Pat Kirwin, NFL.com

Head out over to the NFL dot com web -- one of the best analysts there is NFL dot com senior analyst pat -- one has been on this program on a number of occasions in the past and were lucky enough to have him join us again helped -- on Michael how are DL Mike all right thanks Remy gets. Great thanks let's start with a theoretical question of a football guy -- got a team that plays a certain way and let's say the colts defensively don't play well against the run for the regular season. And suddenly do it for two playoff games do you believe they've suddenly found the solution or do you believe that there's a chance the going to revert to what we've seen all year.

Others voted chance they get revert -- to go back and watch a game gates starting with the Kansas City paper and they've really overplayed the run which doesn't do. I think they decided if we don't stop the run against Larry Johnson weren't troubles they overplayed it on there were really some tremendous passing opportunities which she didn't take advantage of -- a great it was a great game play into that game I thought he -- caught by the ravens try to do that again. And at the end of the day I thought they just played better I think what happened to what I've talked to Bob Sanders and that they have a bunch of the guys that captain has got boosted up and they liked. The way they saw themselves the rugby certainly took a plate with enthusiasm go get checked out this because I don't police permit it. That -- goes goes to back can surrender the concept of running the ball because to --

Pat they were able to turn over the patriots November here Tom Brady have four interceptions. How do you think the colts will approached the the patriots on time.

You know I don't go back to trumpeted to the patriots the year they beat the Steelers in the AFC championship game. They have losses still earlier that year or so to me it is to -- probably -- guys in my -- might have a psychological advantage by losing before they they just don't really. They give themselves together trend -- and I don't think Tom Brady is a guy he can beat twice in the year so I like the wave of pages are committed psychologically it just gave they really are taught to take many times and take -- meola tiny -- build boats activities of brilliant guy can really doesn't do a lot to us. Plays pretty straight. Lots to cover two and just tries to Britain to not break it that would be ditched down a red Sony might take a few urged shots on the tighter field but at the end of the day there's no mystery and that's what.

Funny should say that 'cause we were talking about that earlier they really don't lets him a lot occasionally they'll Proehl blitz in here there. They prefer to play -- pretty straight and and you know I think they've been pretty successful -- up are pretty Vanilla game plan against them.

Yeah I eat a lot of things of that the patriots do so much better than most teams it and it's a little slow football point but it's it's -- well bring it -- right here and that's the drop of their four linebackers. We know it's going to be covered to a lot ballistic could be pulled such up to want to play covered -- access a lot of the time America what we call through like two sets applied -- and and to what refused the other so cover to the right way to play it is that you -- linebacker but I think that always helps. The patriots get target date and all the ball. And so the quarter like in the big the other trilateral fixed what they really -- his. Ty Law knows that and has size Samuel now knows that the drop that backer and it is by the Garrick -- don't -- any opportunity to go steel ball that spicy that chance because like -- great support from my pacts.

that I know you have a lot of respect for the way bill belichick and -- only had built the patriots. What your analysis of how the colts have been -- have been built.

You know the -- start with a quarterback that was at first taken its draft dozens of it you know they get weighed on the road financially. That -- that the intercession -- is Thomas trip to so much later and they've worked your way into the money. Personas -- was drafted he went on the field as a rookie and he realized what he was going to do -- approach at the start building your football team around them. And so they built the difference obvious function that they have a legal that means you build -- defense with four speed and you build -- to rush suppressed or because your opponent is going to be playing provide softer. That's felt like a flawed plan except I will say this state they were announced that Mario Corey Simon and he's unable played football they spent money on Monday reader who's out with that car accident injury. They -- lottery ticket total are also they have not so -- away from trying to fix because shoes they have which is to play better run deep threat so I I give Nomar to credit for first single they are seeing what they weren't and trying to fix it they could criticize a lot but I don't think people you know it is just they have a selective memory about what both guys are due to me. The run deep threat to giving -- now is at a great effort -- Robert -- you -- take these 235 counts and on many of their calls -- like -- over attack -- It is star -- that I think you'll see Corey -- power running game.

You mentioned mcfarland pat is he this same player that he wasn't Tampa under Tony dungy because the times they may be. Probably his second or third season in the league got buddy was better than Warren Sapp.

Well I don't ability was better than larger -- a perfect compliment to warrant and hard to evaluate him next to warm -- was deaf person establishes credibility order mcfarland was perfect compliment then moved into Warren's job. Can't see your direct question if -- stupid were the years ago they go to -- Try to put but I would say that's best don't you keep you at the time when the culture recognize they had -- for -- run defense. Right now when you watch -- six tackles in the in the postseason -- clogging up the middle just enough to belt to run to establish beat players not step up -- up a lot better court rookies don't do able to run that power run oriented by that of. They're much better -- trying to get to outside running game.

Back on November 5 when the the colts beat the patriots here Bob Sanders it was coming off an injury and was just a heat seeking missile all night long. How big a part of the run defense is Sanders game inning game out.

You know he's a modest -- depots that took out and Bobble play at a deal that they're they're get it done -- struck although I think of the game against agency Matt had double digit tackles. Did what amazes me that maybe it's because Bob is such a good athlete you want to take Bob is so Kosovo I discouraged so many times. You -- did you check to the past but he's got ability and applicability get back in coverage. So it's very hard to read it and realized he saw us right now how Troy Polamalu -- He's all over the field and you say well that these that means this but it a lot of times you -- in this study thing we've done pretty nice job.

On a step back for a second Sean Payton told Peter king an interview that he expected the chargers to beat the patriots by 14 points what did you expect from that charges patriots game and did anything surprise you from it.

Well I think Tom Brady never surprises that they have us anymore I thought the I thought the charges were the best team in the National Football League on -- they had they had a very virtually every dimension -- a football team covered. And I so I thought they had the ability especially at home. To beat the patriots added that he was going to be easy -- that do. The -- we saw that you when your rookie quarterback keep still struggled the first playoff game that takes time even more rare that he didn't but so I don't struggled just just developed. That took the door was left open and they do little cracked differ promise keepers -- and fight its way back into the -- I was surprised that -- to our neck.

One of the big off season acquisitions for Indianapolis was the kicker who was here for so long and so successfully. Is there any indication with that would Vinatieri as the fallback plan that that the offense and Peyton Manning are a bit more conservative perhaps knowing that at least we got the three points pretty well salted away here.

Welcome deftly changed to play calling when you do you got three point every time -- to have him there and that he's eight for eight in the playoffs average -- five over 40 yards absolutely real change of play calling. I thought we saw -- play calling change and took a better here. Late in the game the other day and it it was five minutes left it was third down and Payton came the line of scrimmage and check to run the topic roast chicken -- first doubt that told real lot. About where Peyton is mentally Eddie you know and I think to attribute to -- all of -- retreat -- just go on to -- I don't -- otherwise they have no chance right now I think he sees Adam Vinatieri over there and and he'd get three point here it's reported series going to take him every time.

Here in New England obviously we're focused on colts patriots. How do you see the game in the NFC playing out.

You got a burst of speed. The ability president not the same defensive work earlier nearly dominated the league penalosa Thai army arsenal also Mike brown to media analogy I'll make it is the Tampa -- brought to their -- they have they have lost -- John lynch. That would at the same impact -- this -- that's a critical these two players all are to a better. That being said this team has been given out grab what department at 26 point two games the last five gates. None of the offense state surrendered those two -- are comparable to the states so I believe safety and doing very get 30 points which now means -- Rex Grossman. Play error free football and generate post 30 points and answered my mind at today is no he can't do like should've saved literally.

As Sean Payton on the best coaching job in the NFL this year.

Yeah I'd -- like it down in the books as all the great result -- considering all the issues and we all talk about the -- let me start -- the personnel and that it. Which is where I find most remarkable when they get there they decide to cash in free agency on their two best -- chulk Bentley this that are and -- it'd be president they let those players don't free agency so in fact. The team gotten much worse before Shawn started to turn around and make it better -- replaced those players so I found the personnel decisions extraordinary they picked up a lot of like guys for cheap polished satellite deal bold check rusted. When he was built in the patriots and they are almost every level and and then their second day draft picks. Who's done a better job and then Joe hardy Evans is starting cargo a year out of Bloomberg state and -- east coast Akeelah our options I would -- John has done a great job and the best job --

I asked about the NFC you know this is going how do you see. Colts and patriots playing out.

An oyster cult contagious I -- I'm in favor of Tom Brady once again I I don't think there'd be run defense in. Copland will stand up to the test they'll be fine they'll play well they're not going to play as well they've played so far and I just -- Tom Brady -- I think I think all the pressure is on the colts and that. In a sense the pitchers a -- a little -- with house money but more importantly once again under the radar screen and I think the last time Tom Brady was demoted to the pro bowl you also want us to.

a Bob Ryan wrote a piece in today's Boston globe try to place Brady in the pantheon of great Boston sports heroes Ted Williams bill Russell Bobby -- types. In the pantheon of NFL quarterbacks -- Brady now

I think he's on the spurs of the quality all time greats and you know he's he's got so much left to do -- he's young enough that he's going to probably not the numbers out himself and then be considered the greatest -- ever play the game I think we just what is may live in an indelible ink on the pro bowl they that he makes it so we don't embarrass ourselves. When he performs like that kaposi's then etiquette not enough most to get in the 12.

Are you talked about the amazing personnel job that's been done in New Orleans I can do is give us a sense of what you believe the challenges are. For the patriots in personnel not only where they were when they came in as you said picking up a lot of guys who were not high priced but winning three Super Bowls in five years. Lower draft picks what are the challenges in your mind there.

Well I I've always admired and I worked with Scott and bill for awhile six months of his welcome every day pick -- what they do better than anybody -- not to do something. It's easy to throw money at players I've done it other guys have done it bill's done it when he was in Cleveland. But that I -- discipline not to throw the money. Com what he's don't have to do is really where I'd give them but most credit. And a lot of people would look at Gibbons and branch and simply got to have to support top I think they understood what I was I remember talking to Doug Gabriel while it was still pitcher has so -- the difference between Oakland and here is that. That dog Tom Brady now he he's so demanding of you and how -- your routes that occurred at least since he left -- that 80 -- got it on the route running part. More importantly reshape all the all and everybody else has gotten -- note the recent Jabar Gaffney. Tom -- gets these guys to play better equipped orchestral position but I do think he's so so Curtis and his ability to get these guys play better that. Tom Brady deserves the money he gets and probably more they've done a nice job of not so I think players they don't need people sports could ultimately they're going to have to keep these three terrific deep sense of -- in place. That to do that they're going to have to have cap space to do about it came I think you're gonna have to first round picks and 30 million dollar cap space is still got a shot sort of assume most.

Final question from me and we'll take it off the field for one brief moment. What were your thoughts about Ladainian Tomlinson comments after the game.

Frustration I wouldn't put a lot of credence that I -- ago I was. He directed his anxiety in the wrong way because might at the end of the day I went back and looked in the NFL rule book of the definition of taunting. If you look at that definition you could you can absolutely apply Paula think. To delight stop lights soft routine that's sort of garment of flexibility and the NFL could reflect that a long time ago -- wouldn't have gone into the status that it is today. The baby angels BA gets into the game in a sense -- on Walter Payton was frustrated at the end of mr. Bolton as he saw the refrigerator Perry score any live to regret so I don't Ladainian as a one classy guy and I wouldn't put a lot of waited too.

We always appreciate the time any expertise that now. Hopefully if all goes well this week and we might see down in Miami as well. If you don't thanks and I and I thank you you take care. That is a pat -- when NFL dot com one of the best analysts out there