4. ILB Akeem Ayers – The star Middle Linebacker of the Patriots has one goal: Stop Marshawn Lynch from entering Beast Mode. Simply put, if Lynch has a great game like the one he had against Green Bay, the Patriots have no chance. Ayers has been the General of the Patriots defense since Jerod Mayo was lost for the season early in the year. Now it’s going to be his job to perform the mop-up duty of the defensive line by making the critical tackles and keeping Lynch on the ground when he starts getting his legs moving and extending plays.
3. CB Darrelle Revis – No matter how good the Seahawks running game is doing, Revis cannot lose track of receiver – in this case, Doug Baldwin. Very rarely does Revis lose his assignment but of all the games for Revis Island to truly be effective, it would be this one. Baldwin has made it a habit of staying quiet for long stretches of time before inexplicably burning some great CBs for a big play or a TD. Case in point – last year’s Super Bowl when he beat Pro Bowl CB Champ Bailey for a game-sealing TD. If Revis wants that ring, he has to truly be the best CB in the NFL for the entire game, not just in stretches.
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