The Seattle Seahawks can do what the Giants defense does

Here's one of the more interesting story lines for this game. I've already said that this Seattle game will be the biggest test for this Patriots offense. It's the best measuring stick we'll have for if this offense is really balanced or not. I can't wait to see how the Patriots can handle this Seahawks defense in a hostile environment. It's not only because the Seahawks have a great defense, but its because they can attack the Patriots in a similar way the Giants have.

It's been the stupid monkey on this team's back for the past several years. Teams that are talented enough, and smart enough, can have stop the Patriots by getting to Brady with a strong front four and beating up their receivers. If the timing for Brady's receivers is off, the whole Patriots offense goes out of whack.

Now, they've added a dangerous running game. It's the solution to that Giants formula. At least on paper.

I thought that the Bills could use this formula on the Patriots and have success, and I said that they could overcome that by using the running game. That worked to perfection, except there's one problem. The Bills aren't very talented on defense.

The real test will come against the Seahwawks. The Seahawks have a defense that doesn't need to sub out often, they have big, tough corners and a strong front. If the Patriots can have success offensively against this defense, in Seattle, I'll be convinced - finally - that they have solved the Giants formula.

Here's some tidbits on this from the media:

ESPNBoston

"This is the exact reason why the Patriots have brought back the running game. You lose to the Giants in the Super Bowl last year. You lose to the Giants in the Super Bowl in 2007, and everyone says, 'There is no threat of a running game.' The front-four can just tee off on the offensive line, because they know you're going to throw it. They're going to get after Tom Brady because you're one-dimensional. All that has changed now," Bruschi writes.

CSNNE

Welker (5-9, 185 pounds) is accustomed to seeing defensive backs slightly taller than him, but Seattle's secondary is a different animal. He said the unusual length of their defensive backs is something that's hard to prepare for and laughed when it was suggested that the Patriots might need to deploy their tight ends for the scout team secondary in order to give a similar look.