Looks like weather will be a major issue in the NE game. There's a nor-Easter rolling up the coast. Looks to be a total washout with winds in the 20-25mph range. LOOKS that way, but I'm on weather.com and the forecast is basically some rain early and then it dries out. I don't know. That's either one fast moving storm, or it's going out to sea or something.
Any local Boston guys have a better forecast?
When I locked up NE -4, I called it assuming rain and wind. In that case, who does that favor? I think u can make an argument either way, if it turns to a run run run sloppy game, I'm leaning towards NE. I think Coach B will have a great defensive plan where he will be able to stuff the run completely, while spying Smith and keeping contain so he doesn't beat them with his legs, and all while keeping Kelce bottled up. It doesn't look like Maclin will be suiting up and even if he does, I can't imagine he's anywhere close to 100%.
Now if NE gameplans Kelce like I think they will, and u take Maclin out of the offense....no Maclin....doesn't leave many options for Smith outside of screens, swings, and dump offs to their running backs. There is a young WR on the Chiefs who has stepped up this year(can't think of his name) but I can't imagine he makes too much of an impact. I think coaching wins this in the end.
On the other side, we all know what Brady can do in monsoon conditions in the playoffs(cornholed the Colts last year). Will the balls be inflated to his liking so he can make throws in that rain and wind? Lol, we will see.
One last thing. I believe Suuma had a fantastic thread about the Pats pretty much having 4 weeks off to rest up and get healthy for the playoffs. Watching the dolphin game again, I realize now that they weren't in that game to destroy. Coach B and company made sure that they showed NOTHING for future reference. I think they possibly thought they were good enough to throw out a halfa$$ed plan and still win, but that wasn't meant to be. Anyway, normally when a team starts resting players weeks 16-17 and then has rhe bye and 3-4 weeks off....normally I view that as a negative thing. The team that really comes to mind was the Packers in Dec 2011 into Jan 2012.
Packers started testing guys in week 16. Week 17 the entire team did not play. They had the bye first round of the playoffs, and hosted the Giants at Lambeau and I want to say they were -10 or maybe -11. Packers had just crushed the Giants a few weeks back and almost was the game that booted them from the playoffs, but Giants rallied and every game in December was basically a playoff game for them. I believe they had Atlanta first round and dominated them. Came into Lambeau battle tested, while GB were pretty much in training camp the last month.....and it wasnt until after halftime that GB realized what hit them and by then it was too late.
So normally, all that rest is a bad thing IMO. This feels different though. Not that McCarthy/Philbin/Capers are bad coaches or anything, but I think Bill B and his crew aren't gonna let NE come out flat and they know exactly what's needed to be done to come out of the tunnel tomorrow at 4:30pm already in 5th gear. The Pats injury problems were also a much bigger issue and that entire o-line, entire WR Corp, and a handful of key defensive players really needed that time off. And they are all healthy and ready to go now.
Pats 31-13.