It is difficult to assume that both the Patriots and Giants will play their starters for the entire game Saturday night.
If I'm Giants coach Tom Coughlin, I sit my major players. The Giants are playing a wild card game at Tampa Bay next weekend regardless of what happens this week. With guys like Jacobs and Buress banged up and Shockey already lost for the season, I would rest them. Use this week as the bye week in preparation for the more important playoff game. Playing a QB like Manning without his weapons may only ruin his confidence going into the playoffs. However, Coughlin is making it appear as if he's going to play his starters and try to win.
If I'm Belichick, I play Brady and Co long enough to secure the 16-0 regardless of records. I don't doubt though, that Belichick would love to see Brady break Manning's TD record.
That being said, it might not be a bad idea to at least get Brady out of the game early. He's the one player the Pats cannot win without. The Giants just happen to lead the league in sacks with 52 and they possess the 8th best Defense against the pass. Getting Brady out of the game healthy is MORE important than going 16-0. Could you imagine if Brady wins the game, breaks the TD record and gets hurt in the 4th quarter? Two weeks to prepare Matt Cassell and the running game for a playoff game....yikes. Let's get Brady safely to the bench Bill!
I think Brady and the starters play through the 3rd quarter (unless they've got a huge halftime lead) and break the scoring record (4 points to break), the TD pass record (2 to break) and the TD catch record (2 to break). I don't think the Giants starters will play more than the 1st quarter if at all, but Coughlin can't come out and say that he's going to roll over and let the Pats win.
Patriots 42
Giants 10
Must-See TV
In an unprecidented move, the NFL agreed to simulcasts of this weeks Pats game. For those of us in the Pats local market without NFL network, we can see the game on WCVB channel 5. In addition, the NFL announced that the game will also be simulaneously broadcast on CBS and NBC. Why? Because the Patriots have been the biggest draw in all of television this season. The top 5 shows in 2007 according to Nielson ratings were Patriots, Patriots, Patriots, Patriots and CSI season premiere took the 5th spot. In addition, the Pats Ravens game on ESPN was the most watched cable show in the history of cable TV.
San Fran's Pick
It's pretty much a given that San Francisco and therefore the Patriots will have the 8th overall pick in the 2008 draft. SF has 5 wins and is playing a depserate Browns team fighting for its playoff life. The 3 teams with 4 losses are in the same boat: Oakland plays SD, Baltimore plays Pitt. Pitt and SD are vying for the 3rd seed in the playoffs. KC is playing at the Jets, with both teams having nothing to play for and Larry Johnson shut down for the year. It's safe to assume that we'll have the 8th pick.
Which brings us to James Laurinaitis, Inside Linebacker from Ohio State. NFL Draft Countdown has him slated to go to the Pats with the 8th overall pick. He's a smart player with great intangables. He's 6'3" 244lbs and runs a 4.6 in the 40. As a sophomore he won the Nagusrski award as the nations best defensive player. He's finishing his Junior year and it is assumed that he's turning pro. In 25 starts for OSU he's got 218 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, 9 sacks and 7 Int's. For those of you that follow Pro Wrestling, his dad is Joe Laurinaitis, aka "the Animal" from the legion of doom. Personally, I like the OSU students that wear T-shirts that read, "I've got a case of Laurinaitis". If you're curious, you can watch OSU v LSU in the national championship game on Monday Jan 7th at 8pm. My two cents is that it just makes too much sense to bring him to New England, I'd love to see him here!
Parcells Follow Up
It looks like Sott Pioli may not be on the Tuna's radar for player personnel director or GM or whatever title you want to give him. Parcells will most likely go after Jeff Ireland of the Cowboys. Ireland's contract is up at the end of the season and he and Parcells worked side by side to build the current Cowboys roster. Now if we could only get him to hire Joshy....
Here's to 16-0 and a Great 2008 for all of us!
Showing posts with label Parcells. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parcells. Show all posts
Friday, December 28, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Miami: the Game and the new VP
Let's drink the Belichick cool aid for a moment.
Don't let the spread fool you. Don't let Miami's record fool you either. Don't think Miami will be a tough opponent? A closer look at the last time these two teams played back in October might be a little eye opening. The Pats won 49-28 in good weather. Take away the two freak-like catches Moss made on the Brady long balls and the score is 35-28. Take away the Willie Andrews kick return TD and you've got a tie game. They gave up 28 points to the Dolphins, who lost Ronnie Brown to injury during the game. Despite the loss of Brown, Miami ran for 6 yds per carry including 10 yds per carry by backup Jesse Chatman while gaining 180 rushing yards. CLEO LEMON was 24 of 37 passing for 236 yds. That's a 65% completion percentage.
Now factor in the the Pats are a passing team that will be playing in high winds and possible rain on Sunday. Miami is the 4th BEST defense in the league against the pass. Miami is last against the run, but in the last game the Sammy Morris-less Pats ran for a grand total of 84 yds, 3.8 yds per carry. And that was playing with the lead the entire game.
The Reality
The reality is that the Pats are motivated as hell to go undefeated, especially against the Dolphins. The Dophins won their game last week and have nothing to play for at all this week except to avoid injury and get to the golf course. The Pats will win this one in the first quarter. The only question will be how long Belichick let's Brady and Moss play and how close they can come to the passing TD records.
Dolphin Friendly Tuna
Bill Parcells has officially joined the fins as the VP in charge of all football operations. That will have no effect on this game whatsoever. Miami probably won't be 'good' again next year either, more like 2009 or 2010. Parcells might become a factor vs the Pats when he starts hiring though. Think he doesn't know all about Dante Scarnechia or Pepper Johnson or (hopefully) Josh McDaniels? What about his son-in -law Scott Pioli? Parcells always goes with who he knows, so Dallas and the Pats should both be on Tuna alert. He'll be raiding coaching staffs and players alike.
The Pick
Patriots 35
Dolphins 0
Brady gets the record early in the 3rd Quarter then rides the bench the rest of the way. The 35 point total would also break the record of most points scored in a single season in NFL history.
Don't let the spread fool you. Don't let Miami's record fool you either. Don't think Miami will be a tough opponent? A closer look at the last time these two teams played back in October might be a little eye opening. The Pats won 49-28 in good weather. Take away the two freak-like catches Moss made on the Brady long balls and the score is 35-28. Take away the Willie Andrews kick return TD and you've got a tie game. They gave up 28 points to the Dolphins, who lost Ronnie Brown to injury during the game. Despite the loss of Brown, Miami ran for 6 yds per carry including 10 yds per carry by backup Jesse Chatman while gaining 180 rushing yards. CLEO LEMON was 24 of 37 passing for 236 yds. That's a 65% completion percentage.
Now factor in the the Pats are a passing team that will be playing in high winds and possible rain on Sunday. Miami is the 4th BEST defense in the league against the pass. Miami is last against the run, but in the last game the Sammy Morris-less Pats ran for a grand total of 84 yds, 3.8 yds per carry. And that was playing with the lead the entire game.
The Reality
The reality is that the Pats are motivated as hell to go undefeated, especially against the Dolphins. The Dophins won their game last week and have nothing to play for at all this week except to avoid injury and get to the golf course. The Pats will win this one in the first quarter. The only question will be how long Belichick let's Brady and Moss play and how close they can come to the passing TD records.
Dolphin Friendly Tuna
Bill Parcells has officially joined the fins as the VP in charge of all football operations. That will have no effect on this game whatsoever. Miami probably won't be 'good' again next year either, more like 2009 or 2010. Parcells might become a factor vs the Pats when he starts hiring though. Think he doesn't know all about Dante Scarnechia or Pepper Johnson or (hopefully) Josh McDaniels? What about his son-in -law Scott Pioli? Parcells always goes with who he knows, so Dallas and the Pats should both be on Tuna alert. He'll be raiding coaching staffs and players alike.
The Pick
Patriots 35
Dolphins 0
Brady gets the record early in the 3rd Quarter then rides the bench the rest of the way. The 35 point total would also break the record of most points scored in a single season in NFL history.
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