New England Adds James Harrison For The Playoff Run
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The New England Patriots are preparing to take on the New York Jets this Sunday in the season finale. They've already clinched a first-round bye but with a victory over the Jets, they would secure home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The team made a move to make them an even larger threat in the playoffs, signing linebacker James Harrison.
Harrison was available after the Pittsburgh Steelers released him December 23rd. He suited up for 5 games this year. And he wasn’t an effective player, notching only 3 tackles and a single sack.
The Patriots are hoping that Harrison can be the player this post-season that he was last season for Pittsburgh when he ran up 5 sacks and 53 tackles. In his 15-year career in the regular season, Harrison has 82.5 sacks and 570 tackles.
The Patriots didn’t bring him in because of his regular season stats but because of what he can do in the playoffs. Harrison has appeared in 19 playoff games with a total of 11 sacks. Harrison can also create turnovers and has one forced fumble and an interception in the post-season.
The Patriots are hoping that Harrison can create pressure on quarterbacks and bring them down for a sack. The Patriots' defense has a total of 38 sacks heading into Sunday’s game, ranking 12th in the NFL. Harrison adds another pass-rusher. If Harrison doesn’t sack the quarterback, his presence can force early throws that could become overthrows and even turnovers. In tight playoff games, that might become the difference in field position that Tom Brady needs to score.
The Patriots are more dangerous on defense. The only way this move doesn’t work out is if Harrison plays poorly and doesn’t have the speed to make plays out on the field. If that is the case, this will have been a wasted move. On paper anyway, this should help the Patriots make a deep run, maybe even a return trip to the Super Bowl.
The New England Patriots are preparing to take on the New York Jets this Sunday in the season finale. They've already clinched a first-round bye but with a victory over the Jets, they would secure home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The team made a move to make them an even larger threat in the playoffs, signing linebacker James Harrison.
Harrison was available after the Pittsburgh Steelers released him December 23rd. He suited up for 5 games this year. And he wasn’t an effective player, notching only 3 tackles and a single sack.
The Patriots are hoping that Harrison can be the player this post-season that he was last season for Pittsburgh when he ran up 5 sacks and 53 tackles. In his 15-year career in the regular season, Harrison has 82.5 sacks and 570 tackles.
The Patriots didn’t bring him in because of his regular season stats but because of what he can do in the playoffs. Harrison has appeared in 19 playoff games with a total of 11 sacks. Harrison can also create turnovers and has one forced fumble and an interception in the post-season.
The Patriots are hoping that Harrison can create pressure on quarterbacks and bring them down for a sack. The Patriots' defense has a total of 38 sacks heading into Sunday’s game, ranking 12th in the NFL. Harrison adds another pass-rusher. If Harrison doesn’t sack the quarterback, his presence can force early throws that could become overthrows and even turnovers. In tight playoff games, that might become the difference in field position that Tom Brady needs to score.
The Patriots are more dangerous on defense. The only way this move doesn’t work out is if Harrison plays poorly and doesn’t have the speed to make plays out on the field. If that is the case, this will have been a wasted move. On paper anyway, this should help the Patriots make a deep run, maybe even a return trip to the Super Bowl.
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