Rain Man |
01-13-2019 08:39 PM |
In all seriousness, how do the Patriots match up against the Chiefs by position group? Let's take an objective look.
I'd estimate it as:
QB - Big advantage KC, obviously. We have the MVP, they have a declining former star.
RB - Advantage KC. No one is running better than Damien Williams right now. He's averaging 0.6 ypc above the Patriots guy.
WR/TE - Big advantage KC, obviously. No one matches up to our starting trio, and it's clear that none of the Patriots' guys would start on the KC team.
OL - Advantage KC - Pro bowl left tackle, all-pro right tackle and solid in the middle for KC. Not much to speak of in New England. Their RT is big, but that's a disadvantage against our speed rushers.
ST - Strong advantage Chiefs - Butker has a higher FG percentage than their guy, we've got one of the top KRs in the league, and Tyreek Hill returning punts. Their punter is 0.2 yards ahead of Colquitt, but Colquitt's sample size is too small to draw conclusions.
DBs - Advantage Chiefs. The Chiefs are loaded at CB with Fuller, Nelson, Ward, and Scandrick. Sorensen is back, and Lucas is ascending. The Patriots don't have anybody to speak of, just some overpaid veterans.
LBs - Advantage Chiefs. Pass rush is the name of the game, and the Chiefs have two of the best OLBs in the league. The Patriots are lining up two OLBs with a combined 4.5 sacks this year. Really? Our ILBs are serviceable, and the Patriots are lining up some 6th round guy that no one's ever heard of. Elandon Roberts? What's that?
DL - Strong advantage Chiefs. We've got Chris Jones, which is enough - he has more sacks than the Patriots starting foursome combined - but we've also got Nnadi and Xavier against the run, and Bailey is good in both dimensions.
Coaching - Strong advantage Chiefs. Belichick usually finds some loophole in the rules to cheat, but he's not a creative guy in game planning. Deflate some balls, steal some signals, and have Brady throw short routes that minimize his arm weakness. Andy is an offensive genius.
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