Pats First Quarter

Throw the game against Buffalo out. The Patriots have been offensively dominant against every team this season. EVERY... TEAM. Six games, five games in which the Pats score on the first drive of the game. They flat out can move the ball. Defensively, on the other hand, it's been better lately. So here goes.

OFFENSE - A
QB - A - It's pretty obvious Tom Brady runs the show. It's pretty obvious Tom Brady runs the show well.
RB - B - It's hard to knock this unit. Up until the Raiders game, the Pats RBs of Law Firm (Green-Ellis), Danny Woodhead, and Stephen Ridley were underused. When they were used, they were effective. Buffalo woke up an aspect of the game that needed to be re-awakened. Tom Brady runs the show, but the show needs the run to open for him.
WR - B - - While they've been effective and used, they sometimes disappear. Infact, it's pretty much been the Wes Welker show. Up until last week, Deion Branch had 1 catch for 4 yards in 2 weeks. Chad Ochocinco, who's been mostly riding pine, has been more productive than the #1 WR. It's not even about balance. There have been plenty of passes to go around, but they've been going to this group...
TE - A+- Hands down the most valuable aspect of the passing game. Everybody knows inside the Red Zone, Brady is going to throw Gronknandez* (*Big Hot TM). There is absolutely nothing a defense can do to stop this. They don't know how. In the open field, equally as effective. While their blocking could be better, they're in there to make plays and they make a lot of them.
OL - A - Last Sunday against the Jets gives you a great example of just how dominant the Pats line has been. Brady has hardly been knocked on his ass. Nevermind getting sacked. He doesn't get dirty. They've kept Pretty Boy Brady looking pretty.

DEFENSE - C-
DL - C- - Kind of a disappointment honestly. Haynesworth, while meaning well, hasn't been as effective because he hasn't really been on the field between injury and being a fat ass. Wilfork has been his normal, beastly, self, even rumbling for a big gain after picking off a pass. But the team only has 8 sacks through 6 games. It only has 2 forced fumbles. That's not getting it done
LB - D - I'm not impressed with the LB play at all. They're getting shredded playing zone. The man match-up has been decent. However, they're also part of the problem of putting pressure on the QB. They're part of the reason there's only been 8 sacks. The lack of pressure has really made this group look bad
CB/S- C+ - The secondary is taking a lot of shit. It's much like Brady taking a lot of shit for the 4 INTs against Buffalo. The unit is good. You can only cover a guy for so long. The team has 7 INTs. Most of it has come from this unit. The Pass Deflections could be greater, but the entire starting unit is under 6 Ft tall. It's a pretty bad mismatch when every game this season, the Pats have secondary has been scorched by WRs over 6'6". But the lack of pressure upfront has absolutely made this entire unit look awful
K - A - Gostkowski is a gem. Vinateri who?
P - B - Mesko has been great when the Pats are backed deep. He could be slightly better with balls placed inside the 20. Let's face it though. It's tough when you're hardly used.

Pats got the Up and Down Dallas Cowboys this week. Dallas boasts a skitzo QB (Tony Romo... read as "Tony OH-No!") who could either light the Pats up on D if the Pats don't get pressure... or could cost the Cowboys the game... if the Pats don't get pressure on Romo. The Cowboys also boast a solid running game and an excellent defense, which actually looks better than the Jets D at this point. Patriots should take this game though, but it might actually be close. 34-24 is my prediction with Romo throwing a pick 6 that costs Cowbitches the game.

~juice