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

WHAT THE PATRIOTS NEED TO DO TO BEAT THE STEELERS

12/17/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Just about every week since I started this blog I've said that the Patriots need to take care of the ball and be successful on 3rd downs. Last week I neglected to do that and we all know what happened. With that, I'll start off with saying that we need to avoid turnovers and hopefully cause a few. Taking care of business on 3rd down both offensively and defensively is also essential for a win today.
TACKLING- Th Patriots are usually great at tackling. Last week I wasn't very impressed. They weren't taking very good angles. They weren't swarming to the ball. They also weren't wrapping guys up once they got to them. If the Patriots get back to doing the little things right, they'll get off the field a lot faster.
KNOW THE OFFICIALS- Today's crew calls a lot of penalties. Knowing that, Gronk needs to make it impossible for them to make ridiculous offensive pass interference calls on him. The Steelers have never been able to stop him, so I don't expect them to stop him this week. In games against Pittsburgh with Gronk, the Patriots are 4-1. Gronk has caught 30 of 36 passes thrown in his direction. Eight of those receptions have been touchdowns. His average yards per reception, just a measly 16.53.
While there is likely going to be a lot of whistles today, Brady can not assume he is going to get holding calls and then just chuck it up for grabs. If it's holding towards the sideline, a pass that is uncatchable is fine, but he needs to make sure he isn't throwing into coverage or overlooking a wide open Cooks 30 yards downfield.
STAY CALM- The Steelers are not known for keeping their cool. They have 13 unnecessary roughness penalties (league average is 5.3). When they start to lose their cool, the Patriots need to do what they usually do and walk away.
BREAK OUT THE SPECTRACIDE- Even with a depleted defensive unit, Matt Patricia has undoubtably written up a gameplan to stop the killer bees. Assuming everyone does their job and field conditions don't impede them, I'm expecting the defense to give up some yards to Bell and Brown, but keep the scoring to under 20.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture

    ARCHIVES

    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    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 from Eric Kilby