Is our defense good enough for a SB run?

[mike_usagisan]

At a minimum, if Maye plays like he did vs LA, we'll be OK. He wasn't great passing the ball but that has a good amount to do with the Chargers D.

HOU is not great at defending mobile QBs which plays to Maye's running ability. Not sure how effective Rham/Tre will be running the ball but that might be aided by Maye running and making throws.

The Nico Collins situation is a potential death blow for HOU. They will not beat us with Schultz and their other wideouts. Period. If they can't sustain drives the D will wear down later in the game which will hopefully make running the ball a bit easier.

I just want them reiterating ball safety with Maye this week. I think turnovers are key with the Texans. Don't give up any and our chances go up exponentially.

 

[Wozzy]

Pass D is good. Run D is a sieve.

If you can’t stop the run, you have nothing.

 

[Wozzy]

I just want them reiterating ball safety with Maye this week. I think turnovers are key with the Texans. Don't give up any and our chances go up exponentially.

This ^

The rest of the way through the playoffs, not just Maye but everyone. Don’t turn it over.

They can beat anyone if they play error free.

 

[RobertWeathers]

If you can’t stop the run, you have nothing.

If you get up by 2-3 TDs defending the run is irrelevant.

 

[Wozzy]

If you get up by 2-3 TDs defending the run is irrelevant.

This scenario happening the further you go in the playoffs is unlikely.

The opposing team will run 40+ times, control the time of possession and keep your high flying offense on the sidelines watching the game.

All you need is for your defense to force a turnover, one is probably enough. As long as your offense doesn’t turn it over, it’s an easy victory.

 

[captain stone]

...The Nico Collins situation is a potential death blow for HOU. They will not beat us with Schultz and their other wideouts. Period. If they can't sustain drives the D will wear down later in the game which will hopefully make running the ball a bit easier.

Their other WRs are pretty dam good too, especially their two rookies.

 

[mgteich]

At a minimum, if Maye plays like he did vs LA, we'll be OK. He wasn't great passing the ball but that has a good amount to do with the Chargers D.

I disagree.

If Maye plays like he did, we'll have 2 fumbles, 3-4 sacks and 3 interceptions before the half.

Ans, no, I certainly don't expect that to happen.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Their other WRs are pretty dam good too, especially their two rookies.

They are ok. Carrying an offense is another story.

 

[Huckleberry1]

At a minimum, if Maye plays like he did vs LA, we'll be OK. He wasn't great passing the ball but that has a good amount to do with the Chargers D.

HOU is not great at defending mobile QBs which plays to Maye's running ability. Not sure how effective Rham/Tre will be running the ball but that might be aided by Maye running and making throws.

The Nico Collins situation is a potential death blow for HOU. They will not beat us with Schultz and their other wideouts. Period. If they can't sustain drives the D will wear down later in the game which will hopefully make running the ball a bit easier.

This game reminds me of the Seattle Super Bowl. If the Texans run defense wasn't so good I would say pound the ball at them, but I don't think that will work, so I would do what they did against the Seahawks, throw the ball all day and wear down their pass rushers. Throw on early downs to leave themselves 3rd and short at most. Drake Maye is their best player, put the game in his hands right from the beginning, if they lose so be it, at least they will go down using their best player the most, if they win they move on and Maye has gained the experience of playing a big game against a great pass rushing team. Maye is going to have to get rid of the ball really quick to beat this pass rush, but like everything else he will figure it out and get it done. We could see a whole bunch of Efton Chism in the Edelman role.

 

[RobertWeathers]

This scenario happening the further you go in the playoffs is unlikely.

The opposing team will run 40+ times, control the time of possession and keep your high flying offense on the sidelines watching the game.

All you need is for your defense to force a turnover, one is probably enough. As long as your offense doesn’t turn it over, it’s an easy victory.

Going up 21-7 in the 3rd quarter is unlikely?

 

[RobertWeathers]

I disagree.

If Maye plays like he did, we'll have 2 fumbles, 3-4 sacks and 3 interceptions before the half.

Ans, no, I certainly don't expect that to happen.

Yes- the turnovers are key. However, if Maye has 334 yards of offense their chances of winning this game are very high

 

[RobertWeathers]

This game reminds me of the Seattle Super Bowl. If the Texans run defense wasn't so good I would say pound the ball at them, but I don't think that will work, so I would do what they did against the Seahawks, throw the ball all day and wear down their pass rushers. Throw on early downs to leave themselves 3rd and short at most. Drake Maye is their best player, put the game in his hands right from the beginning, if they lose so be it, at least they will go down using their best player the most, if they win they move on and Maye has gained the experience of playing a big game against a great pass rushing team. Maye is going to have to get rid of the ball really quick to beat this pass rush, but like everything else he will figure it out and get it done. We could see a whole bunch of Efton Chism in the Edelman role.

It's the Chargers game Part Deux. Handle the pass rushers and be smart throwing the ball vs a good pass D.

 

[dliverey44]

I am just shocked that after 14 games we still havent improved from 100% efficiency in the RZ for opponents. I have no idea of the scheme but the pats teams of the past, barring the last 5 yrs mybe, would at least try something to fix such a glaring and obvious issue. Its my small peeve with vrabel. He sarcastically criticizes the offense at times for playcalls etc but never reallyhas shown enough urgency to fix the RZ D.

I am guessing that they have worked to fix their RZ issues, imo we are still lacking in talent on both sides of the ball. which because of talent deficiencies this run is so impressive to me. I think the weak schedule aspect was a bit overblown, but I do not think they are a SB roster.

That being said when we win the SB this should go down as one of the greatest coaching performances of all time along with 2001.

 

[n1997y]

I am guessing that they have worked to fix their RZ issues, imo we are still lacking in talent on both sides of the ball. which because of talent deficiencies this run is so impressive to me. I think the weak schedule aspect was a bit overblown, but I do not think they are a SB roster.

That being said when we win the SB this should go down as one of the greatest coaching performances of all time along with 2001.

After watching the Chargers come away with nothing after getting a takeaway already inside the RZ I’m no longer going to worry about our red zone defense being guaranteed to fail.

 

[Wozzy]

Going up 21-7 in the 3rd quarter is unlikely?

Unless the opposing offense turns it over repeatedly, in which case they beat themselves.

 

[Wozzy]

Before the injuries to Milton Williams, Spillane and others the Patriots had the best run defense in the NFL and were top five in preventing points.

Williams and Spillane are back… it won’t be easy to run or score on the Patriots.

@captain stone you emoji’d that you disagreed with my statement above?

Statistical fact is not opinion or open to interpretation. There’s nothing to disagree with.

Take your Zoloft.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Agree with an above poster on talent. Other than QB and #1 corner, you could argue that every remaining team is more talented top bottom than the Pats. They will take a few offseasons to fix.

But, they do play well as a TEAM.

 

[Wozzy]

Agree with an above poster on talent. Other than QB and #1 corner, you could argue that every remaining team is more talented top bottom than the Pats. They will take a few offseasons to fix.

But, they do play well as a TEAM.

Barmore, Milton Williams, Ellis, even the rookie offensive linemen. We have really talented guys, Pats fans just can’t accept it.

 

[RobertWeathers]

After watching the Chargers come away with nothing after getting a takeaway already inside the RZ I’m no longer going to worry about our red zone defense being guaranteed to fail.

...and HOU is 26th in red zone TDs per game and 29th in red zone TD %. We are 9th and 21st respectfully.

Collins has 18 RZ targets for a 27% share of the targets. Top 10 in the NFL. Huge.

 

[n1997y]

Barmore, Milton Williams, Ellis, even the rookie offensive linemen. We have really talented guys, Pats fans just can’t accept it.

Not just on D. Our WRs aren’t talented either, that’s why our passing game sucks. Or if it doesn’t suck it’s not the WRs it’s the QB.

There is a lot of cognitive bias in NFL fans and gurus. Barmore can’t be talented because he plays for the Pats and they were so bad last year that they showed they have no talent. Milton Williams was said to be overpaid in free agency because he had only had a limited run with the Eagles, mostly doing just one thing, so he couldn’t be talented. Rookies weren’t drafted in the top five picks and haven’t shown anything in the NFL so they can’t be talented. They all play for the Patriots so they can’t be talented. And on and on…