Musket Fire
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Patriots’ keys to victory against the Chargers

By Patrick Morgan

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 23: Sony Michel #26 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 23: Sony Michel #26 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The Patriots need to remember what has brought them the most success this season: running the football consistently.

New England Patriots
New England Patriots, Sony Michel (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Here’s a telling stat: when the Patriots as a team rush for more than 100 yards in a game, they are a perfect 9-0. When they rush for less than 100 yards, their record falls to 2-5.

The team rushing totals in New England’s five losses this season: 82 (Jacksonville), 89 (Detroit), 40 (Tennessee), 77 (Miami), and 96 (Pittsburgh).

These numbers aren’t just a coincidence. The Patriots’ offensive identity has changed during Tom Brady’s 19th season in the league. Whether or not the 41-yard-old future Hall of Famer has shown signals of a decline is up for debate; what is not up for debate, though, is the team’s unquestioned success when they find a way to establish the run.

Not since the days of Corey Dillon has a team led by Brady and Belichick relied so heavily on their rushing attack. In the early days of the Patriots dynasty, players like Dillon and Kevin Faulk were arguably almost as important to the team’s success as their quarterback. Then in the late-2000s, Brady became a passing machine, regularly dueling Peyton Manning for gaudy yardage totals and record stats.

More recently, the team has transitioned to a sort of “death by a thousand cuts” style passing attack, where Brady relies more on precision crossing routes, screens, and the short-to-intermediate passing game to do his damage through the air.

He’s still capable of being a field surgeon when it comes to running that type of offense, but more and more, it appears that the lifeblood of this Patriots engine is its ground game. Rookie tailback Sony Michel has been a revelation, rushing for 6 touchdowns and just barely missing the 1000-yard mark – and in less than 13 full games of action to boot.

The Patriots also utilize two other running backs on their roster – Rex Burkhead and James White – that could be RB1s on plenty of other teams around the NFL.

If New England wants to beat Los Angeles on Sunday, they will lean on all three backs early and often. Hopefully if the team can combine for another 100+ yards on the ground, history will repeat itself, and the Pats will push that win streak to 10-0.

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