- I'm scared as hell of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush running rough-shot all over this putrid Patriots defense. McFadden leads the NFL in rushing with 393 yards after 3 weeks. Gerard Warren is back this week and the Pats are going to need him with Haynesworth missing his second straight game due to injury. I have no confidence that the Pats can slow down this running game. They look doomed right from the start.
- Normally I wouldn't be too worried about the Raiders passing game but injuries to the secondary have opened up opportunities for the speedy WR for Oakland. While Ford and Heyward-Bay normally are not too much of a threat, they happen to be going up against the one of the worst passing defenses in the league in the Patriots. Until the Pats can get pressure on the QB and McCourty gets back to his pro bowl form they will continue to make every opposing QB look like they belong in the hall of fame.
- Richard Seymour. Its the former Patriots first game against his old team. Seymour is having a great year so far playing dominant football in front of a physical Oakland Raiders def. Momentum is going to be a major factor in this game with the black hole looking for a reason to explode. Patriots need to learn from last week and not let turnovers and missed offensive opportunities change the complexion of the game
- The Patriots are addicted to Tom Brady. Its funny saying the best offence in football has issues but I believe they do. If Brady has a bad game the Patriots have a very difficult time over coming that. While chucking the ball all over thie field is exciting I think it spells doom for this team in the long run. I want to see that Patriots run the ball more. And I'm not talking about this shotgun draw play to Woodhead crap. I mean line up and run the ball without the finness eliminate. This Patriots offence looks soft and one dimensional. We know those kind of teams usually get bounced in the playoffs and have difficult winning if defense can get pressure on the QB. However, the Patriots only have one tight end active on the roster today so that may mean more of the same with a limited running attack.
- There is a recurring theme with this Patriots team having trouble winning on the road. Its been an issue for years starting with that 2009 season where the Pats went just 2-6. This needs to be a tougher team away from Foxborough.
In the words of the great Bob Lobel, "Why cant we get players like that?"
