Volume CXXXIII, Number 12 January 30, 2004

Pats will continue winning streak for the blowout
BOBBY DESAULNIERS
STAFF WRITER

The Patriots have won 14 games in a row, tying the single season record. This season's squad has shown a particular resiliency that all Super Bowl teams have lacked in recent seasons. Case in point, Jerry Rice wants to retire at the end of next season because the former AFC Champs are now the AFC West Chumps.

As 2001 Super Bowl Champs, the fact that they can produce under the microscope of the league shows the intelligence of the coaching staff and also the caliber of players suiting up in red, white and blue.

That aside, in the games against Buffalo and Washington that New England lost, Tom Brady threw seven of his 12 interceptions on the season. Neither team embarrassed the Pats statistically, but the turnovers were the catalysts that made for a long ride home. Making the impressive Carolina defensive line obsolete by throwing short, quick passes will be the focus of the Pats offensively.

The fact is, Carolina's Jake Delhomme along with running tandem DeShaun Foster and Stephen Davis come with a balanced offensive attack. However, Delhomme cannot do it himself. When the Panthers lost to the Titans earlier this season, Delhomme had stellar numbers, but Foster and Davis combined for only 30 yards rushing. Granted that the Titan's run defense is concrete, the Pats duo of Kevin Faulk and Antowain Smith more than tripled those numbers in the AFC semifinals.

The Patriots defense will take the inexperienced Delhomme out of his element through disguised coverages and an arsenal of blitzes. The last two weeks have seen them dismantle league Co-MVP quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Steve McNair. All of Delhomme's NFL Europe success does not place him anywhere close to Manning and McNair's level.

Since November 3, when Clinton Portis rushed for over 100 yards against the Patriots, the Pats have shut down running backs Travis Henry, Curtis Martin, Eddie George, Fred Taylor, and Edgerrin James twice. Sub-par rushing performances by Foster and Davis will open the door to the Patriots Super Bowl XXXVIII blowout.

I also call that Rod Smart will also change his nickname from "He Hate Me" to "I Hate Me."

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