Patriots Running Up the Score?

Not in my opinion. No, this is HC Bill Belichick preparing his team for this week’s game against the Colts. Remember that the Patriots had a 21-3 lead in last season’s AFC Championship game. I don’t think that the Patriots relaxed, but I think the Patriots are approaching every drive as if the score were 7-7. Belichick believes it will take a full 60-minute effort to break the 3-game losing streak his Patriots have against the Colts. He also intends on playing Spurrier style – no kicks on 4th down. As QB Tom Brady said last week, when you punt the ball to the Colts, it usually results in 7 points for them. The Patriots have gone for an awful lot of 4th downs (even in FG range) against the Colts in recent years. Belichick is not planning on punting unless it is 4th and 10 or more, and even then he might call a deep route for WR Randy Moss and see what happens.

The Patriots have been more impressive so far, and they have needed to be. Half of their division should be playing football on Saturday (the Bills are playing respectable football). The Bills, Jets, and Dolphins have combined for 4 victories between them. And they have played 3 games amongst themselves!