Monday, January 17, 2005
Team of Destiny
In response to cries from the masses that the blog is dying, I have to throw something out there to keep what few readers we have left from becoming comatose. So it’s time to fall back on that old reliable: glorification of a Boston sports team!
With regards to the Colts and Patriots, I best summed up the state of the “rivalry to a bunch of pleasant Indiana families after David Patten threw a bomb to Troy Brown during the 2001 season, seated in the upper decks of the RCA Dome: “We own you motherfuckers!” Three years later, though personnel and in the case of the Colts, management, have changed that fact remains the same. To be honest, unlike last year when I had complete confidence going into the AFC title clash, the fear factor was high among myself and most Pats fans. We still thought we would win, but our secondary scared us.
As often happens with the Pats, we lucked out with some inclement weather. Colts fans can complain, but they can’t ignore that they lost the opening week game to the Pats in normal conditions, thus insuring they’d have to go on the road to play us. Win that game, and the Colts get the bye and the carpet of the RCA dome. Regardless the snow slowed the track to give our cornerbacks a chance to stay close to Harrison, Wayne, and Stokely while our linebackers and defensive line crushed underneath dinks and dunks while pressuring Manning and limiting Edgerrin James’ production. And, as usual, the Pats defense forced turnovers in a big game.
The difference between the 2004 Patriots and previous teams is that we can run the ball down the throats of opposition. Corey Dillon is just awesome: I’ve only seen three Pats games the whole year, but in each game he makes a move that makes me say: “we have never had a guy who could do that.” He also gets the tough inside yards, turning two yard gains into 5 yarders, a vitally important skill for an elite QB. Of course against the Colts, Kevin Faulk was also running wild, so maybe I am overrating Dillon. His season stats say otherwise.
The Steelers game will be a tougher challenge. They whipped us on Hallow’s eve and held us to 8 rushing yards without Dillon. Will Corey make the difference? Was Big Ben’s shaky performance against the Jets a harbinger of self-destruction against a superior Pats D? Those are the key questions of the rematch. I can’t wait. Oh and TJ, are you nervous?
With regards to the Colts and Patriots, I best summed up the state of the “rivalry to a bunch of pleasant Indiana families after David Patten threw a bomb to Troy Brown during the 2001 season, seated in the upper decks of the RCA Dome: “We own you motherfuckers!” Three years later, though personnel and in the case of the Colts, management, have changed that fact remains the same. To be honest, unlike last year when I had complete confidence going into the AFC title clash, the fear factor was high among myself and most Pats fans. We still thought we would win, but our secondary scared us.
As often happens with the Pats, we lucked out with some inclement weather. Colts fans can complain, but they can’t ignore that they lost the opening week game to the Pats in normal conditions, thus insuring they’d have to go on the road to play us. Win that game, and the Colts get the bye and the carpet of the RCA dome. Regardless the snow slowed the track to give our cornerbacks a chance to stay close to Harrison, Wayne, and Stokely while our linebackers and defensive line crushed underneath dinks and dunks while pressuring Manning and limiting Edgerrin James’ production. And, as usual, the Pats defense forced turnovers in a big game.
The difference between the 2004 Patriots and previous teams is that we can run the ball down the throats of opposition. Corey Dillon is just awesome: I’ve only seen three Pats games the whole year, but in each game he makes a move that makes me say: “we have never had a guy who could do that.” He also gets the tough inside yards, turning two yard gains into 5 yarders, a vitally important skill for an elite QB. Of course against the Colts, Kevin Faulk was also running wild, so maybe I am overrating Dillon. His season stats say otherwise.
The Steelers game will be a tougher challenge. They whipped us on Hallow’s eve and held us to 8 rushing yards without Dillon. Will Corey make the difference? Was Big Ben’s shaky performance against the Jets a harbinger of self-destruction against a superior Pats D? Those are the key questions of the rematch. I can’t wait. Oh and TJ, are you nervous?
# posted by Marmaniac @ 2:04 AM 
