Foxborough, MA – A day that many New England fans have anticipated, the day another Super Bowl banner is raised and their beloved quarterback in Tom Brady is back under center. After an exhausting summer filled with controversy and hearsay, football in New England returns.
Here are three must’s the Patriots need to accomplish to avoid a bust tonight.
3) New England’s run game is at a loss with Legarrette Blount out due to a one game suspension, so it is a MUST that backup running backs James White, Brandon Bolden and Dion Lewis come ready to share a work load and be productive.
Pittsburgh had the sixth-best run defense in 2014 only allowing on average 4.4 yds/a and 100.3 yds per game. It looks as though second year back James White will be a large contributor in the three down back area with Lewis and Bolden having a significant boost in third down and goal line stances. With no over abundance of evidence that these three can be legitimate running backs in the NFL, a lot is riding on this part of the offense.
2) Patriots young and inexperienced secondary MUST be able to contain the speed and versatility of Pittsburgh’s wide receiving core. We all know what Malcolm Butler did in Super-Bowl XLIX and how it sealed up another ring, but one play (albeit the biggest play of the game) does not prove that he is a legitimate cornerback.
Butler playing opposite Logan Ryan who has been anything but consistent will both have their hands full with tricky Antonio Brown who led the league last season in receiving, amassing a whopping 1,698 yards and 13 TDs. Opposite Brown, third year receiver Markus Wheaton brought speed to the table along with 2 TDs and 644 yards receiving.
Wheaton who runs a 4.45 40 time is anything but slow and will give any side of the field issues.
1) The messiah himself, Mr.TB12, Tom Brady MUST come focused and prepared. How dare anyone question either of these things right? After the disaster that was “Deflategate” it would be hard pressed to think otherwise, months and months of lies, and scientific analysis, courtrooms and lawyers.
Since the false tweet sent out by ESPN’s Chris Mortensen when global life for Tom Brady has been a whirlwind of chaos, now some may think no one else would be better suited to handle all this pressure and publicity, but when is it all too much for someone.
While we will never truly know one would think the pressure that was melded upon Tom Brady’s metaphorical pipes had to have been on the brink of busting wide open. That’s why his focus tonight is essential as he prepares for the Steelers is undoubtedly the number ONE MUST for a win tonight.