Vince Wilfork also played some pretty good football, but I am not sure that anyone could say that the Patriots made a bad move there. He was not cheap.
Only because the Bills had multiple WR drops and gimpy LT. Otherwise it would have been 34 or 38 easily.The Bills have run 70 plays and have had the ball for 36+ minutes into the fourth quarter. Giving up only 24 is a miracle
They gave the team a chance to win so they deserve credit for that. They also dropped a couple INT balls and gave up the backbreaking 95 yard TD drive (although wouldn’t have mattered) and got lucky that Diggs dropped a ball he normally catches. They also deserve credit for making a game changing play late in the 2nd. All in all, a decent performance and clearly not the problem with this team, IMO.Honestly the Patriots adjusted and played pretty well after the first 3 drives. Good performance considering the opponent and that their offense did nothing
It's about what the Bills average. They're averaging 2.7 pts per drive, and there are a bunch of drives they weren't trying to score on mixed in there.The Bills scored 24 points on 8 drives where they were trying to score. That's not good. It's better than they've done vs Buffalo lately, but 3 points per drive ain't gonna win ya many games.
PFRef has it as 2.59 before tonight.It's about what the Bills average. They're averaging 2.7 pts per drive, and there are a bunch of drives they weren't trying to score on mixed in there.
yep I was doing the math, but forgot to take out non-offensive scores.PFRef has it as 2.59 before tonight.
Chandler JonesHe just got benched yeah?
Who is the last Patriot to leave and have success besides the greatest QB and TE of all time?
Its almost as if this team's ceiling will be a function of getting anything out of the offense. A decent OL and competent game managing might make this team look a lot different.Currently ranked #5 in points allowed and #6 in yards allowed. #3 in DSRS (pro-football-reference's metric).
#1 in hurry rate
#3 in sacks
#2 in pressure rate
#6 in opponents' passer rating
#5 in interceptions
#2 in opponents' completion percentage
#10 in opponents' Y/A
#6 in opponents' AY/A
#8 in opponents' rush yards per attempt
Yeah, this defense is pretty good. Obviously they struggle more against elite offenses. That's, uh, why those offenses are elite - they're a problem for everyone.
And the Pats' defense is doing all this without much help from the Pats' offense.
If they make the playoffs, their reward would likely be a road game in Buffalo or KC. I’ve seen nothing to suggest we would be competitive in either scenario but I hope we get to find out. Playoff football is playoff football.Its almost as if this team's ceiling will be a function of getting anything out of the offense. A decent OL and competent game managing might make this team look a lot different.
Given the defense thus far this year, I think they could make noise - even with not-the-guy running for his life behind the No line while Patricia is calling backwards screens - if they somehow make the playoffs. I understand that's not a widely held view but I think its a possibility. But a lot has to happen first.
I don't disagree with you other than BB seems to know how to slow down KC even with his current inept offenses.If they make the playoffs, their reward would likely be a road game in Buffalo or KC. I’ve seen nothing to suggest we would be competitive in either scenario but I hope we get to find out. Playoff football is playoff football.
Counterpoint is that making the playoffs probably means they won 3 games down the stretch against some good competition so they would be coming in with some momentum.
I agree. I think it's possible that the Pats keep Buffalo under 30 and kind of "in range", but the offense will struggle to do anything, so the final score will be a fairly comfortable Buffalo win. :-(I don't have much hope for Sunday but one area it feels like (looking up no stats) they have improved since last year is covering RBs and TEs, as Bentley and Tavai have been decent and Dugger / Phillips / Peppers are strong tacklers. Knox and Singletary really killed them last year and Hightower and Van Noy were so slow.
That said, Judon and Uche have not exactly improved at keeping containment on mobile QBs and James Cook had his best receiving day this year against us, nor do I see the offense improving much. I think the game will look similar to the last one unfortunately.
I may be wrong, but did Judon not do a decent job of containing Allen earlier this season? Were there not complaints that Judon did not get any penetration and pressure, until it was pointed out that his job in that game was to contain, rather than rush/pressure? Allen had 8 carries for 20 yards in that game. Maybe that was by design by the Bills, to reduce his workload, but it does suggest that the Pats did a good job containing him in that game.That said, Judon and Uche have not exactly improved at keeping containment on mobile QBs and James Cook had his best receiving day this year against us, nor do I see the offense improving much. I think the game will look similar to the last one unfortunately.
I think both the O and D will have to take more risks this game than last. The game plan last time seems designed to keep things respectable but gave the Pats very little chance to win. So I’d guess either a close Pats win predicated on turnovers/mistakes, or a Bills blowout.I don't have much hope for Sunday but one area it feels like (looking up no stats) they have improved since last year is covering RBs and TEs, as Bentley and Tavai have been decent and Dugger / Phillips / Peppers are strong tacklers. Knox and Singletary really killed them last year and Hightower and Van Noy were so slow.
That said, Judon and Uche have not exactly improved at keeping containment on mobile QBs and James Cook had his best receiving day this year against us, nor do I see the offense improving much. I think the game will look similar to the last one unfortunately.
Allen has averaged 7.7 rushes per game this year, so 8 is right about at his average, so no the Bills weren't reducing his workload in that game. I agree that the Pats did a good job containing him, and honestly, holding them to 24 points was a pretty good effort, especially because (as is so often the case this year) they got next to no help from their own offense.I may be wrong, but did Judon not do a decent job of containing Allen earlier this season? Were there not complaints that Judon did not get any penetration and pressure, until it was pointed out that his job in that game was to contain, rather than rush/pressure? Allen had 8 carries for 20 yards in that game. Maybe that was by design by the Bills, to reduce his workload, but it does suggest that the Pats did a good job containing him in that game.
He is also averaging around 6.5 yds per carry for the season, versus 2.5 yds in last game, so they definitely did a good job. Agree that Dugger will be important. They need someone that can at least slow Allen down, if not outright stop him, before he turns a 5 yard gain into a 20 yard gain.Allen has averaged 7.7 rushes per game this year, so 8 is right about at his average, so no the Bills weren't reducing his workload in that game. I agree that the Pats did a good job containing him, and honestly, holding them to 24 points was a pretty good effort, especially because (as is so often the case this year) they got next to no help from their own offense.
Now, NE didn't have Dugger in that game, and he could be HUGE in this upcoming game. He's a strong, fast, physical playmaker, and New England needs him on the field on Sunday.
Jones has been great, but I will say, holding up at the same level of production against twice as many targets is really hard, and the massive gap in yards per target is impressive. Jones is good, Gardner is clearly better.https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35361213/nfl-all-pro-team-2022-best-players-every-position-patrick-mahomes-nick-bosa-justin-jefferson
That article lists Sauce Gardner as a first team all-pro.
Here are his stats: 74 targets, 41 completions, 55.4%, 397 yards, 5.4 yds/tgt, 1 td, 2 int, 63.9 rating
Now here are Jack Jones' stats: 37 targets, 20 completions, 54.1%, 357 yards, 9.6 yds/tgt, 0 td, 2 int, 64.8 rating
Gardner has played a lot more snaps, which is probably why he is more in people's minds - that plus being a top 5 pick while Jones was a 4th round pick. But statistically, the two are very close (edge to Gardner on yds/target, and edge to Jones on TD allowed, but otherwise almost identical). The point being, sure, give Gardner the accolades, but we know that Jack Jones is essentially just as good a player.
Not to mention the disparity in responsibility between Sauce and Jones. How many number one receivers is Jones asked to cover?Jones has been great, but I will say, holding up at the same level of production against twice as many targets is really hard, and the massive gap in yards per target is impressive. Jones is good, Gardner is clearly better.
Barnwell (who has Sauce as one of 3 1st team all pro cornerbacks) says that Gardner is a one side of the field guy and doesn't follow the #1.Not to mention the disparity in responsibility between Sauce and Jones. How many number one receivers is Jones asked to cover?
As good as Sauce has been, this was JC Jackson last year (who didn't even make first team all-pro):https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35361213/nfl-all-pro-team-2022-best-players-every-position-patrick-mahomes-nick-bosa-justin-jefferson
That article lists Sauce Gardner as a first team all-pro.
Here are his stats: 74 targets, 41 completions, 55.4%, 397 yards, 5.4 yds/tgt, 1 td, 2 int, 63.9 rating
Now here are Jack Jones' stats: 37 targets, 20 completions, 54.1%, 357 yards, 9.6 yds/tgt, 0 td, 2 int, 64.8 rating
Gardner has played a lot more snaps, which is probably why he is more in people's minds - that plus being a top 5 pick while Jones was a 4th round pick. But statistically, the two are very close (edge to Gardner on yds/target, and edge to Jones on TD allowed, but otherwise almost identical). The point being, sure, give Gardner the accolades, but we know that Jack Jones is essentially just as good a player.
Lazar in his recap pointed out that Bryant was a good zone player who struggled in man. Not great. Hopefully we will at least have Marcus back.One of the problems that Buffalo presents you - especially in a playoff type game where they may pull out all the stops - is that one of their best weapons is Josh Allen running with the ball. Playing man in the secondary is a very bad way to defend Allen running, so it kind of forces you to play zone. But you're right - guys like Diggs and Davis and Knox will find the holes and Allen will slice the zone apart. Very much a pick-your-poison. But if they play man, especially with Jack Jones (and maybe Jonathan Jones) out, it means lots and lots of Myles Bryant in man coverage against the Bills. And THAT is a recipe for getting absolutely torched.
Yes, it will take a minor miracle to win on Sunday.