Historically speaking, the more hype and BS surrounding a given football game - with the one exception I don't feel like mentioning excluded - the more focused & ready this team is, and the better their execution.
Especially consider recent history. (I feel this team has the same level of chemistry as last year's.) The 45-3 trouncing of the Jets last year; or our beatdown of them this year. Our beating of Pittsburgh after the Browns game last year.
I'd also point out Belichick's pre-game speech before SB 38, when he riled up the team by pointing out how the media was giving Carolina so much credit. Belichick said something like "they haven't accomplished what we have accomplished." And made it personal. The Chargers game in 2007 would be another example, right after the Spygate stuff broke.
This week, the Denver Tebows have been hyped up beyond belief. I can't remember a regular season game with so little relative consequence getting so much damn hype. It's insane. Even the rights to air this game became a controversy. For the first time in who knows how long, Tom Brady & Bill Belichick are not even a focus going into the game, instead its an opposing QB who can't complete half of his passes.
The reality is - the offensive execution of this team has been improving recently. This team could've dropped 50 last week with just slightly better execution. They are very close - and perhaps that's why TB and BOB were so frustrated.
Statistically - especially when opposing defense is accounted for - this offense is right there with NO & GB this year, but to our own eyes, I feel like we haven't seen the 60 minute performance we've been waiting for.
I have a feeling this is the week it all comes together. The added motivation surrounding this game will only lead to increased focus.
Defensively, this game sets up well for us. We can't defend the pass, but Tebow can't pass. We can defend the run. And we don't let running QBs beat us.
I expect a Patriots rout and an FU TD from Belichick sometime around 7pm EST on Sunday.
