Last week we saw the Patriots offense run at full speed, executing 89 plays in a 31-21 victory over the Denver Broncos. This week, don’t expect to see more of the same. They’re headed to CenturyLink Field in Seattle, notoriously one of the loudest places to play. The key to winning this week will be for the offense to stay focused and get the crowd out of this game early. Here are my offensive keys to the game.

1. Keep the Balance on Offense The Patriots have the top ranked offense in the National Football League. The key to their success has been combining Tom Brady’s arm with a run game we haven’t seen since the days of Corey Dillon. Stevan Ridley has been outstanding and is ranked in the top five among running backs in the league. He’s averaging 4.8 yards per carry and in addition to him, the Patriots have also seen promising things from Brandon Bolden. This week my fellow PatsFans.com blogger Steve Balestrieri wrote a piece about this offensive balance and how important it is to continued success. Brandon Lloyd and Wes Welker need to keep doing their job to make sure the offense keeps running in top form.

Tom Brady can’t let the crowd in Seattle affect his play.(FILE:USPresswire)

2. Tom Brady Needs to Get Loud When Brady enters the Seahawks’ house it will be crucial for him to get loud so his offensive unit can hear him. We learned this week the Patriots offense has simplified things by using one word play calls. We know Brady is capable and often changes the play at the line and he’ll have to be extra aware of his volume this Sunday. In the same regard the offensive line will have to adjust and keep their ears focused on the sound of their quarterback’s voice. Hopefully they can handle the increased background noise and all stay on the same page. Seattle is one of three cities Brady has never played in so hopefully he sat down with Deion Branch this week to learn the ins and outs of the stadium.

Offensive Line Needs to Protect While they were better last week, the offensive line still has work to do when it comes to protecting Brady. In the past two weeks they’ve allowed him to be sacked five times for a combined loss of 23 yards. Seattle has the third ranked defense and is fifth in the league with 16 sacks so far this season. With a loud crowd it will be important for the line to protect Brady. Nate Solder and Ryan Wendell will need to hold strong and give Brady ample time to find his receivers. We can’t afford to have him ducking and dodging phantom Seahawks as we’ve seen him do in other games this season.

An interesting stat to note is both the Patriots and the Seahawks have forced nine fumbles this season, leading the league. However, the Patriots have recovered eight of those fumbles whereas the Seahawks have only recovered four. With these offensive keys the Patriots defense will need to keep playing their way to compete with a strong and physical Seattle team. Staying focused and not letting the crowd control the game will be the way the Patriots win on Sunday.

If you had told me at the start of the day that Peyton Manning would throw for 345 yards and three touchdowns but would lose the game by two scores, I would have had a hard time believing you.

On Sunday it was the offensive matchup we expected and the defensive shootout we may not have. In my preview post for this game I said it would be up to the defense to determine a winner. Well in the fourth quarter that proved true. After what could have been a costly fumble by Stevan Ridley, Rob Ninkovich and the Patriots’ defense one upped the Broncos’ D and forced Willis McGahee to fumble. That in turn sealed the deal for the Pats to walk away victorious.

Tom Brady led the offense at the speed of light in the first half. They took the no huddle to a new level and the Broncos’ defense couldn’t keep up. They limited the amount of substitutions Denver was able to make and wore down the line with an impressive run game. The Patriots rushed for 251 yards compared to the Broncos 70. Ridley had another solid game with 28 carries for 151 yards.

Stevan Ridley had another impressive performance with 151 yards and a touchdown. (FILE:USPresswire)

They were almost unstoppable on third down conversions going 11 for 17 including a big 17 yard pickup in the third quarter by Danny Woodhead that would eventually lead to the Patriots taking a 24-7 lead. It was a very impressive performance and the offensive line was able to execute very well on these plays. Unfortunately they slipped up one too many times while trying to protect Brady. In the second half, more than once he did a phantom duck for fear that a defender was right behind him. Ryan Wendell had a very difficult time and was not able to secure the center and eliminate a Denver pass rush right up the middle.

On the defensive side of the ball the Patriots were able to hold McGahee to 51 yards. Once again they proved they could take away a team’s weapon and force them to go elsewhere. Unfortunately they were dealing with Manning and he can put the ball wherever he wishes. Luckily he wasn’t able to execute too many long balls to burn the Patriots. Demaryius Thomas had nine receptions for 188 yards, far ahead of the next closest receiver McGahee with 51 yards.

Devin McCourty clearly still has work to do as those pass interference penalties are adding up. The Patriots had six penalties for 59 yards so there is room for improvement. McCourty needs to work with his coach on turning around to see the ball. If he at least starts to look at the ball I’ll forgive him if he gets called for interference. Overall the secondary did their job. They were able to cover the receivers enough to enable Jerod Mayo and Ninkovich to each get a sack on Manning. They also covered the middle well and kept the Broncos passing game to the sidelines.

At the end of the game it came down to which defense made the last play. The Patriots were able to hold Manning to only three touchdowns and kept him on the field for almost 10 minutes less than Brady. We knew what we were getting on offense but the key to victory was the defense continuing to play the way it has all season long.

We’ve seen it before, Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning, two future hall of famers duking it out to see who comes out on top. On Sunday when the Denver Broncos visit Gillette Stadium all eyes will certainly be on the offense. But don’t forget about the other side of the ball as that is likely where this game will be won. Here are three things the Patriots defense needs to do in order to give them the best chance.

1. Front Seven Needs to Stay Hot So far this season the Patriots front seven has been outstanding. Last week the defense did their job and forced six Buffalo turnovers and sacked Ryan Fitzpatrick three times. This week the front line will have to put pressure on Manning. Clearly Manning and Fitzpatrick are two very different quarterbacks and rattling Manning will be tough but they’ve got to turn up the heat. It is critical to collapse the pocket and make Manning work to find his targets. If they can do that mistakes are more likely to be made and the defense can get Brady back to work.

Devin McCourty needs to have another performance like last week to keep Peyton Manning off the field. (FILE:USPresswire)

2. Secondary Steps Up Last week Devin McCourty made a turn around and was playing like his rookie year again. He had two interceptions and there’s hope he actually isn’t as weak as we may have thought. Overall the Patriots secondary isn’t the fastest or the most physical, but when they work together, they are successful. What they need to do is continue to find a style that works for them and execute it flawlessly. Manning will take advantage of any weak link all night if given the chance. McCourty, Patrick Chung and Kyle Arrington need to play well and keep wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker in check. They lead the team in receiving yards and we know Manning is more than capable of marching his team downfield quickly if need be.

3. Vince Wilfork stops Willis McGahee We’ve seen it before and I expect we will see it again on Sunday. Along with Kyle Love, Vince Wilfork will put a damper on the Bronco’s run game. McGahee is their leading rusher and rushed for 112 yards last week. There is no doubt that the Patriots can stop him just as they did with Chris Johnson. Wilfork needs to close up any holes that open up and stop the run game early. The defense needs to disrupt the Bronco’s plan and they can do so by taking away key parts of their offense.

With two elite quarterbacks at the helm, both of these offenses should be powerful enough to win. But just as Brady said in his press conference this week, it will take excellent play on both sides of the ball to be victorious. This game will not be won on offense alone and that is why the defense will be the key to the Patriots coming out on top.

The Patriots are not used to looking up at the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East division standings. Heading into Sunday’s game in Buffalo, there’s pressure to make sure they find a way to make sure both teams walk away with a 2-2 record. The season is almost a quarter of the way through and it’s time for the Patriots to assert their dominance.

Logan Mankins and the offensive line need to start protecting if they want to start winning. (FILE:USPresswire)

Here are three things to watch heading into Sunday’s game:

1) The Pats’ offensive line will need a big performance:

The key to victory on Sunday will likely lie in the protection of Tom Brady. The Patriots offensive line will have their hands full with a tough defensive line. Mario Williams and a familiar Mark Anderson will be rushing the edges trying to put pressure on Brady. It will be up to Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer and Marcus Cannon to hold strong and give him some time. He’s been sacked seven times this season and his confidence is noticeably rattled. It’s said every week but now the season is heating up and it’s time for the offensive line to prove to Brady and the fans that they are capable of providing protection.

2) The pressure is on for New England’s secondary:

The secondary will once again have a tough matchup. Steve Johnson is averaging 13.2 yards per catch and if left alone, he could be very dangerous. Ryan Fitzpatrick is not an elite quarterback so as long as the front seven can work to put pressure on him, the Johnson situation should take care of itself. But be aware that more is expected from this secondary. They have been giving up big gains to opposing teams and what they need to show is their ability to shut down a team’s momentum on big downs.

3) The coaching element should be interesting to watch:

A final element to watch on Sunday will be on the sideline. Josh McDaniels has made some interesting calls these past few weeks and is clearly thinking outside the box. He got creative with an end around that ended up costing the Patriots fourteen yards due to poor execution. What he needs to do is work with the players he has and stop getting fancy. The Patriots do not run a sneaky offense with trick plays. McDaniels needs to incorporate Rob Gronkowski and utilize a screen pass every now and again. It will be nice to see Brady get into several rhythms during the game and march the offense downfield.

It’s time for this Patriots team to start playing at the next level. The Buffalo Bills are a great place to start because they have some challenges, but overall it should be no contest. The Patriots have the same problems each week so we’ll see if on Sunday they’re able to put something together and find a way to elevate their game.

Last night’s game was one of the most difficult Patriots games I’ve had to watch in quite some time. It wasn’t the Patriots play that was the problem, it was the constant flag throwing and penalty calling. On Sunday Night Football it became clear that the replacement referees are in over their heads and Roger Goodell needs to speed up negotiations with the actual referees. For the sake of the game and the safety of the players, something needs to be done and soon.

The Patriots took some bad calls from the refs Sunday night but that doesn’t mean they were flawless. The Baltimore Ravens were able to expose the defense and put a serious block on the run game. They held the Patriots to just 77 yards rushing with Stevan Ridley and Danny Woodhead picking up only 37 and 34 yards respectively. In Week 3 the Ravens showed the rest of the league that a stout defense can clog up what was an impressive streak of run plays by the Patriots.

Brady and the Patriots fought hard but came up short Sunday night. (FILE:USPresswire)

The positive side of that is the Patriots were able to adjust and make some big plays in the air. Brandon Lloyd and Wes Welker both had big games and it was encouraging to see that Tom Brady has finally gotten in sync with his receivers. Welker had eight catches for 142 yards and Lloyd had nine for 108 yards. Josh McDaniels seemed to do a better job with the play calling this week which wasn’t easy with the speed and size of the Baltimore defense. The offensive line stepped up their game in response making some big holes and protecting Brady a lot better than last week. They seem to be on the right track, progressing in each game.

The Patriots defense on the other hand struggled to get to Joe Flacco. Chandler Jones and Michael Oher fought hard and Oher did a good job of keeping Jones in check. The linebackers were unable to collapse the pocket and Flacco stood tall all night. He proved he is a better quarterback than we all give him credit for. He was 28 for 39 with 382 yards and three touchdowns. They executed the run game and the Patriots were unable to take Ray Rice out of the game. He carried the ball 20 times for 101 yards and completely changed the pace of the game. Once the Ravens hit the ground running, the game shifted and momentum was on their side. The Patriots defense showed this week that they are not invincible. They still have some work to do and the secondary still needs to elevate the level of their game.

Moving forward to next week the Patriots are going to have to work more on their offense than defense. The defense will rebound and should not have a problem with the Buffalo Bills as long as the secondary can keep Steve Johnson in check and the line can stop C.J. Spiller. Offensively Brady and McDaniels need to find a way to incorporate Rob Gronkowski as well as the other receivers. He is a big target that should be utilized. For the first time since 2003 the Patriots are under .500 and that should be motivation enough to have a good week of practice and get their focus and hunger back for next Sunday.

One thing can be said about the Patriots performance on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals: the offense was anything but ordinary.

From the offensive line to the receivers, something was amiss from the start. On the Patriots first possession of the game, a Tom Brady pass attempt was tipped by Arizona defensive lineman Darnell Dockett and intercepted by cornerback Patrick Peterson. That, as it would turn out, set the tone for the offense for the rest of the afternoon.

Jerod Mayo and the defense were the only bright spots for the Patriots in their loss to the Cardinals. (FILE:USPresswire)

The biggest blow of the day came when Aaron Hernandez got his ankle caught up in a tackle and needed assistance from two trainers to get off the field. Luckily it isn’t broken, it is just a high ankle sprain and after the game he was seen leaving in a high walking boot and on crutches. Now it may “just” be a high ankle sprain, but this is still a big blow for the Patriots offense. Hernandez is one of the most versatile players on this roster and was on the field for a majority of the snaps. He will most likely be out for at least the next few weeks, so the team is going to have to adjust to life without him.

Another adjustment that needs to be made is on the offensive line. They were tested by a tough Cardinal defense with some big bodies, and they definitely struggled. Brady was sacked four times and was under constant pressure. He completed just over 60% of his passes going 28 for 46 and threw for 316 yards with an interception and just one touchdown. It was an uncharacteristic day for number 12. Now it didn’t seem like it, but the majority of the Patriots yards came in the air. They had 297 passing yards and just 90 yards rushing. Things were less balanced today with the play calling and that’s another thing to look at. Josh McDaniels clearly understood that running on Arizona was going to be difficult, but somehow Stevan Ridley still managed to be effective. Unfortunately with the receivers, there were some dropped passes and the Patriots were unable to pick up the big gains needed to spark the offense. The only positive from this performance was Wes Welker. He passed Troy Brown to become the Patriots all-time receptions leader with 558. Although he didn’t start, he led the receiving core with 5 catches for 95 yards.

The defense today was once again outstanding. They struggled to start but got into a groove midway through the first quarter. Chandler Jones showed his incredible speed and strength and had himself another impressive game. He really dominated the line and got in the head of Kevin Kolb. All of the linebackers did their job and put pressure on the quarterback and dampened the run. Brandon Spikes and Jerod Mayo were everywhere and Rob Ninkovich had four tackles and a sack. A lot of different members were contributing and that includes the secondary. They all but eliminated Larry Fitzgerald, holding him to one reception for four yards. They did the job they set out to do and it is encouraging to know they can hold down a marquee player like him.

Offensively the Patriots have to be better if they want to win. The defense has been doing its job so now it’s time for Brady and these receivers to step it up. Stephen Gostkowski is not the reason why the Patriots lost so putting it all on him is wrong. If you think about it, he scored 12 of the Patriots 18 points today. Brady and the offense scored six. It’s a team effort and now it’s time for the pieces to come together and for us to see a complete win. Next Sunday it’s the Baltimore Ravens in primetime and given the history these teams have, you can believe they’ll both be fired up.

Larry Fitzgerald got some love this week from Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. At his weekly press conference, he praised the wide receiver as one of the best, even saying he “might end up being the best one ever.” That kind of statement shows the amount of respect Belichick has for this player. Fitzgerald was surprised with the remarks saying it’s an honor Belichick knew his name and that he is “arguably the best coach to ever do it.” Some strong words of praise from both sides before their matchup on Sunday.

In Arizona there are a lot of questions surrounding the quarterback position. The starting job hasn’t been given to either John Skelton or Kevin Kolb. Last week Skelton was carted off the field after suffering a low ankle sprain in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks and Kolb came in to lead the team on an 80 yard drive to win the game. From a consistency standpoint, it is difficult for a team to rally around an offensive leader that is constantly changing. From a player standpoint, it can’t be good for your confidence to feel as though your coach doesn’t trust you enough to give you the starting job outright. However on the other side of that, Skelton and Kolb could use this situation to their advantage and play like they have nothing to lose. For Kolb, who will start on Sunday against the Patriots, he’s going to need all the confidence he can muster, going up against a defense that had an outstanding week one performance.

Devin McCourty and the Patriots defense will likely be challenged by a Cardinals offense that features Larry Fitzgerald. (FILE:USPresswire)

The Patriots absolutely shut down the Tennessee Titans run game last Sunday. This week they will look to do that again. With each passing week players get more familiar with each other’s playing style and become more effective as a unit. However, there is no sense in thinking that the defense of week one is going to be the defense we see all season. There will be some highs and lows and as Belichick also said in his press conference, when it comes to the rookies, “Are you kidding me? They’ve played one game.” On Sunday we will see if this defense really has changed or if it was merely a mismatch last Sunday.

The biggest and most important job the defense will have on Sunday is shutting down Fitzgerald. Devin McCourty got lucky on a blatant pass interference call last week and should he be the player to matchup with Fitzgerald, he will have to be careful. The Patriots are going to have to double up the coverage of Fitzgerald because he is just that good. It’s easy to lose him on the line and he can catch any ball that is thrown in his direction. With that being said, that means somebody will be left open. It will be up to the secondary to make the necessary adjustments and make sure what they are taking away hurts the Cardinals more than what they are leaving open.

On the offensive side of the ball, the o-line is going to have their hands full. The Cardinals run a tough defense with blitzes and quick changing coverage. They have some powerhouses on their defensive line, including defensive end Calais Campbell. He is a big guy standing at 6’8″ and weighing in at 300lb so the Patriots offensive line will have to do their part to keep him away from their quarterback. His long arms are sure to bat down a few balls on Sunday. Look for the Patriots passing game to be more of the star this week. Tom Brady will have to be at his best to read what the Arizona defense is throwing at him.

Overall the Patriots will be the better team on Sunday. They have the ability to adapt as the game progresses and I think we will see that this week. It may start out as a close game but come the second half the Patriots will be in full control. It’s the home opener and with the induction of Troy Brown into the Patriots Hall of Fame, emotions are sure to be high. The Pats need to feed off the energy of Gillette Stadium and continue the style of play we saw last week.

It was a solid win for the Patriots on Sunday when they took down the Tennessee Titans 34-13. Tom Brady threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns while Stevan Ridley absolutely dominated the run game with 21 carries for 125 yards. From the looks of it, it seems as though Josh McDaniels is making some serious changes with the offense.

Stevan Ridley brought back the Patriots run game with an impressive performance.(FILE:USPresswire)

Brady targeted six different receivers in the game which made it a difficult afternoon for the Titans secondary. They had their hands full with Rob Gronkowski who, to nobody’s surprise, found himself under a lot of double coverage. But when that happens, somebody is undoubtedly left open. Aaron Hernandez’s touchdown in the first quarter was due to a great route and the fact that Gronk was doubled up. Brady could have been sharper, throwing a few passes at the feet of receivers, but the rest of the team stepped up. Last year when Brady was off, the whole system was shut down.

This year things are looking up and that is because of Ridley. It is amazing how much more effective a passing game is when it is balanced by a serious ground attack. Ridley had quick feet, good cuts and really showed his toughness. A run game makes a team tough. The Patriots are finally back to the days when they can run out a game clock by picking up first downs on the ground. It’s only week one but so far, the run game seems to be a serious factor in this Patriots offense. Bill Belichick likes to play a balanced game and today was a great start. 162 rushing yards and 228 passing yards looks okay to me.

Looking at the Titans running game as a comparison, they had 20 total rushing yards with Chris Johnson carrying the ball 11 times for just four yards. He is coming off the worst season of his career (262 carries for 1,047 yards and 4 TD) and I can assure you he was not expecting to start off the season with a performance like this. The reason why he was so ineffective was the Patriots front seven. Talk about a new look, this is a remarkably different team than we saw last year. Vince Wilfork continues to be impressive and rookies Dont’a Hightower and Chandler Jones filled in seamlessly. The duo were quick to the ball and Jones showed some serious potential to be a pass rush threat. His size and speed are going to be a big asset to him as he gets more comfortable in the NFL. As for Hightower, he fits in perfectly with Brandon Spikes and Jerod Mayo. I wouldn’t be surprised if Hightower outperforms Spikes this season.

The numbers on defense were very uplifting. Mayo had 13 tackles, while Jones forced a fumble that Hightower recovered for a touchdown. Rookie Tavon Wilson was also impressive with four tackles. The only thing that looked the same on defense was the secondary. I am still unimpressed with the lack of speed from Kyle Arrington and I wish Devin McCourty would turn around and see the ball after getting away with what should have been a pass interference penalty on Sunday.

Going forward this team looks poised for success. Week one had a lot of good, but there is still work to be done. This offense is going to be exciting and McDaniels definitely seems to have some tricks up his sleeve. As for the defense, let’s keep an eye on the front seven and see if the secondary can stop having some games where they make opposing quarterbacks look like superstars.

The Patriots have added an Olympic edge to their team. Today the team announced a deal involving silver medalist and former Florida Gator Jeff Demps. Demps, a four year running back, was a member of the men’s 4×100 relay team in this year’s London games. The move adds some serious speed to the Patriots backfield.

While at Florida Demps had 2,470 career yards and 23 touchdowns. He did not participate in any senior games or the NFL combine in order to focus on his sprinting. Had he chosen to enter the 2012 draft, he was projected to go in the fifth or sixth round. Demps is yet another player Bill Belichick has picked up from Urban Meyer’s Florida recruiting. So far Brandon Spikes and Aaron Hernandez have worked out so hopefully the Meyer/Belichick connection means a dynamic to this Patriots team.

Right now the Patriots have Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Danny Woodhead and rookie Brandon Bolden on the roster at the running back position. Noticeably absent will be the presence of Kevin Faulk. He was Mr. Third Down and I wonder if any of these players can fill the hole he left behind.

Insert Caption Text Here. (FILE:USPresswire)

The addition of Demps signals that one of these players possibly will not make the cut. There is depth and then there is too much depth. The Patriots can’t afford to carry all five guys at running back plus Eric Kettani and Spencer Larsen at the fullback position. I’d like to see them with more depth at offensive or defensive line. Versatility is what will set these players apart. Who can get the big yards but also make the tough push for those last two yards on third down? That is the player Belichick will keep around. We’ve seen it before, be able to do anything and everything and he will be pleased.

I am very interested to see how Belichick will incorporate Demps speed into the game plan. We’ve seen fast players before, but does he have the reflexes and quick moves to back it up? At 5’8″ and 191lbs he will have the advantage of getting low underneath defenders and fitting into those small spaces. We’ve seen Woodhead do that on countless occasions but I want to see what else he can do.

If he doesn’t fit into the running back rotation, I think Demps will have a secure spot on special teams. He returned kicks at Florida averaging 28.8 yards on his 21 attempts with one touchdown. The Patriots need to put someone aside from Wes Welker and Danny Woodhead on kickoff/punt returns. Matthew Slater is okay but I think Demps speed and size will be more of an advantage.

Overall I think this is a good signing by the Patriots. I don’t expect Demps to have much of an impact on the running game but I see him contributing quite a bit on special teams. It takes more than speed to be a football player so hopefully Demps can show some good instincts and a high football IQ. The Patriots way is a complicated one but if he can pick it up and prove he is versatile, this will prove to be a winning combination.

Monday night on Patriots Fourth and Two, Russ Goldman asked me if I thought the Patriots needed a deep threat. After one epically convoluted answer, I resolved myself to a wish-washy position and I want to clarify how I feel about this issue.

When it came down to it, I said no, the Patriots do not need to go out searching for that deep threat. I think there is a reason why Tiquan Underwood was signed back to the team and bringing in big name wideouts hasn’t fared well as of late. I think what the Patriots need is the threat of a deep threat, or as I will now refer to it, the “Threat Factor”.

The Patriots don’t need another big name receiver like Chad Ochocinco. They just need the threat factor, somebody to keep defenders on their toes. (FILE:Icon/SMI)

The Patriots need that guy who can receive the ball from anywhere on the field. As fellow PatsFans.com blogger Steve Balestrieri put it, this offense doesn’t air out the ball. They’ve changed their ways since parting with Randy Moss, their last deep threat option.

They need a guy who opposing defenses have to account for every time he is on the field. Somebody who can receive over the middle and also tip toe the sidelines. This somebody has to have good speed and a big enough build so defenders have a tough time pushing him off his routes.

The Patriots do not need a number one receiver. Their offense is more dynamic than most with their incorporation of the tight end position. I also have no doubt that Wes Welker will be back on the team, so their slot option is set. What they need the third piece, the piece that opens up the field. By opening up the field, the running game improves and Tom Brady has more options to work with.

Mike Wallace is a restricted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is an interesting option to keep your eye on. In order for the Patriots to receive him, they would most likely have to give up one of their first round draft picks. This season Wallace made it to the Pro Bowl and led wide receivers in the AFC North with 72 catches and 1,193 receiving yards. The Steelers are seriously tight on cash so don’t be surprised if Wallace becomes available. Also don’t be surprised if he is picked up by the Baltimore Ravens or Cincinnati Bengals who have more money to spare and can make an addition by subtracting a tough divisional opponent.

So no, the Patriots do not need to go out and make the deep threat their top priority. Would it help, yes, but is it necessary, no. What they need to do is develop the threat factor on their offense and give defenses another thing to worry about aside from Welker and the tight ends.