Clare Cooper

After a mildly crazy weekend from the NFL, Monday dawns with the cool, crisp feeling of Autumn (or Fall if that’s more your thing) and it’s well and truly football season baby!

The Patriots almost sneak a win at Lambeau Field with their third string quarterback!

Okay, so there is plenty there in regards to “almost”, and you can’t credit the “only just loss” all to the Patriots, but, if you gave that game the eye ball test as a Patriots fan, I don’t think you would be THAT unhappy. 

Now, sure I understand that the Patriots are now 3-1 with a stretch of powerful teams ahead, and yes there are still issues within camp that don’t start and end with the QB. But, the Patriots stomped down Lambeau Fields with the likes of Deatrich Wise, Matthew Judon, multiple Joneses, Kendrick Bourne, Rhamondre Stevenson and, well, Bailey freakin’ Zappe, for a rather close defeat. 

As usual this season, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, we know this. So let’s get those green veggies off our plates quick smart so we can get to dessert, shall we? (Personal note, I have nothing against vegetables!)

First and foremost, Brian Hoyer leaving the game due to a head injury is nothing to gloss over, and I won’t. As much as I may have been one of the fans vocal about seeing what Zappe can do, I can imagine I’m not out of order in saying none of us would want it to be at the risk of Hoyer’s health. Especially, a head injury. At the time that I write this, there have been no updates in regard to the injury, although he did leave the game and walk to the blue medical tent on his own two feet. 

As you know by now, I’m not much for naming and shaming. I have done it occasionally and unfortunately, I have to do it again because Isaiah Wynn is really causing issues with the eager beaver penalties now. Every single game there have been multiple penalties on the Patriots and Wynn’s name features heavily on the list on the offensive side of the ball. 

Myles Bryant is another repeat offender, and whilst his whole game wasn’t completely poor, he lost his mark too many times, and gave away first downs. Especially in the last few minutes of the fourth quarter! The Packers were on a 4th and 6, just past the half way mark, and Bryant was guilty of a pass interference call that gave the enemy a valuable first down. 

Whilst Jack Jones did make my good list with a couple of the other Joneses, his explosive playing has it’s minuses and pluses. Whilst he is speedy and dynamic, hungry for the ball strip, this can result in his hands slipping from an opposing player and Jack getting left behind. 

Lil’Jordan wrestled his way downfield nicely, and Bourne showed his true Bourne-racer skills on a play that Zappe even stepped in to assist with the block. Fab to see in a way, but Zappe, sweetie, you need to grow out of that, especially as you are currently the remaining quarterback on the Patriots roster!

Matthew Judon’s name appears on my game recap in a good way each and every week, and this one is no different! Anyone else think Mr Red Sleeves may appear in a nightmare or two for Aaron Rodgers? Okay probably a little wishful thinking but you lot know how much I don’t like AR!

Whilst Matthew Judon is possibly the top defensive player on the Patriots right now, Deatrich Wise may be the second. He is certainly one of my favourites! The way he charges is be-au-ti-ful!

Talking of charging, I may have termed Damien Harris affectionately as steamroller in week two, on John Rooke’s Playbook, but I think Rhamondre Stevenson may have caught wind and been a little upset. Okay, I jest of course, but he has been an utter beast, so perhaps he should be crowned Steamerson?

The beloved David Andrews rarely gets a mention but that’s ‘cos he generally always good, but he made a gorgeous gap for Damien Harris’ mid third quarter run, with a nice, tidy block from a certain tight end enthusiast’s favourite Patriot tight end, Hunter Henry. 

And speaking of offensive line, Cole Strange has been getting a few mixed reviews but he took on Green Bay’s ultimate D-guy in Kenny Clark, and kinda won, I reckon this kid is alright!

So, whilst not everyone is happy with a moral victory, I have to say this one doesn’t feel so bad, but that’s just me. 

Until next time you lovely lot! Go Pats!

One and a half minutes into the game, a Myles Bryant bounce and bumble, following a 69 yard Steelers punt… oof!

However! The Patriots didn’t exactly start as they meant to go on.

Don’t misunderstand me here folks, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows just yet. The offensive line, whilst much, much better, still has room for improvement, and Mac Jones still seems a little off. 

Isaiah Wynn continued to be an eager beaver, and the Patriots were handed a couple of false start penalties, as well as a couple of holding ones too, not exactly great. 

But let’s just sugar coat it a little shall we?

So, okay, DeVante Parker seems to be struggling a little getting going, but double coverage will do that to a guy!

Rhamondre Stevenson showed off his strength with some great blocking, Cole Strange stepped up and received credit for playing well, and we saw a few different wide receivers names on the board!

Jakobi Meyers chiselled out his place in peoples hearts a little more, as he became airborne for a terrific catch/snatch from a great throw by Mac, and Nelson Agholor had one of his more statistically productive games, as well as a glorious stiff arm with five guys attempting to pull him down, and you all know how I love those kind of plays!

Mack Wilson proves that he was worth the switch with Chase Winovich, following the interception late in the first quarter. He rolled head over heels, and was back on his feet lightening fast… exactly what you want to see!

Lawrence Guy may be a veteran, but he knows how to show up to the party, with his nu-uh immediate catch of the Steelers running back early in the second quarter. 

So people cried for speed on this team, and it may be being found in all sorts-a places!

Adrian Phillips covered Pat Freiermuth like a blanket (Phillips is so lucky!), and Kyle Dugger showed solid technique, using his hands to obscure vision of the ball, even if he didn’t get his hands actually on it, this forced the Steelers to punt. 

The third quarter saw some Jabrill Peppers time, boy can that guy sniff out a play! He made a beeline for Johnson and followed that by a to-the-floor-dump of the guy! 

And as usual, Matthew Judon was… Matthew Judon, with his deliciousness in coverage.

Oh, and by the way! How beautiful was it when Brandon Schooler “schooled” Gunner Olszewski?! Okay to be fair, it was just a muffed punt but I don’t know about you, that’s the exact thing I had been worried about for years! 

But like I said, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, the Patriots have plenty to work on, it wasn’t an easy win. But a win is a win, and many are saying how big a difference there is with 1-3 to 0-4. But hey, it’s still early! Right now the Patriots are 1-1 just with some stuff to work on. 

Catch you next time you lovely lot! Go Pats. 

A bit of bad luck, a few good drives, but a lot of concerns, as the Patriots lose 7 to 20 to the Miami Dolphins.

There is plenty to take away from Sunday’s game, and there wasn’t a tonne of positives, but I promise you I will get to those later.

It would appear that the Patriots have not yet ironed out those offensive line kinks, that we have spent all off-season worrying over, (well since Shaq Mason left maybe) and Cole Strange may have had his first stint on the naughty chair, after there was a sack on Mac. He did however, re-enter the game later on, so maybe that dog house Bill used last year for all those running backs has been dismantled. 

But the two sacks on Mac can’t only be put on the shoulders of the carousel-ing offensive line, Jones’s pocket awareness needs to up it’s a game a little too. 

The Patriots have good players on the offense, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Ramondre Stevenson, Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith to just name some… and these are names of really good NFL players, but it just isn’t getting pieced together. Many want to blame the coaching, possibly the actual playbook, and as much as I am really loath to, this morning I’m not feeling greatly confident on how it’s going in that department. 

Myles Bryant did not show his best light this game, and he got the call up over a developing fan favourite, in rookie Marcus Jones. A badly missed tackle that resulted in a first down for the Fins wasn’t good at all, but then interfering with a very possible Devin McCourty interception, sends his name to the top of most peoples bad list. And whilst Jon Jones, Ja’Whaun Bentley and Kyle Dugger played a mostly, good one, that late game coming together of a backfield player sandwich, was not pretty

Okay, you want some positive sparkle dusted all over that possibly *bleep* show? 

I got ya covered you lovely lot!

The Patriots did manage a better job of closing up the run game this time. And whilst he was frustrated at not being put in much, Kendrick Bourne can definitely out run guys, and Mac Jones can in fact air it out!

Now, Duke Riley may have taken credit for a Mac missed throw to Jakobi Meyers, but I’m afraid dear Riley, that’s what it was. Mac threw a not so great, pass to Meyers and it bounced off Riley’s butt. I’m sorry but you can’t take credit for a butt bounce, there really was no technique displayed there.

And whilst we mention the lower posterior, we are all sending good karma to Kyle Dugger for an eye watering… plum hit. 

Speaking of Dugger, whilst he admitted to taking a poor angle on Waddle, he did make some great plays. Especially mid second quarter, where his ball awareness was tightly focused, and he was on the running back almost before the hand off, and taking him down with impressiveness.  

Deatrich Wise showed he is worthy of his captainship with some glorious sack play and pressure on Tua, and Matthew Judon continues to be… well Matthew Judon!

And, as for my favourite topic, tight endage, whilst the Patriots ran plenty of two tight end sets, we didn’t see the full effect just yet, but both Jonnu and Hunter had a flash or two. The third quarter in particular, had Smith on a powerful run from a short pass. And whilst Hunter may have conceded to a false start, he attempted to redeem himself with a great block, giving Nelson Agholor breathing room on a run. At the beginning of the second quarter when Mac threw it his way for the second time, it appeared to take six Dolphins players to finally get Hunter to a stop. 

So, let’s liken it to making pancakes. The first one always comes out a little wonky or overcooked, or both. So in the heat of Miami, maybe the Patriots over cooked it. The batter is good, the pan is solid and has great potential, and with the right temperature beneath, you can make the most perfect and delicious, fluffy goodness… okay maybe I’m just hungry, but I’m staying positive and willing to give the Patriots pancake a chance, and so it’s on to Pittsburg!

Go Pats!