BobDigital
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2013
- Messages
- 16,350
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They might be.
KC is having big time issues but should still be easily in the playoffs. They have an average D right now and Alex Smith has already played the best football of his life. He will never be that good again even if he gets hot. They could be trouble if Smith is on but I think the Pats have improved too much since that first game for even that to matter.
Pitt will fight for the #2 seed but have looked on the whole unimpressive on O and Brady historically has owned that D no matter what its ranked in PPG. Yes they have great speed and good talent but they still look like they run the same exact scheme to me.
The Jags in that context may be the AFC team with the best chance to beat the Pats. Why?
1) Elite pass rush with 4. They can get a lot of pressure with 4 guys and some of it from the middle.
2) Coaching. When I look for something that made this team turn around Doug Marrone is a strong possibility. Look at his NFL record..
His first year with the Bills in 2013 they went 6-10. The next year they went 9-7 and then he left (the out clause of his contract was possible due to an ownership change).
In Jacksonville the team went 2-12 before he was made HC. Then it went 1-1. This year it is 7-3.
Long story short in his NFL history where ever he has been so far as a HC he has improved the team and defense. When he left the Bills they gone from the 26th D to the 4th in PPG. The Jags last year where the 25th best D and now are the 1st in PPG.
I don't think this is mere coincidence. I think this guy has a clue unlike a lot of other coaches.
3) Lack of familiarity. The Patriots don't let you fool them twice usually. The better both teams know each other and the better Brady knows your D the worse off you are. If they play the Jags it will be the first time in a while and all the tape they had from last time is useless. This wildcard makes them more scary.
I don't think the Pats will lose to the Jags but for my money I'd rather play Pitt or KC in the AFCCG right now.
KC is having big time issues but should still be easily in the playoffs. They have an average D right now and Alex Smith has already played the best football of his life. He will never be that good again even if he gets hot. They could be trouble if Smith is on but I think the Pats have improved too much since that first game for even that to matter.
Pitt will fight for the #2 seed but have looked on the whole unimpressive on O and Brady historically has owned that D no matter what its ranked in PPG. Yes they have great speed and good talent but they still look like they run the same exact scheme to me.
The Jags in that context may be the AFC team with the best chance to beat the Pats. Why?
1) Elite pass rush with 4. They can get a lot of pressure with 4 guys and some of it from the middle.
2) Coaching. When I look for something that made this team turn around Doug Marrone is a strong possibility. Look at his NFL record..
His first year with the Bills in 2013 they went 6-10. The next year they went 9-7 and then he left (the out clause of his contract was possible due to an ownership change).
In Jacksonville the team went 2-12 before he was made HC. Then it went 1-1. This year it is 7-3.
Long story short in his NFL history where ever he has been so far as a HC he has improved the team and defense. When he left the Bills they gone from the 26th D to the 4th in PPG. The Jags last year where the 25th best D and now are the 1st in PPG.
I don't think this is mere coincidence. I think this guy has a clue unlike a lot of other coaches.
3) Lack of familiarity. The Patriots don't let you fool them twice usually. The better both teams know each other and the better Brady knows your D the worse off you are. If they play the Jags it will be the first time in a while and all the tape they had from last time is useless. This wildcard makes them more scary.
I don't think the Pats will lose to the Jags but for my money I'd rather play Pitt or KC in the AFCCG right now.