John’s Well-Educated Guesses: Week 4
It’s always been my dream to start a blog series that would
go until the end of the season. This is
one blog in that series, and I will answer for my predictions next week.
Disclaimer: My takes are almost always correct. So buckle up- buckaroo
After a vintage Tom Brady 4th quarter comeback
win, the Patriots are 2-1 and set to host the Carolina Panthers also coming in
at 2-1. I’m hoping last week’s game
against the Texans acts as a catalyst. I
want to see that the Patriots have turned a corner, developed an identity, and
they continue to show mental toughness.
While this is a week 4 game against and NFC opponent, I will be watching
in hopes that those things continue to come through.
Full disclosure, I don’t know a ton about the Panthers. We only see them once every four years, but
the games tend to be close. We all
remember the Luke Kuechly missed pass interference call last time (4 years ago now, how time flies), and the
Patriots win over the Panthers in the Super Bowl will always have a place in my
heart. Otherwise, these are two teams
without a ton of history.
From afar, it still looks like Carolina is fighting off
their Super Bowl hangover from early 2016.
They were really good (almost an undefeated regular season), then all of
a sudden, they were really bad (an abomination last season). It seems they are a great example of how hard
it is to have sustained success in the NFL.
With most of their key pieces still in place, it will be interesting to
see what happens with them this year.
With the problems that Deshaun Watson gave the Defense last
week, I do expect the Patriots to be better defensively (they can’t get much
worse right?). It doesn’t help that they
are playing the evolved form of Watson in Cam Newton. In the past, they have elected to set the
edge and keep Newton from killing them with his legs. He can still make all the throws, but his
receivers are depleted. Greg Olsen is
out with injury, and they are keeping a close eye on Kelvin Benjamin with a
knee.
I also expect the Patriots offense to continue to look
good. Brandin Cooks had his ‘welcome to
New England’ moment. I’m a little
worried if the O-Line keeps giving up pressure, but they always seem to be able
to make chicken salad out of chicken shit.
I don’t see any reason we can’t continue to put up big points.
Newton is the X-Factor, but if the Patriots can keep him
contained and frustrated, they can score enough to end it early.
Now, on to the guesses for which this blog is named (Well educated as they are):
Prediction: Christian McCaffrey will get more than 10
targets in the passing game: As I
mentioned, Olsen is out and Benjamin is hobbled with a knee. I think that leaves Newton as a threat to
scramble, and McCaffrey as a safety valve.
Our linebackers are not very fast (or good at football). I think he will be the focal point of the
Panther attack as he can easily get open if Cam can buy time. Look for him to be heavily targeted.
Prediction: Brady
will have time in the pocket: I think the Patriots really make it an emphasis
to limit the hits on their all-world quarterback. The Offensive line should play better, and I
think they commit to the run to shorten the game. That will set up Brady to pick his spots and
do what he does best. This isn’t a game
they have to throw it 50 times to win, and I think Brady will have time to
distribute the rock when he needs to.
Prediction: The
entire team will stand together with locked arms during the National
Anthem: Devin Mccourty said they were
going to do something together as a team.
The only other option I can think of is that they will do exactly what
the Dallas Cowboys did last weekend. All
kneel together in a moment of silence and then all stand for the Anthem.
Prediction: 41-28 – I think the Pats hang 40 and Killa Cam
racks up some garbage time stats. This
is a game the Pats should win.
