It is week nine in the NFL season and the New England Patriots are positioned comfortably at the top of their division standings with 6 wins and 1 loss. It doesn't mean a great deal at this point in a grueling 16 game regular season however it is useful to mention that the team is at this level without hitting on all cylinders yet.
The passing game has been the number one concern as the offense is integrating a whole new core of receivers with the exception of Troy Brown. Every one knows at this point that Tom Brady has lost David Givens and Deon Branch. This point was brought up constantly during last Monday night's game against the Vikings. Tony Kornheiser was whining constantly about Belichik "using up" players and letting them go. What Tony forgot to give much consideration to was the fact that most of the players Belichik has let walk have not (so far) achieved at the same level as when they were with the Patriots. Perhaps these players achieved at high levels because of the team and Belichik's schemes and coaching skills? Perhaps they ought to be grateful for getting to the point where they could cash in on a big payday?
In any event some of the concern regarding the passing game was alleviated with the team's performance Monday night. The Vikings were perhaps much softer than their record indicated but that is being said in hind sight after the aerial destruction wrought upon them by Brady and the ten different Patriots who caught balls against them.
Tonight's big match up against Manning and the Colts is likely to have a game plan entirely different than what Brady unleashed on the Vikings. Unlike the Vikings, the Colts have a very weak run defense and Belichik will use this to his advantage. The best defense against Manning's air circus is to keep him on the bench. Belichik will likely try to accomplish this with a ground game designed to eat up a lot of time and yards.
Look to see a lot more of Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney ripping off consistent gains against the Colts who are both undermanned and under sized along the front seven. Out of a total of 61 plays against the Vikings, only 15 were running plays. Look for almost a complete reversal of that number this week as the Patriots will demonstrate once again that they simply change gears and game plans to attack the particular foe that is next on the schedule.
On the defensive side of the ball, the team will have its hands full as Manning and his two wide outs Reggie Wayne and the incomparable Marvin Harrison have been racking up enormous yardage during their current 7 consecutive win run. The defensive key will be pressure on Manning from the front three or probably a four man front. If Seymour and the crew (look for Jarvis Green to be a factor) can pressure Manning quickly without blitz help, then he will be looking into a defensive backfield with a lot of double coverage on his wideouts.
Manning has not had a lot of luck against the Patriots but did administer a good beating on us last year. As Belichik constantly reminds us, every game in the NFL is a new set of circumstances. The Colts are riding high at the moment but they are at Foxboro up against a veteran Patriot defense that has seen him many times over.
The defense has proven that they can hold Manning to a reasonably human performance. The question becomes whether or not the offense is continuing its week to week improvement. What we have come to expect watching this club is that they are steadily working new players into the program and that each week the club operates more smoothly.
Tonight will be a huge test of that progress. Since I am the consumate "homer", I think that Brady, Seymour and company will bring the Colts crashing back to earth and will expose weaknesses in them that other coaches will be exploiting the rest of the year.
Don't dare waste any money on this but I have them two touch downs better at Patriots 28, Colts 14.
