PatriotDynasty_12

The main difference I see, this team is mentally tough. Something that will most likely come into play during the playoffs. They don't seem to panic

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IllegalContact

I don't see the OP's point as being valid

that said, I believe this team has become prepared to execute when everyone in the building knows they're going to pass.....

the steelers will have to be exposed against either hernandez or gronk. the're not going to be able to have harrison and woodley simply pin their ears back and go after the QB as the numbers will be very much against their favor the pats if the 2 OLB's cant get to brady untouched.

don't be suprised to see the forgotten deion branch as a factor......he's historically done well against the steelers.

I think the steelers would better prepare the pats for the ravens.

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“ I think good coaches will coach with the personnel they have, and if you only have one (good) linebacker, you’re not going to play a 3–4. ”
—Hank Bullough, who installed one of the first 3–4 defenses with the New England Patriots.

Patjew

Those 2 teams were front runners. This team can play and win from behind.

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PatsChamp88

....is that we haven't played the game yet so we're not one a done!

Rob0729

One area that it is night and day is adjustments. This team gets better as the game goes on. The previous two years, the Pats tended to get huge leads in the first half and kinda coast the rest of the game. This team has resilience and gets better and better as the game goes on. I don't have the numbers, but in the last six or seven games, the Pats have gotten something like 200 yards to seven in the third quarter.

doesntmatter1

I felt that the 2010 team had a good chance if they didn't run into the jets and their ridiculous coverage that shut down peyton manning and us. That coverage couldn't stop the mobile rothlisberger and brady wasn't willing to run last year(maybe the foot injury). Also Brady is known for his come from behind wins in his career but i always felt that the 2010 brady had no chance of victory if we were down by 10 or more. Our offense would just stall.

The 09 team just sucked offensively. I don't think i have ever seen a more predictable offense. I could call basically every bubble screen and if I could do it just imagine the opposing defense.

This year's squad is as offensively clutch as I have seen since the knee injury. I think we have problem's at wr(branch, ocho) but we have made it work so far. The biggest wild card is our d.

QB12

Excellent point!

PatriotFan77

Don't discount the mediocrity of any potential opponent the Pats may face as well. The AFC is weak this year.

Denver has no business in the playoffs coming out of the conference that DEFINES mediocrity. They are running a clown show at the QB position.

The Bungles got the ultimate backdoor job into the playoffs and are only good enough for 3rd place in their own division. They are running a rookie at the QB position.

Houston was legit up to week 8. They limp into the playoffs with 3 straight losses to horrid teams. They are running an either injured rookie or geriatric journeyman at the QB position.

Pittsburgh is everyone's darling of "balance" but their #1 ranked defense clearly carries that team. They have a middle of the pack ranked offense that averages 20ppg. They have gotten blown out twice on the road this year. They are running a fat, injured tool at the QB position.

Baltimore is terrible on the road this year, losing to terrible teams. Their season always seems to revolve around beating Pittsburgh, not winning the SB. They limp into the playoffs after having their doors blown off in SD, and having the lowly Browns and Bungles take them to the wire the last two weeks. They are running the guy that CAN NOT beat Pittsburgh when it counts at the QB position.

Pats have a great shot this year.

robbomango

Last year we had 2 rookie TE's Woody a 2nd year player with little experience and Welker, coming off a knee injury(wasn't 100% all season). That Coupled with new schemes from Rex's D dampened our Offensive production.

Playoff stats vs jets

Gronk..........4rec 65yds 0tds

Woody.........6rec 52yds 0tds 14carries 46yds 3.3avg 0tds

Hernandez....1rec 4yds 0tds(injured)

Welker.........5rec 34yds 0tds

This year we're stacked at RB, Wes is 100% and the TE's are more experienced and healthy. Not sure any defensive surprises in the PO's will hold this offense down for 4 full qtrs.

Metaphors

The difference will hopefully be health. The Ravens took advantage of Welker being out and Wilfork/Warren being hobbled. The Jets had no answer for Hernandez but he was hurt last year.

If Mankins, Vollmer, Ninkovich and White are healthy in 2 weeks, the Pats should be in good shape. Brady's bumps/bruises seem less severe than normal. For the first time in a long time, the Pats should enter a playoff game with few if any physical limitations.

The other factor that I believe will be important is that opponents will have little useful video to prepare for the Pats. The defense played very vanilla for the majority of the season so they will likely be showing something entirely new for their playoff games. The offense shows infinite looks and still has some unused weapons (think screens like against the Eagles in the SB).

So look for Belichick to scheme up some winners and the Pats being healthy enough to execute them. With the only QBs between them and the SB being Dalton (rookie), Roethlisberger (hobbled), Tebow (RB), Yates (hobbled rookie) and Flacco (scatter-armed), the Pats shouldn't face an offense that can mount enough of a passing attack in the wind and cold to win a shootout. The NFC poses a whole 'nother level of challenge, but that is for another day.