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If the steelers come to New England, how do the corners match up against their receivers with Martavis Bryant in the mix now, unlike week 1?

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Yeah that’s what’s fascinating and I think what we’d see would be Butler-Brown, Ryan-Bryant, Wheaton-Johnons. Usually the Pats have given the bigger receivers to Ryan and though he’s a had a good season, he certainly had his struggles against those guys, especially late in the season. Hard to kill him too much when the pass is caught out of his reach, but I do like the Pats’ chances with these matchups. Butler handled himself pretty well in Week 1, was right there on every catch he gave up. That experience would serve him well. But without DeAngelo Williams the Pats can stick to their same sub-heavy game plan. The bigger problem in this game (for the Steelers) is how they slow down Gronk who has killed them pretty much every time he’s played them.

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The thing about playoffs is that you’re probably going to make or break based on the play of those second tier guys making plays that you can’t really predict. Duron Harmon’s game-sealing interception against the Ravens, Butler’s SB interception… those are the kind of plays that you need from players that don’t get the headlines during the year.

The number one guy I look at is Leonard Johnson who, despite having a huge target on his back the last few games, has been their best slot guy this year. Justin Coleman was decent, but after a wrist injury and then a concussion it’s tough to count on him.

We all know the drill as Patriots fans. Defensively they’ll take away the opposing offenses best player, leaving it to their second and third receiver to win the game. The list of “who the hell is that” receivers who suddenly have big games against us is long and not really distinguished. 

Easiest example is Chris Matthews last year going off for the Seahawks. Zero catches all year then has 5 for 109 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl. 

So this year, Leonard Johnson’s going to be the guy who gets that key third matchup. If he’s getting torched like Arrington did by Matthews early in the Super Bowl we could be in trouble. But if he plays like Butler did after entering the game (which allowed Browner to move to Matthews) the Pats defense will be poised for success.

As for the offense all the guys you might consider are the guys who have been kind of duds this year without Edelman, Amendola. Especially Keshawn Martin who might not see the field in the playoffs (I hope). I guess the easy choice is LaFell. If Edelman and Amendola are back in there it might make things a little easier on LaFell’s role, and really all he needs to really do is hang on to the ball and block like a mad man. We know he can do it. But will he?

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