Isn't Gillette an artificial turf field now?The Pats should take a play from the European Football playbook and water the field before the match. The goal would to let the field get torn up more quickly though - slow down Bosa and Co.
Isn't Gillette an artificial turf field now?The Pats should take a play from the European Football playbook and water the field before the match. The goal would to let the field get torn up more quickly though - slow down Bosa and Co.
Yup, has been since 2006.Isn't Gillette an artificial turf field now?
Possible scenarios would be limited.I looked. admittedly not for long, for examples of NFl teams that chose to stay on the road for an entire week preparing for a playoff game.
They did. Stayed in Colorado Springs at the Air Force Academy. Which was scheduled what, 9 months in advance? Lot easier to plan that out than go on the fly when you have 7 days warning.DIdn't the Pats do something similar when they played in Denver and Mexico?
As has been true in every important game since The Scottish Game.Nothing new but the NE OL is going to be huge this week. SD plays zone which means there will be soft spots but it often takes time to find those. If SD can get quick pressure with just 4 that makes for a very long day for Brady. If the OL holds up then I expect Brady to carve them up.
These are always good for a chuckle, but this one legit cracked me up a couple of times.
LOL, that's fine. What does Vegas say? What do the PAID PROFESSIONALS at the WORLD'S TOP SPORTSBOOKS say? They say the Patriots will win by more than a field goal.Listening to Bedard on F&M podcast. I'm not sure how he comes to the conclusion that the Chargers are clearly the better team and that the Patriots need a ST and/or defensive score to win the game. He says LA is the better offensive group and defensive group while the Pats have an edge in ST. He has no idea why they are even favored. Am I missing something here?
Bedard has become the “hot takes” guy he said he wouldn’t be. He also says he lacks confidence in the Pats coaching (especially defensively on 3rd down) because, in part, they fell behind 28-3 in the Super Bowl against the Falcons. He failed to mention that 7 points came off a pick 6. Or that the Falcons scored 44 and 36 points the two playoff games prior. They also lead the league in points per game on the season that year. 21 offensive points sounds good to me.Listening to Bedard on F&M podcast. I'm not sure how he comes to the conclusion that the Chargers are clearly the better team and that the Patriots need a ST and/or defensive score to win the game. He says LA is the better offensive group and defensive group while the Pats have an edge in ST. He has no idea why they are even favored. Am I missing something here?
That is not what being favored in a game means.LOL, that's fine. What does Vegas say? What do the PAID PROFESSIONALS at the WORLD'S TOP SPORTSBOOKS say? They say the Patriots will win by more than a field goal.
These teams are really close. Pats scored 8 more points, allowed 4 fewer. LAC probably played a tougher schedule, but the game is in NE. They are probably the two most balanced teams in the AFC, maybe the two most balanced teams in the entire NFL.Listening to Bedard on F&M podcast. I'm not sure how he comes to the conclusion that the Chargers are clearly the better team and that the Patriots need a ST and/or defensive score to win the game. He says LA is the better offensive group and defensive group while the Pats have an edge in ST. He has no idea why they are even favored. Am I missing something here?
Patriots are better defensively (and offensively) on 3rd down this year than the Chargers.Bedard has become the “hot takes” guy he said he wouldn’t be. He also says he lacks confidence in the Pats coaching (especially defensively on 3rd down) because, in part, they fell behind 28-3 in the Super Bowl against the Falcons.
Well a D or ST a score by Baltimore would have won the game for them. Frankly, one less turnover quite possibly would have too.Listening to Bedard on F&M podcast. I'm not sure how he comes to the conclusion that the Chargers are clearly the better team and that the Patriots need a ST and/or defensive score to win the game. He says LA is the better offensive group and defensive group while the Pats have an edge in ST. He has no idea why they are even favored. Am I missing something here?
Bedard has become the “hot takes” guy he said he wouldn’t be. He also says he lacks confidence in the Pats coaching (especially defensively on 3rd down) because, in part, they fell behind 28-3 in the Super Bowl against the Falcons. He failed to mention that 7 points came off a pick 6.
Little did they know how good they are for your immune system. Damn dirty frogs!I smell elderberries.
Is that why you have that outrageous accent?Little did they know how good they are for your immune system. Damn dirty frogs!
Wait...I’m French. Dammit!
I wonder if Ted nailed this on the first take. If he didn't, did he have to bring it up or take it down?shoulda gone with
Both TWC and Accuweather have like 10-15% chance of precipitation on Sunday. I know there's a potential system out there, but do we really want ex-NFL guys discussing weather models that are showing a very slight chance of anything happening?I wonder if Ted nailed this on the first take. If he didn't, did he have to bring it up or take it down?
That said, I had NFL network on and it's weird how little the anticipated weather is a part of the talking points. Hours to fill on pre-game and I guess it's more important to hear Reggie Wayne grind axes than offer some actual numbers on how a team might perform in difficult conditions.
Lost season for Hollister. Too bad. Could’ve used his contributions this year with Gronk and Allen banged up.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced today that they have signed tight end Stephen Anderson to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and signed defensive back A.J. Howard and offensive lineman Dan Skipper to the practice squad. In addition, New England has placed tight end Jacob Hollister on injured reserve.
https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-make-a-series-of-roster-transactions
Inconsistent is a good description of this team. I think we'll see that on Sunday, some good and some bad on both sides of the ball. The Pats have obviously been much better at home this season and I do think they have a pretty big psychological edge at home in the playoffs against anyone, so I think they will win. But I expect the game thread to be a complete tire fire for long stretches (I know I am not going out on a limb there).This is an inconsistent Patriots team—possibly the most inconsistent I can remember—for reasons that are as complex as they are mysterious. And I think anyone who tells you they know which team will show up is fibbing. They could win easily but also lose badly. Nothing would surprise me.
I wonder how much of that was check downs in the 4th quarter to teams playing catch-up l?
I'm sure some of it, but lots of teams deal with that and they were still second from the bottom over the past 10 years. I mean, the Pats are pretty much always leading in the 4th and they weren't second worst.I wonder how much of that was check downs in the 4th quarter to teams playing catch-up l?
OAK/CLE do count for about 200yds receiving however TN ripped them for 100yds rec in a 2pt game, Gurley hit them for 50yds rec in a blowout win for LAR, Damien Williams went for 74yds rec in a 3pt loss.I wonder how much of that was check downs in the 4th quarter to teams playing catch-up l?
Ok so I'm not the only one...Fuck all the non-vitriol for the Chargers in here. LaDanian Tomlinson was a total piece of shit when he played against the Patriots and has remained so on TV.
Destroy them.
Of note though, that the bulk of Duke Johnson's receiving yards were in the first half, not late (67 of 73 yards), so it wasn't against a prevent.OAK/CLE do count for about 200yds receiving however TN ripped them for 100yds rec in a 2pt game, Gurley hit them for 50yds rec in a blowout win for LAR, Damien Williams went for 74yds rec in a 3pt loss..
Coaches typically aren't stupid. LAC know NE throw to the backs a lot and they also know they haven't been good against RBs in the passing game. Wouldn't surprise me if they pay more attention to the RBs and open things up for Hogan/Patterson/Dorsett. I think 1-2 of those three end up with some big plays, my $$ is on Hogan who has done it in the playoffs, esp against zone defense, before.Of note though, that the bulk of Duke Johnson's receiving yards were in the first half, not late (67 of 73 yards), so it wasn't against a prevent.
It's safe to say it's a weakness.
Set it up early, then a fake screen to catch them?
It's in the neighborhood of 200 yards receiving by RB in the 4th in games where their teams were trailing. That's not all garbage time, though. Also worth noting that this is where 8 of LAC's sacks come from, too.I wonder how much of that was check downs in the 4th quarter to teams playing catch-up l?
If you read the recent Caddyshack book, he probably nailed it first take given how exasperated he was with the entire cast.I wonder if Ted nailed this on the first take. If he didn't, did he have to bring it up or take it down?
That's one huge thing going for the Patriots this year - they've had remarkably good health, all things considered. Normally when they're healthy, they win the whole shebang. Let's see how this year goes. But this is very good news.D-Mac returned to practice today. Perfect attendance.
Quite true. The flip side is "perfect health" used to mean Gronk & Edelman were total beasts. I think Edelman is back to at least 90% vintage Edelman, but Gronk... not so much.That's one huge thing going for the Patriots this year - they've had remarkably good health, all things considered. Normally when they're healthy, they win the whole shebang. Let's see how this year goes. But this is very good news.
Agreed. Full health this year does not mean Gronk is GRONK. So we're gonna have to live with Gronk being a great blocking TE who you still have to respect in the passing game. LA is going to have to devote quality resources to him still - they can't just put some schlep LB on him or he'll kill them. He's still good enough to warrant legit attention. And that *should* help the other receivers.Quite true. The flip side is "perfect health" used to mean Gronk & Edelman were total beasts. I think Edelman is back to at least 90% vintage Edelman, but Gronk... not so much.
I don't think he'll be active, and if he is active, I don't think he'll play much. I mean, Hollister only played 59 snaps all season, 22 in a game Gronk missed (he only hit double digits one other time). And the Chargers have a lot of DB depth, especially safeties; I don't think it's a game where you'd want to take off a WR or RB or FB to put on a guy like Anderson. Unless, that is, he can play STs (as Hollister did).Does anyone think Stephen Anderson will be active for this game? I feel like the Pats have skimped on the number of skill position players this year. 3 RBs + 1 FB, 3 TEs (Gronk, Allen and Hollister all missed multiple games) and 4 WRs (I am not including Slater) after losing Gordon. Feels like Brady could use another weapon or two. Plus the special teams were barely above average this year according to the metrics, why have 4 or 5 players who are only special teamers (I am not counting the specialists) if they haven't been that great?
As long as I am complaining, I had high hopes for Hollister this year. He really gave them nothing.