New England at Seattle, Week 14
Sunday, 4 p.m.
If the season ended after last week, the Patriots would miss the playoffs for the first time since 2002, making them the seventh Super Bowl loser in the last eight years to miss the following season's playoffs. But they are 20-2 in December since 2003, and their schedule sets up nicely for another holiday feast.
After the 2-10 Seahawks, New England will stay on the West Coast to play the 3-9 Raiders; then host the 7-5 Cardinals, who are not only travel-averse but likely won't need a win; and finish at the currently cratering Bills. Plus, even in this season of transition, the Patriots have maintained their steadiness, going 4-0 this season after a loss to improve to 17-1 in such games since the start of the 2003 season.
But even with that closing slate, a four-game run is hardly a given. The Patriots haven't won more than two games in a row this season, and are coming off a humbling 33-10 loss to the Steelers that featured their worst half of the season: five turnovers and 23 Pittsburgh points after halftime. The defense has allowed an average of 31.7 points in the last three games. They yielded 140 rushing yards against the Jets, then 326 passing yards to the Dolphins, followed by 161 rushing yards against the Steelers. The Patriots signed former standout LB RoseveltÖ Colvin to help offset the losses of Adalius Thomas (broken arm) and Pierre Woods (jaw), and he could play on Sunday, which would be his first game in more than a year.
The passing game is ripe for a rebound, though. After back-to-back 400-yard games, Patriots QB Matt Cassel threw for just 169 yards and committed four turnovers against the Steelers. WR Randy Moss was highly self-critical after a poor game against Pittsburgh. But Seattle allows the most passing yards in the league, and the 6-foot-4 Moss is at least five inches taller than any Seahawks cornerback.
These are low times indeed for Seattle. If LB Leroy Hill sits out, as expected, with a neck injury, he would be the 23rd Seahawks players to miss a game this season. Coach Mike Holmgren is on the verge of losing 11 games for the first time, and the team has lost five straight for the first time since 2000. After going 42-14 at home from 2001 though the 2007 season, best in the NFC, the Seahawks are 1-5 this season.
By
David Larimer
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December 5, 2008; 10:00 AM ET
| Category:
Game Previews Week 14
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