As Bill Parcells used to say, you are what you are. The 2009 New England Patriots are a decent team that can beat up on bad teams, but they’re not in the same stratosphere as the New Orleans Saints.
Drew Brees absolutely pulverized the Patriots young secondary to the tune of 5 touchdowns and 371 yards. Jonathan Wilhite was burned so many times I think his shoulder pads melted. Brees spread the ball around to seven different receivers and threw touchdowns to five different receivers.
It was brutal.
The Patriots need to take a real close look at the coaching staff this offseason, both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Offensively, the team is way to predictable. Defensively, I’m not sure they’ve made a quality halftime adjustment in a couple of years.
Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel are both available. Maybe Belichick should make a couple of phone calls when he gets back to New England.
There really isn’t much to say about this one. The Patriots showed absolutely no ability to stop the Saints’ offense. They showed no ability to block the Saints’ front seven. They showed nothing that would indicate that they can play even close to the Saints’ level, should they meet again.
Did I mention that it was brutal?
The Patriots will make the playoffs. They will win their division and host at least one game. But they won’t have homefield throughout the playoffs, and they can’t beat quality teams on the road.
The schedule makers didn’t do the Patriots any favors, putting them on the road against every tough team they’ve faced, but you have to win at least one of these games if you’re a legit Super Bowl threat, don’t you?
Yup, this team is what it is. It’s a team that just got embarrassed by a much, much better Saints team. It’s a team that’s not ready for prime time. It’s a team with a ton of defensive issues, a plethora of coaching issues, and worst of all, no chance at winning a Super Bowl unless they figure out how to win against good teams on the road.
Here’s the problem: They won’t play another good team on the road until they get to the postseason.
Ugh.
source: examiner.com
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