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Steve Balestrieri Archive

Our full article archive from over 25 years.

Steve Balestrieri | PatsFans.com Archive

Our full article archive from over 25 years.

Showing 2,421 results (page 2 of 97)

Patriots - Cowboys Key Matchups

October 14, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

The Patriots have scored 30 points or more for 13 straight regular season games. The last time they didn’t, was against Cleveland whose Defensive Coordinator was Rob Ryan, who coincidentally now holds the same position with Dallas.

NFL Picks Week 6

October 15, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

I believe the Patriots will attempt to do what they’ve done in their past two wins, take away the big TE Witten, by doubling him over the top and attempt to force Romo into mistakes on the outside. Witten has averaged nearly 100 yards per game every week

Patriots Bye Week Musings, Don't Write off the Defense

October 20, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

But no talk about the defensive line is complete without mentioning Andre Carter. Carter was the least heralded pickup this off-season of the Pats but he is quickly becoming the most valuable.

NFL Week 7 Picks

October 21, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

Jets offense is predictable; teams are sitting on their same passing routes. The Bolts have a very good defense but have a nasty tendency for silly mistakes costing themselves games. Ryan Matthews may be the story here as the Jets struggle to stop the run

Patriots - Steelers Key Matchups

October 26, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

Tom Brady has enjoyed unparalleled success against the Steelers pass defense. Last season in Pittsburgh Brady spread out the defense and roasted them with quick passes that took advantage of the aggressiveness of S Troy Polamalu. The Patriots rolled up 39

NFL Week 8 Picks

October 29, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

Tom Brady has enjoyed unparalleled success against the Steelers pass defense. Last season in Pittsburgh Brady spread out the defense and roasted them with quick passes that took advantage of the aggressiveness of S Troy Polamalu. The Patriots rolled up 39

Fixing the Patriots Defense, or is the sky falling?

November 02, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

Andre Carter has been playing well and besides playing the run and setting the edge very effectively, he’s gotten some good pressure on the QB as well.

Patriots - Giants Key Matchups

November 04, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

Teams are figuring out that they must take away Wes Welker down low and that the Patriots WRs can’t beat the physical jam at the line of scrimmage and have no one who can stretch the field. That’s why Offensive Coordinator Bill O’Brien said this week that

NFL Week 9 Picks

November 04, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

The Chargers Philip Rivers is taking a lot of heat, even from ex-teammates (LTII) but to me their problems all arise from poor coaching. This is possibly the worst team in the NFL at situational football.

Patriots - Jets Key Matchups, Here We Go Again...

November 10, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

With the lack of a speed WR on the outside that can get open and Tom Brady can find, it is rendering the Pats offense stale. Bill O’Brien has been slow to adjust, when they Patriots finally spread the Giants out late in the game last week, they scored 17

NFL Week 10 Picks

November 13, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

The Jets, specifically Rex Ryan have been superb at frustrating Tom Brady since he took over in NJ. Until Brady starts finding Chad Ochocinco (and yes, it’s as much on Brady as Ocho) or Taylor Price on the occasional deep ball to stretch the field, expect

The Empire Strikes Back, Patriots Rout Jets 37-16

November 14, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

Much of the credit on defense goes to Andre Carter at defensive end who set a new Patriots record with 4.5 sacks of Mark Sanchez as the dormant Patriots pass rush was a huge factor

The Patriots Won, Yeah but.....

November 15, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

Amazing how everyone was ready to throw dirt on this Patriots team for the season but yet after a huge team victory on Sunday, all of the Boston media felt it necessary to caveat their stories or broadcasts with the “Patriots win, yeah but…

Patriots - Chiefs Key Matchups

November 17, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

This week the Patriots should be able to assert their will on offense. The Chiefs have struggled to stop the run, so with the Patriots being able to run effectively with Green-Ellis and Woodhead, it will open play action with Brady being able to find play

NFL Week 11 Picks

November 19, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

Kansas City with their injuries at safety and nickelback, will have a rough time dealing with Wes Welker in the slot and Rob Gronkowski at TE. Nobody has been able to cover him thus far and with the array of receivers the Patriots can throw at KC, this sh

NFL Week 12 Picks Thanksgiving Day Edition

November 24, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

Matt Moore is a nice story and Reggie Bush has done a nice job the past few weeks but now Rob Ryan may have something to say about that. Moore won’t have much time to throw with Demarcus Ware in his grill

Patriots - Eagles Key Matchups, Playoffs Start Now for Philly

November 25, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

The Patriots offense, inconsistent the past month, needs to get started early and put pressure on the Eagles. With Asomugha getting injured and possibly out, Tom Brady needs to get the Patriots WRs involved in the game and early. This will open things up

NFL Week 12 Picks, Sunday Edition

November 27, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

The Patriots offense, inconsistent the past month, needs to get started early and put pressure on the Eagles. With Asomugha getting injured and possibly out, Tom Brady needs to get the Patriots WRs involved in the game and early. This will open things up

Nightmare on 11th St. Patriots Rout Eagles

November 28, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

Nothing was more indicative of the Patriots adjustments than their first possession of the second half. Going to the hurry up offense, they completely dismantled the Eagles defense and went easily down the field to score a touchdown that put the game quic

Belichick Has Enough of "Garbage Questions"

December 01, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

“You don’t think you can gauge a team based on how a player blocks Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis? I mean, who else could you gauge it against? Are you kidding me? Covering Reggie Wayne and [Austin] Collie and [Pierre] Garcon - you don’t think you can g

Patriots - Colts Key Matchups, Look to Improve in AFC

December 02, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

“I don’t agree with that, so go ahead on your soliloquy but I just don’t agree with that,’’ Belichick said. “You don’t think you can gauge a team based on how a player blocks Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis? I mean, who else could you gauge it against? A

NFL Week 13 Picks

December 04, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

Belichick said, “You don’t think you can gauge a team based on how a player blocks Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis? I mean, who else could you gauge it against? Are you kidding me? Covering Reggie Wayne and Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon – you don’t thi

Could Pats Secondary Woes Be Traced To Offense?

December 07, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

Perhaps the biggest miscalculation this summer could have been that the Patriots coaches thought this defense was better in man coverage because of the success they had against their own offense.

Patriots - Redskins Key Matchups, Mr. Carter Goes (Back) to Washington

December 08, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

This game will be won or lost on the edges, Matt Light and Nate Solder on offense and Andre Carter and Mark Anderson on defense will be key here. Light and Solder will need to protect Tom Brady against Orakpo and Kerrigan coming off the edge. Carter and A

Week 14 NFL Picks

December 11, 2011 | Steve Balestrieri

This game will be won or lost on the edges, Matt Light and Nate Solder on offense and Andre Carter and Mark Anderson on defense will be key here.

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