work.
Home Field Advantage
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As a follower of the Patriots, I hate making foregone conclusions like this, but the Patriots have all but locked up home field advantage. This is especially true if they continue to play the way they've played over the past few weeks, and also if the Jets play as they have over the past two weeks.
They are already 6-0 at home this season, and proved in the arctic glacier of Soldier Field that they can deal with adverse conditions just fine. Playing at home in January should be doubly advantageous for the Patriots.
Offense Has Found Its Identity As a Chameleon
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This isn't the 2007 offense that spread the field every down. These Patriots are hell bent on proving that they can do whatever they want. At one point in the game on Sunday, the Patriots lined up with three tight ends on the right side in a running play to the right.
This is a tribute to not just the level of talent on the team, but the depth and the versatility of those players.
We hear analysts say it week after week, but this truly is a team that makes you defend everything.
Over the past five games, the Patriots have run 316 plays. 172 pass plays and 144 running plays. In today's pass-happy NFL, that's pretty good in terms of balance.
With so many weapons at so many positions, it's easy for the Patriots to keep it diverse, because everything is working so well.
The Stats Lie
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Sure, bring up this or that about the Patriots defense and how poorly it ranks. 31st in overall yards, 31st against the pass, 26th in net yards per pass attempt.
Or do what I do, which is throw all those numbers out the window when you're talking about the Patriots defense.
This defense has intercepted 20 passes this season, which currently ranks second in the league. The Patriots win every game in which they win the turnover battle. To put it plainly, this is an opportunistic defense that will let you do what you want until you make a mistake, at which point it'll make you pay for it.
Young Defense Is Finally Clicking
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The Patriots defense, which was once giving up points at will to the tune of 24 points per game, has really clamped down over the past two weeks. It has allowed a combined 10 points to the Jets and the Bears, and that average has plummeted all the way down to 21 points per game.
Where it was once being torn to shreds by opposing quarterbacks, it has really shut them down recently. The Patriots have held Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez to just 316 yards total, no touchdowns, and five interceptions. These aren't exactly two of the most notable quarterbacks in the game, but they have both proven they can get the job done.
As I said in the previous slide, the stats aren't what matters. What matters is that we're seeing this defense getting the job done against worthy adversaries. This defense is turning a corner and is no longer the pushover everyone once had them pegged for.
True Meaning Of a Team
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The Patriots have been rotating guys in on offense and defense quite frequently. It seems to be a different name every week.
From top to bottom, the Patriots may have one of the deepest rosters of any team in the league. We even got to see big-time contributions from Eric Moore, who was picked up earlier this week and had a sack and a forced fumble.
On offense, it's been Danny Woodhead, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Aaron Hernandez, and Rob Gronkowski all making major contributions. You just can't prepare to defend that many options. It has to be a nightmare.
Heck, the special teams unit was kicking up snow to make a clear patch for field goals on every attempt. And the players were doing it together.
But most importantly, everyone on this team understands that they are a football team in the fullest sense of the word, and that with everyone playing at their highest level, the sky is the limit for this Patriots team.
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