New England Patriots Still Perfect at 17-0, Tom Brady Breaks Playoff Record vs. Jags

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

It was dink. And dunk. But whatever it takes to win a football game is what the New England Patriots are willing to do. And they did it last night. This season’s MVP quarterback, Tom Brady, set an NFL playoff record for completion percentage (he was 26 of 28) — mostly of the short variety but to eight different receivers — as the Pats beat the Jacksonville Jags 31-20 to advance to the AFC Championship game still undefeated at 17-0. Which makes the Patriots unflappable. Even after the Jags made an early statement with a convincing nine-play, 80-yard TD drive to lead 7-0, the Pats answered. Twice. And they never looked back against a very determined Jacksonville team.

With Tom Brady’s near-perfect play, New England got a boost from the running game as Laurence Maroney added 122 yards. Talk about balance. The Patriots had 29 passes and 29 runs. This is bad news for Indy or San Diego. New England will beat you any way they see fit. With Laurence running as well as he has all season (he showed a second gear several times), this is an offense that no team seems to have an answer for.

Let’s face it. It was a perfect game plan against a team that refused to blitz. All-Pro WR Randy Moss had one catch for 14 yards. He was blanketed by the Jags secondary who just didn’t want to get beat deep by one of the most exciting players in the game. Fair enough. My question was why the Jags stuck with their game plan to rush four and give Tom Brady five or six seconds to find a receiver? Sure, it was worth a shot, but when Tom Brady is picking you apart, it’s time to try a different strategy. In my book, there is only one way to beat the Patriots. You have to get pressure on Tom Brady. He will make mistakes if he’s forced into them. I realize you’re taking your chances in getting burned by one of Tom’s many options in the passing game. It’s hard — maybe impossible — to cover these guys one-on-one. But I think it’s the chance you have to take.

Nevertheless, I was impressed by what the Jags did on the other side of the ball. David Garrard has evolved into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. I think he’s going to be other-worldly good next season. And with the improved play of Ernest Wilford, Reggie Williams and Marcedes Lewis — coupled with an obviously potent ground game — the Jags will be a force next season. They need a deep threat. They need speed on the outside. But this team’s going to be very good again.

Still, the Patriots continue their path toward perfection. They are as good as any team I’ve ever seen, if not just in talent, in adjusting their game plan to beat their opponent. No one does it better.