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It's not that I think that matchups aren't important, it's just that I don't think that who New England puts on Reggie Wayne or Dallas Clark is really going to be the deciding matter as to who wins the game. I've heard that spreading out the defense makes the running game better statement many times, but I don't necessarily believe it. Even if it is true, the Patriots are probably the hardest team to spread out anyway. I also don't see how Hobbes is any worse than Drayton Florence or Patrick Surtain in terms of how he will cover Reggie Wayne.
The key to this game, as it is with most games, isn't who covers Reggie Wayne, it's how the Patriots are going to put pressure on Manning and that Colts' offensive line. Manning has one of the quickest releases in the game, and he also has the ability to audible and get the ball to a receiver before the defense knew what hit them. The fact of the matter is that it doesn't really matter who the Patriots put on anyone, as Manning will find the open guy if he has enough time no matter what. However, if they find ways to blitz Manning accordingly, they can make him make mistakes and crack under pressure, no matter who they have in coverage or zone.
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