I've analyzed tons of Patriots game tapes against other teams and I've finally figured out how even the Dolphins can beat the Patriots. They cheat and everyone knows it. They bribe the refs, and they steal your game plan tapes. So if your not rich like the Patriots and don't have all the money to do that.
1) Do no huddle plays.
They won't have enough time to analyze what you are doing, and it will catch them off guard. Mix it up a lot during this no huddle. Make sure you don't give any obvious signals or formations that would let them guess what play you are doing.
2) Practice in private.
They probably have a spy in your organization looking at your practices. Don't have your whole team and coaching staff practicing at once. Don't let everyone know what you are doing. The less people know the more off guard they will get caught, also throw around a lot of fake play books.
3) Let your Quarterback call the plays.
Do what Peyton Manning does. I don't care if your Quarterback is a rookie, all teams should fully trust their Quarterback. Let him call the plays at the line of scrimmage. When this happens the Patriots spies don't know what your play is ahead of time. It might backfire against you, but it will have a greater gain than loss at the end of the game.
4) Play dirty.
Look at what the Giants do. They push guys once their down. They hit people while the referees are not looking. If your in a pile after a loose ball you should try to poke any and all Patriots players near you in their eye. This may not morally seem right, but they are cheating which is an even worse crime. Also, push around their offensive line. For a few plays just push guys like Matt Light. Even if it means you don't get to Tom Brady this time, next time you go up against Matt Light he will be psyched out.
5) Hit hard.
If you hit them they will fall. Make sure they stay down. Give Tom Brady a couple of all out blitzes. Even if you give up a TD and get called for a late hit, he will learn his lesson. The same is the case for Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and all other Patriots wide receivers. Play bump and run against them, and by bump and run I mean tackle and run. Knock them down to the ground even if it means you could get called for pass interference.
6) Pressure Brady.
Tom Brady is weak, he can't take a hit. The Chargers roughed him up a bit, and allegedly he was wearing a boot. All teams that were successful in beating the Patriots had 8 men in the box. If the Patriots have 2 wides, have 1 corner back on each wide receiver and your free safety playing wherever he feels he should be. Your defensive line, linebackers, and strong safety should be blitzing. If they have 3 wide receivers put your strong safety on him, or bump the receiver with your strong safety, and drop your middle linebacker or your fastest linebacker back as a QB spy. Make sure you get to Brady, even if it means giving up a 20 yard pass.
7) Confuse them.
Use tons of motion plays, audibles, hot routes and other things at the line of scrimmage. Use a lot of trick plays against them. NEVER keep the exact same play as you decided on in the huddle. Even if your play ends up being worse, it will work more effectively cause the Patriots are easy to confuse.
8) Properly mix the run and pass.
Even if you are a run based team, or a pass based team you should run 60% of the time, and pass 40% of the time. Don't use the same exact play twice in one game, and whatever you do DON'T and I mean DON'T turn the ball over. You can't throw interceptions, or fumble the ball at all. The Patriots thrive on turnovers. If you make one mistake it can cost you the game. When your running, run it right at them, and when you pass do it for short 4-10 yard completions. Make sure over 80% of your throws are complete because you can't afford to throw interceptions. Don't throw a deep throw unless you are over 70% sure it will be complete. Don't throw screens because the Patriots are extremely fast. They can catch you in the back field in an instant and force you to give up a huge loss.
9) Be calm.
Don't let your emotions control you. You should control your emotions. The Ravens would have beaten the Patriots if they hadn't gotten 40 yards off of penalties because they threw the referees flag. This would have give them better field position on the ensuing kickoff. If the Hail Mary would still have been complete they would have been a few yards closer and they would win the game. The same thing happened in the Eagles game. They got too anxious and made mistakes. Remember its just one game, and your out their getting paid millions to have fun.
10) Use the media.
Talk trash on ESPN as much as you want. Take any interview you can, but don't insult the Patriots too much because it will motivate them. Remember you are the underdogs. You should say that you have hope and faith. You have been practicing and will stay to your game plan. Tell as many lies as you want, but make sure you don't get caught in a lie. Also, try to get somewhat personal with them, but not to personal. Talk slow yet fast. Basically, you have to be a politician and a psychologist at once. Plan what you will say, but don't be afraid to be spontaneous. Be yourselves, but wear a mask doing so. Lie and tell the truth at the same time.
That is how you beat the New England Patriots!
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