TA's Take

Patriots Offensive Keys to the Game 1. Protect Tom Brady from the Pass Rush of the Dolphins,  particularly Cameron Wake and Jason Taylor. 2. Untilize the Tight Ends in the Passing Game. 3. Establish a Running Game Early with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Patriots Defensive Keys to the Game 1. Unleash the New Pass Rush, get Pressure on Chad Henne. 2. Contain Reggie Bush. Don't let him make Big Plays, particualrly in the Passing Game. 3. Stop Devone Bess, as good as Brandon Marshall is Bess is their go to WR right now. Players to Watch 1. Pat Chung, S Remember last year? 2. Aaron Hernandez, TE Brady will use the TE a lot in this Game. 3. Jerod Mayo, OLB Let's see him get after it in the new 4-3 Defense. 4. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB Ran very well vs. the Dolphins in 2010. Prediction Patriots 31-13

1. Jerod Mayo will Win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award After a season in which Mayo led the NFL in Tackles the Patriots are expanding his role in 2011 allowing him to get after the Quarterback more and make big plays. I expect him to once again put up big tackle numbers but also add in some sacks and turnovers which will make him the Best Defensive Player in the NFL. 2. The Patriots will Sweep the New York Jets in the Regular Season The Patriots have lost in New York in each of the last two seasons, mostly because of an inefficient Offense. This time around I expect Tom Brady and the Offense to come out looking to prove they can score on this Defense in New York. At home I don't worry about the Patriots at all. 3. Tom Brady will Throw 52 Touchdown Passes Tom Brady holds the record for Touchdowns in a Season with 50 back in 2007. This season he has more weapons than he did in 2007. He has Welker, Ochocinco, Branch, Hernandez, Gronkowski, and Woodhead out of the

     The 2011 NFL Season begins this Thursday Night as the Defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers host the New Orleans Saints. After following the comings and goings of a crazy NFL "offseason" and watching and breaking down the NFL Preseason I think I'm prepared to make my Final Predictions for the upcoming season. Of course it wasn't easy, every year there are new teams making the Playoffs, it's never just the same old teams. In fact in the last 10 years there have been at least four new teams in the Playoffs each year. As you will read below I expect this season to be more of the same, plenty of fresh faces. AFC East 1. New England Patriots: 14-2 The Patriots really improved their defense this offseason with the additions of Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis. The Offense is gonna do what it does and get the Patriots to 11 Wins by itself but I think the Defense is gonna win this Team some Games this year. The have the potential to be unstoppable.