Will The Defense Continue To Shine In SB46?

Will The Defense Continue To Shine In SB46?

     So far in the Patriots playoff run, the defense has been playing with great heart and passion. But let's face it, the Broncos and Ravens aren't exactly good offenses to face. The Pats haven't faced an offense as hot as the Giants all year. Can the defense hold up? I think so. And here's a couple reasons why.

     1) The Patriots Are Playing For MHK

     No NFL analyst will dare say it, for reasons I don't know, but I just said it. The Patriots are playing for Ms. Myra Hiatt Kraft. The entire season is dedicated to her. And since the Playoffs started, there's been a feeling around this defense that wasn't there in the regular season. They're playing with a heart and passion that I hadn't seen them play with hardly at all in the regular season. It seems nobody is taking a play off ever. Especially that front 7. The defense is playing tough, agressive football. They're playing for MHK. They're flying to the ball, and making plays on the ball instead of making plays on the ballcarrier after he's already caught it. All around, they're playing real football. For the first time all year, we've seen the defense play a full game and tough it out until the end, just like Ms Kraft did. 

     2) The Patriots Defense Is Motivated

     All week, while the Patriots players have been eating their humble pie, the Giants WRs haven't been able to close their mouths. Between Manningham and Cruz taking stabs at Julian Edelman's defensive play, Cruz laughing at the entire defense (literally), and the Giants WRs basically saying it'll be a game of catch. Do you think the likes of Brandon Spikes, Jerod Mayo, Rob Ninkovich, Patrick Chung, and Vince Wilfork really enjoy hearing that? No. And do you think those guys can't wait to go out there and hit somebody, and hit them hard? Oh boy, this D can not wait. All year they've been laughed at, mocked, and told that they couldn't stop a nosebleed. They want to go out there and make a statement. A loud statement. And therefore, I think the Defense will go out there and smack those Giants receivers around, just like they did in the first half against the Giants in week 9.

     3) The Patriots Can Get Penetration Behind The Line Of Scrimmage To Stop Runs And Hit Eli

     This playoff run, the Pats D has been getting pressure and penetrating the opposing offensive line all day. Between the Divisional round where New England caused 14 plays for negative yardage, to the Ravens game in the AFC Championship where big 'ol Vince was out there decapitating offensive linemen and getting pressure on Flacco. And it worked. The D has been getting pressure the whole playoff run. And I think there isn't an offensive lineman in the league who can stop that right now. You have to double Wilfork. We all know that. And then you have the 2 men playing on the edge, whether they're Anderson and Deaderick or any other combination of DL guys. Plus the linebackers who will be blitzing I'm sure, with the way BB has made this prototype 3-4. Now, people have been saying that it doesn't matter how hard you hit Eli, he'll stick in there. Well, I think the Pats D wants to find out if that's true. If nothing else, the D will force Eli to leave a RB or TE behind to help block, and that could be big for the Pats secondary. 

     This is why the Patriots defense will continue to shine in this Super Bowl 42 (I promise I was trying to stay away from that topic for you guys) rematch between two newfound rivals.