DeflateGate is finally, officially, behind us. Man I’ve been waiting a long time to say that. 22 months to be exact. The NFLPA has dropped its appeal, Tom Brady has returned to the practice field with his four-week suspension over, and the Patriots are atop the AFC East with a 3-1 record. All is right with the football world again.
So let’s talk football. The Patriots will march into Cleveland with their starting quarterback under center for the first time this season to play the hapless Browns. Things are looking pretty good this week for the Pats. They got embarrassed on home turf against the Bills last Sunday, and we all know how good Bill Belichick and Brady are following a loss. No matter who the Patriots were matched up with this week, I’d like their chances, but against the Browns? That’s just not fair.
Cleveland ranks 26th in the league in points scored and 27th in points allowed this season. Ranking in the bottom six in both categories is a recipe for a pretty disastrous season, as they are already -41 in point differential through four games. Both their first, and second string quarterbacks Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown have been sidelined with shoulder injuries, forcing third-string rookie Cody Kessler into the starting role. He’s performed admirably through two games as a starter, completing 67.1% of his passes for 467 yards, one touchdown and one interception. It’s been a strong showing for a young, promising quarterback, but it’s not good enough to outscore the Patriots.
Week five in Cleveland will be our first opportunity to see what the Patriots offense in 2016 will actually look like. Tom Brady will be back under center, and Rob Gronkowski is getting healthier, so we won’t have to suffer through any more dumbed-down game plans and run-heavy offenses that were installed for Jacoby Brissett. We’ll finally get a look at what Chris Hogan has to offer and what Julian Edelman can do with his best friend throwing him the ball. The two-headed monster at tight end of Martellus Bennett and Rob Gronkowski has the potential to be even better than Gronk and Aaron Hernandez were. Bennett runs routes like a wide receiver, with an enormous 6’6”, 270lb. frame. In the red zone with Tom Brady throwing the football, they’ll be virtually impossible to cover.
I really can’t overstate the importance of Brady’s return to this offense. With Hogan and Bennett adding to Brady’s arsenal of weapons, this offense is the best one the Patriots have had since 2007 and the Randy Moss, Wes Welker era. As strong as LeGarrette Blount was in the first three weeks of the season, his services will not be needed nearly as much as Tom Brady’s short passing game will take the place of early-down runs. Blount’s success, however, is indicative of strong offensive line play. Other than an issue with holding penalties, this offensive line has been solid thanks in large part to the return of offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. He’s had the unit playing consistently well even with injuries all over the line, so their play has nowhere to go but up.
Defensively the key to this game for the Patriots will be to put pressure on Kessler. I would say they need to lock down the running game, but given that the Browns will probably be playing from behind all game, the running backs won’t be used too heavily. Kessler is a rookie, facing the best defense he’s ever played, so the best thing the Patriots can do is make him uncomfortable in the pocket. When rookies get uncomfortable, they make mistakes and bad decisions. The only real receiving threat the Browns have is former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor who’s grabbed 19 catches for 290 yards and a touchdown this season. While he’s having an amazing year for someone playing wide receiver for the first time, those aren’t exactly great numbers for a team’s top weapon.
Prediction: Not much to say here. Tom Brady is back and he’s ready to light the league on fire. He couldn’t ask for a better opponent to start against. I’m taking the Patriots in a blowout 34-13.
Conrad's Corner Sports 