What Happened?

In the wake of the Patriots’ stinging 28-21 defeat at the hand of the hated Jets in Sunday’s Divisional Playoff, fans and pundits alike are struggling to figure out what went wrong (and who’s to blame). All of the haters and Monday Morning Quarterbacks were out in full force after the game and there was the predictable wailing and gnashing of teeth in the days following the loss. This isn’t rocket science. Simply put, the Patriots came out and laid a big, fat stinking egg. The only phase of the game in which the Jets “outplayed” the Patriots was on special teams, and that’s not even considering Chung’s ill-fated fake punt play. Otherwise, it wasn’t a matter of the Jets winning but the Patriots losing. The two most important figures to the Patriots’ success (the coach and the quarterback) each had deficient performances on Sunday.

The coach’s inability/refusal to make adjustments on offense when it was obvious that the established plan wasn’t working was hardly what fans have come to expect from one of the brightest minds in NFL history. How much of this was hubris, stubbornness or actually getting out-coached by the Loudmouth is something we’ll never know. The play calling (and lack of urgency) in the fourth quarter was appalling. How many Patriots’ fans were screaming “Hurry Up!” at their televisions during the drive that consumed half the quarter (and produced zero points). There were dropped passes (one by Crumpler that would’ve resulted in a touchdown) and several other gaffes on both sides of the ball that caused everyone to question whether this was even the same team that won 14 games during the regular season. The Patriots beat themselves on Sunday by playing dumb football. If you’re looking for props to the Jets, read the national and New York media. Sorry, but if that was the best the Jets brought, then the Patriots would’ve wiped the field with them had they put forth even an average performance. But the Patriots underperformed badly and now it’s time to get ready for Spring Training for New Englanders.

One of the reasons why this loss is such a disappointment is because the team performed much better than anyone expected. No one predicted this team would finish 14-2. The most optimistic pre-season predictions had the Patriots winning 11 games and most experts had the Jets winning the AFC East. The fact is that the Pats played over their heads all year while the Jets slightly underperformed during the regular season. The common themes to the 14-win season were the high quality of coaching and quarterback play. The coach was able to take a young group on defense with plenty of holes and develop them into a cohesive and opportunistic unit over the course of the season. The coach’s trade of Randy Moss and re-acquisition of Deion Branch transformed the offense into the highly successful pre-2007 model. The quarterback set a record for most pass attempts without an interception. Brady had an MVP-type season. However, the team’s unexpected success blinded everyone to the Patriots’ flaws and the fact that the Jets are a very talented group on both sides of the ball. In comparing the respective units of the Jets and the Patriots, the only areas in which the Pats had an unquestioned advantage are the coach and the quarterback. The Jets played up to their abilities and the Patriots didn’t. After a few days of sampling the reactions from the local media and “The Fellowship of The Miserable”, it was seriously time to get over it and move on.

The Patriots are in good shape moving forward. Of their pending free agents, the top priority has to be re-signing Logan Mankins. The Pats and Mankins had a well-chronicled contract dispute last off-season and it may be a case that the well has been poisoned. Mankins’ midseason return to the lineup was critical to the offense going on a roll thereafter. The young defense gained significant experience in 2010 and only needs a couple of playmakers to become dominant. The team has a slew of draft picks in the first three rounds and hopefully will haul in a number of studs. So, with hopes for continued success, it’s “wait ‘til next year”.

Let’s look at Sunday’s Conference Championships, ok?

NFC Conference Championship

Green Bay -3.5 At Chicago 43

Fittingly, it will be a bitter cold day in Chicago as the Sons of Lombardi and Halas duke it out for a trip to Dallas. The last time the NFL’s oldest rivals met in the playoffs took place in 1941 when the Bears downed the Pack to win the old Western Division. This year, the Pack will avenge that ancient loss as they are on a veritable roll heading into Soldier Field on Sunday. Rodgers completely dismantled the Falcons’ defense last week. The weather and the nature of this rivalry will preclude the Packers’ offense from having that sort of dominant performance, yet they’re more balanced than the Bears. It’s good for Coach Smith that the Cutler/Martz experiment has brought the Bears this far but the football world is waiting for Cutler’s clock to strike midnight and he’ll revert into pumpkin status. Will this be the week?

Projected Final Score: Green Bay 24, Chicago 20

AFC Conference Championship

At Pittsburgh -3.5 NY Jets 38.5

For the second straight year the Jets have advanced to the Conference Finals. They return to Heinz Field where they bested the Steelers in Week 15. It’ll be under 20° by kickoff time, perfect January football weather. The Jets have been quieter than church mice leading up to this game, a dramatic departure from all of the boasting they made prior to their game in Foxboro. In defeating Indianapolis and New England on the road, they spent a ton in emotional capital. It will be difficult for the Jets to reach down and summon the will to defeat an opponent who is closer to them in physicality and style than their previous playoff opponents. The Steelers’ defense, masterminded by Coach LeBeau, is far more seasoned than the Patriots’ and they play with an edge. Troy Polamalu can be positioned in a variety of packages and Sanchez will have difficulty containing his presence. On offense, the Steelers have several tough, physical receivers that will present problems for the Jets’ secondary (unless Revis has mastered the art of covering two receivers at once). The Jets have an advantage with their defensive line. If the Big Mouth decides to go blitz happy then Roethlisberger may have trouble if his tackles become turnstiles. Look for a tough, low scoring game featuring a heavy dose of the run by both teams. It’ll come down to a few plays that decides the outcome. Still, the Steelers have more talent on paper.

Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 23, NY Jets 16