Due to circumstances well within my control I did not watch the game against the Colts until last night. Good game. The Colts looked better, and Andrew Luck appeared more capable in this outing, though given their division, Indianapolis could probably go 8-8 and find its way to another playoff loss against the Patriots come January.
As for the Patriots, the much sought after blow-out did not materialize (NE 34 – Indy 27), primarily because both Brady and his receivers had some problems with ball control.
Julian Edelman, finger issue or not, dropped more passes than I’ve seen in a while, including the bobble that was intercepted by the Colts for a pick-6 and in the absence of that life-giving momentum the Colts may have collapsed sooner and the spread at the end been much wider. Or they may have just tried that ridiculous 4th down trick-play earlier in the contest, not that the highlights would have been any different.
But there is plenty of work to be done in New England, and don’t try to convince yourself otherwise. The Jets are coming to town and they have an eye on first place in the AFC East.
What was and what may be
Brady tossed a few more deep (against the Colts) than I typically remember but with Revis on the field this coming weekend at least one corner is almost certainly shut down.
But the Jets will need to take away other receiving weapons as well and keep Brady in the pocket long enough for their Defense to mess with him. A tough order, given the number of effective Patriot receivers, the changing routes and schemes, and Brady’s new found mobility, which added a lot of offense to Sunday nights game against Indianapolis.
As long as the receivers, tight-ends, and backs can catch and control the ball, the Pat’s should continue to find ways to get their score into the thirties, leaving New York looking for ways to keep up. Keeping up is what prompts teams do “a whole lot of stupid,” which just hands the ball back to the New England offense, the last place you want that thing if you are hoping to beat them because given enough time they will find a way to beat you.