Halloran: These Sox look awfully familiar

In case you were wondering, I know who the Red Sox are. I know why they haven’t had too many come-from-behind victories, and why they don’t blow too many late leads. I know why their offense is unspectacular, and why their pitching and defense will carry the day. It’s all because the 2007 Sox are the 2003 Patriots.

Let’s start with the fact that neither team made the playoffs the year before the seasons in question. Then, let’s look at how the Pats and Sox won their games and earned the best records in their respective leagues.

In 2003, Tom Brady finished 10th in quarterback rating and 10th in touchdown passes. Antowain Smith led the Patriots in rushing with 642 yards, good for 30th in the NFL. And Deion Branch was the team’s top receiver with 803 yards. Thirty-one other receivers had more. We all remember the criticism of the Patriots was that they didn’t have enough stars or stats. Still, they finished a respectable 12th in scoring. But, more importantly, they gave up the fewest points in the NFL.

Now, to the Sox. As of yesterday, Dustin Pedroia and Mike Lowell are hovering around the top 10 in batting average, and David Ortiz has squeaked into the top 10 in home runs, but like the Patriots of four years ago, the Sox lack offensive sizzle. Still, they’ve scored the third-most runs in baseball. And, more importantly, they’ve allowed the second-fewest runs. These Sox and those Patriots have underappreciated offenses, are led by their defense, and have a manager or head coach who once led them to unexpected championships.

The ’03 Pats and ’07 Sox are efficient, professional and consistent winners. They’re a little on the boring side in that they lack late-game drama — but they win. That, and maybe that alone, is what makes them exciting. Their locker rooms are filled with steady, respectable, high-quality veterans who say the right things and do the right things day after day after day. There’s a dependability about these Sox and those Patriots that gives you confidence that no matter what happened on the previous play or the previous inning, they’re just going to move on and take care of business.

So, the question remains: Can the ’07 Sox hoist a championship trophy like the ’03 Patriots? Certainly. But if the analogy holds, the Sox will need their offense to continue this weekend’s offensive surge. The Patriots leaned on their defense against Tennessee and Indianapolis, but then needed the offense to score 32 points in the Super Bowl. Champions are well-balanced, consistent, clutch and a little bit lucky. The Patriots were all of that. The Sox might just need the luck.

Bob Halloran is a sports anchor and reporter.