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Patriots 35-Packers 0, Cowboys 21-Colts 14

A long-time ago, current Pats offensive line coach, then special teams coach, Dante Scarnecchia told a rookie NFL beat reporter, "Don't worry. It's a simple game."

At about the same time, then 49ers head coach Bill Walsh noted, "The key to winning defense is the pass rush, especially in the fourth quarter."

Combine those two observations, and we have the most lucid explanation of several recent pro football results, including the two games noted above.

The Patriots played a weak Packers team yesterday. When Tom Brady went to pass, he had the time and space to practice his putting. He shredded Green Bay's secondary with the same ease he displayed against the Vikings last month, for the very same reason. The week before, the Jets were able to invade Brady's personal space with some frequency, and the Pats' quarterback, one of the two best extant, didn't do too well.

When the Patriots played the Colts on Nov. 5, the defense tried its best to dismember Peyton Manning. They couldn't quite reach him, and Manning excelled. The Cowboys employed the same strategy, but their rushers DID get to Manning in time to interrupt many of his throws, often quite rudely. Lo and behold, Manning didn't do too well, and the Colts are no longer unbeaten.

So Scar was right, football can be a straightforward sport. Of course, "somebody bell that cat" was also a simple game plan.

posted by Michael Gee @ 10:45 AM