Dec 7, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) is sacked by New England Patriots outside linebacker Jamie Collins (91) during the first quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots had another big Sunday night victory over the San Diego Chargers. If the Patriots can take care of Miami and Buffalo at home and beat the Jets at Metlife, they will have the number one seed and home field advantage for the entire playoffs. That is why this victory was so vital to the Patriots Super Bowl hopes. The game showed some issues the Patriots need to work on, but the Pats can also take a lot of positive things away from this win, especially on defense.
1) The New England Patriots have some great young linebackers
Jamie Collins did a fantastic job taking over as the signal caller on defense, and simply played a great game himself. Collins already showed his athletic ability last year, but he seems to learn the game better and better. He is probably the best player ever to get drafted from a team that went 0-13 his senior year of college. He really was a positive surprise of yesterdays game, because I was a bit worried, when Dont’a Hightower was ruled inactive. Dont’a Hightower is another great draft pick that the Patriots have chosen. Hightower did a great job taking over for Jerod Mayo, as the signal caller on defense, and like Collins has really grown as a player. Both linebackers complement each other well. Hightower is a bigger LB and a great run-stopper, while Collins is much quicker and more athletic, and therefore he can be used in many different ways.
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To add to these two very good linebackers, the Patriots acquired Akeem Ayers, who was labeled a bust in Tennessee, and have turned him into a good and efficient player.Ayers has blossomed in the Patriots system, and played another great game against San Diego, consistently bringing pressure and recording his second career interception. While Ayers might leave the Patriots after this year, the Patriots must lock up both Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower. If they can do that, they will have a great linebacker duo for a long time. The outstanding play of these linebackers could possible even mean the end to Jerod Mayo’s Patriot career, as he is owed hefty sums of money of the next three years.
Next: Offensive Issues?