NFL
By Bill Carroll
In Week 10 the Colts face the Patriots, which presents a supremely satisfying way to humble a legend; quite simply this is a test of the mettle of the 2023 Colts. They are facing a desperate and diminished opponent. But a great deal of money has been lost by people who underestimate the Patriots.
Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are. If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared. The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him. Niccolò Machiavelli
Patriots’ head coach, William Stephen Belichick also has some notable quotes such as:
“Mental toughness is doing the right thing for the team when it is not the best thing for you.”
Or another classic examples of his wisdom:
“For a team to accomplish their goal, everybody’s got to give up a little bit of their individuality.”
“To live in the past is to die in the present.”
Though he is not quoted as often quite as often or as widely as is the author of The Prince, coach Belichick has influenced an entire generation of football analysts, coaches and fans. Burnished by his past glories, Belichick helped establish the “Patriot Way” that produced, 331 wins, a 31-13 post-season record, nine conference titles, 17 division titles and six Super Bowls, as any football fan with any modicum of historical knowledge can tell, the Colts fell victim to many of those dynastic Patriot’s squads.
In Week 10 The Colts can address their 29-49 win/loss record versus the Patriots. To add injury to insult and vice-versa, The Patriots owned the Colts in the 2010s, sweeping them 8–0, [going 2–0 in the postseason in 2013 & 2014]. While this win will not secure a Super Bowl berth, it may help to drive the stake into Dracula’s heart.
Week 10 The Colts Face The Patriots: Offense
In Week 10 The Colts may need to do what football’s answer to the author of Vom Kriege, [On War] Carl Philipp Gottfried von Clausewitz, William Stephen Belichick may have done in this situation.
“War is thus an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will.”
“Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination.”
“The enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect plan.”
The first quote may be the closest that I have ever seen to a concise explanation of the football philosophy of William Stephen “Bill” Belichick. He finds, he identifies the things that you do best and most want to do and he denies you those things. In Week 10 The Colts are facing an offense, in the Patriots, that averages just six yards per pass attempt, [tied for third worst]. At a pass completion percentage of 63.35%, the Patriots are 22nd in completion percentage and convert third downs at a 33% clip.
The Patriots are only averaging 3.7 yards per rush attempt, good for 25th in the NFL, but are trending up with a 4.5 average in the last three games. Also, they are, 28th in the league, averaging 86.9 yards per, but are improving lately with, 93.3 in the last three games and 107 in their last game. But with 202.6 net passing yards per game, 782 and net rushing yards in 2023, combined with a paucity of explosive plays, the 2023 Patriots’ offense is ripe for the picking.
Speaking of picking. in 2023 the Patriots are minus five in turnover differential. That goes against every tenet of the “Patriot Way“. Only the Raiders, Falcons and Bears have worse turnover differentials. If in Week 10 The Colts take the advice of von Clausewitz, they will be attacking on both defense and offense.
Week 10 The Colts Face The Patriots: Defense
On January 27th, 2000, the New England Patriots sent a 1st rounder as well as a 4th and 5th round picks to the Jets for the rights to William Stephen “Bill” Belichick. This prompted Ian O’Connor to write his, now infamous, article which still discussed, to this day, on its anniversary. But in Week 10 The Colts Face The Patriots: A Satisfying Way To Humble A Legend would be to dismantle his pride and joy, his defense.
The 2023 Colts are averaging 6.74 yards per pass attempt, 22nd in the NFL, with a 62.5 % of completions, 1,987 net and 2104 gross yards passing, as of Week 10, the Colts have rushed for 4.27 yards per rush attempt, [11th in the league] and Jonathon Taylor is looking more and more like himself. The 2023 Colts have rushed for 12 touchdowns and passed for 11, while the New England Patriots have allowed 2218 yards passing at 6.85 yards per pass attempt, 11th in the NFL, also they only allow 3.48 yards per rush attempt and 100.8 yards rushing, per game, rankings placing them third and 11th.
The Colts are 13th in the league, only allowing 37.9% third down conversions. I have written about the 2023 Colts’ defense, previously. The 2023 Colts are 31st out of the 32 franchises with a blitz rate of only 16.2%. They may need to heat up Michael McCorkle Jones. The New England Patriots often use screens, in lieu of their unimpressive run game. defeating blocks in space and open-field tackling will be paramount.
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Week 10 The Colts: Strategy and Tactics
Both the Colts and Patriots would like to get pressure without blitzing, however neither has been very proficient at that. Both would like to be successful in running the football, there the Colts must prevail. In Week 10 The Colts must lean on their offensive line and running backs to “compel our enemy to do our will.” If the Colts are more aggressive on defense and can create a few big plays on offense they can exorcise some of the demons of their past.
