Confirmed. Very frustrating. Significantly weakens our O-line putting our QB at heightened risk of injury. Needed him against New England especially.
While that really sucks, the Patriots don't have a good pass rush or a great front seven. Missing Gilbert won't be the difference between a win and a loss.
Ding. The biggest determinants of our game vs Pats in few weeks will be: 1) Our remaining healthy 2) Ben 3) Defensive front (Tuitt/Hargrave/Heyward) generating pressure without lots of blitzing 4) Keeping Brady off the field and finishing drives 5) Defensive scheme - mixing man where appropriate That game will be more on the OFFENSE (especially Ben) than it will on the D. We're not going to hold Brady & Co to 17 points. We need to score 27-30+ to have a good chance of winning.
Neither did the Colts, who have the 30th ranked defense overall (20-rush, 30th-pass), and DEAD LAST scoring defense.........and yet we needed a last second fg against them to reach 20 for a last second win. We won't beat the Pats unless we have close to 400+ yards in offense (275/125 pass/rush or something around that), time of possession over 35 mins, 50+% on 3rd down, and most importantly...........no turnovers. We have the personnel and defense to do it, assuming we stay mostly healthy between then and now, just need the right game plan and execution by Ben.
The biggest issue is now that we have a lineman suspended the injury bug on the oline will begin to show up that is just how it usually works. On the plus side now we have room to activate Sutton.
Well, no one is elated of course but, as far as game planning for the Patriots, they have three games between now and then. I think the Steelers have been guilty of looking ahead in the past so I hope they're not like us now. The Pack looks very beatable , but Cinn and Baltimore will give the Steelers all they can handle. Chris Hubbard has started and they will have him ready. For now, all they can do is be ready for GB.
