Mike Rodnick:Looking ahead: MNF - Patriots(7-3) at Saints(10-0)

1001775newmnf

This will be arguably the game of the week and no better place for this showdown to take place other then on Monday Night Football.

The Patriots proved why they are the best team in the NFL to put a lose - no matter how devastating - by beating the New York Jets 31-14 yesterday.

The Saints go winning one by one hoorah, hoorah. They continue the winning way in convincing fashion against the Bucs 38-7.

Now, in one week, both of these powerhouses will be on a collision course and it will be a good one.

Both teams have a high scoring offense, a future HOF QB, and that tall fast WR that all teams wish they had.

League Rankings:

Patriots - Offense

Points - 29.0 (3rd)
Yards - 416.1 (2nd)
Passing Yards - 302.3 (2nd)
Rushing Yards - 113.8 (15th)

Saints - Offense

Points - 36.9 (1st)
Yards - 420.5 (1st)
Passing Yards - 266.2 (6th)
Rushing Yards - 154.3 (5th)

With those numbers, you would have to think this will be a high flying shoot out, but will the edge be provided on the other side of the ball?

Patriots - Defense

Points - 16.4 (2nd)
Yards - 296.7 (6th)
Passing Yards - 187.6 (6th)
Rushing Yards - 109.4 (15th)

Saints - Defense

Points - 20.4 (13th)
Yards - 330.6 (17th)
Passing Yards - 214.9 (15th)
Rushing Yards - 115.7 (20th)

I think the KEY stat when looking at the defense is the ability the Saints have to put 6 up just like that. The Saints lead the NFL in defensive touchdowns with an unimaginable 8 while the Patriots have a pedestrian total of 2. The Saints also have more sacks (24 - 18) and INTs (20 - 13) then the Patriots.

The Patriots will have a touch time with picking apart this defense the way they have done to teams in the past. But looking at it from the other side, the Saints are playing a team who has fumbled the ball among the fewest in the league and a QB who has only 6 INT’s on the year.

Last 5 games:

Patriots

Week 6 - Patriots 59 - Titans 0
Week 7 - Patriots 35 - Bucs 7
Week 9 - Patriots 27 - Fins 17
Week 10 - Colts 35 - Patriots 34
Week 11 - Patriots 31 - Jets 14

Saints

Week 7 - Saints 46 - Fins 34
Week 8 - Saints 35 - Falcons 27
Week 9 - Saints 30 - Panthers 20
Week 10 - Saints 28 - Rams 23
Week 11 - Saints 38 - Bucs 7

In those games Brady has averaged 341 yards/game and has 14 TDs and 3 INTs

Brees has averaged 269.2 yards/game and has 9 TDs and 7 INTs.

Are Brady and the Patriots playing the Saints at the most perfect time of the season or will the high score Saints continue marching on to an undefeated season.

http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?p=117306#post117306

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