Check out this stat: Willie Parker: 21 rushes, 124 yards Maroney: 8 rushes, 18 yards If you had known that statline before the game started, you would have sworn the Steelers handed it to the Patriots. Of course we know the outcome was quite the opposite. I was definitely in the camp of New England being in trouble without a run game come playoff time. That school of thought has been dispelled after today's game. This team will go 19-0. And they can do it without running the ball ever again.
what was the weather today? pretty good, considering it's December. What was the weather in Baltimore? Not so good. Case and point, in snowy, windy, sleet, rain conditions, they will need to... period. no precipation, they can throw 100 times a game if they want to, but once that stuff starts fallin', it's anyone's game.
The Pats will need to be able to run the ball come playoff time. Like Clair said, with the weather in NE in late Dec/early Jan, passing the ball 40+ times will not happen. I think the Colts still have a chance because they do have a running game. If the AFC championship game is on a snowy field, NE will be at a disadvantage with no running attack.
1 thing we can all agree about: Dallas, NE and Indy all have LSU guys playing prominent roles on their team. :lsup:LSU!:lsup:LSU!
No doubt about it. Addai is a top-5 back in all the NFL. Faulk has been a consistent all-around back for NE since he was drafted. Spears and James are solid. Plus they have guys from the Louisiana that didn't play at LSU. Some guy named Manning, Reggie Wayne, etc.
Indy will give them fits in the playoffs. NE must find a running game to succeed in the playoffs. Personally, I think they have a running game and just have chosen not to utilize it completely(you know how Belichek is). I just hope it ends up being the AFCCG, that would definately build some hype.
thats been dispelled since about week 4. also, the pats threw 33 straight times against pitt and didnt run the ball once in the 2nd half until about 2 minutes left and 3 runs total. Only 2 were designed. over/under on running plays against mangenius will be about 2 for the entire game. one will be on a busted play. brady should break mannings record with at least 5 tds against this bad new jersey team. belicheat should allow all the cameras and mics the jets want on his sideline while he blasts them. would make for good tv.
To answer the question...seems like they don't, but they can run when they need to or have to. Even though NE doesn't have a strong ground game like the Vikings or Jags, they are 10th best rushing team with 120 ypg. With the Pats having the #1 passing offense at 292 ypg and a constant threat to move the ball and score, that would help to open up running lanes. Yesterday, Maroney had another back-to-back 100+ yd game rushing for a career-high 156 yds on 11 carries (11.1 yds) and 1 TD (59 yds). The worst kind of New England weather that affects the passing game the most would be similar to that in the Jets game last week. The cold rainy weather makes it harder, according to Brady, to grip the ball and can't throw a tight spiral. A strong running game would certainly haelp in thoe nasty conditions. I thought losing Sammy Morris would hurt the running game since Maroney seems to get banged up and Morris was a much harder runner. Good thing that on Feb 3, the weather in Arizona won't be a problem at all.
