The only way to beat the Patriots? (1 Viewer)

[jdoggydogg]

Since the Pats are unstoppable, and Brady has too many weapons at his disposal, I posit this approach:

Blitz on every down.

Yes, that will free up more receivers with man-to-man coverage. But what do opposing teams have to lose? Aside from Indy, who the heck has a shot at beating NE this year? Brady is the engine in this hotrod, so the only shot teams have is to get some color in Brady's face.

Discuss

 

[Chaka]

I think someone will have to go Last Boyscout on them to even have a chance.

Ain't life a #####.

 

[Sheriff66]

Since the Pats are unstoppable, and Brady has too many weapons at his disposal, I posit this approach: Blitz on every down. Yes, that will free up more receivers with man-to-man coverage. But what do opposing teams have to lose? Aside from Indy, who the heck has a shot at beating NE this year? Brady is the engine in this hotrod, so the only shot teams have is to get some color in Brady's face. Discuss

It's funny, I was just talking to my Dad about this earlier, I said for the Steelers to have any chance of beating the Pats in December, they are going to need to biltz Brady like they did to Manning in the '05 playoffs...

 

[Moe Green]

Agreed -- the only way you're going to beat the Pats this year (unless they beat themselves) is to bring constant pressure upon Brady.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Since the Pats are unstoppable, and Brady has too many weapons at his disposal, I posit this approach: Blitz on every down. Yes, that will free up more receivers with man-to-man coverage. But what do opposing teams have to lose? Aside from Indy, who the heck has a shot at beating NE this year? Brady is the engine in this hotrod, so the only shot teams have is to get some color in Brady's face. Discuss

It's funny, I was just talking to my Dad about this earlier, I said for the Steelers to have any chance of beating the Pats in December, they are going to need to biltz Brady like they did to Manning in the '05 playoffs...

Pitt has a good defense, but Brady will pick them apart unless Pitt brings a heap of pressure.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

There is no stopping this offense.

Brady can read and react quicker than

any QB in the game today, maybe in the history of the game.

The defensive backfield would be a wide open playground

for the New England receivers if this strategy were adopted

by opposing defenses.

 

[~Haze~]

Then they beat you with short, quick passes and/or running the ball.

 

[jdoggydogg]

There is no stopping this offense.Brady can read and react quicker thanany QB in the game today, maybe in the history of the game.The defensive backfield would be a wide open playgroundfor the New England receivers if this strategy were adoptedby opposing defenses.

All true. And since there is no stopping the Pats, why not gamble?

 

[Chaka]

Then they beat you with short, quick passes and/or running the ball.

Running the ball is not how the Pats will beat anyone.I think this may be the most dominant team I have ever seen play but they are absolutely beholden to Tom Brady, without him they crumble. Unlike Montana who had a very good running game behind him the Pats are the Brady show 24-7-365.

 

[Tau837]

I agree generally, but obviously if you did it constantly the Pats would adjust to quick hitters and you'd get burned. I think you have to bring a lot of pressure, but the trick is to keep the Pats guessing down to down. This also depends a lot on the defensive personnel for a given team. Do they have players who are effective blitzers? Do they have defensive backs who can play press coverage effectively? Etc. All that said, I did think yesterday that Dallas needed to try to change it up and find a way to bring more pressure in the second half.

 

[Sheriff66]

Since the Pats are unstoppable, and Brady has too many weapons at his disposal, I posit this approach: Blitz on every down. Yes, that will free up more receivers with man-to-man coverage. But what do opposing teams have to lose? Aside from Indy, who the heck has a shot at beating NE this year? Brady is the engine in this hotrod, so the only shot teams have is to get some color in Brady's face. Discuss

It's funny, I was just talking to my Dad about this earlier, I said for the Steelers to have any chance of beating the Pats in December, they are going to need to biltz Brady like they did to Manning in the '05 playoffs...

Pitt has a good defense, but Brady will pick them apart unless Pitt brings a heap of pressure.

The Steelers can bring pressure, I think they are the only team other than the Colts with a snowballs chance to beat the Pats...

 

[BeachBums]

There is no stopping this offense.Brady can read and react quicker thanany QB in the game today, maybe in the history of the game.The defensive backfield would be a wide open playgroundfor the New England receivers if this strategy were adoptedby opposing defenses.

The Patriots are unbeatable this year and for next several years to come. The NFL should give the Patriots the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Lombardi trophies and call the next several seasons.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

the only way to beat them will be to outscore them. and there is only one team that can hang points with them. Indy

 

[conan2]

Since the Pats are unstoppable, and Brady has too many weapons at his disposal, I posit this approach: Blitz on every down. Yes, that will free up more receivers with man-to-man coverage. But what do opposing teams have to lose? Aside from Indy, who the heck has a shot at beating NE this year? Brady is the engine in this hotrod, so the only shot teams have is to get some color in Brady's face. Discuss

You need to check out Brady's numbers against the blitz. What makes him so good is his ability to read the defense and react. Picking up blitzes and exploiting them is what he does best. You are merely playing to the Pats strength on O by doing this.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

You need to check out Brady's numbers against the blitz. What makes him so good is his ability to read the defense and react. Picking up blitzes and exploiting them is what he does best. You are merely playing to the Pats strength on O by doing this.

concur 100%

 

[butcher boy]

The way to beat them is to just play your A game. They are not gods. They will lose eventually.

 

[pats3in4]

I'd do the opposite...play back, keep everything in front and once the Pats get in the red zone, use the endline as the last line of defense. The Pats have a boatload of long TDs (Welker and Stallworth from yesterday, Watson's last TD vs. Cleveland, Moss' last TD vs. Cincy, Moss' last TD vs. Buffalo, Moss' two TDs vs. SD and Moss' TD vs. NY) where Brady threw over the top of the D. Cleveland was probably the most effective at keeping long TDs in check, except for Watson's torching of single coverage. The Pats can move the ball on anyone, so you might as well force them to be perfect in small chunks all the way into the red zone and see if you can hold them to FGs. Maybe by forcing them to take their yardage in small bits, forcing them to run more plays means the possibility of more fumbles/picks.

It's not much, but at this point it might be the only way to pull off an upset.

 

[doughboydeluxe]

Since the Pats are unstoppable, and Brady has too many weapons at his disposal, I posit this approach: Blitz on every down. Yes, that will free up more receivers with man-to-man coverage. But what do opposing teams have to lose? Aside from Indy, who the heck has a shot at beating NE this year? Brady is the engine in this hotrod, so the only shot teams have is to get some color in Brady's face. Discuss

You need to check out Brady's numbers against the blitz. What makes him so good is his ability to read the defense and react. Picking up blitzes and exploiting them is what he does best. You are merely playing to the Pats strength on O by doing this.

So what are Brady's numbers against the blitz?

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

do we think some NFL coaches may not have thought of this before? they have, and maybe a few have even tried it for a few series, but they failed.... I don't disagree with the point, but maybe the better question is what defense could pull this off effectively?

 

[Godsbrother]

Since the Pats are unstoppable, and Brady has too many weapons at his disposal, I posit this approach: Blitz on every down. Yes, that will free up more receivers with man-to-man coverage. But what do opposing teams have to lose? Aside from Indy, who the heck has a shot at beating NE this year? Brady is the engine in this hotrod, so the only shot teams have is to get some color in Brady's face. Discuss

I agree with you. If you drop everyone back then Brady is going to have enough time to find an open receiver.If I am the defensive coordinator then I bring in my corners to play up on the receivers and hit them on the line. Everyone else is going after Brady. Sure he'll likely beat you anyway but no QB likes to get knocked around and if you hit him enough times then he'll cough up the ball, throw a pick or at least hurry some throws.Sit back and wait and Brady picks you apart.

 

[conan2]

Since the Pats are unstoppable, and Brady has too many weapons at his disposal, I posit this approach:

Blitz on every down.

Yes, that will free up more receivers with man-to-man coverage. But what do opposing teams have to lose? Aside from Indy, who the heck has a shot at beating NE this year? Brady is the engine in this hotrod, so the only shot teams have is to get some color in Brady's face.

Discuss

You need to check out Brady's numbers against the blitz. What makes him so good is his ability to read the defense and react. Picking up blitzes and exploiting them is what he does best. You are merely playing to the Pats strength on O by doing this.

So what are Brady's numbers against the blitz?

link: http://nflexperts.scout.com/2/689889.htmlFor this season, excluding the Dallas game, Brady has a 152.74 passer rating and an 80 percent completion rate against the blitz. That's just about as perfect as you can get.

One thing I know for sure...you do NOT beat the Pats by blitzing every down. You lose to the Pats by blitzing every down.

 

[tombonneau]

The way to beat them is to just play your A game. They are not gods. They will lose eventually.

This is true. I am a big Pats fan, and they will lose a game this year. And they’ll lose it to a team that has it’s A game on when the Pats are at a C-/D, which they are capable of playing like.If a team has it’s A game and the Pats turn it over 3-4 times, just like any other team they will lose.The only problem is I don’t think they Pats have brought their A game yet. They’ve basically been beating most teams with their B game. As scary as it is, they’ve probably left 10-14 points on the field every game.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Since the Pats are unstoppable, and Brady has too many weapons at his disposal, I posit this approach: Blitz on every down. Yes, that will free up more receivers with man-to-man coverage. But what do opposing teams have to lose? Aside from Indy, who the heck has a shot at beating NE this year? Brady is the engine in this hotrod, so the only shot teams have is to get some color in Brady's face. Discuss

You need to check out Brady's numbers against the blitz. What makes him so good is his ability to read the defense and react. Picking up blitzes and exploiting them is what he does best. You are merely playing to the Pats strength on O by doing this.

I am aware. Brady has the best passer rating vs. the blitz in the NFL. But are you suggesting there's a team in the league that can cover Ben Watson, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte Stallworth? No freaking way. The only shot a team has is to hurt Brady as often as possible.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Since the Pats are unstoppable, and Brady has too many weapons at his disposal, I posit this approach: Blitz on every down. Yes, that will free up more receivers with man-to-man coverage. But what do opposing teams have to lose? Aside from Indy, who the heck has a shot at beating NE this year? Brady is the engine in this hotrod, so the only shot teams have is to get some color in Brady's face. Discuss

You need to check out Brady's numbers against the blitz. What makes him so good is his ability to read the defense and react. Picking up blitzes and exploiting them is what he does best. You are merely playing to the Pats strength on O by doing this.

So what are Brady's numbers against the blitz?

I think Jaworski on NFL Matchup said that Brady's passer rating vs. the blitz is 150.

 

[Godsbrother]

You lose to the Pats by blitzing every down.

Maybe so but I take great pleasure any time Brady has to pick himself up off the ground. It doesn't happen often but when it does I am

 

[conan2]

I'd do the opposite...play back, keep everything in front and once the Pats get in the red zone, use the endline as the last line of defense. The Pats have a boatload of long TDs (Welker and Stallworth from yesterday, Watson's last TD vs. Cleveland, Moss' last TD vs. Cincy, Moss' last TD vs. Buffalo, Moss' two TDs vs. SD and Moss' TD vs. NY) where Brady threw over the top of the D. Cleveland was probably the most effective at keeping long TDs in check, except for Watson's torching of single coverage. The Pats can move the ball on anyone, so you might as well force them to be perfect in small chunks all the way into the red zone and see if you can hold them to FGs. Maybe by forcing them to take their yardage in small bits, forcing them to run more plays means the possibility of more fumbles/picks.It's not much, but at this point it might be the only way to pull off an upset.

I think this combined with a solid clock controlling ball control style offense will give the best chance to beat the Pats. If the Pats offense has any cracks they're found in red zone efficiency. If you can make them grind and only come away with FGs and then keep them off the field with long drives of your own, you stand a chance to keep pace and come out on top at the end. But ultimately this offense is so good that the best way to defend against them is to do everything you can to keep them off the field.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

The Steelers can bring pressure, I think they are the only team other than the Colts with a snowballs chance to beat the Pats

Was discussing this with a buddy yesterday. Yeah, Brady reads as quickly as anyone. Yeah, the Patriots have more weapons for him than they've every had before. Yeah, if you blitz him you're going one on one vs. Moss....but if you're going to crown them "unbeatable" what's to lose?And that brings me to the above quote, and something someone else mentioned as well. You can't JUST blitz Brady and win. You have to be able to disguise where it is coming from and it has to come from all over the place the whole game. If there is anyone in the league who can disguise blitzes better than LeBeau, I don't know who it is.I'm not saying I think the Steelers will beat the Pats, but I AM saying that I think their defense(if 100% healthy) has the best chance of anyone left on their schedule to do it. They also have the offense to move the ball on the Patriots and exploit the weaknesses they do have(safeties, for one. Steelers have two big, athletic TEs and a WR in Ward who isn't afraid to go over the middle on Rodney Harrison).Something else that a team that wants to beat NE needs to do: Hit Brady on every, single, blessed play that you can. Even if he gets the ball away. I'm talking clean shots. Not headhunting, but "finish your checks" on him. NO ONE likes to get rocked every play. NO ONE. If Brady keeps getting hit in the mouth, he's going to want to get rid of the ball quicker than normal. The quicker he does that, the more opportunity your team has to force him into mistakes(he isn't immune to those, BTW.)Not saying any of that is an easy feat, but it CAN be done. I recall the Steelers beating the Pats a couple or three years ago using that mentality and forced Brady into 3-4 ints(Granted, he didn't have the WRs he does now, but you could have 3 Jerry Rices and it won't help if you're on your ###). You hit him enough, he could turn it over. He's not used to being on his back that often so if you can keep knocking him down......

 

[conan2]

You lose to the Pats by blitzing every down.

Maybe so but I take great pleasure any time Brady has to pick himself up off the ground. It doesn't happen often but when it does I am

I'll give up a sack or two, if it means a W at the end of the day. I remember having this same exact sentiment about Dan Marino years ago.

 

[g5jamz]

In addition to blitzing...teams are going to have to play at the Pats level.

Elbows to knees...if Wilfork has this happen a couple of times and someone warns him that they're coming for him...maybe he'll get the message. or mentions to Vrabel the next time a guard pulls, he's aiming for him and going to bend him backwards...holding be damned. Or Harrison on a pick route where a WR hit him blindly.

That's how the game will have to be played to get into their heads. And the Steelers are the perfect team to do it.

Oh...and I've have my QB roll out to the Pats bench and catch Belicheck looking away and send the ball right into his face...then flip him off.

 

[conan2]

In addition to blitzing...teams are going to have to play at the Pats level. Elbows to knees...if Wilfork has this happen a couple of times and someone warns him that they're coming for him...maybe he'll get the message. or mentions to Vrabel the next time a guard pulls, he's aiming for him and going to bend him backwards...holding be damned. Or Harrison on a pick route where a WR hit him blindly. That's how the game will have to be played to get into their heads. And the Steelers are the perfect team to do it.Oh...and I've have my QB roll out to the Pats bench and catch Belicheck looking away and send the ball right into his face...then flip him off.

So I guess the sentiment here is that it takes a cheater to beat a cheater.

 

[g5jamz]

In addition to blitzing...teams are going to have to play at the Pats level. Elbows to knees...if Wilfork has this happen a couple of times and someone warns him that they're coming for him...maybe he'll get the message. or mentions to Vrabel the next time a guard pulls, he's aiming for him and going to bend him backwards...holding be damned. Or Harrison on a pick route where a WR hit him blindly. That's how the game will have to be played to get into their heads. And the Steelers are the perfect team to do it.Oh...and I've have my QB roll out to the Pats bench and catch Belicheck looking away and send the ball right into his face...then flip him off.

So I guess the sentiment here is that it takes a cheater to beat a cheater.

Take the penalty and the fine...Pats manage to live with themselves. This is obviously where the Pats want the game to go to now. To beat them...play THEIR game.

 

[jdoggydogg]

I am thinking that Pitt has a better shot at beating NE than Indy. NOT because I think Pitt is better than Indy. But I am not sure that I agree with the notion that the way to beat NE is to outscore them. I'd rather play NE with a tough defense than a high-powered offense.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Oh...and I've have my QB roll out to the Pats bench and catch Belicheck looking away and send the ball right into his face...then flip him off.

It may make me sound like an idiotic 15 year old(I can't help it. As far as I'm concerned, Belly-chick still has Cleveland taint on him. Once a Brown, always a Brown.).....but that would be friggin' awesome if someone did that. Knock his "20 Minute Workout" headband into the middle of next week.

 

[g5jamz]

Oh...and I've have my QB roll out to the Pats bench and catch Belicheck looking away and send the ball right into his face...then flip him off.

It may make me sound like an idiotic 15 year old(I can't help it. As far as I'm concerned, Belly-chick still has Cleveland taint on him. Once a Brown, always a Brown.).....but that would be friggin' awesome if someone did that. Knock his "20 Minute Workout" headband into the middle of next week.

Even if it doesn't hit him...just to make him have to duck and move around. Just to knock that smug ### look off his face. I'd still flip him off after I did it too.

 

[pollardsvision]

when it comes to stopping great QBs, blitzing doesn't work.

you must get pressure, but you've got to do it with the front 4.

if you can't, you'd just better pray that someone who can knocks them out of the playoffs before you have to face them.

 

[ooofffaaa]

In years past the Dolphins always gave the Patriot offense fits by blitzing every chance they had.

Jason Taylor used to be all over Brady.

I seriously doubt that will agian be the case this year but it has worked in the past.

 

[Godsbrother]

The funny thing is that it probably won't be Indy or Pitt that beats them but rather a team like the Giants or Eagles.

 

[Colin Dowling]

I would encourage taking an early 15 yard PF on the QB...rough him up a bit. THe only thing that's going to beat NE is getting punched in the mouth a little. Barber had some of that for a few minutes yesterday, running over people, stiff-arming dudes. To beat NE at the end of 60 minutes, you have to come in with a mean streak and break their will by outmuscle-inng them. You aren't going to outscheme them. You aren't going to out-talent them. YOu have to shove them around. It may not happen, but that's how I'd try and do it.

 

[conan2]

The funny thing is that it probably won't be Indy or Pitt that beats them but rather a team like the Giants or Eagles.

The Giants actually stand a good chance since they'll probably be playing second and third stringers as everyone else takes week 17 off. That, plus the game will likely mean something for the Giants while it may be meaningless (outside of the chance for a perfect season) for the Pats. Even if the Pats are playing for an undefeated season, I'm not sure we see starters in that game. But then again, the Pats second stringers can probably hang with a NFC playoff team.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Definitely need to show them packages they have not seen from you before. Definitely need to smack Brady in the mouth. It probably won't help, but I'd rather die quickly than be bleed slowly.

 

[pollardsvision]

I would encourage taking an early 15 yard PF on the QB...rough him up a bit. THe only thing that's going to beat NE is getting punched in the mouth a little. Barber had some of that for a few minutes yesterday, running over people, stiff-arming dudes. To beat NE at the end of 60 minutes, you have to come in with a mean streak and break their will by outmuscle-inng them. You aren't going to outscheme them. You aren't going to out-talent them. YOu have to shove them around. It may not happen, but that's how I'd try and do it.

you just described the jacksonville jaguars.here's to hoping that scenario unfolds in the AFC playoffs.

 

[daddymag]

How come no one has said injure Brady on purpose? Sorry to be a total dirtbag but hey, Bengals fans still say the Steelers injured Palmer on purpose in the playoffs two years ago.

Cut off the head, the body dies. Matt Cassel? Matt Gutierrez?

 

[jdoggydogg]

I would encourage taking an early 15 yard PF on the QB...rough him up a bit. THe only thing that's going to beat NE is getting punched in the mouth a little. Barber had some of that for a few minutes yesterday, running over people, stiff-arming dudes. To beat NE at the end of 60 minutes, you have to come in with a mean streak and break their will by outmuscle-inng them. You aren't going to outscheme them. You aren't going to out-talent them. YOu have to shove them around. It may not happen, but that's how I'd try and do it.

 

[Squinting Cyclops]

two words : Matt Cassel

 

[Ghost Rider]

I am thinking that Pitt has a better shot at beating NE than Indy.

I disagree. The Steelers defense would probably do better at maybe slowing down the Patriots offense than the Colts defense would, but the Steelers would have trouble scoring vs. the Patriots defense, while the Colts offense would not. Once the Patriots get a lead on the Steelers, it would all be over.

 

[Darth Cheney]

I'd do the opposite...play back, keep everything in front and once the Pats get in the red zone, use the endline as the last line of defense. The Pats have a boatload of long TDs (Welker and Stallworth from yesterday, Watson's last TD vs. Cleveland, Moss' last TD vs. Cincy, Moss' last TD vs. Buffalo, Moss' two TDs vs. SD and Moss' TD vs. NY) where Brady threw over the top of the D. Cleveland was probably the most effective at keeping long TDs in check, except for Watson's torching of single coverage. The Pats can move the ball on anyone, so you might as well force them to be perfect in small chunks all the way into the red zone and see if you can hold them to FGs. Maybe by forcing them to take their yardage in small bits, forcing them to run more plays means the possibility of more fumbles/picks.It's not much, but at this point it might be the only way to pull off an upset.

I think this combined with a solid clock controlling ball control style offense will give the best chance to beat the Pats. If the Pats offense has any cracks they're found in red zone efficiency. If you can make them grind and only come away with FGs and then keep them off the field with long drives of your own, you stand a chance to keep pace and come out on top at the end. But ultimately this offense is so good that the best way to defend against them is to do everything you can to keep them off the field.

... and I would take a late hit on Brady if it meant disruptng his game a bit.

 

[Darth Cheney]

I would encourage taking an early 15 yard PF on the QB...rough him up a bit. THe only thing that's going to beat NE is getting punched in the mouth a little. Barber had some of that for a few minutes yesterday, running over people, stiff-arming dudes. To beat NE at the end of 60 minutes, you have to come in with a mean streak and break their will by outmuscle-inng them. You aren't going to outscheme them. You aren't going to out-talent them. YOu have to shove them around. It may not happen, but that's how I'd try and do it.

Level Moss as well... let him get those alligator arms.

 

[Gatorman]

The only team that has had real success vs Brady Defensively (and limited at that) was the Miami Dolphins. Why? Jason Taylor and press coverage from the corners. With the WRs he has now this may be a little harder, but if you can get a guy on Brady's Blindside constantly he does rattle a bit. However, you have to be able to cover in press coverage, and so few teams can do that.

A team like denver may be able to hang with the pats defensively.

 

[pollardsvision]

I am thinking that Pitt has a better shot at beating NE than Indy. NOT because I think Pitt is better than Indy. But I am not sure that I agree with the notion that the way to beat NE is to outscore them. I'd rather play NE with a tough defense than a high-powered offense.

i'd disagree. indy really is the only team that has what's really necessary to beat the pats (unless the pats make a bunch of mistakes). a QB and an offense that can really suck 8 min. off the clock in one drive, match the pats at their own game. when on (which is 99% of the time), there is no defense that will stop the pats offense. the pats punter has to the most useless player in the nfl (does anyone know his name?). you don't stop the pats. you outscore them and keep tom off the field. the colts can. i'm not sold that other offenses can. i consider the patriots vastly superior to every team and they would dominate every team more so than the colts would, but i consider the colts to be equal to the pats head-to-head.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Well teams are going to try everything. Problem is if the line holds Brady hits Stallworth or Moss on a Skinny post with no safety help and then 60 yards later that was a bad plan. Doesn't seem to me that zone blitzing will work either, gonna have to selective from the secondary and LB core and it's going to have to vary greatly. I think the Patriots will lose this year, but I think someone is going to have to force turnovers and then turn those into touchdowns. It's gonna be hard to stop them, no matter what you do IMO. Good topic of discussion though JDogg.