How to Beat the Patriots

[mayoclinic]

Generic recipe for any team facing the Pats:

1. Get pressure on Brady. Brady has been uncharacteristically inaccurate when under pressure. The right side of the OL and the middle have been particularly susceptible to pressure. Do it anyway you can - we the DL, with blitzes, changing up formations, etc.

2. Double down on Welker and Moss. Double both of them. Welker is the cog that makes the offense go. Moss gets frustrated and takes himself out of the game when doubled. Brady no longer spreads the ball around like he used to (especially if he is under pressure), he just tried to force it to Welker and Moss.

3. Spread the ball around on offense. The Pats have some teriffic young playmakers in their secondary, but they get no pressure up front. Your QB will have plenty of time to make reads and find the open guy. They can't cover everyone. As a general rule, finding whoever is not being covered by Bodden or Butler will likely be successful.

 

[mayoclinic]

Sorry, I forgot to add:

4. Be patient and don't panic. The Pats are a talented and explosive team, but time is on your side. They will find a way to miss red zone opportunities, kill drives with penalties, mistakes and turnovers, and lapse back into predictable and soft offensive and defensive schemes which work in your favor.

Stir everything together well to blend the ingredients and bake for a full 60 minutes.

Enjoy.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Key is, play for a full 60 minutes. Pats have lost 3 games and almost 4 (Ravens) on the opponents last drive.

 

[Nikolai]

Indeed. I remember CBS flashing up graphics about how bad the Dolphins were in the 4th quarter this year, but the Pats have been just as bad, so something had to give.

 

[sieglo]

I think all you really need to do to beat the Pats is dink and dunk, occassionally go deep, and never run the ball.

 

[PatsBoy12]

One of the biggest things, and most telling, that you mentioned is the fact that Brady doesn't spread the ball around like he used to. I think that is sooo true, whether it's because the Patriots just have no real #3 receiver or the fact that Ben Watson is a non-factor (they just don't use him) or the fact that Brady is getting hit time and again. I just don't know, but he isn't spreading the ball around at all.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Key is, play for a full 60 minutes. Pats have lost 3 games and almost 4 (Ravens) on the opponents last drive.

Yep, this team is soft and lacking killer instinct. Remember Jarvis Green's 60 Minute Men ? They died in February, 2008 and certainly haven't returned.

 

[condon84]

We used to "find ways to win."

Now, we've found ways to lose.