Stop me if you’ve heard this before: This is the biggest game of the year for the Patriots. The Patriots and Colts battle it out Saturday Night in a game that could have humongous playoff repercussions. There’s been enough back and forth (mostly by the Colts) off the field, so let’s get into the on field battle. Here are 3 ways the Patriots can beat the Colts on Saturday.
Take What They Give You
Common sense, right? Tom Brady made a Hall of Fame career taking what the defense gave him and I think the Pats need to do exactly that this weekend. Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke already let everyone know what his defenses plan is: stop the run. The Colts seem intent on doing what they can to slow down the Harris/Stevenson combo and force Mac Jones to beat them. If that’s what they want to do, I’m sure Belichick will happily oblige.
Mac Jones isn’t a name that strikes fear into his opponent. We’re not talking about John Wick here. But to act like he can’t beat you is a dangerous game to play. And while many people claim the Colts have a great defense, they’re not unbeatable. This is where they rank when it comes to defending the pass:
- 12th in yards per game
- T-2nd in TD’s allowed
- 16th in opposing QBR
- 29th in QB pressures
They’re pass defense doesn’t necessarily scare you. So if they want to force the pass, Mac Jones should have a good day. Especially in a dome against a team that isn’t great at pressuring the opposing QB. Their rush defense is similar as well.
- 16th in yards per game
- 24th in yards per rush
- 16th in overall yards allowed
Regardless of how the Colts defense attacks the Pats, Belichick and McDaniels should feel confident taking whatever Indy gives them.
Make The Colts Throw
Easier said than done, but you have to for Carson Wentz to beat you Saturday. We all know how great Jonathan Taylor is and how he can take over a game. But of all the Belichickism’s that people like to throw around, the “he takes away what you do best” is the most consistent one. If Jonathan Taylor runs all over this team, they won’t win. It’s as simple as that. Belichick will likely load the box more than usual in an attempt to slow Taylor down. And with the 21st rated passing offense, forcing the ball into Wentz’ hand isn’t the worst thing. Here’s his stats:
- 25th in completion %
- 20th in yards per game
- 15th in total yards
- 15th in yards per completion
- 10th in TD’s
- 12th in passer rating
- 6th in QBR
Carson Wentz is definitely better than his Philly days, but he’s not as dangerous as some of the QB’s the Patriots have already played this year. Like I said, if Taylor has himself a day, the Pats chances of winning are slim. In fact, the Colts team is similar to the Patriots in that way: run first, throw second. Belichick needs to force the Colts to play lefthanded and the defense needs to keep dominating.
Control The Time of Possession
When you play a team like the Colts, time of possession is key. This may seem obvious, but it’s not like this with every team. There are plenty of teams who you aren’t afraid of possessing the ball too much because they don’t cash in. The Colts are the 3rd ranked offense when it comes to points, so they know how to cash in. The best way to beat a team that like to score is to play keep away. Whether that’s through the run, short passing game or a mix of everything, TOP will be crucial Saturday.
Conclusion:
I don’t want to sound like a cocky Patriots fan here, but the Pats should win this won. Assuming Jonathan Taylor doesn’t own the game, this one won’t be as close as many people are suggesting. This Patriots team is really, really good. And while the Colts are certainly formidable, their defense is, on the whole, relatively average. And with 2 weeks to gameplan, I’ll put my money on Bill Belichick every single time. Patriots 30 – Colts 17.
P.S. Saturday is THIS writers birthday, so it’s only right that my favorite team picks up the W.
(Featured Photo Credit www.horseshoeheroes.com)
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Mike Sullivan (@msully5433 on Twitter)
