Patriots-Jets: Keys to the Game
Published on: 21st November, 2009
After a week of debate over "the call," the Patriots have another bitter rival to face this week. The Jets, of course, handed this team a bitter loss in Week Two, meaning the Pats have extra incentive to focus this week. Though the Patriots typically rebound the week after a loss, it ...Bill Belichick’s Fourth Down Call Not Patriots’ Undoing
Published on: 16th November, 2009
I'll be honest. This one hurts. The Patriots tonight were somehow able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. They embarrassed themselves in front of a national TV audience against a hated rival, and likely destroyed any chances of getting home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. As the media and fans ...New England Patriots and Competitive Balance in the NFL
Published on: 11th November, 2009
This year, the NFL's much-vaunted parity has become something of a joke. The league has clearly been stratified this year—there are the top contenders, and then there's everyone else. We have a bevy of teams that are just plain horrible: the Titans, Browns, Bucs, Chiefs, Rams, Redskins, Raiders, and Lions are ...Patriots-Dolphins: Keys To the Game
Published on: 5th November, 2009
The schedule-makers (and pure luck) have been kind to the Patriots the past few weeks. Two games against certifiable NFL have-nots and a bye week were the greatest gift possible to a team that was struggling to find its way. Now, the Patriots must face a team that, while not in ...AFC East at Midseason: Sizing Up the Competition
Published on: 29th October, 2009
As the Patriots near the midpoint of the 2009 NFL season, it makes a good deal of sense to consider what we've learned about the rest of the division. Which teams will pose a threat to the team's playoff chances? Which teams are playing for draft position? In a league that ...Malcolm Gladwell, Ted Johnson, and Why Football Isn’t Like Dogfighting
Published on: 23rd October, 2009
In his latest article in The New Yorker, Malcolm Gladwell writes about the toll professional football takes on the brains of former players—how the years of collisions eventually lead to serious mental problems down the line. At issue is whether the sustained legal hits to the head—as opposed to illegal actions—cause ...How to Beat the New England Patriots
Published on: 13th October, 2009
With five games in the books so far in the season, the defining characteristics of this Patriots team have begun to emerge. What we have seen is a decent team—a team that performs well in spurts, but lacks any kind of sustained excellence. Basically, a team like every other NFL team. The ...The Maroney Conundrum: Solving the Patriots’ Running Back Enigma
Published on: 9th October, 2009
Perhaps the most frustrating thing to see in professional sports is talent unrealized. For years, running back Laurence Maroney has befuddled Patriots fans; he shows glimpses of the gifted back drafted in the first round, but then either gets injured or succumbs to indecision. Maroney has caught a lot of flak ...Nosce Te Ipsum: Lessons For The Pats So Far
Published on: 6th October, 2009
One of the most important—and difficult—traits to obtain is self-knowledge. Constant and honest re-evaluation of oneself is the key to success. When individuals lack it, they are susceptible to neuroses and delusions. When organizations lack it, they are susceptible to institutional dysfunction. Football teams must constantly evaluate and re-evaluate players, coaches, and opponents. ...How Tom Brady’s Passing Performance Against the Ravens May Define His Season
Published on: 3rd October, 2009
It's only the fourth week of the season, but the Patriots may be facing their most important game of the year. A win against the Ravens would once again cement the team's place among the elite in the NFL. A loss would consign them to the tier of "good but not ...Featured Sponsors
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