***The Official New England Patriots Thread***

[Tyler2106]

Lots of injury scares, but I think we came out just fine. Edelman's x-ray was negative and Gordon came back to finish the game. Should be good to go next week.

Couple things from this game. Not liking what I'm seeing from Michel. Burkhead is clearly the better back this season. I still think Michel is too one dimensional and our line isn't good enough for ground and pound. This is something that could come back and make things tough for us when we play a good team. We have to figure out how to run the ball.

Flash Gordon was a beast in this game. A few of his catches were incredible. I like what I'm seeing between him and Brady. He's healthy, in good shape and building chemistry with Brady.

Defense still playing strong. Getting good pressure on the QB and not giving up big plays.

Poor Stidham lol comes in and throws a pick 6 on his first throw. What's most funny about it is people on twitter mentioned how that pick 6 made them lose their bets

Overall, I like what I'm seeing but we have a long ways to go.

PS Antonio Brown went crazy on twitter and apparently pissed off Kraft who reportedly said he's "never" paying AB his $9m. AB just digging a whole for himself. Even tweeted out news stories when Big Ben and Shannon Sharpe were accused of sexual assault in an attempt to shut them up about his situation. The dude just doesn't get it lol

[camaleom]

Next week game is important as the bill are 3-0 as well.

yeah I hate this type of games - lots of injuries

we need a TE(s) to help the running game - onto Buffalo!

[GarthVader]

Yeah, I think Sony's problem is he's not getting the holes he used to get. That might come down to the O line. Rex is the better outside running back. Seems when Sony runs the Dline is in the backfield to meet him. If Sony has improved in the passing game, then we need to get him out there on more passing downs so they don't just stack the box when he's in.

[Tyler2106]

Yeah, I think Sony's problem is he's not getting the holes he used to get. That might come down to the O line. Rex is the better outside running back. Seems when Sony runs the Dline is in the backfield to meet him. If Sony has improved in the passing game, then we need to get him out there on more passing downs so they don't just stack the box when he's in.

That's why I say he's being used to one dimensionally. When he's in, we're running. Burkhead can both run and catch. Even Belichick said in his post game conference that he's one of the most dependable guys we have on offense.

This game against Buffalo will be our toughest game yet. Their front 7 always seems to cause us problems on offense and now that Josh Allen is playing better and has a little more confidence, it'll be a tough test for us. I don't think they have any studs on offense that will cause us troubles, but we can't take this game lightly. I still imagine if we play how we should that we win comfortably.

We just need everyone healthy and ready to go.

[Tyler2106]

I wonder if we'll ever see Damien Harris take reps from Michel. Harris has been a healthy scratch every game this season. I haven't even heard any reports / updates about him this season.

[meep316]

So how long until Crabtree is a Patriot?

[BuckNakedinBama]

Losing Develin isn't going to help the run game. Son of a...

[Tyler2106]

Losing Develin isn't going to help the run game. Son of a...

Develin is amazing in the role he has and the best in the league. It'll be a tough loss. It'll be interesting to see how Jakob Johnson does. He was a long shot to make the roster and was promoted up from the practice squad.

[camaleom]

That's why I say he's being used to one dimensionally. When he's in, we're running. Burkhead can both run and catch. Even Belichick said in his post game conference that he's one of the most dependable guys we have on offense.

This game against Buffalo will be our toughest game yet. Their front 7 always seems to cause us problems on offense and now that Josh Allen is playing better and has a little more confidence, it'll be a tough test for us. I don't think they have any studs on offense that will cause us troubles, but we can't take this game lightly. I still imagine if we play how we should that we win comfortably.

We just need everyone healthy and ready to go.

he was catching passes during camp so two options:
- they don't feel good about him catching passes
- they will use PA with him coming out the backfield when nobody is expecting it

[GarthVader]

he was catching passes during camp so two options:
- they don't feel good about him catching passes
- they will use PA with him coming out the backfield when nobody is expecting it

That's what I remember. I was hearing how much he improved in the pass game.

[Tyler2106]

That's what I remember. I was hearing how much he improved in the pass game.

Yup, camp reports were saying he was being involved in the passing game a lot more since he had a full off season to learn. Yet, he hasn't been targeted in the passing game.

[GarthVader]

Maybe we're trying to establish something for the opponents to study then pull out the Sony passing game. Bill and Josh are surely smart enough to not telegraph the play calling with certain personnel.

[Tyler2106]

Maybe we're trying to establish something for the opponents to study then pull out the Sony passing game. Bill and Josh are surely smart enough to not telegraph the play calling with certain personnel.

I mean, they could be, but I don't see that happening. Burkhead and White are the better passing backs. I don't think we are going to put in the lesser receiving back just to fool the defense for a play or two.

We'll see if they make any changes to the run game with Michel. Right now, it is clear that Burkhead is the better back.

[Tyler2106]

Good sign: Julian Edelman practiced today. Teammates called him crazy and one of the toughest guys they know after seeing him out and practicing today.

We signed QB Cody Kessler. Now carrying 3 QBs. Seems a bit odd, but maybe Stidham's performance wasn't what they hoped. Possible they hoped to bring back Hoyer, but after him signing with the Colts they missed that window.

October 10th we are wearing our color rush uniforms. I really like them.

[GarthVader]

Good sign: Julian Edelman practiced today. Teammates called him crazy and one of the toughest guys they know after seeing him out and practicing today.

We signed QB Cody Kessler. Now carrying 3 QBs. Seems a bit odd, but maybe Stidham's performance wasn't what they hoped. Possible they hoped to bring back Hoyer, but after him signing with the Colts they missed that window.

October 10th we are wearing our color rush uniforms. I really like them.

Maybe to make Stid work hard to keep his job as the backup. Kessler is not the answer for our backup QB.

[camaleom]

Maybe we're trying to establish something for the opponents to study then pull out the Sony passing game. Bill and Josh are surely smart enough to not telegraph the play calling with certain personnel.

no point to waste your best play when u are playing garbage teams...

[Tyler2106]

no point to waste your best play when u are playing garbage teams...

This could be the case, but from what we've seen it's pretty typical New England offense thus far. We tried getting the ball to Michel, but he's just not produced. I think we will struggle against the Bills to get the run going, so if we're waiting to involve him in the passing game, this week will be when he finally gets the chance.

[Phobaphobia]

This could be the case, but from what we've seen it's pretty typical New England offense thus far. We tried getting the ball to Michel, but he's just not produced. I think we will struggle against the Bills to get the run going, so if we're waiting to involve him in the passing game, this week will be when he finally gets the chance.

Probably going to be a big week for Mr. White.

[Tyler2106]

Funny that this article comes out today after we've been talking about Michel and the run game.

https://nesn.com/2019/09/how-sony-mi...atriots-favor/

Michel has 74 offensive snaps this season, per Pro Football Focus. He’s run the ball 45 times, been used as a run blocker nine times, ran 10 routes and pass-blocked 10 times. The Patriots run the ball 73 percent of the time Michel is on the field.

Defenses know this stat, so:

But let’s go back to defenses knowing the Patriots are going to run the ball when Michel is on the field. That’s great for the opposition until the Patriots don’t run the ball. The Patriots are averaging 12.29 yards per pass with Michel on the field versus 8.05 yards per pass when he’s not.

Seems like Patriots and opposing defenses see what we see and Patriots don't seem to care because it's opening up the passing game. I still think we need to figure out a way to do better running the ball, but I guess our offense has always been Brady, not the run game.

EDIT: With Michel in, we average 2.46 yards a carry. Burkhead is averaging 4.6 yards a carry so far. Not sure if the benefits outweigh the negatives.

[brighamw]

Go PATS!

[BuckNakedinBama]

Curious if Ghost can get it worked out over the course of the season. I don't want to see us become one of those teams that has a revolving door at kicker, but it might be time to seriously consider a change.

[brighamw]

Curious if Ghost can get it worked out over the course of the season. I don't want to see us become one of those teams that has a revolving door at kicker, but it might be time to seriously consider a change.

I think it's time...

[brighamw]

A win is a win, a fukin ugly ass win!

Brady owes the D dinner and we have got to get a TE, serious, redzone problems all day...

Go PATS!

[drbaig]

Phew! that was ugly.

[camaleom]

a win is a win but our O kinda suck at the moment - we need help to get the running game going

[IPoopStandingUp]

Brady has an all time stinker but great d, special teams, and coaching and pats still beat a 3-0 team. Feels goodman

[GarthVader]

Bill D looks legit. Brady had no time. Run game looked a tad better, at least Sony did. Need to get the Oline healthy.

[Tyler2106]

I don't know what it is but we always struggle against the Bills. Home, away, doesn't matter, we struggle. I'm glad we found a way to win. Defense played solid. That hit on Allen wasn't good and I hope Allen is okay.

No excuses for the bad offense. Brady needs to find ways to move the ball better. Run game needs work. Offensive line needs work. It's early in the season for all these new lineman to figure it out, so I have hopes we figure it out, but our poor line play will be the death of us if we don't figure it out.

We're on the road next week going against the Redskins. Hopefully we can improve by then.

Hope we can get Burkhead and Hightower back by next week. I know we saw a little of Burkhead, but he wasn't his usual self and seemed we used him because we were a little desperate.

[BuckNakedinBama]

I thought we got out-coached, not necessarily out-played. This was one of McDaniels' worst games I can recall. Very few sets with 2 RBs in the backfield. The wheel route worked and they didn't keep going to it to soften up the flat coverage.

Have we called any WR screens all season?

Was a single WR jet sweep called all game? We ran one with Bolden at the GL and it worked, but seemed to ignore it the rest of the game.

Bills kept pressuring up the middle and playing tight all across the board, there were opportunities for big plays that just weren't capitalized on.

Several times I saw a zone blitz and Brady just didn't read it right. He'll get that cleaned up.

Overall an incredibly ugly win but it counts in the right (errr, left) column on the scoreboard, so I'll take it.

Redskins should be an easy W, but that Giants & Patriots Thursday night game could spell trouble. Will be nice to get that extended break until MNF after that tho.

[JotaroJoestar]

My one crazy fandom theory...

Brady sometimes has bad games to spite the organization. This was one of them. Some bad overthrows, some poor decision making, uncharacteristic mistakes. He was apparently upset all week about the Patriots releasing the best wide-out he's had in years. He didn't post up one thing about the game on social media. He's just not happy and shows it through little mannerisms on the field.

On the other hand, I feel like if this were years past, the Patriots would have found themselves down 9-24 and their offense would have looked like a well oiled-machine in the fourth quarter.