Patriots 28 : Jaguars 3
The team is looking more and more like they did the last two years. Bruschi was probably a lot more injured than they’re letting on, same with Dillon. But the rest of the team really picked up the slack. McGinnest registered 4.5 sacks and there were two turn-overs, once a Samuel pick that looked very much like the way the Patriots used to pick people off. Nothing accidental about it – the set Leftwich up to throw that pass and jumped the route. Gorgeous to watch.
And the overall way the game played out was also like Old Times. First half the Jag’s were disrupting Brady and their offense was starting to get into rhythm. Then comes half-time, the Patriots adjust, and take control in the 3rd quarter. The defense gets the turnovers and stuffs the run, the offense makes big plays instead of going three-and-out. That’s one reason I think no one wants to face the Patriots in the playoffs – whatever you do that works against them in the first half, well, that’s probably all you’re going to get because these guys are so flexible, so adept at changing and rising to the occasion, that you just never know what can happen.
Still, the Jaguars aren’t the Broncos or the Colts. And the next game won’t be at home. Both Denver and Indy are pretty tough places to go into, and both teams stomped the Patriots during the regular season.
As much as I hate the Steelers, I’m hoping the win tomorrow. Then they get the Colts in the Divisional playoffs and the Patriots get the Broncos. I don’t expect the Steelers to beat the Colts – hell, seeing the Steelers get stomped in Indy will be fun. But the Steelers’ “hard-nosed” style (sorry, I’m just suspicious about a team which seems to cause so many season-ending injuries to their opponents – at some point you stop thinking it’s accidental) should soften up the Colts a little.
Go Pats!
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What was I saying about the Steelers before? On his first pass they hit the Bengals’ Palmer in the knees and he’s done for the season. There’s a difference between playing hard and playing to cause injuries.