tombonneau

i.e. a "below-average" QB that for some reason plays lights-out-game-of-his-life vs. NE?

Don't know what it is, but for some reason this year NE has been drawing career games vs. scrubs like Feeley & Boller. Those guys were making perfect throw after perfect throw. Meanwhile, against the rest of the league it's back to Turd-dom.

So is anyone else a little worried that Volek could start or come in as relief and play a career game vs. our D?

I tell you what, I'm more worried of that happening that the prospects of a gimpy Rivers putting together a great game.

Oswlek

Sure, but like them I doubt that he can match NE until late in the game and NE's offense will eventually force him out of his comfort zone.

__________________
"They have one objective," said Washington cornerback Shawn Springs. "They whoop people's [backsides]. If you understand that, it answers all your questions. They might not lose [this year]."

Watson's IQ

Sure, it's possible. But I'm no more worried about that than any number of things which could go wrong. You remember guys like Boller and Feeley, but over the years there are just as many terrible QBs that BB defenses have eaten for lunch.

To use an outside analogy, it's like how the Red Sox always seem to have problems with scrub lefties they've never faced before. It doesn't actually happen every time, and usually doesn't, but you only remember the times it did.

bolts_fan

It may be more of the case that the defense questions itself when an unknown QB is playing. By unknown, I mean a QB that they don't have a lot of current game tape on.

I'm willing to bet that the Patriots Defense knows more about Rivers' tendencies with this Chargers team than what Volek's tendencies are with the same personnel. Mainly because Volek hasn't really been playing much with this group and we (including me as a Bolts fan) have no idea who he'll click with and what he'll actually do come game time.

Rocky Mountain Stampede

I live in the San Diego area. Encinitas to be exact. Do you want to fight? I want to beat the **** out of a Charger fan today.

Nordy

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick vs Billy Volek and Norv Turner in the AFC Championship. I'm really worried here!

Watson's IQ

Like Feeley/Boller, however, Volek is not an unknown commodity. He played almost a full season (pretty decently, I might add) in 2004, and trust me BB has been doing his homework.

I don't think it would be a question of the Pats' defense worrying, rather that sometimes these things just happen. Feeley's success against the Pats was a function of a gameplan which played to his strengths (The Blueprint, as we'll recall). If Norv comes up with a good gameplan for Volek, he could have some success too. He also might not. That's how it goes.

PatsRule

Here is the big difference pressure, Feeley and Boller had none this game is for all the marbles in a cold enviorment on the road.

chris_in_sunnyvale

Volek was the mad bomber in 2004 for Tennessee. He threw a beautiful long ball. I suspect the Pats won't allow him to do that and instead read the defense and pick spots underneath.

Regards,
Chris

tombonneau

Excellent point. I feel much better now.