We've seen scenarios such as these so many times, I guess we should already know the outcome. One need only look at your prohibitive favorite, the defending champion New England Patriots, to know that the best team on paper can often end up being nothing more than paper tigers. Pats-Rams three years ago, Giants-Bills in '91, Jets-Colts in '69.
But the Pats don't fall into traps or curses, playing as a favorite or otherwise. This is why finding someone to pick against them who doesn't have cheese steak dangling from his mouth is near impossible. The Tufts Daily is no Belichick, but we think the Pats will have to approach this contest like they did media day; play their game, do their thing, and don't fall into the media's (or Eagles') traps.
Quite frankly, this isn't anything you haven't already heard at least somewhere. Two whole weeks for the entire media to dissect one matchup can do that. But the fact of the matter is that the Patriots have strengths, and they know all too well how to use those to undress the opposition's weaknesses.
On defense, linebacker is where the Patriots' bread is buttered. Tedy Bruschi, recently named to the Pro Bowl to replace Ray Lewis, is the heartbeat of a unit that includes the underrated Roman Phifer, the ubiquitous Mike Vrabel, the versatile Willie McGinest, and savvy vet Ted Johnson (who is nursing a leg injury). The key for them is to contain Donovan McNabb's go-to guy. No, we don't mean T.O. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia's versatile running back, is a slightly poorer version of the Rams' Marshall Faulk.
And if you recall, the basis for the Super Bowl XXXVI game plan was to contain Faulk, where most teams had tried to get to Kurt Warner and found themselves getting burnt on the dump off.
But McNabb has proven more elusive than Warner. Yes, he may not be the "righty Vick" he was earlier in his career, but one need only look at his 14 second scramble and throw to Freddie Mitchell in a Monday Night game in Dallas to know that keeping him in check is a priority. Leave it to a supposedly healthy Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren to keep the pressure on.
But, as our buddy Benny Bloom noted, the "Pats stopped one-dimensional offenses in the playoffs - Indy (finesse passing) and Pittsburgh (power run), both got exposed."
"Bruschi will have Westbrook in a body bag by sundown on Sunday," he added.
So the Eagles will have to run to be effective, which means getting push on the Pats stellar front seven, which has been Seymour-less since the Jets game. But the day they get pushed around up front is the day Paris Hilton works at a fast food restaurant. Wait, she has? See, stranger things have happened, so let's not count our chickens, Pats fans.
And for a patchwork secondary, Patriots corners and safeties are suddenly a bit more noticeable, are they not? It's as if when Freddie Mitchell only knew Rodney Harrison's name, a light bulb clicked in the rest of the nation's collective noggin that said "Geez, I probably couldn't name those guys either." Well, Asante Samuel, Randall Gay, Eugene Wilson, Troy Brown (a pro's pro), Hank Poteat, and thankfully not Earthwind Moreland are doing just fine without you knowing who they are, thank you very much.
So the Pats have an offense too, which usually escapes pre-game analysis for the sheer fact that they can fool you in more ways than their defense. Reverses to get first downs in the most crucial game of the year? Leave those to Charlie Weis (who proved his devotion to the Pats by having a less-than-stellar first recruiting run as Notre Dame head coach). Corey Dillon, yeah, he's kind of motivated. Those Visa commercials with him saying "Not today," "This is our house," yada yada yada ... well those are to represent the Super Bowl Champs. Dillon hasn't won anything yet, besides the NFL version of the Lady Byng judging by his conduct this year. He wants this, and he will run like it on Sunday.
Yes, the Pats will also dink and dunk, but the deep ball is there too now. David Patten, Deion Branch, David Givens, Brown, Christian Fauria, Daniel Graham, even Patrick Pass ... there are clearly some options there. And with Tom Brady's rush-averting ability and a very tough, very underrated O-line, anchored by second-year stud center Dan Koppen, the Pats will not be intimidated. A 41-spot against the Steelers' supposed best D in the league was evidence of that.
And on special teams, the Pats have Adam and the Eagles don't. And Izzo, and Bethel, and hey, look at that, Rodney plays a little bit of that, too.
Considering this game is being played in what by most accounts appears to be a junior varsity city, the game features two teams, and one especially, that are anything but.
