Bye Week

With the Patriots inactive this week, we look forward to the remaining seven games on the Pats schedule. After beating the Colts last week there are only two teams on the Pats schedule, from here on, that are in the way of the Pats going undefeated: the Steelers and the Giants.

While New England and Indianapolis are far ahead of the rest of the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers kept up with the two juggernauts with a 31-28 victory against the Cleveland Browns. Early in the game the Steelers looked horrible, defensively and offensively. Cleveland scored 21 points on the Steelers defense and the Browns defense held the Steeler offense to just three field goals.

The second half was a different story. The Steeler defense came alive and not only did they not allow a Browns offensive touchdown, they forced the Browns to go three and out on every offensive drive in the half. On offense, Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did his best Tom Brady impersonation leading with a 13-point second half comeback. But does this comeback put Roethlisberger in the same category as Brady and Peyton Manning?

No I don't think so. Roethlisberger is a bit too agressive on the field. Unlike Manning and Brady, Roethlisberger takes too many chances. In my opinion, he'll run for a first down (which is fine Brady and Manning do that too) but he goes in head first rather then entering the slide. He should enter the slide more because the more he dives AFTER attaining a first down the more risk for injury. If Roethlisberger goes down the Steelers have no shot. He needs to protect himself and the Steelers and slide and not try to be a Tight End. I'm not taking away Roethlisberger's 30-yard touchdown run because he had a CLEAR path to the endzone but other plays probably have Steelers fans on edge. But I have a feeling that we'll be talking about Brady, Manning and Roethlisberger as the Top Three Quarterbacks in the league one day.

As for when the Pats play the Steelers on December 9, the game will be close all the way down to the end. Both teams have exceptional defenses and exceptional offenses. Willy Parker has a similar running style to Laurence Maroney, looking for the holes but he can cut like Joseph Addai. If the Patriots play 60 minutes of football like they have been all year, they have a good chance of coming out with a victory. If the the Steelers play the way they did today, against the Browns, on December 9, then they will find themselves down 21-24 points. I see a close game with the Pats coming out on top 34-31 in the last seconds of the game.


Patriots Schedule for the rest of the season:

11/18 @ Buffalo Bills (5-4) Second in the AFC East
The Bills have been playing better as of late and that's what will make it a closer game
then the last game, but the Patriots will pull out a victory.
11/25 Philadelphia Eagles (4-5) 4th in the NFC East
Weren't they picked to go to the Super Bowl XLII this year for a Super Bowl XXXIX rematch? The Eagles are a complete disaster this year and have failed to live up to their 2007 potential. Pats win easily.
12/3 @ Baltimore Ravens (4-5) 3rd in the AFC North
After watching the Steelers roll over the Ravens. The Ravens do not scare me that much anymore. Steve McNair is done and Kyle Boller is not the answer in Baltimore. Pats Win.
12/9 Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) 1st in the AFC North
Correction: the only tough game left on the Pats schedule this year. See above for an explanation. But Pats will win in a close game.
12/16 New York Jets (1-8) 3rd in the AFC East
You want to talk about running up the score? I think by the end of this game the Pats might be the first team to score 100 points in a game. Belichick's going to be relentless and show no mercy.
12/23 Miami Dolphins (0-9) 4th in the AFC East
Don Shula's asterisk comments has led me to believe the Dolphins will be in for a similar fate as the Jets, the second time they play. It's not going to be pretty for the Dolphins or their fans. Wouldn't it be ironic if during the season the Pats go undefeated, the previous team that went undefeated, goes 0-16? That would be sweet.
12-29 @ New York Giants (6-3) 2nd in the NFC East
The Patriots might choose to rest their starters since they will have already clinched a playoff spot, and possibly, home field advantage throughout the playoffs. But if they are undefeated they might want to go for the record. Either way it will be good game because the Giants will be competing for a playoff spot. I see the Pats pulling it out, even with most of their back ups.

Next: Commenting on the Indianapolis Colts and their loss to the San Diego Chargers