Ozymandias
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- May 16, 2012
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From a practical standpoint, all of these things played a factor in the difference. However, something that has been seemingly overlooked regarding this season has been the difference from the Patriots in games against an opponent they already played (Jets, Bills, Dolphins, Broncos).What's the difference between the November game when the oline kept Brady clean and now? Was it simply the presence of Demarcus ware? Was it Denver simply knowing the snap count?
Wade Phillips alluded to this, in that, when game-planning for New England a lot time was probably allocated to stopping the run game too (Blount was still active), but even he was shocked at how much New England threw the ball in that first game. After seeing that strategy once, the second time around all of these teams made it a point of emphasis that their only objective was to hit Brady as much as possible with no regard or respect for the Patriots' (in)ability to run the ball. It makes game-planning far more simplified.
Ordinarily, this type of heavy coverage and pressure-based game-plan is easily adjusted to if there's any semblance of being able to run the ball with consistency. New England without a running game made Denver's life very easy, because they could simply have their pass rushers pin their ears back to go hit Brady as much as possible. That coupled with Denver's home-field advantage, patience defensively in never straying away from their initial game-plan and the Patriots offensive line blocking horrendously, led to the results we all saw on Sunday.
For comparison's sake, look at New England's defensive performance against Denver. It was very good, but it could also have been like Denver's had they not had to respect and honor Denver's ability to run the ball, even though they were in large part successful in shutting it down. Imagine then if New England's only had objective from a game-planning standpoint was to relentlessly attack the quarterback with no regard for the run game if Denver didn't have the ability to run the ball at all and threw on seemingly every down. You'd see the same thing happen to Manning as you did to Brady. Strategically that is not a recipe for success especially against at an opponent who has already seen that strategy once and had the perfect counter for it a second time around.