Week 6 Preview: Cowboys at Patriots [Part Two]

LOOKING AT THE PATRIOTS

OFFENSE

The Patriots have the #2 offense in the league, led by the top quarterback-receiver tandem in the league.

Tom Brady has thrown for at least three touchdowns in every game thus far, and has 16 touchdowns through five games - with only two interceptions. Brady is having his best season thus far (maybe it’s the joys of being a new father), and has completed 74.1% of his passes for 1,383 yards. He has the league’s best passer rating at an astronomical 128.7.

He’s been helped by a number of reliable targets, with the most reliable being Randy Moss, who has experienced a little resurgence in his new home. Moss leads the league in receiving yards (551) and is tied for the league lead in touchdowns (7), and is tied for fourth in catches (34).

Patriots RB Laurence Maroney had 252 yards in the first three games, but has missed the last two games with a groin injury, and looks likely to miss today’s game as well. But, the Patriots always have someone to step up whenever there’s an injury problem, and this time, it’s been Sammy Morris, who has rushed for over 100 yards in the last two games, in which he has started in place of Maroney. On the season, Morris, who is in his first season in New England after playing previously for division rivals Miami and Buffalo, has rushed for 370 yards and three touchdowns.

Overall, the Patriots are averaging 427.8 yards per game, which has them second behind Dallas. The Patriots are fourth in pass offense (272.8 yards per game) and third in rushing (155.8 yards per game), and are first in points per game (36.4).

DEFENSE

New England has been firing on all cylinders on offense, but the same can be said for the defense, which is always formidable, even though naming their starting eleven might take a few hours and some serious Internet searches to do.

The Patriot defense is #2 in the league in yards allowed (251.4 per game) and tied for third in points allowed per game (13.0), and has 11 takeaways on the season (8 interceptions, 3 fumbles).

Up front, the Patriots, who play a 3-4 defense, start Ty Warren and Jarvis Green on the ends, with DT Vince Wilfork filling the gap in the middle.

The Patriots’ linebackers are perennially among the best in the league, and that’s largely in part to longtime defensive stalwarts Mike Vrabel and Tedy Bruschi. While Moss was the Pats‘ top free agent acquisition on offense, LB Adalius Thomas was their top free agent acquisition on defnese, and is the team’s leader in tackles, with 28. The other starting linebacker is Roosevelt Colvin. Junior Seau still has plenty left in him, and is one of the team’s leading tacklers with 24.

The secondary does see a couple of a couple guys banged up. Both left cornerbacks, Asante Samuel and Randall Gay, are banged up heading into today’s matchup. Samuel, who led the league with ten interceptions last season, leads the team with three thus far.

Eugene Wilson is the starting free safety, while Rodney Harrison, who returned from his four-week steroid suspension last week, is back starting at strong safety. The other starting corner is Ellis Hobbs. Rookie Brandon Meriweather should see plenty of action, either as a corner or a safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Second-year kicker Stephen Gostkowski is off to a solid start, as he has made 7 of 8 field goals and all 23 of his extra points. In 21 career games, he is 27 of 34 on field goals, with a long of 52, and 66 of 67 on extra points. Because the Patriots have been in the red zone so many times, Gostkowski has had to kick only one field goal longer than 40 yards this season, and, as it turns out, that’s his only miss so far.

Chris Hanson hasn’t had to work his leg much so far, as he’s had to punt only 11 times in five games. Hanson, who kicked for the Jaguars for the last six seasons, is averaging 36.3 yards per kick.

Ellis Hobbs is the primary kick returner, and is averaging 32 yards per return. That average is helped by an NFL-record 108-yard kick return for a score that he had in the season opener against the Jets.

Wes Welker, who, along with Moss, was one of 18,000 receivers to come to New England in the offseason, is the primary punt returner. Welker, who played his first three seasons in Miami, is averaging 11.5 yards per return, with a long of 29 yards. He is also the team’s second-leading receiver, with 27 catches for 262 yards and a touchdown.

The coverage team has had to handle many a kickoff so far, and has done a pretty good job of coverage, allowing 22.7 yards per return (10th in the league), with a long of 34 yards.