Week 9 Review
I predicted - Pats 35 Dolphins 10
Final score - Pats 27 Dolphins 17
New England has outscored opponents by a combined 121-24 in the last three games!
This was a game that never seemed close even when the Dolphins were ahead by a point in the second half. One got that feeling that Brady-Moss could explode for two or three touchdowns in a row. Still my prediction was off by a touchdown in either direction. The Dolphins always seem to unveil new offensive plays when facing the Pats. This time it was the "pistol" formation, which was formerly used mainly in college games.
With the offense now on-line, the rest of the Pats 2009 season will look like the 2007 all-time record setting team. More importantly, this was a must win for Miami if they wanted to reach the playoffs. Playing in Florida later in the season won't be as much fun if the division is decided. The Pats at that point will be competing for seeding and it could be a rout.
The Patriots are now the second ranked team in defense. At the beginning of the season, conventional wisdom said that the air attack would more than make up for a questionable defense. Ironically, it has been the most consistent part of the Pats' game. Brady has put together three solid outings in a row.
The Patriots have the momentum going into this game, but with the Pats-Colts anything can happen. The Colts represent the toughest challenge of the year. The two teams are evenly matched. One could argue the Colts numbers are inflated due to the teams they have played thus far. he Pats have to finish off two undefeated teams and beat the Jets. If they go 2-1, then the rest of the season looks like gravy. Still the Colts are the best team in the NFL on paper. The winner of this game has to be considered the Superbowl favorite.
Patriots-Colts games are always great football, they are the only two teams to have greater than a .700 winning percentage since 2001, so no matter what the outcome, this is one to be savored. It's a fitting way to enter the second half of the season. Is there really a greater rivalry in the NFL?
My prediction:
Pats - 28
Colts - 24
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Sneaky Bellichek move: He wants the Colts thinking about their undefeated streak instead of on perfecting their craft. If the colts worry about the streak, they're not gambling, changing things around, improving always, they're just trying to hold the line. Who knows this better than Bellichek, immortalized as the coach who ran an 18-1 season, the loss being in the final game. So Bellichek throws the colts a bone by throwing the game, knowing the colts will choke on it. Brilliant. Svengali like. Worthy of the lord of the sith.
ReplyDeleteThat's not true.
ReplyDeleteIn 2007, everyone in New England was talking about going undefeated after about the third game of the season.
No one talks about the fact that the Colts are set to go 16-0 with that win out of the way.
Manning after the game said it was a big game that they won not because of the hope of going undefeated, but because --
1. They really wanted it.
2. They needed to stay ahead of the other teams in the division.
It is sad to see anyone fall under the Bellichek spell. Don't you get it? If the colts come back with an 80 yard drive and win, they've broken the Patriots' backs mentally for the next time, and they WILL meet again. Bellicheck avoided that. He can give this game away, his team didn't lose it, HE did. If he'd have gotten the first down, he wins. If not, he doesn't lose. Next time, his team will be hungry and beg him to let them rise to the challenge. My hat is off to him from a psychological perspective, even as I spit at him for being a pig and a poor sport.
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