Winning Super Bowls isn't easy. I think we took that for granted in 2007. Whoever we face on our path to whatever postseason success we have will be a difficult path. I'd love to beat the best.
Plus, we'd be underdogs going in - and we've always felt comfortable as that, and it's been a long, long time since we haven't been the favorites.
The Packers have had some issues stopping the pass this year. I would feel comfortable with our offense going in against them. With that said, at this point in the season, I think Rodgers and their offense would torch our defense as well.
Here's what needs to happen on the defense until I'll say that I'd feel comfortable playing Green Bay...
1. Haynesworth's snaps increasing.
- He isn't just a presence against the pass, he's also very good against the run. It's no coincidence that his playing time goes up when opponents are in the red zone, as it's also no coincidence that opponents have trouble scoring when they get down there. Get him healthy, get him in shape, and get him in there. In Week 1, I saw him take on a double team with his right arm, and bring a surging Reggie Bush down with his left. The man is a beast and the more that the Pats can get him, Wilfork, and Shaun Ellis playing together, the better it will be for the defense.
2. Jerod Mayo returning.
- With Brandon Spikes playing the way he has been (a downhill beast), do I even need to say more here?
3. Devin McCourty rounding back into form.
-Not sure where the 2010 McCourty went, but he's been missing in action so far this season (though I thought he did a solid job when matched up with Dez Bryant in the second half last week, even after getting abused a little in the first). If the 2010 DROY can round back into last year's form, with Kyle Arrington intercepting the ball the way he has and with Dowling (when healthy) and Bodden in the slot, this secondary would improve immensely and take some of the pressure off of the ailing safety position.
4. More zone and a return to the 3-4.
-Even though they'd have to go big on the D-Line to make #1 happen, the Pats have personnel more suited to playing the 3-4. Of course, I know the Pats going to alternate their defensive formations according to what the opponent is doing, but I'd like to see a return to the 3-4 as the base. So far, we've been seeing more and more of that through the last couple of weeks. On top of that, I'd like to see even more zone. The first couple of weeks showed that the secondary wasn't comfortable playing a lot of man coverage.
If all of this happens, the Patriots are going to be returning to the Super Bowl sooner rather than later. The good news is that we have the personnel to make this happen. It's just a matter of coming together and getting lucky with good health.
