Is this what we are to expect from the Patriots and Matt Cassel? One week, a serviceable quarterback, and the next he's not? Although I admit it's something new to walk into a game and not know what you're going to be getting from your starting QB, but man is it ever stressful. Detroit fans, I don't know how you've done it for so many years. I mean have you had a consistent quarterback since Bobby Lane? (Oh that's not fair, I had to look that up).
But that's besides the point, the Patriots got absolutely annihilated on Sunday night. One of those "wow, what the hell is going on here" games. Belichick was his usual unpredictable self, and started the game in a 4-3 defensive scheme (4 down linemen and three linebackers) instead of the 3-4 (vice-versa). How did the A Whale's Vagina Chargers respond? A 48 yard pass from Rivers to Vincent "Released Me In Your Fantasy League, Eh?" Jackson (and yes, I did) on the first play of the game. Was Bill Belichick out-coached by Norv Turner? Well hold your horses there.
I had a feeling watching this game, that Bill Belichick is not worried about making the playoffs. I think there is something going on there where he knows that this team is making the playoffs, and he's using this time to test some things out. Today, it was the 4-3 defense. Of course, this did not work, but you still need to see it work out in a game. Do you think Belichick has his eye on winning every game, or on winning 9-10 games? And folks, 9 games might be enough to make the playoffs this year. The Bills are surprising everyone at 4-1, leading the East, but do you realize that the Pats at 3-2, are tied with the Colts for the Wild Card. I know it's early to talk about that, but the AFC is underperforming this year. I still think we see the Pats with 9-10+ wins and in the playoffs. Then we see how things happen.
But optimistic asides... well, aside... the Pats did look a little lost without a solid running game. Kevin Faulk was able to rip off a few nice runs, but they only ran 20 running plays compared to 44 passing plays. Granted they played the whole game while behind, but that is not the recipe for success. The return of Laurence Maroney will be a great boost to this team.
But I think the most frustrating thing to watch this game was to see Cassel tuck the ball and try to run. He did this at least 6 times, not counting the 3-4 times he was going to run but threw a lame duck up at the last minute. Where Brady would stick it out and deliver a nicely thrown football, Cassel is getting happy feet and deciding to run. Some say this is good and he's not throwing picks. I say he's not throwing the ball period, and that's what he's supposed to be doing. Although, I can hardly blame him for running after the beating he's been taking due to his propensity to hold on to the ball for too long. I don't know how a quarterback works on his internal clock, but he's got to work on his.
So now we've seen two good performances from Cassel, one crappy one, and this one which was just sub-par. Overall he did only throw one pick (although who was he throwing that one to!?) and did have 203 yard passing, but that is just not good enough.
On the other side of the ball, the Patriots looked really really really really really really REALLY REALLY weak against the long ball. Vincent Jackson had catches of 48 and 59 yards, Malcom Floyd had a 49 yard touchdown catch, and even LDTomlinson had a 28 yard catch and run. The long plays killed the Pats - that bend-don't-break style was absolutely shattered. That was concerning as the Patriots D has not looking much like the defense we've become used to seeing. This game, the telling stat was: 0 Sacks, 0 INTs, 0 Forced Fumbles. The 4-3 experiment was bad, but hopefully it was just keeping the linebackers fresh and the opposition on their toes.
Or perhaps I'm just hoping?
Post Written By Recovering Brady-addict, Kyle "I MISS THOMASSSS" Brady... er Baxter
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