Quarter by 1/4: Slowing the freight train … a bit

For the record, this isn’t exactly a revolutionary trudge through molasses, it’s just a slowdown on the part of the New England freight train.

The Pats were finally limited a bit in the third quarter, with Miami putting up a more formidable defensive front to slow New England’s one offensive possession, in which the Patriots focused a bit more on the run and hybrid pass game which almost simulates the run. You may remember that the team traditionally focused on that hybrid passing game in the past, at least before Tom Brady had three ridiculously dangerous new weapons - Randy Moss, Donte’ Stallworth and Wes Welker - dropped in his lap in the offseason.

That drive followed an extremely length - though ultimately unproductive - Miami drive, a possession in which the Dolphins systematically drove down the field, but ultimately watched the latest of Randall Gay’s interceptions, an improvement that has helped shore up the depth of the New England secondary. Seriously people, this is the only lingering drama in this thing … how well the Patriot reserves will play if given a chance to flex the team’s depth.

We’ll see if that changes in the fourth. It could. But the way things are going at the moment, one would be hard-pressed to say that New England will go away from the run, or give up much of anything to Miami.

– Cameron Smith