Patriots preview: Some ideas on how the Patriots can be had

You want a blueprint for defeating the Patriots? Sorry, there isn't one.

A lot of folks thought Philadelphia's defense had sketched one out in late November, but the Eagles still allowed 31 points and 380 passing yards in a 31-28 loss to the Pats, so that's not exactly a recipe for an upset.

And yet, the Pats' average margin of victory did shrivel over the season's second half. That's something to hang your hat on if you happen to cross paths with the Pats' juggernaut this postseason.

This plan for victory (a rough outline, really) is not guaranteed to work.

But it's a start.

Get in Randy's grill

Early this season, defenses seemed positively petrified by Randy Moss, giving ridiculous cushions and surrendering far too many uncontested completions underneath.

The Eagles roughed him up pretty good in Week 12, letting corner Lito Sheppard work him over with deep safety help serving as his, well, safety net. That template seemed to work better for opponents down the stretch. Moss still made some huge plays with seven TDs over his last five games, but the yards weren't quite as easy to come by.

Go light up front

The Jets did that up here, often utilizing only two defensive linemen, and were more than happy to see Laurence Maroney run 26 times for 104 yards while Tom Brady passed just 27 times.

The Pats are at their best when they're throwing, so every handoff is a gift to you, no matter how many yards Maroney cranks out. We can't help feeling that the Jets lured the Pats into a bit of a trap by inviting them to run. If you recall, the offense managed a season-low one TD that day.

Look for Ellis on an Island

Is cornerback Ellis Hobbs the defense's weak link? Lots of folks think so. You don't want to throw at Asante Samuel anyway, or did you forget those two playoff INTs for touchdowns a year ago? Better to take some shots at whomever Hobbs is guarding.

Your big receiver, if you have one, is no Moss, but he'll have several inches on the 5-foot-9 Hobbs, so put the ball up and let him to try to make some plays.

Don't get blitz happy

Pressure is fine. In fact, it's essential when playing the Patriots. It just can't come at the expense of exposing your secondary by over-committing to the pass rush.

Blitzes tend to get swallowed up by the Pats' offensive line, and Wes Welker in particular will kill you as Brady's favorite "hot read." If you can compress the pocket with four rushers - far easier said than done, of course - you'll have more chance of success, especially if your right edge rusher is a speed demon (Jason Taylor, Osi Umenyiora) who can give left tackle Matt Light fits.

Be aggressive in the red zone

Field goals are for wimps. The Patriots are the highest-scoring team of all time, so give your kicker an iPod and a space heater and tell him you'll call him when it's time for PATs and kickoffs.

Red zone defense has been the Patriots' Achilles' heel all season. They thought they had it fixed, but the Giants were 4-for-4 down there, so it's back to the drawing board. To beat them you have to make them pay from in close.

Get your lucky charms out

You need all the good mojo you can muster, so four-leaf clovers and assorted rabbit's feet are welcome. Inspirational fortune-cookie messages? Bring 'em on. In their almost-win, the Ravens caught some big breaks when Benjamin Watson and Moss each suffered end-zone drops. Moss also flubbed a wide-open deep ball against the Giants, although he redeemed himself on the very next play with a 65-yard TD.

Root for rain

And snow. And wind. Bad weather is the enemy of the Patriots now, not an ally. Winter-wonderland games are fun to watch, but remember how wind (in Baltimore) and freezing rain (at home against the Jets) helped to gum up the passing game? Opposing defenses need all the help they can get against Brady and Moss, which is the Patriots will be hoping for mild conditions in their (we assume) two home playoff games.

Have a Plan B on offense

You know the Patriots' No. 1 goal on defense is to take away whatever the opponent does best. If you're a running team, you had better have a quarterback who can make plays. (See Kyle Boller playing over his head for three quarters.) If you're a passing team, your running back had better be able to step up, a la Joseph Addai in Indy. One-dimensional ain't gonna cut it.

Dirty pool

Short fuses are part of the game-day uniform for Rodney Harrison and Vince Wilfork. Talk a little smack and maybe you'll goad them into a dumb personal foul, as the Giants did on their final drive in Week 17. Hey, every 15-yard walk-off helps.

Keep your mouth shut

This doesn't really have any impact on the game itself. The Patriots, for example, would have targeted Steelers safety Anthony Smith even without his foolish guarantee. But ill-timed boasts only make you look stupid when you lose. Be confident, by all means. Just keep it to yourself.