BOSTON -- Yinzers …
Greetings, once again, from the Hub of the Sports Universe. After the Patriots followed up the Red Sox's world title since the last time we saw each other, there was a decent chance we would have been holding all four major titles at the same time — which would have made you Steel City faithful feel all warm inside, I'm sure — but then Kyrie Irving happened (ugh), and ... we're still not over the Bruins' no-show in Game 7. Let's not talk about that.
But, hey, it's football season now and everybody else is playing for the Patriots' scraps. Plus the Steelers are coming to Gillette where they hear more Patriots radio broadcasts in their headsets than game-winning strategies.
So to get you ready for another Patriots-Steelers week, here's a primer on where the Patriots are and may be going:
• Just like last year, get while the getting's good.
I told you before last year's matchup that the timing didn't get any better for a Steelers victory against the Patriots, and we know what happened (sorry about the rest of your postseason-less season). Well, I'm saying that again because traditionally the Patriots come out of the gates slowly, especially on offense, before they hit their stride after Week 4.
They should have started 0-3 last year if DeShaun Watson wasn't so rusty in the Patriots' seven-point win, and they were embarrassed at home by the Chiefs to start 2017. The Patriots are going to be far from a finely tuned machine on offense with all the changes, but be ready for that defense.
• Basically, the entire defense returns from the unit that carried NE to Super Bowl.
Everyone thinks of Tom Brady and the offense when dealing with New England, but a deep and experienced defense finally carried their weight and more down the stretch. In the second half of last season, the Patriots developed an amoeba subpackage that features an assortment of pass rushers. They've taken it to another level this year with, usually, just Michael Bennett as the down lineman, and then a bunch of versatile linebackers and edge players. The Patriots' defense, which held the Rams to just three points in Atlanta, was the real Super Bowl MVP.
***premium***
The only real change? Trey Flowers left for big money in free agency, and the more dynamic Bennett replaced him. Athletic linebacker Jamie Collins returned, and keep an eye on outside linebackers Shilique Calhoun (if healthy) and third-round pick Chase Winovich.
The defense looked really good in the preseason and threatens to be a top-five unit.
• Nobody knows what this passing offense will look like.
The Patriots hope to run the ball with an improved Sony Michel and others, but we have little clue how the passing game is going to work since just about every receiver was either injured or suspended. Plus, Rob Gronkowski is now gone. Oh yeah, him.
As long as his left thumb doesn't continue to bother him, Julian Edelman is still the man with Josh Gordon his chief running mate. Beyond that is anyone's guess. Likely, vet Phillip Dorsett gets the first crack, but don't be surprised if the Patriots put two running backs on the field with three receivers.
• Hello and goodbye.
WR Josh Gordon (replaces Josh Gordon): The Steelers were his final opponent before another suspension. He looks better physically this season.
WR Demaryius Thomas (Chris Hogan): The former Broncos star should be able to be a solid possession receiver.
LT Isaiah Wynn (Trent Brown): The 2018 first-round pick is now healthy and looks good. But this will be his first NFL start.
C Ted Karras/Russell Bodine (David Andrews): With the team co-captain lost for the season after blood clots, the new center will either be the steady but unspectacular veteran Karras, or the former Bengals starter who the Steelers know well.
TE Matt LaCosse (Rob Gronkowski): Huge void in the seam after the Big Fella's retirement (Steelers probably did flips). LaCosse (ankle) has been out for a while so it could fall to first-year TE Ryan Izzo.
DT Michael Bennett (Trey Flowers): Flowers was a very good player, but Bennett brings more savvy to the pass rush.
LB Jamie Collins (additional weapon): He'll the Swiss Army Knife for this defense. You'll never know where he might line up, or what he might be doing.
OLB Chase Winovich (Adrian Clayborn): The Michigan product -- and Pittsburgh native -- has a non-stop motor with a knack for going low to get around big tackles.
P Jake Bailey (Ryan Allen): Allen was great in the Super Bowl, but wait until you see Bailey's leg. Routinely has hang times near 5 seconds.
NT Danny Shelton (Malcom Brown): The Steelers shoved the now-Saint all over the field last year while Shelton was a healthy scratch. He's really their only nose tackle now.
• How the Steelers should defend the Patriots
This is counterintuitive, I know, but make Brady beat you through the air, and make him have to throw it to people besides Edelman and James White. The parts in this passing game are so new, they can't have much confidence in anything at this point. They'll try to establish the run to give some bite to their play-action game, so stack the box and make Brady beat you deep through the air. He couldn't do it against Pittsburgh last year (except on Chris Hogan's 63-yard coverage bust), and it's going to be more difficult with a new left tackle and center. T.J. Watt owned RT Marcus Cannon last year, but he's better now. Both options at center (Karras, Bodine) are not good athletes so get them moving and then stunt or dog blitz in the other direction.
• How the Steelers should attack the Patriots
Don't get into a passing contest with the Patriots — they cover too well in the secondary, and have too many pressure packages. The Steelers should do what they did last year with a strong running game — test the Patriots there — and as long as Ben Roethlisberger doesn't throw two interceptions again, the Steelers should be able to move the ball well.
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Editor's note: Greg Bedard is the owner, founder and lead NFL analyst of Boston Sports Journal, our sister site. I'll have a corresponding piece for BSJ later in the day. -- Dale Lolley