Your Indicators for a Patriot Win ?

[TeamPats]

Testerverde has 1 or more rushes for -1 yards. If we can achieve this then Victory will be Ours!!!

 

[Patriot Artist]

Hey BelichickFan,

We used the Hurry Up well against the Rams and most recently the Jets. The defense basically gets pushed into an instinct game, that and waiting for either a mistake or a TD.

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

I'll say if we can do the following we win -

- No more than 1 Patriot turnover.
- No more than 3 sacks against the Patriots.
- No more than 120 yards from Tomlinson.

Now, obviously someone could say "the Patriots score more than the Chargers". Duh. What is your shortest, realistic list that if you knew they happened you'd feel like we'll win ?

My list above may not happen but it's realistic and if it does I think the points totals, on both sides, will take care of themselves.

IMHO, there is no stat that we can't overcome except turnovers. I don't care if LT runs for 200 yards. If we keep him from scoring TD's...and hold them to FG's. Or if Rivers throws for 350 yards. If we keep him from getting big plays that spread us out, and force him to throw a few costly interceptions.....we can overcome that.

Ofcourse, if both of the above happen we are dead in the water.

But, again, to me, if we hold onto the ball and get a few turnovers, we will be in great shape.

At the end of the day, Rivers is going to be a huge key for that team. And this is where we usually take care of business...on QB's that have never performed under playoff pressure.

 

[bakes781]

More than 5 different receivers with a completion

I think the Pats are a more efficient offense when they involve everyone.

Limit LT's YAC(yards after contact)

The Pat's should assign a spy or 2 on LT much like would if they were playing Michael Vick.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Hey BelichickFan,

We used the Hurry Up well against the Rams and most recently the Jets. The defense basically gets pushed into an instinct game, that and waiting for either a mistake or a TD.

I wasn't being sarcastic, I meant it. When Tommy is in the shotgun with 4-5 WR and just distributes the ball around like a Point Guard he's usually very effective.

 

[Oswlek]

Turnovers, third down and red zone.

Whichever team wins at least two of those without getting dominated in the third will win this game.

I agree that if SD is held to 2 sacks and 2-3 other good pressure plays that the above will fall into place.

 

[Michigan Dave]

The reasons for my list are :

1) If we don't turn it over we're scoring or punting. As I say all game every game "it's OK to punt". If a team has to start inside their 35 against our defense consistently I'm feeling OK about things. And chances are that we won't get caught starting inside our 10 all day if we're punting; no guarantee on this but the odds are good.

This is a great comment. Very understated, too. So many people freak out at punting, and get angry when teams punt. Field position is HUGE. If we get the ball to start the game, and get 2-3 first downs, and don't score, I'm pleased, because we've been able to establish field position.

 

[shirtsleeve]

The two biggest factors will be:

1). NO TURNOVERS

2.) NO MENTAL MISTAKES like rtp or pi on third down, which keeps their drives alive.

We do those, we win.

BB WILL find a way to hold LT to less than 120 total yards on 35 touches (passing and running) and he WILL find a way to limit Gates to less than 60 yards on 6 catches. The combined scoring impact of this will be 2 touchdowns and 2 field goals, maximum. Thats 20 points, maximum, from them. The rest will be on Rivers and the WR's. Brady&Co should score minimum 24 points. IF THE DONT MAKE ANY MISTAKES!

 

[teamplay]

I'm taking a slightly different slant here:

1. Rivers' performance (assuming the Pats contain LT).

2. The Pats' pass protection.

If Rivers does well and the Pats pass protection is poor, SD wins.

If Rivers is less than stellar but the Pats pass protection is solid, NE wins.

Otherwise, it's a coin flip.

 

[pats1]

-Score more points than the opponent, no matter if you turn it over once or a hundred times.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Re: Your Indicators for a Patriot Win (vs. SD) ?

I'll say if we can do the following we win -

- No more than 1 Patriot turnover.
- No more than 3 sacks against the Patriots.
- No more than 120 yards from Tomlinson.

Worked out nicely

We turned the ball over 3 times but when I said no more than one that was assuming we wouldn't create 4. I was basically looking to be about even in turnovers.

No more than 3 sacks against us ? We were sacked 2 for 4 yards, not even "real" sacks.

Tomlinson got 123 yards but his long was 15 - fantastic job (although he did have the long catch).