Cooks vs Byard Will Decide Saturday's Playoff Game

I think this match-up will decide the winner of Saturday's playoff game. Obviously, Byard isn't going to be covering Cooks ... that will probably be up to Jackson to shadow him for speed reasons, just like he did Hill in the Wildcard. However, this is what I will be watching closely throughout the game:

• New England is #2 in the league in 20+ yard pass plays. Obviously, most of these are to Cooks, who averages nearly 17 yards per reception.
• Tennessee has allowed the 3rd fewest 20+ yard pass plays this year, and Byard led the league in interceptions.

So, when Cooks gets his shots at chunk plays, is Byard able to make plays. I think converting these plays will decide the winner of the game, ultimately.

I believe we are also only of the top 5 teams for blitz % this season? So, if our blitz can get any kind of pressure, that will go a long ways to limiting these plays, too.

But if we allow big plays, it will be a high-scoring game and we won't be able to keep up. If we force them into long drives and keep the score down, we are going to find ourselves in the 4th quarter with an opportunity.

 

I'll be shocked if the RBs get more than 60 yards in the game. Their run game isn't even a concern.

Gronk will get his touches, we can't let him have 10+ catches for 150+ yards, but them marching down the field with Gronk isn't going to run the score up over 30 points and blow us out. Allowing 4-play TD drives taking 1:30 off the clock is what is going to kill us.