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BigKen
Day to Day
Looking at the Jags/Steelers final stats, you can easily see how the Steelers scored 42 points. Big Bem was 37-59 469 yds and 5 TDs. What doesn't compute is Bortles 14-26 214 yds 1 TD and Fourbette 25 carries for 102 yards and 3 TDs.
So I decided to watch the game again on NFL network at 1:00 AM (couldn't sleep) to see what the hell actually happened.
4 Plays were critical in this game. Roethesberger's fumble that was returned for a TD and the one INT Ben had. Both were games changers. If Ben hadn't fumbled the ball, the Jags would not have that extra 7 points and would be home next week. The other two were unnecessary 4th down tries that gave the Jags incredible short field position.
QB fumbles are always a problem because they give a wicked swing in momentum and they aren't 100% the QB's fault. The OL has to step up when they know that the DL is better than average. The other problem is that there are always 4 or 5 other guys in the area and someone always seems to kick the ball on the ground.
The biggest difference between the Steelers and the Patriots, is that Belichick learned his lesson when he went for a first down on 4th and 2 against the Colts. He doesn't make the same mistake twice. Brady lost fumbles in the past but over the past 3 years, he's learned not hold the ball away from his body. If he's going to lose it, he has a 50/50 chance of falling on it.
Before the Pats/Titans, I said to a friend, that the Titan had a miraculous Mariota pass that was blocked back to Mariota for a TD. That was the game winner. I said that won't happen with the Patriots. It didn't and without the gifts, there was no chance for the Titan playing a real game of football.
Now on to this week's game........ The Patriots will focus on Fournette and put most their effort in shutting him down. That will force Bortles to throw the ball. He threw away about 10 passes yesterday because of the pressure. I think the Patriots get to him early and sack him very early. That will make him even more unsteady. 14-26 for 214 is NOT going to translate into a victory in Foxboro. Bortles also got away with some pretty bad passes that should have been knocked down or even intercepted. The Patriots secondary will make him pay for those. The biggest thing that the patriots MUST do early is close down the edges. Bortles likes to run out of the pocket and will get 9-10 yards along the edge to the sideline. Keep him in the pocket and make him throw crap passes.
Offensively, the Patriots just have to do what they've been doing the past 5 or 6games. Dion Lewis is small, quick and powerful for a RB. Big guys are easy to tackle but Lewis is hard to find and has a knack for making DL's work their butts off. The Jags have problems covering RBs comingout of the backfield on apss plays. They like to drop their LBs back about 10 yards and react. Do that against the Patriots and you'll be giving up first downs all day.
The Buffalo Bills held the Jags to 10 points two weeks ago. Belichick and Patricia will study every single defensive play and figure out exactly how they did what Pittsburgh couldn't do. They will employ the same game plan and tweak it. The Patriots are not Santa Claus, and they will NOT give the Jags the same gifts the Steelers did.
Game starts off with the Jags expending a trainload of adrenalin and energy. They'll be gasping at the end. Patriots 38 Jaguars 16.
So I decided to watch the game again on NFL network at 1:00 AM (couldn't sleep) to see what the hell actually happened.
4 Plays were critical in this game. Roethesberger's fumble that was returned for a TD and the one INT Ben had. Both were games changers. If Ben hadn't fumbled the ball, the Jags would not have that extra 7 points and would be home next week. The other two were unnecessary 4th down tries that gave the Jags incredible short field position.
QB fumbles are always a problem because they give a wicked swing in momentum and they aren't 100% the QB's fault. The OL has to step up when they know that the DL is better than average. The other problem is that there are always 4 or 5 other guys in the area and someone always seems to kick the ball on the ground.
The biggest difference between the Steelers and the Patriots, is that Belichick learned his lesson when he went for a first down on 4th and 2 against the Colts. He doesn't make the same mistake twice. Brady lost fumbles in the past but over the past 3 years, he's learned not hold the ball away from his body. If he's going to lose it, he has a 50/50 chance of falling on it.
Before the Pats/Titans, I said to a friend, that the Titan had a miraculous Mariota pass that was blocked back to Mariota for a TD. That was the game winner. I said that won't happen with the Patriots. It didn't and without the gifts, there was no chance for the Titan playing a real game of football.
Now on to this week's game........ The Patriots will focus on Fournette and put most their effort in shutting him down. That will force Bortles to throw the ball. He threw away about 10 passes yesterday because of the pressure. I think the Patriots get to him early and sack him very early. That will make him even more unsteady. 14-26 for 214 is NOT going to translate into a victory in Foxboro. Bortles also got away with some pretty bad passes that should have been knocked down or even intercepted. The Patriots secondary will make him pay for those. The biggest thing that the patriots MUST do early is close down the edges. Bortles likes to run out of the pocket and will get 9-10 yards along the edge to the sideline. Keep him in the pocket and make him throw crap passes.
Offensively, the Patriots just have to do what they've been doing the past 5 or 6games. Dion Lewis is small, quick and powerful for a RB. Big guys are easy to tackle but Lewis is hard to find and has a knack for making DL's work their butts off. The Jags have problems covering RBs comingout of the backfield on apss plays. They like to drop their LBs back about 10 yards and react. Do that against the Patriots and you'll be giving up first downs all day.
The Buffalo Bills held the Jags to 10 points two weeks ago. Belichick and Patricia will study every single defensive play and figure out exactly how they did what Pittsburgh couldn't do. They will employ the same game plan and tweak it. The Patriots are not Santa Claus, and they will NOT give the Jags the same gifts the Steelers did.
Game starts off with the Jags expending a trainload of adrenalin and energy. They'll be gasping at the end. Patriots 38 Jaguars 16.