How would you handle the Patriots?

[slanidrac16]

One thing is for sure. If my team was playing the Patriots I know for sure I would not playa conventional type defense only to get rolled up 56-10.

I swear I be rushing 10 guys at times and there would be times I'd rush 2 and drop 10 into coverage.
My team may still lose and lose badly , but I be damned if I play it straight up conventional defense and watch the methodically detroy me.

Mark my words. Somebody is going to cheap shot somebody on that team. I'm not saying it's right or that I condone such action, but eventually somebody is going to lose it a coldcock Brady or Moss or somebody.

I mean really. Is there a way to beat this team?

 

[The Commish]

Yes, you have to assassinate Tom Brady. There I said it.

 

[Sandan]

Take away their video cameras and bring my own radio gear for headsets

 

[Lorenzo]

One thing is for sure. If my team was playing the Patriots I know for sure I would not playa conventional type defense only to get rolled up 56-10.

I swear I be rushing 10 guys at times and there would be times I'd rush 2 and drop 10 into coverage.
My team may still lose and lose badly , but I be damned if I play it straight up conventional defense and watch the methodically detroy me.

Mark my words. Somebody is going to cheap shot somebody on that team. I'm not saying it's right or that I condone such action, but eventually somebody is going to lose it a coldcock Brady or Moss or somebody.

I mean really. Is there a way to beat this team?

I like the way indy defended them. they did a good job of getting pressure with their front 4 as they were able to cover with 7. I guess that's the ideal way to play them. They gave up a couple of big plays late that really hurt them.
Dallas tried throwing different things at NE as you said above. They got pressure on Brady throughout the game and played well on 1st and 2nd downs. but N.E. killed them on third down..........Wes Welker in paticular. I think if the cowboys could of done it over they would have been much more physical with welker.

 

[jw7]

I mean really. Is there a way to beat this team?

Nope. They are just that good. I have Tom Brady on my fantasy team and he is throwing 5 TDs per game...every single week.

Cards won't have to worry about this. They don't have to worry about the Pats unless it is the Super Bowl. But the Pats are just nuts this year.

 

[TheHopToad]

I swear I be rushing 10 guys at times and there would be times I'd rush 2 and drop 10 into coverage.

Not a good idea. I think every time you rush 10 guys at them, they score a touchdown.

I don't think there is a way to stop them. You can only hope to slow them down a bit by keeping time of possesion in your favor and thus their offense off the field. But that doesn't help you score or prevent them from scoring when they get the ball back. It only keeps them from getting into the 50s...

 

[Lorenzo]

Not a good idea. I think every time you rush 10 guys at them, they score a touchdown.

I don't think there is a way to stop them. You can only hope to slow them down a bit by keeping time of possesion in your favor and thus their offense off the field. But that doesn't help you score or prevent them from scoring when they get the ball back. It only keeps them from getting into the 50s...

yeah. I used to call a FG block on madden....... and usually gave up a TD.

 

[TheHopToad]

Cards won't have to worry about this. They don't have to worry about the Pats unless it is the Super Bowl. But the Pats are just nuts this year.

Not until next year when we get to go to Foxboro. Won't that be fun. Hope they don't schedule it for December...

 

[Dr. Jones]

Put your top 2 corners on the inside. One on Welker, the other on Moss. Put your Nickel guy on Stallworth.

Watson needs a Dansby type linebacker covering him. They have to be good in coverage, and they have to be fast.

It is also essential to get good to great pressure on Brady by only rushing 4 or maybe 5 players at a time. This will allow a "Wilson or Taylor" type safety to roam from one double team to another. Almost like a "box-and-1" coverage in basketball. 4 to 5 rushers, 3 1-on-1 corners, and 3 to 4 zone playing safeties.

All of that.... Combined with a sick rushing attack and you might only lose by 5 instead of 35.

There are only 2 teams in the league that have a shot IMO. Pittsburgh or Dallas. Everyone else should just stay home.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Put your top 2 corners on the inside. One on Welker, the other on Moss. Put your Nickel guy on Stallworth.

Watson needs a Dansby type linebacker covering him. They have to be good in coverage, and they have to be fast.

It is also essential to get good to great pressure on Brady by only rushing 4 or maybe 5 players at a time. This will allow a "Wilson or Taylor" type safety to roam from one double team to another. Almost like a "box-and-1" coverage in basketball. 4 to 5 rushers, 3 1-on-1 corners, and 3 to 4 zone playing safeties.

All of that.... Combined with a sick rushing attack and you might only lose by 5 instead of 35.

There are only 2 teams in the league that have a shot IMO. Pittsburgh or Dallas. Everyone else should just stay home.

Pitt, if completely healthy might have a chance as they can run the ball (eat time off the clock), and they have the athletes on defense... However, even that is a HUGE stretch...
Dallas has NO chance - they already proved that earlier this season when the Pats literally toyed with them... Dallas can't run the ball consistently and can not defend the pass well enough to even remotely scare the Pats...
Indy has the best chance. But if they can't get healthy in time (they currently are in MAJOR trouble due to a massive amount of injuries to key starters), they will be no contest for the Pats as well. The road to the Super Bowl will go thru New England this year, and any team playing there in January is now guaranteed a complete and utter ass-whooping...

I also agree that if the Pats continue to abuse their opponents they way they have done thus far (I don't believe there is such a thing as "running it up" in the NFL - however, the Pats are pushing the envelope), someone is going to take the first shot they get at Brady's head or knees... It's coming...

 

[AzCards21]

Send 11 at Brady, take him out 15 yard penalty reset and send 11 at Prickicheck.

Done deal.

 

[jefftheshark]

I mean really. Is there a way to beat this team?

Luckily, we have until we play them in February to figure it out.

JTS

 

[TheHopToad]

Luckily, we have until we play them in February to figure it out.

At least that would be a home game...

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

I would take 15 yard roughing the passer penalties until Brady couldn't say his ABC's any longer.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Send 11 at Brady, take him out 15 yard penalty reset and send 11 at Prickicheck.

Done deal.

people keep saying Brady's gonna get cheap-shotted and I have to ask those people - are you watching these games? There's no one with a MILLION MILES of Brady to even get close enough to projectile spit on the guy. I mean someone would have to not only risk a 15 yard penalty, but a possible league suspension considering how late of a hit the play would have to be for Brady to even get touched at this point.

 

[40yearfan]

Nope. They are just that good. I have Tom Brady on my fantasy team and he is throwing 5 TDs per game...every single week.

Cards won't have to worry about this. They don't have to worry about the Pats unless it is the Super Bowl. But the Pats are just nuts this year.

jw, I have Brady and Moss. People in my league hate me.

 

[football karma]

Funny -- I was thinking about this this morning for no particular reason--

my approach: I come out in nickle and dime coverages -- basically telling the Pats that they are going to have to run it.

I like that three man rush, drop eight scheme, with the occasional 4 or 5 man blitz out of that -- and absolutely pound the guys who catch it short.

Dropping eight is a proposition that says that the defense may allow four or five long drives by making Brady complete a ton of 5 yard passes, but that you will make them settle for field goals and may pick off a couple as well.

It isnt about "stopping" the PAtty offense, but limit the scoring to a level where your offense has a chance to score enough to win the game.

 

[moklerman]

I disagree with the 7 and 8 man backfields. That's what Buffalo tried to do. There is no real chance of covering all of those receivers if Brady is going to have all day to throw. Indy has done the best so far and it's nice to "say" put pressure on Brady with a 4 man rush but who is really equipped to do that? Very few teams have the personnel to pull that off.

My plan, which would be similar to a Philly/Pittsburgh type of defense, would be to blitz the hell out of Brady. It's high risk, but there is no benefit to dropping back in coverage. If you blitz, varying the blitz point and blitzers, you increase your chances of disrupting the timing and causing some turnovers. If we're talking specifically about the Cardinals, you definitely have to go with this idea. I think DB's will have a lot better chance dealing with the WR's early in their routes and they or the LB's will have an opportunity to jump a route or fight for the ball on slants and hot reads. DL will have to constantly get their hands up because other than, hopefully, a little pentration/pressure they're probably not going to get to Brady.

 

[Lloydian]

Not until next year when we get to go to Foxboro. Won't that be fun. Hope they don't schedule it for December...

I've decided that it will be the Week 1 game, since of course, it will represent a rematch of the Super Bowl!

 

[NuttinButTDs]

take Brady out before the game. It is hard to get to him during the game. No penalties if you take him out before the game.

On a serious note, these guys are un-beatable. They are favoured this week by 23.5. Never seen that kind of spread. Next week, they will be favoured by 30+ against Miami.

When will the law of averages kick in.

 

[Matt L]

I dont think that we would have the personell to pull this off but I would have a cover two with Rolle and somebody else who is physical enough to try and disrupt the timing. Roderick Hood would be assigned to cover Moss at all times and Eric Green would have to be on Welker. Three down lineman and two Linebackers Dansby and Pace probably. Holt and AW at safeties. Holt would have to be centerfield FS type, hopefully Rolle and whoever else can get a good punch and then cover the flats. mix up alot of delayed blitzes with AW, LBs and maybe even Rolle. The funny thing is I don't think any one defense would work for a full game. I think that you would have to keep on substituting different packages. Their coaches are very arrogant but are insane at gameplanning.

The real problem is that hopefully this could limit them to 25-35 points and our offense still probably couldn't muster more than 14-17 against their D.

 

[crisper57]

people keep saying Brady's gonna get cheap-shotted and I have to ask those people - are you watching these games? There's no one with a MILLION MILES of Brady to even get close enough to projectile spit on the guy. I mean someone would have to not only risk a 15 yard penalty, but a possible league suspension considering how late of a hit the play would have to be for Brady to even get touched at this point.

Target Brady on the sidelines. That way, his line may not be around to protect him.

In all seriousness, I hope no one hurts him. I don't want whiny NE fans to have excuses when we pick him apart in the Super Bowl.

 

[Rivercard]

I think you'd have to try to slow them down by confusing them if at all possible. Call me crazy, but I think Pendy would come up with a fairly effective scheme for the Pats.

 

[abomb]

Some folks (TMQ) have pointed out that no defense is jamming the NE WRs at the line. Also, Moss was "covered" by a soft cover-2. You have to put your best CB on Moss 1:1. You still arent going to win however, since Welker, Stallworth, et al will kill you, but at least Moss wont have 4 TDs.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think you'd have to try to slow them down by confusing them if at all possible. Call me crazy, but I think Pendy would come up with a fairly effective scheme for the Pats.

you're crazy!