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Top 5 Worries New England Patriots Fans Have Entering AFC Championship

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By @ConnorFultonRS

Top 5 Worries New England Patriots Fans Have Entering AFC Championship

Tom Brady New England Patriots
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The one thing that unites all New England Patriots fans is the pain that the fanbase has collectively endured since February of 2005, the last time the Patriots hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. Patriots’ playoff games test blood pressures and heart rates, as we all have reason to believe that the football gods won’t cooperate with us. Here are five things Patriots fans are most worried about entering the AFC championship game.

5. Running the Ball

LeGarrette Blount New England Patriots
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

5. Running the Ball

LeGarrette Blount New England Patriots
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Jonas Gray’s 205-yard outing against the Colts in the regular season is a distant memory right now. Indy played that game without one of their top run stoppers, Arthur Jones, and he will be in the lineup on Sunday. And while it was never a part of the gameplan against Baltimore, running the ball is something the Patriots are a bit rusty at these days.

4. The Colts’ Corners

Vontae Davis Greg Toler Indianapolis Colts
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

4. The Colts’ Corners

Vontae Davis Greg Toler Indianapolis Colts
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Vontae Davis, Greg Toler and Darius Butler make up one of the NFL’s best cornerback groups. Pro Bowler Davis, formerly of the Dolphins, is no stranger to Brady; he picked off No. 12 twice in his rookie season of 2009. Toler’s lanky 6-foot frame must be respected, and he is considered one of the better second corners in the league. As for former-Patriot Butler, you can bet that he would like nothing more than to pick off his old quarterback.

3. Fumbling

Julian Edelman New England Patriots
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

3. Fumbling

Julian Edelman New England Patriots
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Why the Patriots choose the month of January to fumble the ball is beyond me, but it seems like the Pats catch a serious case of the butterfingers every postseason. Against the Ravens, Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman both committed fumbles, but neither led to turnovers. The Pats can’t expect their luck to keep up; Amendola must secure the ball better on kick returns, and Edelman needs to be weary of swats across the middle.

2. T.Y. Hilton

T.Y. Hilton Indianapolis Colts
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2. T.Y. Hilton

T.Y. Hilton Indianapolis Colts
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Pretty self-explanatory here. A week removed from embarrassing Aqib Talib, Hilton has to be considered the main concern entering Sunday’s game. He has the ability to undress an entire secondary, and although Darrelle Revis will likely be matched up on him, fans have reason to worry that Hilton will foil Super Bowl plans for the Pats.

1. The Pass Rush

Chandler Jones New England Patriots
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

1. The Pass Rush

Chandler Jones New England Patriots
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

It is paramount that the Patriots generate regular pressure on Andrew Luck, as the third-year quarterback is too good to be given time in the pocket. No matter how well Darrelle Revis plays, he will get burned by T.Y. Hilton at some point if Chandler Jones and others fail to disrupt Luck’s rhythm. Jones is the root of this worry; the Pats’ top pass rusher committed two offsides penalties en route to a sack-less game against the Ravens.

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