Patriots 28, Dolphins 0 (12/30/'12): Some Sundays are just better than others. After a tough, sloppy loss to the Niners and a just sloppy win over the Jags, the Patriots came out with a focus in the season finale and took the game to Miami in the frigid evening at Gillette. The solid 28-0 win, combined with Indy knocking of Houston, lifted the Pats into the second seed in the AFC and gave them a week off before a home playoff game. One home win and they're in the AFC title game. Again.
It was a team win, something that was much needed after a few shaky weeks. Brady looked playoff ready, throwing for 284 yards and two touchdowns and spreading the ball around. Gronk came back from his broken forearm and caught a touchdown. Stevan Ridley got back on track with two touchdowns and NO fumbles. It was a workman-like job by the offense.
But it was the defense that set the tone and controlled the game. Granted, Miami is not the strongest team offensively. But the Pats held them to just 256 total yards. If the D can play like that in the playoffs then the Pats are going to be tough to beat. Rookie Justin Francis, who has been getting more playing time down the stretch, had three of the team's seven sacks yesterday. Steve Gregory had a nice pick and Kyle Arrington even made some tackles. Ninko limped off the field with what looked like a leg or hip injury. Losing him for the playoffs would be a big loss. But if Ninko is OK and corners Talib and Dennard are healthy then the young, fast, and tough defense -- all led by Big Vince -- should be able to do its part in the playoffs.
As Brady said after the game ... "We’ve won 10 of 11, so it’s pretty good. We were 2-3 at one point, [and we] had some tough games early in the year. We won 10 of 11 and the only loss was against a pretty good football team (San Fran) where we turned it over four times. So if we don’t turn it over four times, I like our chances."
Exactly. If the Patriots can play three games without a turnover they have a very good chance to hoist that elusive fourth Lombardi trophy. A very good chance.
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