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The Patriots are Super Bowl Champs…Again

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The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl 53, winning their sixth Championship.

One year ago today, New England lost to Philadelphia in a game that most expected Super Bowl 53 to mirror. A game where the phrase, “Defense wins Championships” is crumpled up and thrown out of a window. A game that has more trick plays than punts, and offensive coaches have a field day. A lot can remembered about Super Bowl 52’s incredible offensive heavyweight bout. However, the one lasting memory for most New England fans is the defense choking when it mattered most.

If there were any predictions for the game last night, they most likely were centered around an offensive outburst. Most people were assuming this would be another bloodbath, similar to the Chiefs-Rams Week 11 matchup that ended 54-51. Maybe not to the extent of 105 combined points, but it is Tom Brady and Sean McVay so it was a possibility. What we got instead was pound for pound football that exemplified this Patriots team resolve in more ways than one.

One could argue Tom Brady would have already had six rings coming into the 2018 season. Brady did after all throw for 505 yards and three touchdowns in Super Bowl 52. But that still wasn’t enough to overcome Matt Patricia’s sorry excuse for a defense. The Malcolm Butler argument can be made all day long but nothing was slowing down Nick Foles that night. This year however, it was the defense who helped Brady capture his record sixth ‘chip.

From Stephon Gilmore to Dont’a Hightower to Jason McCourty, every defensive player on the field made a play. Whether it was Gilmore’s last minute interception or Jason McCourty’s touchdown saving pass breakup, it was the defense who won the game this time around. There has never been a Super Bowl performance quite like the one we saw last night, and Tom Brady and the offense are beyond grateful. Brian Flores forever left his mark on New England lore, helping architect the best defensive performance in Super Bowl history. He will be sorely missed when he heads south to Miami.

Even though getting yards wasn’t an issue offensively, getting past the Rams 40 yard line was. It seemed like every drive ended with a long field goal attempt or a punt at the L.A. 45. This field position certainly helped the defense, but scoring points would have been far more helpful.

If there was one diamond in the rough for the offense last night, it was Julian Edelman. JE11 turned in perhaps his best game in a Patriot uniform, totaling 141 yards on ten receptions. The Rams Pro Bowl caliber cornerbacks could do nothing to stay in coverage, and no matter what Nickell Robey-Coleman says, they could not stop him. This immaculate performance led the way for the offense, and landed Jules his first Super Bowl MVP.

Julian Edelman shined when it mattered most, taking home the MVP award for Super Bowl 53.

Rob Gronkowski, in what could be his final game, looked like vintage Gronk, going for 87 yards and setting up the game’s only touchdown. Other than those two, the only other Patriot to have a solid offensive night was Sony Michel, who once again scored and had over 90 yards rushing. This was his third straight postseason game with a score and at least 90 yards on the ground, and he could have a monster next year as long as the offensive line stays intact.

Sony Michel scored the only touchdown of the game, capping off his incredible 2018 postseason.

In the end, this game was what no one expected and few wanted. Most people in New England would tell you they wanted a blowout and at least 40 points. Most of America would tell you they wanted the same thing, but in the Rams favor. However, if you look past the boring incomplete passes and negative rushing attempts, you’ll find that this game is what the Patriots are all about. They’re not a one dimensional team like Kansas City, where if the offense doesn’t score then they have no chance of winning.

The New England Patriots always preach that it takes all three phases, offense, defense, special teams, to win football games. That’s what Super Bowl 53 was, an all around effort with each group coming up clutch when they needed to. Without each player doing their job and stepping up to the plate when it mattered most, we would be sitting here thinking about what could have been. Instead? We wake up six time Super Bowl Champions and get ready for our second parade in 100 days.

The X-Factors of Super Bowl 53

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From Malcolm Butler to David Tyree to Tracy Porter, Super Bowls are often home to small time players making gargantuan plays. Butler’s pick, Tyree’s catch (that shouldn’t have been a catch if the referees called ‘in-the-grasp’ on Manning before the throw, but water under the bridge), and Porter’s pick-six on Peyton Manning are some of the many examples of this. These are the players that don’t get an entire segment dedicated to them on NFL Network. They don’t get the most popular podium on Opening Night, or even any podium for that matter. But, these players, or X-factors, are more often than not the heroes of the Super Bowl.

The Patriots and Rams are both star-studded on either side of the ball. Names like: Aaron Donald, Julian Edelman, Todd Gurley, Stephon Gilmore are just a few of the Pro-Bowlers on both rosters. Players of this caliber are expected to show up, have a big game, and be in the running for Super Bowl MVP.

However, every so often, a player on the bottom of the depth chart comes out of nowhere. They come off the bench and can either be the hero or the villain who isn’t welcomed back into the city afterwards. This is usually the difference between a team winning and a team losing. There are of course blowout games like Super Bowl 48 where Seattle didn’t need any depth players to come through. Although, as Patriots fans, we know to not expect a blowout in the Super Bowl. X-factors will be needed in this Super Bowl for both teams, the question is who are these players?

Will another Malcolm Butler type player show up in Super Bowl 53?

Here’s a list of some of the potential X-factors for both teams that could shape how this game turns out:

Rex Burkhead, RB Patriots

Off the bat, you may think Burkhead doesn’t fit the description of an X-factor. He is of course coming off a two touchdown game against the Chiefs in the title game. However, when you take a closer look at that game, Burkhead didn’t play so well. He had 41 yards on 12 attempts and was stopped on a crucial fourth down in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t until the end of the game where Rex really began to break through with the two TD runs.

Against the Rams, expect Sony Michel to get a majority of the touches when the Patriots are in the “I” formation and when Tom Brady goes under center. The Patriots have had a lot of success with Michel in these packages the past few games and shouldn’t deviate too much. James White will once again be the primary third down back, being more of a receiver than runner.

So where does that leave Burkhead? In the past, he has been used either when Michel needed a break or in specific circumstances. He won’t get the number of touches that Michel will, but it’s what he can do with his touches that make him an X-factor. The Rams will be prepared for Michel’s style of running and should have a plan in place to stop him. If Burkhead can come in with some different looks on offense and gain chunks of yards, that will be a huge difference in how the Patriots offense runs.

Rex Burkhead scored two go-ahead touchdowns in the AFC title game and needs to replicate that performance to set up the Patriots offense.

Josh Reynolds, WR Rams

Los Angeles has quietly one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL with Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks. Cooks, as most Patriots fans know, is incredibly fast and a legitimate deep threat. Woods is a terrific complement to Cooks with the way he’s able to get separation in the slot, similar to Edelman. New England should have a similar gameplan in place to deal with Cooks as they did with Tyreek Hill. One cornerback lined up with Cooks with immediate safety help over the top is the look I would expect. With Woods, Stephon Gilmore should be able to shadow him effectively.

Next on the Rams depth chart: Josh Reynolds. Reynolds hasn’t had a monster year, garnering just over 400 yards, but it’s not his stats that are worrisome. He stands at 6’3″ and will likely not be given a whole lot of attention compared to the other two LA receivers. 4 years ago in Super Bowl 49, New England faced a similar threat in Chris Matthews. He was third or fourth on Seattle’s depth chart but made play after play thanks to his height and Kyle Arrington covering him.

Jason McCourty or J.C. Jackson will likely draw the responsibility of guarding Reynolds. Jared Goff has been trusting him more and more this postseason and if he has a big game, it could spell disaster for New England.

Samson Ebukam, LB Rams

Linebacker isn’t one of the Rams strongest positions on the defensive side. Pro-Bowler (for special teams) Cory Littleton is their best linebacker, but other than that there’s not too much overflowing talent. However, one of Tom Brady’s weakest points in his game is his inability at times to see the cover linebacker. Last week in the AFC title game he threw a pick directly to linebacker Reggie Ragland in the endzone. In Super Bowl 49 Bobby Wagner intercepted Brady and two weeks before in the AFC title game D’Qwell Jackson jumped in front of a ball meant for Gronk (which started Deflategate).

Samson Ebukam is an outside, cover linebacker for the Rams that nearly picked off Dak Prescott in the Divisional round. He has multiple touchdowns on the year, two against Kansas City, and is very quick moving. Given the right situation, he has the potential to cause Brady some trouble with Wade Phillips calling the plays.

Samson Ebukam has a couple of interceptions on the season so Tom Brady will need to be on the lookout for number 50.

Deatrich Wise Jr. or Adrian Clayborn, DE Patriots

So far in the postseason Deatrich Wise Jr. has been inactive. Against the Chargers he had a nagging ankle injury but he was a healthy scratch for the AFC title game. Adrian Clayborn got the nod over him and played decent, but didn’t make any spectacular plays.

In order for the Patriots to keep having the pass rush success they’ve been having, they need to get more productivity from the other DE position. Trey Flowers can’t do it all by himself, even though at times he seems like he can. Whoever is active between the two, because its been one or the other thus far, needs to get to Goff. He isn’t a running quarterback so there should be no excuse for not pressuring him.

Rushing the passer is the main reason the Patriots have had so much success on defense this postseason. If they want to take home the Lombardi, they will need to find a way past the Rams offensive line. Accomplish that, and L.A. head coach Sean McVay will be sweating in his khakis.

Is this the final dance for Tom Brady? Absolutely not.

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After last years Super Bowl loss, the greatest sports dynasty in history faced some serious questions. Post game interviews from Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady were not comforting to Patriots fans whatsoever. There was talk of their future in football being up in the air, but more so with Gronkowski. Tom Brady didn’t go as far as Gronk did, but he also didn’t shut down the possibility of him retiring. In his 2017 documentary “Tom vs. Time”, the final episode was filmed a couple weeks after Super Bowl 52 and included Brady’s final thoughts on the season. It also included his wife Gisele Bundchen’s thoughts on Brady and his potential end in the NFL. Gisele made it seem like the end was near for Brady. She made it clear she wanted him home with her and their children more than out on the field playing.

Although there was much speculation regarding the two superstars, Brady and Gronk returned for 2018, where they are poised to win their third Super Bowl in five years. However, with Gronk not running at full speed anymore and Brady closer to 42 than 41, could this be the final dance for them and the Patriots dynasty? Not a chance.

If you have watched any Patriots football this season, you know that there was some legitimate concerns about this team. They were getting blown out by non-playoff teams, and scraping by against weaker teams early on. Tom Brady didn’t look as sharp week in and week out and it seemed like no one on offense could do anything at times. Chris Hogan was a no show for stretches, Rob Gronkowski couldn’t buy a reception, and Julian Edelman was dropping more passes than usual. The defense was playing okay, but still allowing more points than they should have been. Let’s not even mention the ridiculously coined “Miami Miracle”.

However, in usual Patriots fashion, they turned it around when they needed to. They won their final two games to secure the second seed in the playoffs and looked healthy overall. The Chargers didn’t have an answer for them in the Divisional and the Chiefs were finished as soon as Matthew Slater called “heads” in overtime. It seems like everything is clicking now for New England, who stand a great chance at claiming another Lombardi Trophy.

Although, with Super Bowl 53 looming and reports of retirement coming out of Rob Gronkowski’s camp, could this be it? There have been a few rumors of Bill Belichick’s final game and Tom Brady could very well pull a Peyton Manning and ride off into the sunset with his sixth Lombardi in the trunk of his Aston Martin. New England has good talent and coaching on both sides of the ball, but are in serious trouble if Brady and Gronk decide to hang it up.

Is it going to happen? According to Tom Brady, the chances that this is his last game are “zero percent“. In an interview with ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, Brady made it clear that he isn’t going anywhere. Win or lose next Sunday in Atlanta, the AFC East will have to be tortured for at least another year.

Tom Brady riles up the crowd at the Patriots Super Bowl sendoff.

As for Gronk, that is another matter. The general feeling around the league is that No. 87 will likely call it a career after Super Bowl 53. Another Super Bowl loss could change this, but a win, in my opinion, almost certainly means that Gronkowski will retire.

Does this mean the dynasty is going to crumble? Of course not. The Pats have been without prime Gronk for a majority of the season and have fared just fine. Now, if anyone else decides to turn in their pads or clipboard for Daiquiri’s and vacations, then worrying can ensue. However, I strongly believe that Bill Belichick will retire when Tom Brady does, maybe even a little after that. I also think TB12 will live up his promise of playing until he’s 45, unless an injury occurs.

New England has 12 picks in the upcoming draft and should be able to create an ample amount of cap space to sign some premium free agents. In addition to that, they could be getting Josh Gordon back, pending a suspension, and a plethora of 2018 rookies that are on Injured Reserve. Receiver Braxton Berrios and linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley are names to watch for next year.

New England faces turnover like this every year, and while potentially losing the best tight end in history would be a blow, the Patriots would do what they do best: reload, not rebuild.

Patriots vs. Chiefs: AFC Title Game Preview

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Every dominant athlete has had a weakness in their career. Whether it be a venue or exploitable trait, no athlete is perfect. LeBron James could not win in Boston, until he created two separate super teams in Miami and Cleveland. Roger Federer has a difficult time playing on the clay at the French Open. Clayton Kershaw crumbles during the postseason, especially on the road. For Tom Brady, it’s playing in three specific cities: Denver, Miami, and Kansas City. On Sunday, Brady will attempt to win only his second game ever at Arrowhead Stadium. This time, however, he and the Patriots will be riding an unfamiliar mantra.

The Patriots Are Underdogs

For the past 68 games as a starter, including the postseason, Tom Brady has been favored to win. That is a statistic that will never be broken, and for good reason. It is absurd to be favored to win for basically 4 seasons of football, but they don’t call it a dynasty for nothing. This weekend, however, that streak will be buried.

The Chiefs are 3 point favorites to win the AFC Title game (which virtually means oddsmakers are calling this game a ‘pick ’em’ because the home team is automatically given 3 points). Last weekend in the Divisional round, if you listened to any major sports news outlet, you would have thought the Chargers were 12 point favorites. Every “analyst” was picking the Chargers to win by a landslide, and predicting the New England dynasty to crumble like a sandcastle after a wave rides over it. Of course, like usual, everyone was wrong and the Patriots won in dominating fashion. The experts are at again this week as well, and New England now truly feels like an underdog.

With this newfound underdog mentality, the Patriots ride into a hostile Kansas City. Home to the likely NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and one of the loudest sports venues in the world, this will be no easy task. Brady and the Patriots will need to find a way to stop this high-flying offense in front of their home crowd and in sub-freezing temperatures. How can they do it? By simply being the Patriots.

Defending Against The Chiefs

Bill Belichick is the best coach in the history of the NFL, bar none. There is no debate with Don Shula or Vince Lombardi or Bill Walsh, since those were much simpler times with no salary cap. However, this upcoming bout with the Chiefs will test his abilities to the maximum. If New England has a chance of beating KC, Belichick will need to implement a strong plan of attack for the defense. In their first matchup in Week 6, the Patriots made it a priority to not have Travis Kelce beat them. They accomplished this by bumping him at the line of scrimmage, making it more difficult to run his routes. They also double covered with him Patrick Chung and another linebacker, forcing Mahomes to throw it to other receivers. Expect a similar plan to be in play this weekend, but the Patriots have someone else entirely to worry about.

Tyreek Hill

Tyreek Hill is the most versatile receiver in football. His speed cannot be matched and his hands and catching ability are up there with Julio Jones and Antonio Brown. He can single handedly win games with his playmaking, as he almost did in Week 6. The Patriots in their last two meetings with Hill, have allowed a combined 275 yards and 4 touchdowns to the “Cheetah”. Hill cannot have it so easy this time around; Brian Flores and the defense needs to find a way to stop him. Expect the Patriots to use either Jason McCourty or J.C. Jackson on Hill with a double teaming safety over the top on all of his routes. Stephon Gilmore will likely take on the responsibility of shadowing Sammy Watkins.

Tyreek Hill has destroyed the Patriots in their last two meetings. If New England has any chance, they need to stop No. 10.

MVPat

Patrick Mahomes has been the best player in football this year and it can’t really be argued otherwise. 50 touchdowns and 5,300 yards as a second year player is quite remarkable. The Patriots will do everything in their power to not have a repeat of Week 6, where Mahomes put up a 40 spot. In order to do this, and put less pressure on the offense, the Patriots will need to make the Chiefs run the ball. Patrick Mahomes, if given the opportunity, will throw all day long and that is not a winning recipe.

New England will need to sell out to stop the pass and include some schemes and packages to stop the run up front. Chiefs running back Damien Williams has had a fine shortened season, but is no Kareem Hunt. If the Patriots are able to limit the damage in the running game while making it tough on Mahomes, they will have a shot.

In addition to limiting the ground attack, New England will have to mix in some pressure packages. Getting to Philip Rivers is the main reason the Chargers performed so poorly offensively in the Divisional round. The front seven will need to replicate that performance in some way again this weekend. The Chiefs offensive line is fairly average, so look for Trey Flowers to have another big game.

Trey Flowers has been the best defensive lineman for New England all season. He will need to continue that dominance on Sunday.

Brady Being Brady

Like most games, the Patriots will need Tom Brady to be Tom Brady if they have a chance of winning. In years past, Brady has felt some of the pressure lifted off his shoulders. 2011 against Baltimore, he was abysmal but the defense and Billy Cundiff came through. 2014 against the Colts, LeGarrette Blount rolled up and down the field similar to how Jonas Gray did it earlier in the year. However, one key factor of those AFC Championships? They were in Foxboro.

This one is in Arrowhead, a venue Brady has a very hard time winning in. This will be his first time playing here since he was essentially benched in Week 4 of 2014. That game led to Trent Dilfer’s famous rant about the Patriots and sparked a Super Bowl run. The Patriots felt like underdogs after that game and were “On To Cincinnati” with that mantra in mind. This time around in Arrowhead? They feel the same way.

The Underdogs

After the Divisional Round win, many Patriot players, including Tom Brady and Devin McCourty, talked about how the media and the world thinks “they suck and can’t win games”. They are truly embracing the underdog role, similarly to how Philadelphia did last year. With this mentality in mind and a solid gameplan behind them, this game could go the Patriots’ way, even in Arrowhead Stadium against the likely NFL MVP.

Keys To The Game

The defense can’t let Mahomes beat them through the air and the offense needs to score rapidly so they don’t get behind early on the road. The sub-freezing temperatures bodes well for Tom Brady, as he is 24-5 in such games. The run game will once again have to play a huge role, helping to set up the play action. The Chiefs cornerbacks are below average at best and Brady should be able to pick them apart with decent offensive line help.

All in all, this game could go either way. The Patriots could very well come out flat like they did in Pittsburgh in Week 15. The Chiefs could score 14 in five minutes and from there the game is likely out of reach. Although, the Patriots could also storm out into the freezing, belligerent environment and remind everyone why they are called the best sports dynasty in history. This one is a toss up, and will come down to which team prepares better and is able to execute their game plan the best.

Tom Brady is not falling off a cliff

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If you were to walk into the 2018 season last week during the playoffs, without any previous knowledge, you would have thought the end was here in New England. There have always been talks of the sky falling in Foxboro, but it has never come to fruition. After 2014 Week 4 in Kansas City and last years Super Bowl, “the end” rumors were at an all time high. However, this past week it was an incessant streamline of talking heads and T.V. hosts all saying the same thing: “Tom Brady and the Patriots are done.” Well, in usual GOAT style, Brady made every single ESPN/FOX/NFL Network “analyst” eat their words with his dazzling performance against the Chargers.

Yes, Tom Brady has not looked as sharp this year as in years past. Even though his numbers are very similar to his 2014 numbers, a year the Patriots won the Super Bowl, all the media and some fans seem to care about are his bad games. So, let’s talk about those games.

Week 3 @ Detroit

This was a game I think every Patriot fan would like to forget. It was a “revenge game” for the Lions and Matt Patricia, who played well above what anyone thought they could. All in all, every Patriot player had a bad game in Week 3, including Tom Brady. The offensive line gave very little help, as Brady was bombarded with pressure from every angle. The offense seemed to want to run through newly healthy Sony Michel, who couldn’t get anything done. This only exacerbated the difficulty for Tom Brady, who passed for 134 yards with one touchdown and one interception. It is 100% unfair to chalk this loss up to some cliff and put it entirely on Brady’s shoulders.

Tom Brady was under constant pressure Week 3 in Detroit, causing his play to suffer.

Week 10 @ Tennessee

Another game that I would gladly have slip my mind, Week 10 against the Titans. The defense played horrendous against the struggling Marcus Mariota. The offense once again relied heavily on Brady to complete long yardage passes on third down since the run game was nonexistent. However, Brady still went for 254 yards with no picks in the game. This game simply got out of hand early and the offense became one dimensional.

Week 16 vs. Buffalo

It’s funny to see Brady’s stat line in this game be the driving force behind many of the “cliff” talks. With 126 yards passing, one touchdown, and two picks, many saw this game as the true start of the decline. However, whoever says that clearly did not watch the game. Brian Hoyer could have been in at quarterback and the Patriots still decisively win this game. Why? The Patriots ran all over the Bills with 200+ yards on the ground. Sony Michel had the best game of his career, and James White chimed in with a long rushing touchdown of his own. Now, another counterpoint someone might have is in regards to the two interceptions Brady threw at home in December against Buffalo. Although, like nearly half his interceptions this year, the blame needs to put on the receiver for dropping the pass, causing the INT.

This game had one clear game plan on offense: run the ball down Buffalo’s throat. Tom Brady isn’t a runner, and didn’t need to be the GOAT for the Patriots to win this game. He did need to be serviceable as a quarterback, which he was in every facet.

While Sony Michel and James White had a field day against Buffalo, Tom Brady was able to sit back and watch.

When the worst T.V. host, Max Kellerman, made his infamous cliff remarks back in 2014, the world shrugged it off. Today, as he is still making his cliff prediction, the world needs to again dismiss it. Tom Brady, even without the Chargers game, turned in a top 5 quarterback season at age 41.

In no way, shape, or form is Tom Brady falling off a cliff. He is merely skiing down a black diamond counting his Lombardi’s and occasionally hitting a steep ridge here and there. One bad game does not make him a bad quarterback. If he ever has a string of sub 200 yard and multiple interceptions games then the talk of cliffs can be taken more seriously. However, until then, Tom Brady is going to take his ski ride into Kansas City, where hopefully the trail will lead to Atlanta and another Lombardi Trophy.

Chargers vs. Patriots: Divisional Round Preview

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The 2007 Patriots are remembered as one of the most dominant teams in NFL history, and rightfully so. It marked the beginning of the Age of the Quarterback, with Tom Brady setting passing and scoring records, with his ever so reliable go to receiver Randy Moss doing the same. The NFL had never seen an offense quite like New England’s and it was an unstoppable freight train until one fateful night in Glendale, Arizona.

There were a few scares throughout the season, especially on a frigid Monday night against the Ravens in Baltimore where old friend Rex Ryan called a panicked timeout before a key Patriots fourth down where Baltimore stopped Brady on one of his patented QB sneaks. Of course, Brady would make Ryan pay and led the Patriots to a first down the next play.

For the most part, however, most of the games played that 2007 season were a breeze for the undefeated Pats. The playoffs also looked to be an easy few weeks for New England on their way to another Super Bowl. That is, until the then San Diego Chargers came to town for the AFC Championship game.

Philip Rivers famously played on a torn ACL, but that Chargers team had some unbelievable talent that included LaDanian Tomlinson in his prime. The game came down to the fourth quarter, where Tom Brady and the Patriots narrowly escaped an injured Philip Rivers at home to advance to their fourth Super Bowl in seven years. Rivers, in an interview with CBS after the Chargers win over Baltimore on Sunday, was asked what comes to mind when he thinks of the Patriots. His response: “2007.”

The Matchups

There were three different teams that the Patriots could have matched up with in the Divisional Round on January 13th. One would think the higher the seed the worse the match-up, however, this was not the case this season. The general feeling across the NFL is New England drawing the Chargers was the worst possible scenario.

The Texans, who were walloped at home by Indianapolis, posed a potential threat with running quarterback Deshaun Watson. Although, New England managed fine against him Week 1. Fans were hoping Houston would squeak out a win and come into Foxboro for a replication of the 2016 playoffs.

Going into the weekend, Baltimore seemed like a match-up nightmare for New England; a mobile quarterback with a solid run game and stout defense seemed like a recipe for another 2009 debacle. Baltimore also poses the toughest challenge for the Patriots in Foxboro every time they come to town in January. All that was tossed off a cliff, however, when Lamar Jackson and the Ravens looked like a peewee football team wearing Bird Box blindfolds against a star-studded Chargers D.

Melvin Ingram was a one man wrecking crew last Sunday against Baltimore.

So, the lowest seed the Patriots could have played, the fifth ranked Chargers, come into Foxboro with a 13-5 record, never having lost outside of Los Angeles this season (8-1 on the road with a loss against the Rams in L.A.). The man who got them a date with New England, Philip Rivers, comes into this game extremely motivated to not repeat 2007. He is very much in the mix for NFL MVP, having led the Chargers to their best season since 2009 when they went 13-3. Although, even though Rivers poses a great challenge to a revamped Patriots defense, there are multiple other factors to consider in this game.

Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa

The number one concern Patriots fans should have are the defensive ends of Los Angeles. Pass rushers have been able to almost single-handedly beat the Patriots in playoff games (2007 and 2011 Super Bowl, 2015 Broncos, 2017 Eagles). The images of Brandon Graham strip sacking Tom Brady in last year’s Super Bowl, or Von Miller wrecking havoc in Denver, will remain in New England infamy for years to come. And Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram possess the potential to have a similar impact this Sunday. Both Bosa and Ingram have had phenomenal seasons, even though Bosa was out for half the season. If you watched the Chargers Ravens game, then you know Melvin Ingram’s name. He is a wrecking ball on the line of scrimmage, and Joe Thuney will have his hands full with him.

In order to effectively counteract the Chargers pass rush, New England needs to establish inside runs with Sony Michel and run their bread and butter in the passing game, which is slants and screens. Quick passes and medium to long runs will be all New England needs to successfully drive down the field on a regular basis. Of course, the Patriots receivers will have their skills challenged with L.A. cornerbacks Shareece Wright and Pro Bowler Casey Hayward. Getting separation on quick passes will enable Brady to effectively dictate the passing game, which leads to wins.

Keenan Allen vs. Stephon Gilmore

On the other side of the ball, the Chargers have playmakers on offense all over the field. Melvin Gordon, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and of course Philip Rivers. The New England cornerbacks will have a constant test, both on the outside and in the slot, with the variety of talent Los Angeles has at receiver. Keenan Allen is a multiple time pro-bowler and former All-Pro and will most likely be shadowed all afternoon by recently named All-Pro corner Stephon Gilmore. This tactic has been a staple of New England’s defense, especially come playoff time. Antonio Brown had Malcolm Butler on him exclusively in the 2016 AFC Championship, with safety help over the top. Expect something similar to be in use with the Chargers top receiver, but Gilmore can shut down Allen by himself.

The Chargers have an evenly balanced offense, with running back Melvin Gordon usually getting around 20-25 touches per game. He did come out of the game last Sunday with an MCL injury, but the Chargers expect him to play. New England needs to shut down the run game, whether it’s Gordon back there or not. Setting the edge has been an issue all year long for the Patriots defense, something that needs adjusting before Sunday. As for the passing attack, Rivers likes to stay in the medium yardage range for the most part. He will occasionally take shots downfield, but 10-15 yards downfield is where he lives. New England’s corners and linebackers will need to be stuck like glue on receivers like Mike Williams.

Cornerback Stephon Gilmore needs to live up to his recent All-Pro selection on Sunday.

Some other notes:

  1. There is a very good chance of snow at game time. Coming from California, this could hinder some Chargers players.
  2. Los Angeles has been one of the worst teams in the league at covering running backs in the passing game. They’ve given up over 900 yards to backs this season. Look for New England to exploit this with James White and Rex Burkhead with creative screens and backfield routes.
  3. The Patriots come into this game never having lost at home this season (8-0). The Chargers have never lost outside of Los Angeles. Something will have to give.
  4. Philip Rivers has never beaten a Tom Brady led team (0-7).
  5. Chargers stud interior defensive lineman Brandon Mebane was out last Sunday against the Ravens due to complications with his daughter. It is unclear if he will play this Sunday.
  6. Chargers recently activated tight end Hunter Henry from PUP. It is unclear if he will play or how he will be used.

This has the potential to be one of the great New England playoff games of recent memory. The storylines are there (Rivers v. Brady, the weather) and the Patriots and Chargers both have things to exploit from each other defense and offense. This game will ultimately come down to which team can prepare better. That goes for the players and the coaches, as both sides coordinators will need to be on their A game.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to message me on Twitter @JoeyCarr9.