The not so New England Patriots
In 2007 the New England Patriots had the best team in the world and some would argue they had the best team in the history of the game. They had a QB at the top of his game and a future hall of famer, a solid defence who very few teams pushed around and Randy Moss a Wide Receiver who gave the best QB of his era something to throw to. Despite all of that they blew the perfect season to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl and wrecked the image of that team. They were unbeatable, but they became chokers.
Fast forward 3 years to the Patriots team of last year. They had the same QB, a better defence and in the regular season the number 1 seed in the AFC and home field advantage against a team they squashed in the regular season, the New York Jets. They blew it and the reason they blew it was Brady had nobody but Wes Welker to throw the ball at and the Jets knew that and double covered him. The exposed Danny Woodhead who had been running passed players for fun in the regular season and made him look like the running back they released at the beginning of the season. The meant that Brady had to throw it and didn’t have his usual steady handed Welker to throw to meaning he had to throw it elsewhere and as they were Moss-less the Pats could only throw short. When you start missing short and you have no long game you’re in trouble, you better have a top running game. The Patriots didn’t and lost the game.
My personal opinion is that Danny Woodhead can hold the rushing game for New England but they have 2 very good draft positions form the Moss trade the Vikings 3rd and 4th pick. I would get either the “new Randy Moss” or Randy Moss. Next season Brady will be the same Tom Brady, Wes Welker will be the same Wes Welker, Danny Woodhead is likely to be a better Danny Woodhead. The long yardage passing game be it to the free agent Moss or a draft pick, the Patriots will be in the play-offs and you can bet that New York Jets Coach Rex Ryan is coming up with a game plan to beat them in the AFC championship game. They have to get passed the Steelers first though.
Article courtesy of the_westley
