Last Year:
Avril Lavigne?s new single My Happy Ending themes heartbreak in a chummy relationship, something the Carolina Panthers can relate to after being dumped by the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Though the Pats did take home the big prize, why they?d have to go and make things so complicated by starting 2-2? Don?t tell me, after a sluggish start they ripped off 12 straight wins including a manhandling of the skater boy?s from Buffalo in week 17. Once the playoffs hit, all it took was a teenie bopping of the Titans, Colts, and Panthers, and the Pats went platinum for the second time in 2 years. Brady?s bunch doesn?t appear to be losing grip, so how about thrice in 4 years?
What we Learned from Last Year:
If it looks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, then it?s probably a?well not exactly. Ducklings that have dipped in the Super Bowl in recent years, such as Baltimore and the New York Giants, New England and St. Louis, as well as Tampa Bay and Oakland, have all waddled out of the spotlight the following season.
After a late off-season cut of stalwart Lawyer Milloy and a week 1 throbbing from him and his new crew in Buffalo, people assumed that affairs were transpiring similarly in New England.
A momentous 2-game home stand ginsenged the Patriots as wins against the Titans and the Giants propelled this team in the right direction.
Week to week, no team gathered more steam than the Patsies.
-The infield dirt and an 82-yard touchdown reception helped the Patriots over the Dolphins
-Then a simple 9-3 dog fight against the dawg pound
-The following week New England took a shocking safety to give Denver a late field goal lead, only to come back and win.
-Week 11 was the homecoming of Bill Parcells, where he was efficiently shutout 12-0.
-Then, kicker Adam Vinatieri overcame a last second game-winning field goal miss, and an overtime game-winning field goal block only to split the uprights later in sudden death in Houston.
-A 38-34 triumph in Indianapolis where the Colts? offense was demoralized 4 times 1 yard away from victory.
-28 inches of snow didn?t freeze the Patriots from icing the Dolphins 12-0 in a Snow Bowl classic.
-After 2 insipid wins, the Pats returned to their story book fashion spanking the Buffalo Bills 31-0, the exact same score that was on the scoreboard when these 2 teams met in week 1. Only the victor was different.
That was a stretch of 8 unforgettable games where the 4th quarter victories advanced the Patriots confidence with each game.
Something that was distant in the minds of many by the end of the season was the fact that the Patriots were decimated by injuries throughout the first half of the season. Roosevelt Colvin played only 2 games, David Pattern participated in 6 and Troy Brown missed 4 as the league?s premier team was forced to start more than 40 different players before week 8. Now that?s impressive.
Bill Belichick has set up an excellent habitat for exploiting the maximum from his players. Sure there are first-rate athletes like Ty Law, and Tom Brady, but a smart system allows rookies and journeymen to contribute significant totals. How would Kevin Faulk, or Mike Vrabel fit in elsewhere? Would Tyrone Poole and Tedy Bruschi be starters? The truth is Belichick has created one of the primary environments in all of sports, reminiscent of the Atlanta Braves. Players come and go as they please, but the coaching staffs know how to mold each individual to produce lucrative results.
What Has Changed?:
A dynasty in an era of parity? The Patriots will simply have to make an appearance at the late January championship game to prove their point.
One thing that the Patriots labored to replicate in the season after their first Super Bowl win was a proficient run defense. The following year they ranked second to last, permitting 137 yards per game. Ted Washington, who was a hefty explanation as to why the Pats shaved nearly 50 yards off their per game average last year, is now departed. His replacements are in the shoes of Keith Traylor, Dana Stubblefield, and first-round draft pick Vince Wilfork. Depth is not much of a concern.
New England does not plan on mistaking the same mistake twice. They labored with a very poor record in 2002 because running backs were able to penetrate their defense at will. By adding Stubblefield and Traylor through free agency, while also accreting the front four through the draft with Vince Wilfork, and Marquise Hill (second round), the Pats are determined to hold the fort. Backing them up will be a linebacking corps that already boasts Pro Bowler Willie McGinest, I want my Tedy Bruschi, Right Said Ted Johnson, able Mike Vrabel, and when in Rome do as the Roman Phifer, and will also re-welcome Roosevelt Colvin, who was expected to be an esteemed acquisition before season ending hip surgery last year.
Belichick loves to blur the secondary for opposing quarterbacks, blitzing from different positions, faking blitzes, and stunting on the offensive line. Put it this way, if Peyton Manning can?t figure out this Rubik?s Cube, then neither will a lot of signal callers. It doesn?t hurt to have Ty Law, and Chargers ?cast away? Rodney Harrison.
Like Mase, Corey Dillon should be welcomed back to the NFL elite running backs by the New England Patriots - I know you like that. After living la vida without the loca for the past season in Cincinnati, Corey is back as a prime time runner for the Pats. Considering that the previous feature back, Antowain Smith, had cracked the 1000-yard barrier only once in the 3 season he spent in New England, Dillon and his 6-1000+ yard seasons are a breath of fresh air. Smith was effective when called upon, but he never put a scare into opponents like Corey Dillon can. More importantly, the Patriots are no longer obliged to throw first, run second. The Patriots have masqueraded short quick passes as their running game for a few seasons now, but with a genuine number 1, the new offense will be more versatile.
One subtraction that took place on the offense was guard Damian Woody fleeing to Detroit. Backup Ross Hochstein was invisible in the Super Bowl while replacing Woody, hopefully the change remains unnoticed.
Brady is known for quick drop backs and rapid releases before rival defensive lines can get up the field and while that limits the offensive line?s stress, an improved rush offense combined with a deeper defense should prevent stress in the loss column.
O/U 10.5:
Dolphins ? 2 wins. Apart from that, walking around with a big bulls-eye on their back is not a lending hand. When the Pats were 2-2 after the first 4 weeks last year, team?s had their doubts and underestimated them for a period of time. That?s done with. Effort will be thrown at them left, right and center. The Patriots play: IND, @ARZ, SEA, @PIT, @STL, @KC, BAL, @CLE, CIN, and SF.
Fantasy Sleeper:
By the way, Corey Dillon plays for the New England Patriots. A blockbuster trade that has been distant in the minds of many should not be distant in your mind on draft day. Dillon is still young and healthy, and before all this Tomlinson and Lewis hoopla, Dillon did hold the record for most rushing yards in a game while playing for a morose franchise. The Pats will try to keep the heat off of Brady with a steady running game, and CD has always been strong in the red-zone.
Avril Lavigne?s new single My Happy Ending themes heartbreak in a chummy relationship, something the Carolina Panthers can relate to after being dumped by the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Though the Pats did take home the big prize, why they?d have to go and make things so complicated by starting 2-2? Don?t tell me, after a sluggish start they ripped off 12 straight wins including a manhandling of the skater boy?s from Buffalo in week 17. Once the playoffs hit, all it took was a teenie bopping of the Titans, Colts, and Panthers, and the Pats went platinum for the second time in 2 years. Brady?s bunch doesn?t appear to be losing grip, so how about thrice in 4 years?
What we Learned from Last Year:
If it looks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, then it?s probably a?well not exactly. Ducklings that have dipped in the Super Bowl in recent years, such as Baltimore and the New York Giants, New England and St. Louis, as well as Tampa Bay and Oakland, have all waddled out of the spotlight the following season.
After a late off-season cut of stalwart Lawyer Milloy and a week 1 throbbing from him and his new crew in Buffalo, people assumed that affairs were transpiring similarly in New England.
A momentous 2-game home stand ginsenged the Patriots as wins against the Titans and the Giants propelled this team in the right direction.
Week to week, no team gathered more steam than the Patsies.
-The infield dirt and an 82-yard touchdown reception helped the Patriots over the Dolphins
-Then a simple 9-3 dog fight against the dawg pound
-The following week New England took a shocking safety to give Denver a late field goal lead, only to come back and win.
-Week 11 was the homecoming of Bill Parcells, where he was efficiently shutout 12-0.
-Then, kicker Adam Vinatieri overcame a last second game-winning field goal miss, and an overtime game-winning field goal block only to split the uprights later in sudden death in Houston.
-A 38-34 triumph in Indianapolis where the Colts? offense was demoralized 4 times 1 yard away from victory.
-28 inches of snow didn?t freeze the Patriots from icing the Dolphins 12-0 in a Snow Bowl classic.
-After 2 insipid wins, the Pats returned to their story book fashion spanking the Buffalo Bills 31-0, the exact same score that was on the scoreboard when these 2 teams met in week 1. Only the victor was different.
That was a stretch of 8 unforgettable games where the 4th quarter victories advanced the Patriots confidence with each game.
Something that was distant in the minds of many by the end of the season was the fact that the Patriots were decimated by injuries throughout the first half of the season. Roosevelt Colvin played only 2 games, David Pattern participated in 6 and Troy Brown missed 4 as the league?s premier team was forced to start more than 40 different players before week 8. Now that?s impressive.
Bill Belichick has set up an excellent habitat for exploiting the maximum from his players. Sure there are first-rate athletes like Ty Law, and Tom Brady, but a smart system allows rookies and journeymen to contribute significant totals. How would Kevin Faulk, or Mike Vrabel fit in elsewhere? Would Tyrone Poole and Tedy Bruschi be starters? The truth is Belichick has created one of the primary environments in all of sports, reminiscent of the Atlanta Braves. Players come and go as they please, but the coaching staffs know how to mold each individual to produce lucrative results.
What Has Changed?:
A dynasty in an era of parity? The Patriots will simply have to make an appearance at the late January championship game to prove their point.
One thing that the Patriots labored to replicate in the season after their first Super Bowl win was a proficient run defense. The following year they ranked second to last, permitting 137 yards per game. Ted Washington, who was a hefty explanation as to why the Pats shaved nearly 50 yards off their per game average last year, is now departed. His replacements are in the shoes of Keith Traylor, Dana Stubblefield, and first-round draft pick Vince Wilfork. Depth is not much of a concern.
New England does not plan on mistaking the same mistake twice. They labored with a very poor record in 2002 because running backs were able to penetrate their defense at will. By adding Stubblefield and Traylor through free agency, while also accreting the front four through the draft with Vince Wilfork, and Marquise Hill (second round), the Pats are determined to hold the fort. Backing them up will be a linebacking corps that already boasts Pro Bowler Willie McGinest, I want my Tedy Bruschi, Right Said Ted Johnson, able Mike Vrabel, and when in Rome do as the Roman Phifer, and will also re-welcome Roosevelt Colvin, who was expected to be an esteemed acquisition before season ending hip surgery last year.
Belichick loves to blur the secondary for opposing quarterbacks, blitzing from different positions, faking blitzes, and stunting on the offensive line. Put it this way, if Peyton Manning can?t figure out this Rubik?s Cube, then neither will a lot of signal callers. It doesn?t hurt to have Ty Law, and Chargers ?cast away? Rodney Harrison.
Like Mase, Corey Dillon should be welcomed back to the NFL elite running backs by the New England Patriots - I know you like that. After living la vida without the loca for the past season in Cincinnati, Corey is back as a prime time runner for the Pats. Considering that the previous feature back, Antowain Smith, had cracked the 1000-yard barrier only once in the 3 season he spent in New England, Dillon and his 6-1000+ yard seasons are a breath of fresh air. Smith was effective when called upon, but he never put a scare into opponents like Corey Dillon can. More importantly, the Patriots are no longer obliged to throw first, run second. The Patriots have masqueraded short quick passes as their running game for a few seasons now, but with a genuine number 1, the new offense will be more versatile.
One subtraction that took place on the offense was guard Damian Woody fleeing to Detroit. Backup Ross Hochstein was invisible in the Super Bowl while replacing Woody, hopefully the change remains unnoticed.
Brady is known for quick drop backs and rapid releases before rival defensive lines can get up the field and while that limits the offensive line?s stress, an improved rush offense combined with a deeper defense should prevent stress in the loss column.
O/U 10.5:
Dolphins ? 2 wins. Apart from that, walking around with a big bulls-eye on their back is not a lending hand. When the Pats were 2-2 after the first 4 weeks last year, team?s had their doubts and underestimated them for a period of time. That?s done with. Effort will be thrown at them left, right and center. The Patriots play: IND, @ARZ, SEA, @PIT, @STL, @KC, BAL, @CLE, CIN, and SF.
Fantasy Sleeper:
By the way, Corey Dillon plays for the New England Patriots. A blockbuster trade that has been distant in the minds of many should not be distant in your mind on draft day. Dillon is still young and healthy, and before all this Tomlinson and Lewis hoopla, Dillon did hold the record for most rushing yards in a game while playing for a morose franchise. The Pats will try to keep the heat off of Brady with a steady running game, and CD has always been strong in the red-zone.
