How can we pull it off?

[Gmanc711]

I'm going to sit down next Sunday to watch the game with no expectations....I think our defense will keep it close, I just dont know who's going to show up for the Redskins......and that right there is why the Pats are so good....We never know what Redskins team is going to show up in any given game/quarter/half/ect....The Patroits ability to show up and approach every single snap the same and be that good is very impressive...not too many teams in any sport can do that.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by MTRedskinsFan

Ahem. If you're referring to NE's defense (as I believe you are), then you should know it is the #2 defense in the league.

But seriously, to have any hope of winning in NE Brady will have to go down to injury in the first quarter. I'm not saying I hope for it because that's just plain wrong, but it is the simple truth.

No, they're #3 after this weeks play...regardless, that's a pretty damn good D supporting the best O I've seen in a while.

[ArcticRed]

I lay it all on our defense. Let our D line provide most of the pressure through out the game with a safty blitz sprinkled here and there. I expect the key is HARD hitting. Our secondary needs to lay the wood on the Pats receivers. We need to get in the receivers heads instead of Bradys. Bradys proven hes a true vet. Hes seen alot and beat most of it. We need to force the Pat receivers to flinch, drop some balls and stall some drives.

With our offense, we need to continue to stay with what we have been doing and cross our fingers, at least for the 1st half. It has shown it has been working the past few games. If our defense shows it can contain the Pat offense, I would show up in the 2nd half throwing the ball more. I honestly think this would catch the Pats off guard and allow 1 or 2 big plays. Enough to end this game. We have been perdictable in the 2nd half, this is the perfect game to finally buck this trend. If the Pats start getting ahead like the other teams they have played, then we will have no choice to air it out. Though I would expect the Skins to lose. The offense is not established enough to play the Pats game and expect to win.

Finally, we need the special teams to put in their two cents here. They have been play pretty good ball, except maybe the kicking. A big play would definately give a good edge for the skins to win, but this side of the ball is to unpredictable to count on this. Good field position is all I hope for and expect.

[WillH]

Un-latch the two clasps in the back, and slip the straps over the shoulders.

Dont worry its tough for a lot of guys.

[SkinDogg]

All the above and give the conservative play calling a rest.

[SmootSmack]

Play mistake free boring football. You don't want to get in a shootout with these guys if you can avoid it. Get Betts and Portis the ball early and often.

[Darrell_Green_28]

I think the opening spread is Pats are favored by 16.5 and the ovr/under is like 50.

[BleedBurgundy]

NE's D isn't what it once was. I think they can be had if you run it right at them. I think we have the secondary to play with the patriots, hold them to 21 or 28 points. It will depend on how Maroney is feeling. If he's 100% then I think we're going to have a rough time focusing on the pass. My concern is the offense. Good news is we're due for a big time game from Santana and Portis.

The Key Matchups Will Be:

Sean Taylor on Randy Moss

Jason Campbell vs NE Secondary

Santana Moss vs Santana Moss's Hands

[MTK]

It's going to take the Skins best effort of the year and an off day for the Patriots.

I think the game will be closer than most people think.

[msm1971]

Guys, I'm not really looking forward to this game this weekend. I don't think it will be a blowout but I think about the Dallas game when NE was down by 4 in the 3rd quarter, its like they woke a giant when Brady looked up to see them losing. Also after last nights game in Denver Madden said what others are not saying. What about their O line? Brady has had more time than just about any other QB out there, and the offensive starters are getting healthier for them. I think it's a big week for our secondary, but looking at their wins, well it's pretty impressive, but they have not played against a D like ours yet, but that will only soften the blow and they are great at game planning. If Gibbs wants a chance in this game he will have to let Jason C. take chances down the field. I think we should keep blitzes at a minimum, that didn't work out so well for us last year and Brady is too good at reading them. I think we stick to what we have been doing and keep our safeties deep and let the front 4 put pressure on Brady with some LB help. Let Brady pass into the short zone and let ST stick the wood to Moss. If you look at the D rankings of thier opponents its pretty wild, scored 48 against Dallas's 7th ranked D and 49 against Miami's 27th ranked D. To me that has to do with game planning and finding a D's weakness. BUT again, on any given Sunday right?
Opp. D ranking today
Jets 28 W38-14
SD 16 W38-14
Buf 31 W38-7
Cin 29 W34-13
Clev 32 W34-17
Dal. 7 W48-27
Mia. 27 W49-28
Skins. 4 ????????

[BrunellMVP?]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

I have no expectations to see the Skins win next weekend. But I do expect to see New England in a dogfight that they haven't yet seen this year.

I've already put in a bet with someone that we'll stay within 20 points.

a 20 point spread?!?! how brave!

[BrunellMVP?]

Originally Posted by BleedBurgundy

NE's D isn't what it once was. I think they can be had if you run it right at them. I think we have the secondary to play with the patriots, hold them to 21 or 28 points. It will depend on how Maroney is feeling. If he's 100% then I think we're going to have a rough time focusing on the pass. My concern is the offense. Good news is we're due for a big time game from Santana and Portis.

The Key Matchups Will Be:

Sean Taylor on Randy Moss

Jason Campbell vs NE Secondary

Santana Moss vs Santana Moss's Hands

Just as it was this week and has been the whole season, the key matchup will be our O-line v their D-line...if we can't establish some sort of run game or provide pass protection we have no chance.
my prediction will be that we will give them a run for 3 quarters, but end up losing by in a closer game than the final score demonstrates (12)

[firstdown]

Bench Campbell and start Brunell.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Bench Campbell and start Brunell.

http://www.redskinswarpath.com/367481-post408.html

[70Chip]

The Redskins need time-consuming drives that payoff with TDs. If you can hold the ball for 7 or 8 minutes on a drive and then pay that off with 7 points, it's a great equalizer. It is the only way to keep the game in the 20s. If you allow the Patriots to have 11 or 12 posessions, they are going to score 6 to 8 touchdowns. The problem, of course, is that the Redskins can't run the ball very well right now, and Bellichek will have an easy time forcing mistakes out of Campbell with all his defensive schemes. The other problem is that the Patriots have (almost) no history of making mistakes or turning the ball over.

The last time we played them, in 2003, Brady threw (I think) 3 picks and Kevin Faulk fumbled. I think Champ was responsible for several of those and I think that might be the last time the Patriots did such a thing. They also had about 7 injured starters and the game was here at Fedex. We squeaked out a victory. So, we need to play perfect which doesn't seem like a rational expectation based on yesterday and we need them to make some mistakes which doesn't seem like a rational expectation based on the last 5 to 6 years. I would say the Patriots should be 12 or 14 point favorites, at least.

People always say we need this person or that person to step up. This week we need, to borrow a phrase, "every swinging soul" we've got to step up and play their best game ever. And a driving rainstorm of biblical proportions wouldn't hurt either. Or, maybe some serious fog like that Eagles playoff game in 1988.