Adam Magnacca

Grudge Match: Week 15 Scouting Report: The Denver Broncos

December 14, 2016 by Adam Magnacca

After a long week with an extra day of recovery, The Pats are now on a short week to prepare for the Denver Broncos. This game doesn’t feel like it has the last few years, partly because Peyton Manning is gone, and partly because the Broncos have certainly lost a step. The Patriots could knock the Broncos out of playoff contention so they’re fighting for their lives here. There is nothing I love more than being the spoiler for Denver this season so let’s get to it.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Denver Broncos, aka, “John Elway’s Free Agent Frenzy”

Week 15 at Denver Broncos

Sunday December 18

4:25 pm, CBS

Low 20’s (Patriot football weather), Minimal chance of precipitation, 6 mph winds

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The Beginning of The Season: Week 14 Scouting Report of the Baltimore Ravens

December 7, 2016 by Adam Magnacca

This season so far has been a typical Pats year for the second half of the BB/TB12 era. A September Stinker, ups and downs with how talented the offense/defense is, hot takes galore on Brady and BB, a clear lead in the AFC East, and an important injury. Now that we’re through all of that muck, the season sort of really begins. The Patriots now have a clear mind of the playoff picture and not that the games before didn’t matter, but we know exactly what is at stake for these games now. The games matter, the teams are better, and the end of the season is closer. Here’s where the season really begins.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Baltimore Ravens, aka, “John Harbaugh and The Rule Changers”

Week 14 vs Baltimore Ravens

Monday December 12

8:30 EST, ESPN

High 30’s, 80% chance, 12 mph winds

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Week 13 Scouting Report: Los Angeles Rams

November 30, 2016 by Adam Magnacca

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The Patriots have defeated the Jets, got three turnovers, and made a clutch defensive play to end the game. All is right in the world and it is time to turn the page. This upcoming week, the team will be celebrating their 15 year anniversary victory over the (formerly known as) St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. There will be plenty of pageantry, but the team will be sure not to lose focus on the game in front of them. The only player on the roster from that victory is the GOAT himself, TB12. Talk about a throwback for the 39 year old who was only in his second year when he watched Adam Vinatieri kick the game winning field goal. Those teams now are both long gone and this is a new game, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be nice to watch highlights from the Super Bowl while Tom Terrific and BB thrash the Rams of today.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Los Angeles Rams, aka, “Jeff Fisher’s 7-9ers”

Week 13 at Los Angeles Rams

Sunday December 4

1 pm EST, FOX

Low 40’s, 5% chance of rain, 10 mph winds

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Week 12 Scouting Report: The New York Jets

November 23, 2016 by Adam Magnacca

The Patriots handled San Francisco about as well as we all hoped they would. The defense redeemed themselves in a pretty solid overall performance and the offense proved they could be just as intimidating sans Gronk and Chris Hogan. Now, here might be where the trap game comes. The Jets, while only having won three games, should not be overlooked. No team in the NFL is a gimme but this one might look pretty tempting. There is something about an away division game that could make for a more exciting game than Pats Nation may be comfortable with.

Here’s everything you need to know about the New York Jets, aka, “The Team of Many QBs (none of which are good).”

Week 12 at New York Jets

Sunday November 27

4:25 pm EST, CBS

High 40’s, 20% chance of rain, 9 mph winds

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Redemption Round: Week 11 San Francisco 49ers Scouting Report

November 16, 2016 by Adam Magnacca

Okay so last week’s loss was tough. But let’s look at it realistically:

It was a battle to the end. Came down to the very last play.
The Seahawks are one of the three best teams in the NFL aside from New England
#noinjuries (except maybe Gronk but I’m deciding he’s officially fine lalalala)

So now, the team has a chance to right the ship, and historically, Belichick is great after his team loses.

Here’s everything you need to know about the San Francisco 49ers, aka “The NFL’s Punching Bag”

Week 10 at San Francisco 49ers

Sunday November 20

4:25 pm EST, CBS

High 50’s, 80% chance of rain, 7mph winds

Opponent/Patriots Stats
49ers: 1-8

Notable Games: The 9ers lone win of the season came Week 1 when they put up 28 points on the Rams defense and blanked them on offense. Their least ugly loss (they’re not in good shape) was last week against the Cardinals with a final score of 23-20.

Common Opponents: Arizona Cardinals (Pats won, 49ers lost both contests), Seattle Seahawks (both teams lost), Buffalo Bills (49ers lost, Pats won 2nd time, lost 1st match up).

History vs. Pats: Tom Brady never played at the famed Candlestick Park, his hometown field, before it was torn down to make the current Levi’s Stadium. The Patriots have only played the 49ers 3 times in the TFB/BB Era with a 2-1 record. The last time the teams met was in 2012 with a win by the Kaepernick led 49ers.

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The Rematch: Week 10 Seattle Seahawks Scouting Report

November 9, 2016 by Adam Magnacca

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It’s been a while since Russel Wilson has seen Malcolm Butler (outside of his nightmares of course), but the time is now for a Super Bowl rematch. While the teams are not the same as they were that fateful night, the concepts and key players remain largely the same. Belichick himself said that there was much to glean from their last meeting so let’s hope the result is the same.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Seattle Seahawks, aka, “The Dirty Birds”

Week 10 vs Seattle Seahawks

Sunday November 13

8:30 pm EST, NBC

Low 40’s 0% chance of rain, 6 mph winds

Opponent/Patriots Stats
Seahawks: 5-2-1

Notable Games: A nail biter Monday night against Buffalo, the team squeaked out a win over Rex Ryan’s squad. The game was marred by bizarre officiating and a controversial foul where it appears Richard Sherman lunged at Dan Carpenter‘s legs during a kick. The team also played in one of two (!) ties in the NFL this season versus the Cardinals with 6 (!!) points apiece.

Common Opponents: Arizona Cardinals (Pats win, SEA tied), Miami Dolphins (Both teams won), Buffalo Bills (SEA won, Pats won 2nd time, lost 1st match up).

History vs. Pats: Super Bowl XLIX in 2015 (Pats won 28-24). This is Seattle’s 2nd game at Gillette Stadium, the first coming in 2004. The last 3 contests between the teams have been away from Foxboro. The most recent Seattle victory against the Pats was a 24-23 game in 2012.

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Pats Potential Playoff Primer: The AFC Elite Scouting Report

November 4, 2016 by Adam Magnacca

The bye week is often a time to reflect on the first chunk of the games a team played and to look forward to what is to come. I’ve been thinking a lot about the scope of the league and how the Pats will fare come playoff time. It has seemed for a while now that the regular season is just one big warm up for the real show in Foxboro, the playoffs. So let’s dive in, shall we?

Here’s everything you need to know about the best of the best of the AFC aka, “The Teams Just Trying to Keep Up.”

This is where the AFC stands as of today in terms of playoff seeding

Credit to CBSSports

The Patriots are at the top of the conference at 7-1, followed closely by the Raiders, only 1 game back. The Steelers being behind the Texans is a little shocking, and you’d think you could pin that on Ben Roethlisberger being out injured, but he was only out a game against the Patriots, a contest Pittsburgh was hardly guaranteed to win with Roethlisberger. Clearly, the best QB of these six teams belongs to Pats Nation followed by a (when healthy) Roethlisberger, and then Oakland with Derek Carr. The other three are serviceable QBs ranging from inconsistent to above average. Looking beyond these 6 teams, the only other teams with at least 4 wins are the Bills, which received a thrashing from TFB last week, and the Tennessee Titans who still feel one season away before being competitive with the top of the AFC.

All these teams have their strengths, and how exciting that the Raiders are relevant in the NFL again, but now let’s look at how they might match up with the Patriots.