Everybody already knows that quarterback Tom Brady is the key component to the New England Patriots finding success over the New York Giants on Super Bowl Sunday. The thing is, even if he plays his part, there are other components that must go right for the Patriots to once again hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
With a record of 13-3, the team has obviously been doing many things right all season. They handled the Denver Broncos in the divisional round, defeating them 45-10. They then went on to defeat the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Conference Championship, which was a challenge, but the team still prevailed with a 23-20 win.
Not to mention, the team is riding a 10-game winning streak that dates back to Week 10 of the regular season.
The team will need to continue to do certain things, while they will also have to adjust in order to find themselves to be champions this Sunday.
These are three key things the Patriots must accomplish to claim this year's title.
1. Get the Law Firm Going
With Brady carrying the offense all season, the Giants are going to be ready to defend the pass.
Now, the Patriots' pass offense has been running on all cylinders this postseason. Brady has thrown for 602 yards with six touchdowns and three interception through two games, but it can't be ignored how he was contained against the Ravens' pass defense.
They held him to zero touchdown passes, while picking him off twice. Because of this, the team needs to be ready to have BenJarvus Green-Ellis to take on a bigger load.
In their win over the Ravens, he ran for 68 yards on 15 carries. He had one score that game, but the team has typically avoided going to him time after time throughout the season.
If the Patriots do win this game, it will be won through Brady, but still they need to get the running game going.
It benefited them greatly against the mighty pass defense of the Ravens, but this Giants defense is playing the best so far this postseason.
2. The Secondary Must Play Big
The Patriots' secondary has struggled all season long, allowing their opponents to throw for 293.9 yards per game. Not to mention, they just let Joe Flacco throw for 306 yards with guys like Anquan Bolid and Torrey Smith at receiver.
Nothing against those guys, but quarterback Eli Manning is tearing things up with his trio of wide receivers in Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham.
This postseason, Manning has thrown for 923 yards through three games. He has eight touchdowns with just one interception. He is playing at an insane level and it is not going to be an easy task for this Patriots team to stop.
Guys like Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington, Patrick Chung and more important Julian Edelman are going to have to play at the top of their games.
Edelman is important because the Giants will do their best to expose him when he is on the field. He is naturally a wide receiver, but the Giants will likely feel that they will win the matchup between him and any of their three main guys.
3. The Team Needs Gronk
Not to take anything away from the Patriots' passing game and the studs they have, but no piece is more important right now than tight end Rob Gronkowski.
With a high ankle sprain leaving him questionable for the big game, the Patriots may be in big trouble without him.
Look, guys like Wes Welker, Anthony Hernandez and Deion Branch will be able to make things happen, but nobody has been as prominent this postseason as Gronk.
Through two games, he has 232 yards with three touchdowns. While a majority of that came against the Broncos, he was still a force to be reckoned with against the Ravens, as he had 87 yards on just five catches.
The reason Gronk is especially important is because of the game that San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis had against the Giants in the NFC Conference Championship.
The Patriots do have better receiving options, but Davis was the only guy on the 49ers that was able to find success. He had three receptions for 112 yards with two touchdowns and that is essentially what kept the team in the game.
Without Gronk, the Patriots will be missing a key piece that could be essential in making or breaking this game.
Jeff Chase is a Featured Columnist for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona State football.
Buffalo Sabres Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs Atlanta Trashers Carolina Hurricanes
0 件のコメント:
コメントを投稿