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Pats Posits: It All Clicked vs. Titans

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After watching the Patriots-Titans game in the bar on Saturday night I had to go back and take another look at it to get the full scope of how it went down. I knew the broad strokes, but trying to analyze the minutiae is just about impossible in between ordering drinks, conversations and shooting Facebook Live videos.

I came away thinking that this was the total team win I had been hoping for. The returning pieces fit in fairly seamlessly and once again we saw more of the Pats team we remember from the middle part of the season, a dominant one that comes at you in a variety of ways. The 2017 aren’t the team that looked blah down the stretch. That team was holding back some key pieces. Now, with everyone back, we saw the real 2017 team, and they should be the overwhelming favorite to win Super Bowl 52 now.

The funny part was remembering how uneasy I felt at 7-0 after the Titans put together a perfect drive, capped off by a near-impossible catch. It almost seemed like it might be one of those games that are far closer than it should be, but alas, it was just a matter of time. Yes, the neutral zone infraction that saved the Pats from punting was where the Titans lost any control of the game, ending up in a 21-7 hole, but really, there was no stopping the Patriots in this one no matter how Tennessee played.

The Patriots look primed to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, who I spent a good portion of last night getting a jump.

More on this AFC South playoff run in the Posits!

— Dion Lewis. Dion Lewis. I said it all last week and will continue to do so this week — he’s the ultimate wild card on this playoff run and it was on full display against the Titans. He picks up positive yardage every time he touches the ball, and he’s frequently busting off big plays. He’s the kickstarter for the offense, one that they’ve really lacked in recent years. Once Lewis gets going, the Patriots whole offense gets going. And while he was doing it almost entirely on the ground earlier in the season, now he’s becoming a true threat in the passing game as well, finishing with nine catches on 10 targets for 79 yards. He finished with 141 yards from scrimmage and a 27-yard kickoff return. He’ll be once again key against the Jags.

— After once again carefully managing his season, the Patriots welcomed back super clutch Danny Amendola who came through with his best game of the season with 11 catches for 112 yards. I can’t believe we didn’t expect this in all the pregame predictions! How could we forget that Amendola, without worrying about keeping him healthy, can be a major contributor. He looked like everything the Pats needed on Saturday night. I don’t want to say it was Edelman-esque because Amendola’s done enough to just be Amendola, and in the playoffs, under the big lights, he’s always at his best. He had five catches on five targets on third down.

— Chris Hogan‘s return went as hoped and he looked like the old “Hogs” that we desperately needed to round out the offense. Phillip Dorsett didn’t see a snap and that tells you a lot. Yes, Hogan had just one catch on four targets, but he made his presence felt in other ways, like this devastating block. If he still was worried about his shoulder he wouldn’t be throwing a hit like this. It’s such a relief to have him back and I’d expect even more from him against the Jags.

— Brandon Cooks continued to have his moments good and bad in what has been a feast-or-famine type first season for the young receiver. His speed is always a factor even when he doesn’t have the ball, he has to be accounted for. But his three catches on nine targets was the worst catch rate of the receivers. He had zero catches on two third-down targets. If we had to complain about something…

— James White‘s surgical effectiveness is so interesting to watch. The Pats weapons don’t overwhelm with their numbers and White embodies how effective they can be by maximizing a player in his role. White had 40 total yards but two touchdowns.

— My turning point? Marquis Flowers‘ third-down tackle to make it 4th-and-1, and then Kyle Van Noy blowing up their 4th down play. The other Flowers continues to emerge, playing 44 snaps, second to only Van Noy. All year I complained about the Patriots linebackers not being athletic enough and having a target on their backs for opposing gameplans, but Flowers is changing that dynamic lately. He had a sack, a TFL and a QB hit.

— The big question of this season defensively was who would step up in clutch moments and one guy who sure did was rookie Adam Butler who was disruptive all game long, picking up a sack and a QB hit, but also doing a lot of the dirty work for the other pass rushers. If he can continue to get off the ball so quickly, he’ll be a big part in this run.

— Watching Gronk dominate never gets old. As much of a problem as Dion Lewis is for defenses, Gronk just takes things to the next level and is often uncoverable. When you have a player like that it just breaks the will of the defense because THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. The Jags have good speed and aggressiveness and they’ll have to find a way to disrupt the big tight end.

— James Harrison played 30 snaps and, like Flowers, has emerged as a key new contributor at a major area of need. He sets the edge so hard. He drew a penalty. He looks like a badass mofo out there and brings an intimidating presence out there. Aside from all the other storylines of him being a Steeler legend, as a player, he’s just what the Patriots needed up front even if he’s not the same James Harrison he once was. He’s fit in seamlessly. And I can’t help but think he’s about pull a Revis and become a rival’s legend who wins a ring with the Patriots.

Jaguars

— I’ve heard all about how good the Jags defense is all season but I never really put them under the microscope until last night and yes, I was impressed. Especially as a defense guy, because they’re much easier to breakdown than the Pats, and they’re also much more talented. (DISCLAIMER – TALENT ONLY COUNTS FOR SO MUCH). Their front is extremely fast, led by Yannick Ngakoue who is very active. Calais Campbell is the same beast we’ve come to know, while Telvin Smith and Myles Jack aggressively make downhill plays. They all rush to the ball and play with great energy. Anytime you roll a 2015 3rd-overall pick off the bench, you know you’ve got a deep, talented defense.

— The secondary competes hard behind first-round pick Jalen Ramsey and the undrafted players acquired via free agency around him; Barry Church, Tashaun Gipson and AJ Bouye. They’re up and down and I think can be had for big plays as we saw against the Steelers.

— I know Blake Bortles is everyone’s punchline but it’s hard to be dismissive of him based off how he played against the Steelers. I’m sure there’s plenty of bad throws to talk about to back up the tomato can argument, but if Bortles plays like he did against the Steelers, and Leonard Fournette busts off some similar runs, the Jags will very much in this game.

— One thing I do like is that the Jags are young and inexperienced and we’ve seen them lose composure at times. This is like blood in the water for the Patriots, who are disciplined and play excellent situational football. Quick snaps and pace should force the Jags to play on their heels a bit and hopefully overthink things. Ultimately no one knows how to use an opponents speed and aggression against themselves like the Patriots do.

Should be a action-packed week with Patshow on Tuesday. Again, I’m dying to go to a game so if there’s anyone out there with some tickets to burn or a brand who would like me to throw together some fun promotion, it’s what I do best!! There’s no better NFL game that the conference championship and I simply must be there this year!