5 Keys: Patriots vs. 49ers

After an agonizingly long bye week the Pats return to action in the first of four games out west this season, this one against the 49ers. San Francisco has been somewhat surprising early on, putting up over 30 points (something our Pats have yet to do) in their first two games before putting up only 17 in a loss to New Orleans last week. And I say "only 17" with a kick-in- the-nads reminder that the Pats are only averaging 16 points game.

Personally this is as about as hard of a test as I’m ready for at this point of the season. The blowout loss to the Phins has left Patriots Nation with shaken confidence, and the 49ers provide the perfect middle-of-the-road team for the Pats to get back on track against.

With the bye week coming so early there’s been too much time to analyze too little game action. The Pats need to put the Dolphin debacle behind them and remind the rest of the NFL that they are still a solid team no matter who’s playing QB.

The Keyz to this week…

1. Stop the Big Play – If you’ve heard Belichick or any of the Pats talk this week you know they are preparing to face the vaunted Mike Martz offense. Detroit gave the Patriots problems two years ago when Martz was running the offense there and this will be a good test for a defensive backfield that has yet to be really tested.

   One player who will get some playing time this week will be rookie Terrence Wheatley. With Lewis Sanders missing the week of practice it looks like Wheatley will be thrown into the fire in San Fran as the dime back, assuming Brandon Meriweather continues his nickelback duties. There are rumors that the Pats are disappointed that Wheatley hasn’t beaten out Lewis Sanders yet, this will be a chance for him to get significant minutes against an offense that will by all accounts be throwing it all over the field and likely right at him.

As for Frank Gore, I have full confidence that the embarrassed defensive Patriots front will step it up and shut him down, putting the game on the unproven arm of 49er QB, and former Pats practice squadder, J.T. O’Sullivan.

2. Get the QB – The 49ers have given up a league-high 19 sacks and this has everything to do with the way they look to throw the ball downfield. Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas should be bringing the heat and if they are getting to O’Sullivan it will bode well for the Pats. If Just Turnovers has time, the 49ers can put up points, something the Pats offense may or may not be able to match.

3. Red Zone TDs – The Patriots currently rank 28^th in Red Zone offense which is obviously embarrassing when you have Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Not quite Al Davis embarrassing, but pretty close.

Against a team like San Fran, who can clearly score, Cassel needs to finish drives with touchdowns. They have multiple weapons in the Red Zone and it’s been a point of focus in practice for a couple weeks now. If Cassel can throw a couple TDs, or at least get them into range to pound the ball in, it will appear that he is progressing as an NFL quarterback.

If the Patriots offense has anything to show with Matt Cassel at the helm, the 49ers are the team to show it against.

4. Running Game Back On Track – Sammie Morris and Kevin Faulk were the only fully healthy backs against the Dolphins. With Laurence Maroney and Lamont Jordan back to 100% it’s time for these backs to deliver on the promise they showed in week two against the Jets when they played a huge part in sealing the win. The spotlight continues to grow around Maroney, who’s inconsistent performances and injury history are leading many to wonder if he’ll ever live up to his first round pick status. Jordan could be the wild card as he’s looked like the best back of the bunch many times. As long as one of them picks up the slack I don’t care who it is. But someone needs to separate themselves from the pack. 

5. Win – as always this is all that matters. A win will get the team back on track and restore their confidence heading into a week six matchup in which San Diego will be looking to exact two years worth of revenge.