What's wrong with the Patriots

Ok, now that the Pats are on the verge of not making the playoffs (I'm still hoping they will pull it off), I think I need to address what I think is wrong with the team. It really comes down to two things...

...giving up big third down plays and turn overs.

If you look at the games that they have lost, specifically the Miami and Pittsburgh, you'll see how those two reasons added up to marks in the L column vs. W column.

Check out Mike Reiss' outline of one of the big runs the Steelers had on the Pats on soggy Sunday:



It's amazing how small one on one battles impact a game. As Mike puts it, the Pats lost too many one on one battles and ended up losing the war - the same way they did against the Colts, Jets, Miami and the Chargers.

The Pats need to get younger on defense. They need speed and strength. However, they need heady players like Jerrod Mayo. Strength is one thing, but strength in the head is just as important.

Deep down I know that this isn't the Pat's year. They need to retool on defense and aren't going to do it by signing previously retired players.