This is the team that I did not want to see in the AFC Championship game. Give me Denver,Cincinnati, hell, even Indy; anyone except Baltimore. I am not just afraid because Baltimore won a squeker earlier in the year, but they are the most efficient team the Pats have played these last few years.

Baltimore is the only team who Brady has more interceptions aginst than TDs. Not only that, but Ray Rice is the only top back that had a good game against the Pats. Flacco also had a great game earlier this year and did it by doing what the Pats fear most, airing it out.

Torrey Smith had an amazing game against the Pats. It was after his brother died, but it showed that he can do it again it he wants. The Pats have been better, but they still have trouble with passes over twenty yards. The Pats will have to rely on turnovers, which they led the
league in, and Flacco, if he gets flustered, can give up plenty of.

Brady can not have the game he had last year. It is probably the only time I will say this, but Bellichick and Brady have to be smart with the ball if they want to win. They cannot force anything, be patient, keep the score low, and RUN THE BALL. The Pats have Ridley and Edelman, and then no one should sleep on Boldin and now Vereen.

There is no reason to take this ball off the ground, unless Baltimore goes up big. Stay away from the turnovers and keep the ball moving to the end. Baltimore gets it’s mojo from the defense and, if the defense is not doing anything special, the offense will follow in kind. Short passes to Welker and Hernendaz with a few average balls to Lloyd and that should be plenty of passing for this one.

I am going to go with the under on this one and say it is going to be low scoring. Bellichick will prepare his guys and make sure they do not give up the deep ball and there is no way a Lewis led D is going to give up a lot of points. Final is going to be 17-14 Pats, hopefully.

This is the second street year the Pats have bulldozed their way to the AFC Championship game and now it will be the second time they play Baltimore for a shot at the Super Bowl.

The first half of the game made it seem like the Texans had a chance, but as soon as the final thirty minutes started the Texans had no chance. In fact, I do not think anyone would have had a chance against the Pats.

Remember, Baltimore is known for it’s defense, but just gave up 35 to Denver. And, while Schuab didn’t have any really big plays, Baltimore had plenty and that is the achhilles heal for the Pats. We will see what happens. More to come.

Getting a bye does not mean an automatic trip to the Championship game. In fact, not since 2004 have both the NFC and AFC title games had the one and two seeds in them.

You are probably asking “Why should the Pats worry? They dominated the Texans like no other team was dominated this season.” While this is true, we cannot forget about Bellichick’s montra for this month. He will not let any one of the players forget about how they beat the Jets handling during the regular season, but lost in the playoffs. In the end the best teams have to remember to never underestimate the power of revenge.

These are professionals and they do not like to be embarrassed. We are not talking about the Lions or Browns. The Texans are able to run the ball with the best back in the game, Schuab has not played up to par but can sling it around, and Andre Johnson is one of the best WR in the league. If the Texans D can step it up and hit Brady in the mouth, this game can get scary fast.

The games Brady loses are the games that he is put to the turf repeatedly. This, along with Schuab being able to air it out to Andre against the Pats weak secondary, will prove this game to be a close one.

I want to be wrong, but I see Brady going down a lot and the Texans putting up plenty of points. This may be were the Pats season ends. I am going with a Texans upset, final 34-27.

Let’s face it, Houston did not look good in their W over the Bengals, but a win is a win. It is only the Texans second win in the last two months and their downward spiral all started by being blown out by the Pats. So, the Texans will be looking for some major revenge. The problem for them is that they do not have the capability to do it.

Bellichick, Brady against the Texans average secondary, and the Pats shutdown run defense creates the perfect trio to take Houston down. Although, Kubiak is proving to be a force to be recon with in the playoffs, Schuab is just not playing good enough to be a champion. He had one TD throw last game and that is his first in the last five.

Do not get me wrong, the Pats secondary has been their downfall and my fear the entire season. If Andre Johnson can get down the field, and if Schuab can actually get the ball to him, then the Pats will have trouble. But I just don’t see it happening. I say Schuab throws for over 300 yards but only one TD, Andre Johnson only gets a few meaningless catches, and Foster runs for around a hundred with no score. And, while all this is going on, Brady will be lighting up the scoreboard.

Final, 31-13. Pats win in businesslike fashion.

This game has little meaning. The Jaguars are out of the playoffs, the Pats, pretty much, locked up the third spot on the AFC. But momentum cn be a big thing going into the playoffs.

If the Pats win out it may go aginst there favor. It is looking likeDenver is going to win out and get a bye. I mean come on, they face the Browns and Cheifs. So, if the Pats win out, they will face either the Bengels or Steelers. I would not mind Brady’s fellow Big Blue cohert taking a win.

Henne lost his job in Maimi, but there was never really a reason for it. They sure did not upgrade. So he has a chance to show offf his skills and try to secure his job for maybe one more year. As far as I know this is the only possible all U of M QB matchup. The funny thing is the guy that rode the pin I college is going to win this one.

Henne was a starter for a few years in Michigan, Brady never even had a full year. But we all know Brady will have th better career and will win this game. Final 41-17 Pats.

The Pats usually dominate rookie QBs, which is basically what San Fran’s QB is, but in this game Big C dominated Bellichick and his defense. He was the difference between a victory and a lose.

The early lead did not help. Take away one TD in the beginning and this is a completley different game, but down go the Pats. They may have lost home field to the Manning’s because of it, but they still have a chance.

The Pats showed that they are dominate, but just started a little late this game. If they meet San Fran in THE GAME, it will be a different story.

This game did not go how I thought it was going to go. In fact, I doubt it went the way most of America was expecting. It was supposed to be the game of the year, a preview to the AFC Championship, but instead we get a classic Pats blow out on the big stage.

This game showed more about the Texans than it did the Pats. There 11-2 record may not completely reflect how good of a team they are. They should be a Super Bowl contender, but they just may not have the experience. Everyone always knows that the Pats may make the Super Bowl, but now everyone doubts that the Texans can.

I still believe that Houston has a solid chance and the Pats are the only team that can stop them, but this game showed that Houston has some serious problems in the backfield. They have given up over fifty points to Brady and Rodgers. Now Flacco and Luck are not elite, but they still have to worry about Manning and Brady. As well as Rodgers if they make it to the show. They will not win if these QBs are allowed to put up 50.

The Pats showed two things in this game. Brady is still the best in the NFL and the Pats defense is only getting better. They held Houston to only 14 points and Foster to under 50 yards, no easy feat.

Well, smile wide Pat fans. It may look like our year.

So this is the game that I have had circled on my calendar all season. My team, the Pats, against my Super Bowl pick, Houston. Most know these teams and what they are about, but what separates these teams from being the Super Bowl champ or just a playoffs contender? Can either actually make it to the show?
Houston has started strong and I do not think that many people are surprised by this. When Schuab went out last year, the Texans found out that they had the best back in the NFL. He has been dominant and will be for years to come, but could this keep them from the championship and from a win tomorrow?
This is a pass happy league and teams have to score a lot of points. I am not sure if the Texans have what it takes to keep up with the Pats when they are clicking on all cylinders. The Pats have the fourth best rushing defense in the NFL, but the best in my eyes. Wilfork and company will keep Foster in check, but it is hard to say this will ever happen for sure. Foster may be the MVP this season, the first non-QB in a while.
Look out for Andre Johnson to have a big game. He may be the difference in this game and why the Pats walk away with a L. A loss will put them behind a game to Denver in the race for a bye in the playoffs (Good thing Baltimore had a surprise loss). Strong wide receivers with hops are especially dominant against the Pats weak secondary. He has the capability to catch the ball down the field and in the back of the end zone. He will be the reason the Texans walk away with TDs and not field goals.
The Texans still have the best defense in the NFL, but the Pats have the recipe for success. They can run the ball, throw quick fist down passes, and eat some clock. In a game like this, and with a tough nose defense like the Texans, the Pats have to be better on the O line than they were last game or this may get a little out of hand. I am looking for Gronk, Welker, and Hernendez to have okay games. But Wade is too good of a D coordinator to let them dominate the game.
Lloyd is the man that has to step his game up if they want the pass game to be successful. He has to run fast and hard in order to let Brady throw deep. This usually is not in the game plan for the Pats and may throw the Texans off guard. Together Brady and Ridley will need, at least, five gains of over twenty five yards to have a solid chance.
This game is being hyped as the supreme of the AFC, but the Texans will walk away with the W unfortunately. This, hopefully, is a different story in the playoffs. And with the experience the Pats have a playoff game may be a better scenario for them. The Texans are hungry for the best seed in the NFL and will win 31-24.
Other things:
Brady will have a solid game and continue his consecutive TD streak, but he will not be stellar
I would rest Gronk and Hernendez although you might not have a choice now in fantasy
Welker may be taken out of this game by being pushed around
Ride Ridley

This was a very uncharacteristic game for the Pats. The offense was lack luster, the defense was near dominant, and they did not even get 25 points after averaging over 50 in the last few. The pass game just did not seem right because the Dolphins were getting so much pressure.

It seemed as if someone in white was hanging on Brady all day. He was barley over 50%, barley over 200 yards, one TD and one pick. Not exactly a Bradyesk day, although Welker did drop a for sure TD, Brady had a bad overthrow and a few plain old misses. Hernendez had a good game, and Welker was breaking records (10 receptions in the first half surpassing Jerry Rice for first half receptions), but the passing game was just not what it usually is.

Luckily, Ridley had a just good enough game. He finished with 71 yards and an early TD score. But it was the defense that won this game. As I said, the best rushing defense in the NFL held Bush in check (under 75 yards), and the passing defense was not to shabby as well. Although Brady was getting plenty of pressure, so was Tannehill from Wilfork and veteran pick up Trevor Scott. Annoying rookie QB’s seems to be Bellichick’s speciality.

The Dolphins always play the Pats tough and I should have not predicted a blow out, but the W gets them one step closer to that first round bye (who they are competing with Denver for). But they have the tie breaker and as long as they only lose one more, to Houston, they should be all lined up for a first round bye and their first playoff game will be against Baltimore. Pats won 23-16.

Ryan Tannehill had his first career comeback win last week against Seattle. He will be walking into his house looking to stay tied for the last wild card spot(I am predicting a Steelers loss). Considering where they expected to be half way thru at the beginning of the year, a win would be an amazing feat.

Brady and Tannehill are a lot alike and so are their secondaries. They can sling it down the field and bullet it up the center. Tannehill does not have the weapons that Brady does, but as I have been saying all year, no one needs weapons against this Pats defense and Russell Wilson showed it a few weeks back.

Bess is probable for the 1:00 pm game on CBS and that could be a do or die for the Dolphins. He has been having a way above average year and, if he plays, he will have a big game. Start him if he is on your fantasy team, and, if this is a do or die week, go pick him up to start.

Reggie Bush is probably another player that many people are considering starting on their fantasy team this week. Well, Bess is going to have a bigger game than Bush. The Pats did struggle with Spiller, but he is built much different from Bush. Many would say that the Pats struggle with fast backs, I say they struggle with small ones. Bush is big and quick, but this is the best rushing defense in the NFL and no one seems to know it. If Bush has a good game, it will come through catches not carries.

Welker too will have his fair share of catches. He averages over a hundred yards against his former team and that will increase this week. Brady is going to have a career game. The Miami defense is better than last year, but they are still awful. No one can stop Gronk, Welker, or Woodhead and Ridley for that matter. The Pats are averaging 55 points in their last two games and this will continue.

Luckily, for the Dolphins, the Steelers are going to lose this week, as well as Tennessee, and it is looking more and more like the last wild card spot will be given to a five hundred team(as well as that the Colts and Denver are on a collision course). So, even after Miami loses, they will still be in the hunt. Final is a Pats win, 50-24.

Other things:

Brady is going to continue his consecutive TD streak, Brees stopped his last night

Welker will come close to 200 yards

The Pats run defense will keep yardage under 80

The Pats are only losing one more game this year, to Houston, and will get that bye