With the Patriots clinching the AFC East and being one win away from a first-round bye, it's time to start looking ahead to the postseason and how the team can potentially get back to the Super Bowl.
Appearing on The Greg Hill Show Monday with Mike Mutnansky, Jermaine Wiggins and Nick "Fitzy" Stevens filling in, WFAN and CBS Sports' Boomer Esiason explained why he believes the Patriots will look to the running game in order to beat the elite teams in the AFC like the Ravens and Chiefs.
"One of the things I noticed, I think it was the Sunday night game against Houston, New England started to try and run the ball more. They weren't as effective that night as they have been the last couple of weeks, but this is who they are," he said. "This is what they turn into in December. Most likely, I would say they probably are going to see Kansas City again in the second-round of the playoffs, the divisional weekend at New England. It seems to me Bill Belichick has decided, 'Look, if we're going to beat Kansas City, if we're going to beat Baltimore, and beat these teams, we're going to have to run the ball effectively. We're going to have to support our defense. Our defense is good any way, but supporting the defense by controlling the football and completing a lot of passes.'
"I thought Josh McDaniels called one of his better games as well. It's all good for the Patriots right now. They have to obviously beat the Miami Dolphins next week if they want to keep that No. 2 seed and the bye."
If the Patriots beat Miami next Sunday they will be the No. 2 seed and likely would host Kansas City in the divisional round.
