Jan 10, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back
Justin Forsett(29) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New England Patriots in the third quarter during the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
3. Patriots Struggles To Stop The Run
At first glance, the Patriots run defense does not appear to be a major problem. They only gave up 4.o yards per carry in the regular season and have not given up an unreasonable total amount of yards on the ground. The Patriots however had problems in their near divisional game loss to the Baltimore Ravens, when Justin Forsett rushed for 129 yards.
It was not the first troubling moment for the Patriots run defense. The Patriots gave up over 200 yards on the ground this season, once in a blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and once in a 2 point win against the New York Jets. The Green Bay Packers rushed for over 100 yards in their victory over the Patriots. The Patriots run defense is far from dominant, and when tested (even against a good QB-less Jets team) it has been embarrassed.
The Ravens, a team that starts and finishes everything with their run game, exposed the Patriots run defense. In fact if the Ravens had a competent secondary, they’d probably be playing in the Super Bowl right now. The Patriots were often ahead because of their potent offense, forcing opponents to abandon the run. They also played a good number of teams that don’t run the football well any way. The Seahawks will not abandon their running attack in any situation, which could mean trouble for the Patriots.
Next: 2. Marshawn Lynch's 5.5 Yards Per Carry