Patriots Nation can breathe a sigh of relief; the Pats aren’t that horrid after all. It wasn’t the poetry of 2007 (except for Cassel’s bomb to Moss) but New England dominated the line of scrimmage, came through with some timely interceptions and improved to 3-1.
Through the first quarter of the season, the 2008 Patriots are reminiscent of the Belichick teams that came before the 2007 offensive juggernaut. Put simply, they are a good fundamental football team and they don’t beat themselves. Led by the offensive and defensive lines, the foundation of the team, the Pats controlled the ball for two-thirds of the game and kept the potent 49er offense off the field.
Matt Cassel has been great at not trying to do too much. Maybe he doesn’t see the field like Tom Brady, but that’s okay. So far he’s only thrown the ball when he sees an open man, and if he doesn’t he’s not going try to force things. That leads to turnovers. And turnovers lose football games.
While he did have two interceptions on Sunday, one came after his arm was hit as he threw. The other was an underthrown bomb to Randy Moss. You can’t really hold that against him since he was trying to get the ball to his best playmaker. At least it kept the 49ers honest and ultimately served as a punt inside the San Fran 5-yard line.
While many Patriots fans were calling for Cassel’s head after the Miami debacle, the real concern for this team through the first quarter of the season is the defense. San Francisco was able to move the ball when they were on the field. Lucky for the Pats that was only twenty minutes.
While the Pats D-line consistently collapsed the pocket, they were only able to sack J.T. O’Sullivan once. Reminder: The 49ers had given up the most sacks in the NFL heading into Sunday’s game. Are the Pats lacking a finisher?
CB Deltha O’Neal was beat a couple of time and was called out by the CBS TV crew for looking out to lunch. Maybe he’s still just adjusting to the Pats style of defense. Or maybe he stinks. I’m not sure which it is just yet.
On the positive side, they did take Frank Gore out of the game. Without the threat of a running game the 49ers were forced to throw the ball, and when you don’t get sacks the coverage will hold up only for so long.
As always the pass rush and pass coverage aspects of defense need to work together and the Pats D of 2008 is clearly not quite where it needs to be just yet. The defense will need a total effort this weekend against the Chargers, who have multiple threats at all skill positions.
The good news is that it’s the Bizarro NFL of 2008. No longer are there three dominant AFC teams. Peyton Manning now needs to get lucky to win games. The Washington Redskins might be the best team in the NFC East. Even the Chargers can lose to the Dolphins and their Wildcat package. Kerry Collins might be the best quarterback in the AFC. It’s madness I tell you! Madness!
In 2008 you must unlearn everything you think you know about the National Football League. No, thru five weeks the Lombardi Trophy is as much up for grabs as it has been since the 2002 season.
Because of that the Patriots, even with Matt Cassel at QB, are as much in the mix as anyone.
Keywords: New England Patriots San Francisco 49ers Matt Cassel Frank Gore
