Highly rated New England Patriots O-line is key to offensive success
Few New England Patriots, or any other fans really, concentrate on their NFL team’s offensive line because frankly, it’s not all that glamorous a unit on the field. Those are the big and sometimes really big guys up front who do the dirty work in the trenches.
Conversely, while not so newsworthy as the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers, they are more important than any other unit on the entire team. And after the quarterback, they are the most important players on the field.
That’s why when a top football analytical outfit like Pro Football Focus gives your guys a nod it’s a big deal in a lot of ways. Here’s why.
New England Patriots offensive line is the key to every game
While this is something of a rehash, in light of that PFF rating it’s worthwhile to contemplate just why this unit is so important to any NFL team. Being rated third best is a very positive development.
While the offensive line entered the season unsettled and played that way for seven quarters, Patriots fans saw and relished just what a solid offensive line can mean in the closing six-plus minutes of the game against the Steelers.
While others may not think that win was so positive, this space thinks otherwise. They shut the door and clamped down on a good Steelers defense and closed out the close 17-14 win.
Prior to that brilliant finish, they had been mediocre and plagued by big penalties at the wrong moments. But when all the chips were thrown into the middle of the table they did the job brilliantly.
Clearly, closing out games by running the ball and winding down the clock is one important reason why the offensive line is key to some wins. There are several others generally.
New England Patriots offensive line can dictate the entire flow of the game
First, obviously, they plow the road for the running game generally as they did against Pittsburgh.
There isn’t any running game unless these big guys up front do their jobs. Running the ball leads to all kinds of other good things like setting up the pass when you use play-action or an RPO.
Then, of course, the offensive line has to keep the pocket clean for the quarterback. They need to pick up blitzes, and basically, just put a hat on any defensive people who are rushing the passer. if they fail at that, a long afternoon is on the way. In the New England Patriots case, assuming someone can get open, Mac Jones has phenomenal accuracy and he’ll find a receiver.
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In addition, by energizing the running game and allowing Jones to convert third downs pays, they control the ball and the clock. Keep the ball away from the opposition and absent a turnover they can’t score. Meanwhile, the other defense gets gassed and that will take its toll by the end of the tilt.
And finally, one other related aspect is this. As the opposing defense gets gassed because you’re running the ball up the gut and converting on third down, your defense isn’t because they’re not on the field.
This means they’ll be rested and ready to go when you score or when the ball goes back to the opposing team. This is maybe an underrated aspect of why a good or great offensive line is so critical, even to the play of their own defense.
So there it is, a rehash of sorts of why the rating as the third-best offensive line is a great indicator for the Patriots. The unit finally put it together in the fourth quarter of the Pittsburgh game after a rocky beginning of the season.
Next. New England Patriots: 1 gritty prediction vs Baltimore Ravens in Week 3. dark
The whole ballgame rest on the shoulders of the offensive line, and of course the quarterback. They play well, and you’re likely to take home another win. The fourth quarter against Pittsburgh was a great exhibition of what the offensive line is capable of.
If they can replicate that performance for an entire game, you can rack up another win as predicted in this space against Baltimore. It says here the talent is there. Coupled with the surprisingly solid performance thus far of the defense, if this level of performance is consistent, it could eventuate in a very nice season, indeed.