I think you're right. Ball control is key to beating the Giants. Keep the clock running, wear down their defense and keep Eli and his WR's off the field. It's the kind of strategy people have used against us. Now we should use it against them.
Sometime you just need to do the unexpected.
I'm re-watching the AFCCG right now, and Green-Ellis just scored his 2nd quarter TD.
Now, that first Pats possession of the 2nd quarter featured two consecutive BJGE inside runs on first down, and he moved the chains on each run (11 and 13 yards). The Pats mixed it up with an off-tackle to Woodhead, followed by a sweet play-action throw that AHern couldn't pull in (otherwise he might have been off to the proverbial races). Facing 3rd n 8, Tom had to go to the air... and Welker moved the chains. Yada, yada, BJGE runs 8 yards to score on a D that looked gassed and on their heels.
Bottom line is that even though it's not "Patriots football", this was probably not expected by the Ravens' staff or their game-plan. And was successful. Best of all to me, that series showed that the Pats ran because they
could, and passed when they
had to.
The Pats' OL blocking for the run up the middle against the Ravens was very effective, and if we can run consistently on first down with success, the Giants might re-think their speed-rush front four. That will help with play-action, because if they are forced to bring in their heavies inside, their pass-rush suffers.
