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New England Patriots’ Defense Living Up To Preseason Hype

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By @petahrahgas

New England Patriots Super Bowl XLIX

Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Though many of you might have forgotten it amidst the DeflateGate scandal, the New England Patriots are in Super Bowl XLIX and Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have a chance to make both NFL history and make me cry. Though I can’t imagine an outcome of this Super Bowl where I don’t cry, but I’d like to be crying with tears of joy rather than those of sadness.

Much of the attention this postseason has been paid to Brady and the Patriots’ offense and rightfully so. The offense was able to overcome two 14-point deficits against the Baltimore Ravens,and LeGarrette Blount again was able to run his way around the Indianapolis Colts’ defense (probably because he was lighter on his feet given that the ball was lighter and all). Add in Belichick’s sheer genius and mastery of the NFL rule book, and it’s very easy to see why the Patriots’ offense has been the focal point heading into the Super Bowl.

But that wasn’t what got the Patriots to the Super Bowl.

What got the Patriots to the Colossus Waltz was a defense that had heaps of expectations thrown at it six months ago and lived up to the hype.

Let’s jump back to the hot months of summer. Back then all around Boston Patriots fans were sweating under the intense sun, wishing their Patriots could have just gotten past Peyton Manning and those Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game and waiting to see just what Belichick and Robert Kraft were going to do to get Brady back to his sixth Super Bowl.

Well the Patriots quickly made their intentions loud and clear for all of Boston to hear. Yes, that rhyme was intentional.

While John Elway was busily attempting to buy himself a championship (how’d that work out for you?), the Patriots made two moves on defense that instantly turned what was a decent unit into one of the best in the history of Foxborough. Obviously those two moves where signing Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.

However, like how Uncle Ben reminds Peter Parker endlessly about how with great power comes great responsibility, the Boston media reminded us all that with a great offseason comes great expectations. And with the moves the Patriots had made, the media pundits were quick to heap hype and “Super Bowl or bust” expectations onto this newly-crafted defense.

Well, here we are, six months later and the defense has not only beaten the hopes and dreams of plenty of quarterbacks (mainly you Mr. Andrew Luck) but also beaten all the hype that surrounded this formidable unit.

They’re coming off their best game of the season, where they held Luck and the NFL’s top passing attack to 126 yards, two interceptions and every receiver under five catches and under 50 yards. That is a top notch, pass-stuffing, soul-crushing, Super Bowl-winning defense right there. And that’s exactly what the Patriots needed and were expecting with their offseason moves.

This defense has had its low points as any unit will have, but they have ultimately lived up to everything that was thrust upon them back in September. This defense is in the Super Bowl. 

Now they just need another 60 minutes of greatness to win it all.

Peter Rogers is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @petahrahgas, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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