PHOTO: Pittsburgh Steelers' Kimo von Oelhoffen hits New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) as he releases a pass that was intercepted.
The Steelers defeated the Patriots 34-20, breaking the Pats record winning streak
at 21. (AP Photo)
Problematic Postseason
By Joe Levit, Patriots Insider
When Miami Dolphins receiver Derrius Thompson caught the game-winning score
against Troy Brown and the Patriots with 1:23 left Monday night, it marked a
significant shift in the power structure of the NFL heading into the playoffs.
Instead of being invincible, the Patriots have a chink in their armor. And now
that one deficiency has been made obvious, there are signs of other troubles,
both theirs and from other teams, which will make it a very difficult road for
the Patriots to reach the Super Bowl this year.
At the start of the season, the Patriots were piling up victories and it looked
like they simply couldn't lose. Even when the upstart Pittsburgh Steelers defeated
them for their first loss, it seemed like an anomaly, particularly with Corey Dillon out of the lineup. After the appalling loss to the Dolphins though, this
year's division dregs with a 3-11 record, suddenly it seems that questions abound
about this New England superpower. The team that was once seen as an impregnable
force now must deal with a number of issues if they are to get back to the Super
Bowl, which probably would be a tougher challenge than them actually winning
it, because once there they get to face an NFC team. That conference has been
weak all year, and the loss of Terrell Owens for Philadelphia makes the cupboard
more bare.
First and foremost is the predicament of the Patriots' defensive backfield.
What Troy Brown has done for the team by becoming a fill-in defender the last
few weeks is clearly admirable, and his versatility and willingness to play
another position shows how well coached the team is, and how dedicated the players
are. But, he is the one who allowed that game winner to an arch rival, and it
clearly would be better if the team had a true corner in there to control things.
From reports, it looks like Ty Law will be back with the team shortly, making
perhaps a premature return from injury because of the emergency in this department.
How effective he can be, even a few weekends from now, will be in question.
And if the team is forced to continue using Brown, it will be done in by a deluge
of precision passing in the playoffs.
Another problem that the team faces is the transition of offensive coordinator
Charlie Weis from spirited team mentor to Notre Dame head coach. Just the mere
fact that his players know that not all of his attention is on them makes it
harder to implement his game plans and relate to him when the chips are down.
There is no way that him thinking about two jobs doesn't negatively affect them
both, even if it is to a small degree. That small degree is often the difference
it takes to win in the NFL. Although you can't lay last week's failures at the
feet of Weis exclusively, since it is clear that Tom Brady historically suffers
some slings and arrows against the Dolphins, it is clear that this shift will
impact Brady, who has a great relationship with his coach, and who is the undisputed
leader of the team. When Brady has his confidence pulled down a bit, the entire
team plays with a bit less surety.
In the playoffs themselves, the Patriots will face at least two very difficult
ball clubs. Assuming the Patriots get the second bye week, which isn't a given
now, there is a strong likelihood that they will end up facing the Colts, as
the Steelers are the higher-ranking team and would face a lower seed. That dearth
of defensive back talent will haunt them against Peyton Manning. The Colts almost
beat them earlier this year, but made some critical mistakes late to give the
game away. The passing game might just rip New England up this time.
But, even if the Patriots get past Indianapolis, the team will probably face
Pittsburgh in the conference championship game. Pittsburgh has a burgeoning
offense, with newcomer Antwaan Randle El heating things up in the secondary.
And, of course the Steelers have one of the top defenses in the league this
year. It is true that Corey Dillon being present would help the Patriots control
the game more effectively, but this will be a tall order nonetheless. Funny
how a fourth-quarter defeat can deflate a team so quickly. The Patriots, though
driven, will have a very hard time repeating as league champions.
Joe Levit, based in Boston, writes fantasy football columns for SI.com,
thehuddle.com, and fantasysportsjunkies.com. He has published articles in Grogan's,
Fantasy Index, Fantasy Sports and Fantasy Football Pro Forecast magazines. He
is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Fantasy Sports
Writers of America, and a devoted Detroit Lions fan who can be reached in the
Insiders forums.
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along with a number of other stories on Patriots Insider
URL: http://Patriots.scout.com