Pats Face Another Difficult Test

By Thomas Hanson  |   Thursday, September 22, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

New England Patriots
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The NFL strength of schedule concept always has the best teams competing against the other top teams. But even under that concept, the schedule makers have delivered a real task for the 2005 New England Patriots.

One week after making the trek to Carolina to face a Panther team thought by many to be an NFC Super Bowl contender, the Patriots draw yet another capable foe on the road. This week, the Pats head to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers, a team that Pats knocked off a year ago during their playoff run.

Pittsburgh will be a real test for New England. The Steelers have absolutely dominated the opposition in their first two games, burying the Tennessee Titans in game one, 34-7, then following that up with another strong performance, a 27-7 win over the Houston Texans, in week two.

The New England Patriots on the other hand looked totally out of step in losing 27-17 to the Panthers last week. A struggling offensive line could not open any holes for Corey Dillon nor could it give Tom Brady the protection he needed to be able to move the ball consistently. The Pats line also committed numerous false start penalties, constantly putting the offense in a hole.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, it has been just the opposite. The Steelers and Willie Parker have run the ball at will, displaying the kind of punishing running game that the physical-minded Bill Cowher loves. The Texans and Titans are not the Pats, but the Steelers, at home, will be a real test for New England.
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