Originally Posted by Halifax_Pats_Fan (Post 2936934)

I like these threads as they include what the board feels our team should do against their opponet that week, given all the circumstances of that week.

And this week is the biggest of them all.

My keys:

1) Should you win the toss, take the ball and set the tempo (I know, I am in the minority on this one). Why? I believe we have a healthy gronk for the first half. Let's ride that horse.



2) Offensive line play. Needs to be the best it has been all year. Do not know what Vollmer's play will be like. Matt and Osi is always a battle. I want the meanest of mean coming out of 70. We need that pocket free of Giants.

3) I believe we have a shot at stretching the field. Someone mentioned previously that Underwood kid. We have 85, I know I know. We have Branch. You gotta take your shots in the first half casue I believe they will be expecting it in the second half.


4) Run the rock. Mankins said it. More reasons why the o-line need to be on their game. I would actually mix in Ridley. We need to throw everything at this team.

5) I would keep the 25/32 combo train rolling at safety. I believe Hicks is the straw that stirs that drink. Obvously Manningham and Cruz are off the charts. But if we can cover the middle, and get after 10 before those wideouts get their route down, we got a chance.


6) Playmakers on both sides of the ball, esp. defense. If I see Manning escape one more time I am sending BB and Kraft a bill for $1500 cause I will be throwing my laptop threw my tv. Wrap him up, make the play.


7) Field position. Will be big in this game. I still believe in 11. I think he is gonna be amped up more that his regular groping self. He is gonna make a play. (and I can live with him getting beat on a play, maybe two; but not all game on D).

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1) 5 days and counting...how am I gonna get the freak by?

Originally Posted by Gronkandez (Post 2936943)

5) Not sure what 25/32 means.

Originally Posted by Double TE (Post 2936968)

My three keys are simpler

#1) Be the more physical team both on offense and D. Run the ball and have our OL punish their pass rushing DL. Stop their running game by punishing Bradshaw and Jacobs and make them one dimensional. When their receivers catch the ball punish them with physical hits. Cruz and Manningham are not big guys and Nicks has a bad shoulder. The hits will add up.

#2) NO Turnovers, make them go a long way each and every time they want to score. No short field, EVER.

#3) No stupid penalties, especially on 3rd downs.

I think if the Pats can accomplish these three we WIN!

Originally Posted by Gronkandez (Post 2936978)

Another simple key is tackling, specifically SECONDARY TACKLING.

I also thing the offense needs to be aggressive and go-for-it on 4th downs, when reasonable, ie not deep in their own territory.

Originally Posted by PatsFanSince74 (Post 2936989)

I'll leave the X's and O's to BB and his coaches, though a lot of things people have said in this thread make a lot of sense.

The only "Key" that I'll propose is that the Pats can't afford to turn the ball over; Brady threw two picks and Special Teams coughed it up once vs. the Ravens. The Pats used up all their playoff "luck" in that game when Ridley's fumble (potentially TO #4) went OB, when the tying FG went "Wide Left" and when the knockdown on Evans in the end zone wasn't called a TD*.

If anything, the Pats D will have to score or set the Offense up to score 7--10 points if they are going to win.


(*Before you flame me on the latter, please understand my point. I agree that it was NOT a catch, based on the careful analysis of the stop motion replays overnight after the game. But had it been called a TD on the field, it would have been hard to find the "incontrovertible" evidence needed to overturn that call in the 90 seconds the Ref gets under the hood. In real time, IMO, it could have been called either way. We got lucky that it was called correctly. That's my only point.)