The NFL's Uneccessary Attack on Tom Brady

I hope the NFL realizes that by suspending Tom Brady for anything more than a game (and there are reports of 6-8), the league is opening a door for many NFL teams to do exactly what the Indianapolis Colts did. By accusing the Patriots of deflating the footballs during the AFC championship game, they created a mess in football. It has become clear to me over the past few months that all quarterbacks like to adjust their footballs to their personal liking. Brady apparently deflates, while other quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers prefer inflating. The point is it seems most if not all quarterbacks in the league do a little tinkering before the game starts. So, because it seems probable that Tom Brady did this the league is going to suspend him half the season? It's ridiculous. Ray Rice just last year initially was suspended just two games for assaulting his then fiance. So, to think that the NFL will suspend one of the faces of the league for probably telling the ball boys to slightly deflate the balls is beyond me. The NFL better get this right.

Patriots Lose Revis

Darrelle Revis signing with the New York Jets is a big blow to New England's secondary. Bill Belichick will find replacements that will get the job done this season, but there is no denying that Revis is one of the top two corners in the league. For a team that has been so dominant over the past decade plus, it really felt like Darrelle Revis and a healthy roster were the reasons this team finally won another Super Bowl after a ten year drought. Now, I still believe the Patriots will win the division and likely make it back to the AFC championship game, but I really wonder how big of a difference Revis' play was for them. Going forward we'll see if New England picks up a corner or at least a replacement for Shane Vereen (Reggie Bush, Roy Helu, CJ Spiller). New England will still be one of the best in the league, but it will be important that they hit on a couple draft picks this spring.

Will Revis Stay in New England?

It seems like a no brainer, but with free agency approaching the question is out there. The New England Patriots must re-sign Darrelle Revis as he became the best defensive player for the Super Bowl winning team. Without Revis this team may have to scramble to find a replacement. No offense to Logan Ryan or Brandon Browner, but neither are Revis. We know what the Pats will do, they never offer some crazy amount to any player, so it will be up to Revis to decide. Does he want more money, or does he want to stay on the team that brought him the most team success? We will see.

Pats Next Season

I wonder if the Patriots will be just as good next year. I don't see why not, unless the team is not able to re-sign any of the free agents it has. Although, that has never been a problem in the past. The Patriots have a history of letting players leave for more money, and those players not being as successful. The Pats will still be playing in the AFC East, and still have one of the best quarterbacks and coaches of all-time. So, I think they'll be fine. In fact, look for the team to improve on its regular season record of 12-4 and perhaps win another game or two.

Brady's Best Yet

It was important for Tom Brady and the Patriots to win the Super Bowl Sunday night. Not only for the organization, but for the legacy of Brady. If the Seahawks would have run the ball on second and goal, and went on to win the game, Brady would be three and three in Super Bowls. That record would simply not do justice for how good both he and Bill Belichick have been over the course of this 15 year run. Now the two are 4-2 in Super Bowls, and two incredible plays by New York Giants away from being 6-0. This Super Bowl was perhaps Brady's best, as he carved up the NFL's best defense going 37-50 and throwing for four touchdowns to four different receivers. His fourth quarter is on the short list of all-time Super Bowl performances, and (if it was not official) cements him as one of the best quarterbacks of all-time.

Key to Super Bowl Sunday

How can the Patriots win this weekends Super Bowl? It can't be simply Tom Brady's greatness, or Belichick's genius. There has to be more. At the end of the game, if the Patriots are victorious, of course those two will receive much of the credit. However, the play of New England's defense will be the key to a victory on Sunday night. It is important that Chandler Jones and Vince Wilfork create pressure both on the quarterback and in the middle. Holding Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch to a sub-par game is critical. It will also be key that the New England linebackers contain Russell Wilson, and do not let him break out for any big plays outside of the pocket. Lastly, the secondary will be imperative. Darrelle Revis and other cornerbacks must make sure they continue to cover well, even when Wilson is able to extend plays with his feet. If the New England Patriots defense are able to do all this, they may not even need an MVP performance from Brady, just a solid one.

Deflategate....Who Cares?

Hopefully by the time Monday rolls around next week this whole "deflategate" issue will go away. But as of today it does not look like that will happen. More and more reports are surfacing about the Patriots using slightly deflated footballs during the AFC championship game this past Sunday. Now, I do not believe anyone can dispute the outcome of the game, deflated balls or not, but these reports are interesting. It is not uncommon for a team like New England, with so much success, to be ridiculed and accused in times like these. All I have to say on this issue is that I do not care. Not only because I am a Patriots fan, but also because it seems all teams do things like this. Whether it is inflating or deflating footballs, or spying on other teams. Every team in sports tries to get an edge. Just appears that the Patriots will not get away with it.

For the second year in a row, both the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will participate in the NFC and AFC championship games respectively. These teams were predicted by many to be here when the season began, and now they indeed sit with just one game between them and Glendale. Tom Brady will take on Andrew Luck and the Colts for the second consecutive year. Last year the team dominated Indianapolis in the divisional round and now look to end Andrew Luck's playoff run. He has now reached the championship game and is one step closer to reaching the ultimate goal of a Super Bowl. This run will likely end next week in Foxborough. Although the team looked good against the Broncos, the Patriots are a different animal and will give the Colts much more problems defensively.
Seattle will host the NFC championship and take on a slightly hobbled Aaron Rodgers. The key matchup will be Rodgers against the great defense of Seattle. If Rodgers can make some big plays and does not receive too much pressure, the Seahawks could be in trouble. Can't wait for an exciting Sunday next week.

NFL Divisional Round: Pats-Ravens

A rematch of the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens headlines the start of Divisional weekend in the NFL. These teams have met up in the playoffs three times in recent years, with the Ravens winning two of the three. The Patriots are favorites playing at home, but are aware of how dangerous this Ravens team could be. Joe Flacco was impressive in last weeks win over the Steelers, continuing his impressive postseason play that led the team to a Super Bowl win just a couple years ago. The Ravens also have a great pass rush with Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil. The Patriots should win this game by a touchdown or so, but if they fall behind early it could be a different story. If the Ravens start out with the lead and are able to unleash the pass rush it could be a long day for Tom Brady and the Patriots offense. Still I think the Patriots will handle the Ravens and win this game 31-21.

Sleepers for a Super Bowl Run

As we enter the final two weeks of the NFL season, the top four contenders in the league are clear. The New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers have distanced themselves as the clear favorites to make it to Glendale. It would surprise no one at this point if those were the teams playing for a Super Bowl berth in late January. As for the sleepers there are a few in my book. The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers stand out in AFC, because of the coaching and proven quarterback play. Both Joe Flacco and Ben Roethlisberger are former Super Bowl MVPs and quietly having career years for their teams. It would not surprise me if one of these teams made a run to the AFC title game as a wild card team. In the NFC, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys are both teams I could see going to the Super Bowl. The Lions still have one of the best defenses in the league statistically, and the Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson connection can win games offensively. The Cowboys still have the great offensive players at every important position. One of the best offensive lines in the league leads the charge, while Tony Romo, Demarco Murray, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten is as good as it gets for a QB-RB-WR-TE combination. We'll see come 2015 if these sleepers take their game to the next level.

Important For Patriots to Win Out

New England plays host to Miami this weekend, and look to continue their dominance of the AFC East. The Pats finish the season with Buffalo and the Jets as well, all very winnable games. If they win out then home field advantage is theirs. However, with Denver looming, if the Pats drop even one of these games then home field could be lost. We saw last year just how important that home field advantage is, when the Pats went to Mile High and lost in the AFC championship game. The Patriots almost never lose at home, and with the team looking as well-rounded as they have in recent years, I would like their chances against Denver in the title game. Lets hope that the injury bug does not bite them for a second consecutive postseason, and that Brady and co. are back in the Super Bowl come February.

Patriots Need to Bounce Back in San Diego

After New England's close defeat at the hands of the Packers last week, the Patriots head into the weekend tied with Denver for the best record in the AFC. Now they currently hold the tie breaker over the Broncos because they won the head to head matchup, but with four games left the Pats do not have a lot of wiggle room. Denver has a pretty weak schedule to finish out the year, making this weeks game for the Patriots very important. San Diego is coming off a huge come from behind road win in Baltimore, making them currently 8-4. Brady will lead the Pats to the win, and the corners will not let Rivers operate at the same level he is used to: 38-20 New England.

Patriots-Packers is Potential Super Bowl Preview

When Tom Brady and New England play the Packers this Sunday in Lambeau, it will be the most anticipated NFL game to date. The two quarterbacks in this matchup are as on point as one could be at this point in the season. Brady has led the Pats to seven straight wins and Aaron Rodgers has the Packers offense on fire when they play at Lambeau. In what should be one of the more entertaining games of the year it will be interesting to see how well the two defenses play against the prolific offenses. One thing is certain, if this weeks matchup turns into a Super Bowl you will see no complaints from myself nor anyone who loves the NFL.

New England Once Again the Class of the NFL

What a difference seven weeks make. Seems like a long time ago that the Patriots were being man handled on Monday Night Football at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. The blowout loss on the road resulted in a week full of doubt provided by the media. Is Belichick done? Is Brady going to be traded? End of an era?A quick answer to all of those questions was and still is: No.

After last nights impressive 42-20 road victory in Indianapolis, the Patriots are sitting atop the AFC. Amazing that after so much scrutiny thrown the teams way, New England has to be considered the favorite. Much like many predicted at the start of the season.

Perhaps the most encouraging part about last nights win was the dominance of the run game. Led by little known running back Jonas Gray (38 carries for 199 yards and 4 touchdowns), the Patriots dominated the game on the ground. This spells great things for the team going forward, and with Denver losing a second game in a row, the Patriots are in the drivers seat looking to wrap up home field advantage.

It won't be easy. Upcoming road games in both Green Bay and San Diego should be tough, but would anyone be surprised if Brady and Belichick came out of this next stretch at either 14-2 or 13-3? I know I wouldn't.

It seems like every year we must all be reminded never to question the "Patriot way". Yet, every season whenever the Patriots face adversity they just prove the doubters wrong. So as we head towards Thanksgiving and the stretch run of the regular season, I advise all members of the media to not question the genius that is Bill Belichick. I know I won't.

Patriots Last Place in the AFC East?

As I look at the NFL standings, following the first Sunday of the season, there is something shocking about the AFC East. There are three teams tied for first in the division: the New York Jets (W 19-14 vs OAK), Buffalo Bills (W 23-20 vs CHI) and Miami Dolphins (W 33-20 vs NE). This leaves just one team sitting dead last, and that team, is the New England Patriots.

For the first time since 2003, a Tom Brady-led squad lost in week one of the season. The Patriots, as usual, are Super Bowl contenders this year. So, an opening week loss to an injury-plaugued Miami team comes as a bit of a shock to most fans, including myself. Now don't get me wrong, the Patriots and Dolphins always play great games in Florida, but never have I seen Miami's defense so dominant. After a strong first half from Brady and the offense, Miami ramped up the pressure. The Dolphins were able to get to Brady four times, twice forcing fumbles. Miami defensive end Cameron Wake forced both of the those fumbles, the last of which all but sealed the win.

New England was dominated in the second half of Sunday afternoons game, and were left as a last place team. However, the last two times the Patriots lost their opening week matchup, they went on to win the super bowl. That is not to understate how bad the Patriots looked in the second half, but it is interesting. Going into this year the Pats are once again favorites to compete for the Lombardi trophy. Most view them and the Broncos as a lock for a rematch of last years AFC championship game. One that saw the injury-riddled team come up short at Mile High.

This years team is revamped. Especially on the defensive side. The addition of shutdown corner Darrelle Revis is huge for the Pats, considering they let Aquib Talib go to the Broncos. It also gives gives Belichek one of the best corners in the game. Perhaps the biggest addition of all is simply the return of multiple players from injury. From tight end Rob Gronkowski, to middle linebacker Jerod Mayo, New England had many players finish last year on injured reserve.

So, the return of players like Vince Wilfork and Rob Gronkowski should make for a very successful regular season in Foxboro. Whether or not the offensive line holds up is another question. I'm not too concerned just yet, but if the Patriots have more performances like they did in South Beach, a trip to the AFC championship might not be so easy.

Broncos Defense Shuts Down Brady, and Patriots Lack of Any Deep Ball Threat

As Peyton Manning took and knee and let the clock run out, the Broncos celebrated a trip to New York, and the Patriots were left to deal with the heartbreak of a second straight AFC Championship loss. For the Broncos this is their first Super Bowl berth since the late 90s when John Elway was riding Terrell Davis to his second straight Super Bowl win. For Peyton he is back. It has been a long road for Manning since throwing game clinching pick six right into the hands of the Saints defense, and leaving South Beach with the bitter taste of another playoff loss. Manning struggled through his last couple years in Indianapolis with neck injuries, and arrived in Denver looking to resurrect his Hall of Fame career. Well, Peyton did just that by leading the Broncos to back to back 13-3 regular seasons, and this year an AFC Championship win.
On the other side Brady suffered a frustrating loss as it was as clear as ever that something was missing from the Patriots. No it was not Aquib Talib's absence in the secondary, or Wilfork on the defensive line, not even the gaping hole in the middle of the field that Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes once filled, it was a player who has not been in New England all year. The Patriots did not have that 6'3"-6'4" strong receiver on the outside. Now I know Gronk is a huge target who was lost to injury this season, but he has been there in recent years. The Patriots fully healthy would be scary with a star receiver on the outside, Randy Moss proved it.
This may sound like a sorry Patriots fan going off and making excuses, because New England has been very successful in recent years, but they haven't been scary like Denver's offense, or New Orleans. I guess what I'm saying is that despite all of this New England still made it to the AFC Championship game, and lost to a team with one of the best offenses of all time, maybe even the best.  If the Patriots want to be back in the Super Bowl next year, they're going to have get a little lucky health wise, and pick up a star receiver. It could be through a trade, free agency, maybe even a rookie through the draft, but it got to come from somewhere.
The reality, however, is that the Broncos and Seahawks still have one game to play, and it should be a great one. I'm leaning towards Seattle as of now just because of the weather, and a stronger built defense, but that could change over the next couple weeks. Come next week I'll know my favorite, and the fact is I don't want Peyton to win, so don't be surprised if I give Seattle the edge.