5 Keys To The New England Patriots Winning the Super Bowl

Posted by Jeff Sack on February 1st, 2008 filed in Opinions

Like my colleague, Russ Loede wrote, I agree this is not about stopping the opposite team as its is about winning the SuperBowl not defeating the New York Giants, The Patriots have been on a mission to not only to be in Arizona Sunday but to win Sunday. This mission was started last year, when the Patriots blew a big time lead against the Colts in the AFC Championship game. It will not be competed until Coach Belichick is doused with with the Bucket of Gatorade as the game is winding down. Then and only then can this team start to celebrate, for then all the personnel moves this team made that resulted in the team being structured the way it is, with strong offensive and defensive lines, and a bevy of weapons for Tom Brady to utilize. Here then are the five keys to attaining yet another NFL Championship.

1) The Aerial Attack must return: It was very nice to see that Laurence Maroney is capable of being a 100 yard a game running back. But that is not the offense that took this team to an unbeaten season. Brady must return to being the quarterback who broke Peyton Manning’s single season record for touchdowns. Ideally you want to see the “Wonder Twins” Brady and new BFF Randy Moss back in form, but Gaffney and Welker are certainly up yo the task, if Moss can not get open. Brady must throw a minimum of 3 touchdowns, and stay away from the interceptions.

2) Stop Brandon Jacobs: The Patriots have been vulnerable to the opposing teams running game all season long. Jacobs has done a great job all year in replacing former Giants RB turned TV Talking Head Tiki Barber. Jacobs is a punishing back who has the ability to gain a lot of yards. New England has to minimize his effectiveness in order to win this game.

3) Take nothing for granted this is the Post Season not the regular season: Just because New England was able to win the last game of the regular season against the Giants does not give them an advantage in this contest. New York played them tough, and have gained too much confidence to think that a win is a foregone conclusion. Patriots can not let down their guard for a minute.

4) Belichick has to put in a new wrinkle: Tom Coughlin will get a long term contract extension next week regardless of the outcome of this game. This was the coach that I predicted would be the first coach fired in the NFL in my preseason predictions. But Coughlin evolved this past season, and he deserves the extension. That being said Belichick is a far superior coach, and he must show that by bringing some innovation to this game.

5) Get Inside Eli’s Head: The Patriots created a monster in the last week of the season, when Giants quarterback Eli Manning realized he could go toe toe with New England and remain competitive. Now along with the physical tools he always he had he has confidence. Some first quarter blitzing and some early sacks, could take that confidence away very quickly.

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