Everyone knows the Patriots can score (32 per game in the regular season), but 13.5 points in January is a tough cover for a team that's rarely blown out teams in the playoffs.
Just think back to 2007. Sure, it was a very, very different team, but the offense was even more explosive. They won their two playoff games by 11 points and nine points. The third one? I don't remember it. Maybe it was canceled or something. Yeah, I think it was canceled. Anyway ...
This year, of course, is completely different than past years, and any talk of the Patriots' recent playoff failings is utter nonsense. The 2009 game against the Ravens started with Wes Welker on crutches and featured players like Laurence Maroney in the backfield and Chris Baker and Ben Watson at tight end. It was a weak team. And last year against the Jets, Aaron Hernandez was hobbled with a hip injury and Rob Gronkowski looked like a rookie all night long. This year, his 90 receptions and record 17 touchdowns indicate he'll likely be a bit more effective this time around.
So no, the Patriots don't have a playoff problem, and they're not going to lose to Tim Tebow's high school offfense, especially considering they've already seen it this year. Remember when the Patriots got a hold of Miami's Wildcat the second time around? How'd that end up?
But two touchdowns on what should be a cold evening in Foxboro is a bit too much. The points are the safe road here -- especially if everything I just said turns out to be as ridiculous as everything I said before last year's Patriots playoff game.
