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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.He doesn't paint a pretty picture. Pats have got to establish the run on Sunday. Only way to re-open things up for the passing game and keep the heat off Brady. I would also not like to see Nick Kaczur in the line-up at RT. Having Wilfork and Warren back will greatly improve the D esp against the run.
How the heck are the Pats still 6.5 point favorites? Would they have been 10 point favorites with Welker in the game?
We have gotten away from the Pats successful ways of running screen plays...maybe without Welker we go back to what brought us moving the chains often going back a few years ago - more screens more often need to be in O'Brien's plans or he is an idiot.
there were times when weis used to open the game with a screen play .
How the heck are the Pats still 6.5 point favorites? Would they have been 10 point favorites with Welker in the game?
So let the Ravens consentrate on Moss. Fine by me. That leaves lots of underneath routes, screens, and runs with fewer defenders to deal with.
Concentrate on Moss and forget about Edelman? Aikens? Faulk? Maroney? All four of those fellows have pretty good hands, and as long as the Patriots are getting better than 3.4 yards per play, we can knock the Ravens all the way back to Baltimore.
Remember that Baltimore has to come to Gillette. In OUR HOUSE, it's a whole different ballgame, even with Welker on the sidelines.
We have gotten away from the Pats successful ways of running screen plays...maybe without Welker we go back to what brought us moving the chains often going back a few years ago - more screens more often need to be in O'Brien's plans or he is an idiot.
Vegas says 4 point favorite - If I am betting right now I take the Ravens and the points,if the Pats do win it will be by less than 4 for sure.
Just checked with my "friend" The line is down to 3.5 points. Maybe the early line was 6.5.
Wouldn't be surprised if it's 3 by Sunday.
Ed Reed is banged up too. It'll be interesting to see how effective he'll be next week.
Even before Welker got hurt on Sunday, the conspiracy theorist in me thought, "Hmm, I wonder if they are resting Faulk and Maroney because they are going to be the focus of the game plan for the playoffs - pretend they are not that important [or that Maroney is in the doghouse] then hit them with lots of dump offs & screens to throw off our opponents." Then my husband pointed out that Maroney probably really is in the doghouse. But, wouldn't this be a great game plan if it could work? Don't throw anything Moss's way for the 1st half; use him strictly as a decoy, and pick them apart underneath. Then, in the 2nd half, when they are trying to adjust, then turn back to Moss, who probably isn't drawing as much attention.
Wasn't this how the Pats of old played anyway? They should have Brady watching some old tape of himself and how he used to spread the ball around at will. Then they should have him and Kevin Faulk relive the glory days of their awesome screen pass that used to kill opponents, particularly in the playoffs. At least they have a week to come up with something.
This assumes, of course, that the D is holding up their end of the bargain and not allowing Baltimore to score at will.
I think that's overthinking. The Patriots always run more later in the year, and Maroney was a big factor in the playoffs in 2007 except for the game where everyone forgot how to play.
Maroney is most certainly not in the doghouse. I never expected him to get many touches in the last game anyway. He has been worked the most out of the RBs over the course of the year and Taylor needed reps recently coming off injury.
I am happy that we have all of our RBs healthy for the playoffs, and expect Maroney to be a big part of the running game in the playoffs.
Who knew the 9-7 Ravens (6-7 in their last 13 games) were such a dynamic team?
It appears everyone missed that their secondary really, really sucks.