Answering The Bell

Down (and considered out by some) early in the year, Bill Belichick's defending champion New England Patriots have picked themselves up off the mat and have engineered a remarkable turnaround in the last few weeks.  Yesterday they stifled a very good Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5)team 28-0, one week after manhandling the Buffalo Bills 35-7, and two weeks after shutting down the Jets 16-3.  As can be seen by these scores the difference has been the defense.

Stopping the run is the key to NFL defense.  If you can't then a good team will repeatedly gash your defense for large chunks of yardage - moving the chains, controlling the clock, keeping your defense tired and on their heels, and keeping your offense off the field limiting your possessions.  Similarly, running the ball is the key to NFL offense.  If you won't or can't run the ball then you're limited, and defenses can pin back their ears and go after the quarterback, use zone blitzes, or flood the secondary with opposing jerseys to cut off passing routes.

The Patriots have jammed the running game of their opponents lately.  The Jets ran the ball for 41 yards, the Bills for 14, and the Bucs for 30.  That's less than 100 yards given up in 3 weeks!  Sometimes when the opponent doesn't run the ball it's because the pass is so effective.  No.  The Jets passed for 123 yards, the Bills were held to 169 yards, and the Bucs to 108.  The Pats have only given up 10 points in those 3 weeks.

New England was beset by injuries throughout the early part of the year, and to key performers.  Defensive tackle Richard Seymour missed several games with a knee injury.  Safety Rodney Harrison has been sidelined with a career-threatening knee injury.  The entire secondary has been decimated.  Safety Eugene Wilson and cornerback Asante Samuel have played the entire season, but the other two slots have been revolving doors.  Linebacker Tedy Bruschiwas out until the Buffalo game in week 8.  The top two running backs, Corey Dillon and Kevin Faulk, have been out at times, and both are now finally healthy.  Left Tackle Matt Light has been out most of the year after suffering a knee injury.

Two other losses loom large, and would be problematic enough for any team to overcome.  Both the offensive coordinator (Charlie Weis - Notre Dame) and the defensive coordinator (Romeo Crennel - Cleveland Browns) were lost in the offseason.  Eric Mangini replaced Crennel; there is no offensive coordinator, officially.  That title really now belongs to quarterback Tom Brady.

They've lost to some very good teams, including the Carolina Panthers (9-4), Denver Broncos (11-3) and Kansas City Chiefs (8-6), all on the road, the undefeated Indianapolis Colts and the San Diego Chargers (8-5) at home.  But this team is rounding into form, and beginning to throttle teams with unyielding defense.

And they have Brady.  Sports Illustrated's 'Man of the Year' is a problem for defenses, because he reads and anticipates their movements so well.  Brady now has enough arrows in his quiver, and the Patriots offense is surging as a result.  Here's a profile of Brady from Steve Kroft of '60 Minutes'.

Beside his good looks and all the success, there is a $60 million, 10-year contract to play for the Patriots. It’s said to be for less money than Payton Manning or Michael Vick are making, but Brady wanted to leave some money on the table for the Patriots to hire some free agents to help them win another Super Bowl.

When have you read anything like that from a star player?  Terrell Owens?  I think not.

“Which of the rings do you like the best? What's your favorite ring?” Kroft asks Brady.

“My favorite ring? I've always said, you know, I always said the next one. The next one is the best,” Brady says.

Winning isn't everything.  It's the only thing.

12/18/05 1440: Linked to Wizbang's COTT XXXXII.

12/19/05 0830: As if to illustrate the point, San Diego 26, Indianapolis 17.  Rushing stats for Indianapolis?  15 rushes for 24 yards.