NFL Picks: Gearing Up For Week 7

SJ takes a look at the good, the bad and the ugly from Sunday's action in the NFL.

The Pack is Back

Did we all just think Aaron Rodgers got mortal overnight? You just knew the Packers were not going to go away, which they made crystal clear in their 42-24  thrashing of the AFC's top team, the Houston Texans. The Pack showed that they have absolutely no intention of letting a few early season hiccups spoil their season. 

Aaron "Air" Rodgers, the NFL's reigning MVP, decided Sunday night was the perfect stage to execute a career-high six touchdown passes; this feat tied a franchise record set in last year's regular season finale with then backup Matt Flynn doing the honors. Week 5's stunning loss to the Colts must have festered in Green Bay's collective craws (how do you like that mental picture, kids?) and they were taking no prisoners in Houston when they beat the Lone Star gunslingers in their own corral. 

Now 3-3, Green Bay must be wary of another letdown next week when they travel to St. Louis to meet the Rams. As long as Aaron Rodgers and his air force are clicking on all cylinders, the Packers will win plenty of games this season. If, however, their defense does not come around, it could be a short postseason. We shall see. 

Failing Grades for the Genius

Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, has been referred to as a genius for all his on-field and off-field machinations and manipulations. Lately, however, he has done little to validate the reverence with which New Englanders think of him.  We know how humbling the game can be: a genius one season can be a dunce the next. But, this team seems to lack the passion, the motivation and the fire of previous Patriots iterations.

The Patriots lost a game they should have won on Sunday. They watched helplessly as the Seahawks stormed back from a thirteen point 4^th quarter deficit and eventually won the game 24-23. But, the killer was not so much that Tom Brady had a series of mind-boggling brain cramps when, for instance, he was called for intentionally grounding the ball not once but twice or that the secondary made Seattle's rookie quarterback look like the second coming of Joe Montana. 

No, the more confounding aspect of the game was Bill Belichick's stubborn refusal to acknowledge that his secondary needed help, big help. On Seattle's final drive they had essentially abandoned their running game as Marshawn Lynch found out that All-Pro Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork guards the trenches like a Doberman in a junkyard.  More to the point was that the Seahawks had only 2:38 to drive the field and score a touchdown with the Pats knowing a field goal would do them no good. Belichick decided to stay with four linebackers instead of adding corners and safeties to help out their overwhelmed brothers in the starting secondary. 

But, what makes this entire scenario even more incredible is that the defensive line was actually biting on the play-action instead of being instructed to target one person and one person only, namely, Russell Wilson. Did Belichick really believe that Seattle would try to run the ball with time ticking down, especially considering that they had had no success on the ground throughout the game?! I understand that a case can be made that the prevent defense often prevents you from winning, but couldn't he have put a nickel or dime package together to make life a bit more daunting for young Russell Wilson?

The Patriots are 3-3 in a season that's no so young anymore, having lost all three games by a combined 4 points. Someone made the comment that they don't know how to win. I have no idea what the hell that means because all these guys have played big time college football and have had their share of success. It's a nebulous statement that ignores the problem.  Their secondary is atrocious, so you have to gamble with your offense and allow them to go for 4^th and 2's if the time is right and put some distance on the scoreboard between you and your opponent because anytime the opposition quarterback goes back to throw it's like watching Kobe take a jump shot, you've just got to hope it clangs off the rim because there's really nothing you can do about it. 

The sad fact is that the Patriots can do little or nothing to prevent teams from successfully passing on them. My advice to the man under the hoodie is to bring the house more often than not and put the heat on the quarterback. Blitz packages are fine because you have no secondary to begin with so you might as well try and stop the pass before it starts because once that ball is launched you have to hope either the quarterback is inaccurate or his receivers are inept.

It's a sad state of affairs in New England and the drapes are being drawn on on Tom Brady's championship window; and once Tom Terrific retires, so will the Patriots' dynasty of excellence. The Pats have consistently drafted high on corners and safeties, but either their scouting, coaching or strategic planning is amiss because they haven't had a decent corner since they let Asante Samuel walk several years ago. Coach Belichick needs to find a new secondary coach or a new group of corners and safeties. We know it's too late for the latter, but what about the former? The Genius must go back to the drawing board and realize he cannot make average players great, but can he not rescue average players from performing poorly? New England awaits your answer, Bill. 

Until Next Week