BOSTON SPORTS CHICK
  • BLOG
  • DEFLATEGATE
  • GUEST BLOGS
  • GENERAL SPORTS/HOT TOPICS

WHAT THE PATRIOTS NEED TO DO TO BEAT PITTSBURGH

10/23/2016

0 Comments

 
With victories against both Ohio teams behind them, the Patriots visit their next potential victim in Pittsburgh. Those who aren't paying attention may think that it will be a battle of equally powered offenses.
A quick glimpse at the offensive rankings shows a 5-1 Patriots group heading into Pittsburgh to face the 4-2 Steelers. Both teams are ranked in the top ten overall on offense and with their passing games. As a team the Patriots are sitting at #10 with passing while the Steelers are two places ahead of them at #8. The fact that this is a team statistic and it's October 23rd 2016 is very important.

Although the Patriots have 6 games under their belts, Tom Brady has only played 2 games. While the second (Garopollo) and third string (Brissett) quarterbacks did a great job holding the fort down, they aren't Tom Brady. Besides, mixed into those passing stats is that one game where we played with a very injured Brissett whose only directions appeared to be, "don't force us into using Jules behind center".
Stop Landry Jones- Who's Landry Jones? Well, he's the quarterback the Patriots will be facing today. While I usually get nervous when the Patriots face an unknown quarterback because you never know what's going to happen, I'm pretty confident in what's going to happen today. Looking at Jones' statistics and pre-draft notes, I've concluded that Jones is in for a rough day. He isn't a very accurate passer who needs to have his feet set. He buckles under pressure and has trouble moving out of the pocket when he feels footsteps. Of course he also feels pressure when there isn't any. Jones is a pocket passer who isn't going to make a break downfield. Moreover, Landry has trouble handing the ball off, so there goes the opportunity for DeAngelo Williams or Le'Veon Bell having a big day.

Avoid Dumb Penalties- Defensively the Patriots should have a field day at Heinz today. Of course a cheap roughing the passer or pass interference bailout whistle could give the Steelers some momentum. If we avoid giving them any momentum, it should be a nice easy victory from start to finish.

Special Teams- I don't think Ryan Allen is going to get many snaps today. If he gets one or two I'm sure it will be business as usual for him and his coverage crew. Now Gostkowski, he's going to be busy. Hopefully he will be busy kicking point afters and kicking it out of the endzone. While I'm still a proponent of using the well placed kickoff for pinning teams deep in their own end, we shouldn't have to play that game today.

Take What They Give Us Offensively- The Patriot quarterbacks have yet to throw an interception this season. This trend should continue today as Pittsburgh's defense isn't very good. They are ranked 28th on defense when it comes to yards given up. Without having their quarterback there to hold onto the ball and eat some time off the clock, I expect them to allow over 450 yards to the Patriots. I'd say they might give up more, but with a short field and some defensive takeaways, there will only be so many yards available.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Prime Video is the home of Thursday Night Football
    Picture
    Picture

    ARCHIVES

    September 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    OTHER BLOGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT

    New England Sports Talk
    Kap Lifestyle

    RSS Feed

    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Eric Kilby