TO playing will cause the Patriots to make difficult decisions. Do you double-cover him. or try to get by with just one d-back? Can you really afford to leave him in single coverage?
And, if you decide you have to double TO, what do you do about Westbrook lining up in the slot, or slipping out of the backfield for a pass?
TO makes a difference becasue the Patriots have to decide how much attention they need to pay to him. If they double him, then either Pinkston or Mitchell or Lewis will be in single coverage and the Pats will get burned deep by one of them.
I hope that Mitchell keeps trash talking and distracting the Patriots. He's the Eagles no. 3 reciever. The more they worry about him, the less they'll worry about Pinkston and Lewis. Reid has to love all the noise making that TO and Mitchell provide. If you think it makes a difference in how the Patriots will play, you're whacked. It's their job to play their best every game. Anything that distracts them is a plus.
The key is the Eagles defense, 2nd in the League in Sacks, a linebacker and three secondary pro-bowlers. They have to stop Dillon from running and controlling the clock. Force Brady to throw more than he wants to against that secondary and he'll throw a pick or two- he threw twice as many TD's as picks all season.
These are two great teams and the winner will be the team that makes the fewest mistakes. The team with the most turnovers will probably be the looser. It's also important that the Eagles stay with the Pats on the scoreboard. It will help if they can score first, to force the Pats to keep up. That will help keep Dillon a non-factor as well.
