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Patriots Ups & Downs: Week 1 vs Miami

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AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Whilst I was really excited for the season, I can’t hide my disappointment of yesterday’s 20-7 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots fell behind in the first half to a 17-0 deficit and never recovered, plus they encountered some potentially serious injuries. Here are the ups & downs from week 1.

Ups ⬆️

Jakobi Meyers

Meyers turned out to be one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise dull day for the Patriots as he hauled in 4 catches for 55 yards. The stats don’t scream out a special game, but the catches were far from easy.

In a game which saw the offense really struggle, Meyers once again showed why he’s such an important commodity. A good game for him.

Matthew Judon + Deatrich Wise Jr.

Judon had the difficult task of competing against Terron Armstead all day, but, he shone through with a nice play to record his first sack of the season. The defensive rushing attack had some success yesterday which was encouraging to see.

Like Judon, Wise also flashed on a number of occasions and again stood out with his sack on Tua, which caused a fumble that was recovered by the Dolphins.

Downs ⬇️

Mac Jones

Mac had a disappointing game where he never really looked comfortable against a solid Miami defense. He started well on the opening drive of the game, before a deep shot to DeVante Parker was picked off.

Jones took a number of hits, which left us all concerned after the game as he went straight into the X-Ray room for examination on his back. Fortunatley, the tests were negative and he was experiencing back spasms.

I like to stay positive when I can, but, I do fear for this season a little already, with Mac’s availability up in the air for Week 2, it’s going to be a long week.

Offensive Line

I don’t think the line played well at all, Trent Brown didn’t seem all that interested or impactful, and our rookie first-rounder was benched early on after missing a block which led to a sack. The questions will start up again about whether or not the unit are getting clear instructions from Matt Patricia, who is also the defacto OC. If the O-line doesn’t get things in order quick, we might not have a starting QB for the entire season.

Nelson Agholor

I feel a little harsh putting Agholor on here, but ball security is one of the biggest priorities for Bill, and he fumbled what was a promising late drive, after a good catch from Kendrick Bourne. Agholor will come back from this, but it summed up an awful day for the Pats attack.

Miami Vice…? Once again the Patriots can’t pull off a win in the Miami heat

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Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

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!

PatsProp Preview – Starting Off In Miami

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Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

THE NFL IS BACK!!!! The wait is finally over, we have actual football back this evening, and the Patriots will be back in action on Sunday with a trip down to Miami.

The recent history of this rivalry isn’t kind for the Patriots, only having won 2/6 of the last encounters with the fish.

Patriots To Watch

Mac Jones
Mac heads into his second season as captain, after being selected by his teammates to the position earlier this week. This is a big year for Jones, who struggled through the preseason with offensive inconsistantsies, he needs to have that big year-two jump that is so often talked about.

He’ll lead the attack with a pretty similar offense, but will have a new target in DeVante Parker, which is definitely an upgrade on N’Keal Harry. Like always, Mac will be one to watch.

Cole Strange
The first-rounder will get his first taste of pro football against the Dolphins, and I’ll be keen to see how he settles in for the first few games. Strange has had a good camp by all accounts, but I just want him to go out there and put a solid shift in and build from there.

Trent Brown
When Trent Brown has a good game, so do the Patriots, usually. Brown will be key in both the pass and run games, questions for me still linger about his commitment and overall happiness at being moved to left tackle, but we’ll see what Sunday brings for the big monster lineman.

DeVante Parker
Parker comes with intrigue and will play a role for Jones in contested-catch passing attempts. I recall a time with one of my first game previews for the blog reviewing the battle between Parker and Gilmore when he was then on the Dolphins roster, times have changed and Parker isn’t the same player, but I think he could be a useful outlet for Jones. One to watch.

Jalen Mills
After having somewhat of a tough first season, Mills has come out of Training Camp as the consensus starting cornerback for the Patriots alongside Jonathan Jones. Mills having a good game to start his season will be crucial, especially against the likes of Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill looking to cause havoc on the opposing side of the ball.

Dolphin Danger

Tua Tagovailoa
Tua has slowly become then nemesis of the Patriots in recent games, mastering the game-plans set by Brian Flores. He’s bang average in my opinion, but is now tooled up with fast weapons on an office which has history in dismantling the Bill Belichick set defense. The Pats will need to get after him and force him into making mistakes.

Tyreek Hill
Hill is one of the deadliest receivers in the league and joined the Dolphins from KC for big money this offseason. Alongside Waddle, Hill has the ability to turn a short 5-yard completion into a 75-yard touchdown out of nothing by just using his raw speed. My assumption will be that the defense will play a lot of zone against him, and he must be stopped or things could get ugly.

Xavien Howard
The Dolphins have one of the league’s best ballhawks in Xavien Howard, not forgetting his 37-yard pick six on Mac Jones the last time these two teams met in January. Howard probably is Miami’s deadliest threat on defense, he’s one to watch for sure this weekend.

Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection

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Just like that the preseason is over and done with, tomorrow the team will cut the roster size down to just 53 to comply with league rules. Here’s my Patriots roster projection:

Quarterbacks (3)
IN: Mac Jones, Brian Hoyer, Bailey Zappe

Notes:
No changes for this position, Hoyer’s contract indicates that he’ll be the backup and won’t be going anywhere, Zappe will be kept as a third-string developmental player.

Running Backs (5)
IN: Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, Ty Montgomery, Pierre Strong Jr., Kevin Harris
OUT: J.J. Taylor

Notes:
I think Taylor will miss out on the initial roster cut-down, but with Montgomery’s injury status up in the air, Taylor could be back on the roster much sooner if another team doesn’t pick him up.

Wide Receivers (6)
IN: Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor, DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton, Lil’Jordan Humphrey
OUT: Kristian Wilkerson, Trey Nixon, Josh Hammond

Notes:
With Thornton getting injured against Las Vegas, I suspect he’ll be placed on IR tomorrow after the deadline, opening up the chance for Wilkerson or Nixon to make it back on the team, but no real surprises here.

Tight Ends (3)
IN: Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Devin Asiasi
OUT: Matt Sokol, Jalen Wydermyer

Notes:
No surprises here either, I think the team will carry three at the position, with perhaps one final shot for Asiasi to show some worth, no room for Sokol or Wydermyer who were camp bodies.

Offensive Line (8)
IN: Cole Strange, Trent Brown, David Andrews, Mike Onwenu, Isaiah Wynn, Yodny Cajuste, Justin Herron, Kody Russey
OUT: Will Sherman, James Ferentz, Drew Desjarlais, Bill Murray, Chasen Hines, Arlington Hambright, Yasir Durant

Notes:
There is a bunch of questions that still remain unanswered regarding the offensive line, plus, they haven’t looked great through the preseason. Wynn remains for now, but I could see him getting dealt before the trade deadline, some of the cuts I’ve included should make their way back onto the PS.

[Read more…] about Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection

Patriots pre-season game recap 3!

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What happens in Vegas definitely should stay in Vegas! Patriots lose to the Raiders 23 – 6

Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images

Don’t they say if a dress rehearsal is terrible that the show will be successful? Fingers crossed for the regular season show, huh?

Okay, so it wasn’t all bad, it wasn’t, and we will have a peek at a few goods, but first the bad and the ugly… forgive me, I’m all about the clichés today baby!

The things that folks seem to be most concerned about right now, me inclusive, are the offensive line and the play calling. And following that pre-season showdown, these are still the things that we may be most concerned about right now. 

You all know I don’t like to name and shame, but James Ferentz had a bad snap in the second quarter, scuffed the ball against the floor, and paved the way for Kody Russey to step in as Centre. Seemingly 2022 will see perhaps more than one UDFA make the 53 roster!

Although it wasn’t a great ‘show and go’ by the defense either, particularly against run plays. 

I don’t know about those of you that did take in this game agree, it may be my Patriots bias, but there were a few calls the officials should have made against the Raiders. Unnecessary roughness, roughing the passer after the play, a face mask pull on Parker, and a little intentional grounding too. But those would not have eased the discord we fans may be feeling right now.

The Patriots had two scores wiped out by penalties, and two interceptions, with the extra pain of one being by Isaiah Zuber… an ex-Patriot!

Okay, before my sad tears cool down my coffee, let’s move along to some positives!

We saw some delightful flashes from Jack Jones, Matthew Judon continues to show he was possibly one of the best transactions of 2021 for the Patriots, and Anfernee Jennings makes the good list again and again, even if the good list is, like me, a little short this week.

As I aforementioned, offensively there were more concerns, but Trent Brown had some of those delicious throw down blocks, Rhamondre Stevenson continued to show his prowess with a great stiff arm in the second quarter and a lovely power run. Oh and I got to see Hunter Henry catch the ball for a 16 yard gain, you all know how excited those make me!

Last week I mentioned JJ Taylor, one of those guys that continues to be on the bubble, and we all know why, what with the depth in the Patriots running back room and the double draft at the position. But, he scuttle-bugs his way here and there, and the late in the second half, bat down on the ball from Hoyer, saw JJ come from far and wide to make the save from the fumble, maintaining Patriots possession. I was cheering for this guy in 2020, and I gotta say I’m still wearing my “vote for JJ” badge this year too!

So most of us want to take that pre-season out and bury it. I get it, the Patriots have a lot to work on in two weeks, but let us remember, it is only pre-season, there is still time. Let’s get hitting that reset button, and bringing it back for the trip to Miami.

So, until next time you lovely lot! Go Pats!

Does the Legalization of Sports Betting in Massachusetts Affect the Patriots?

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Aside from the buzz that the start of every NFL season comes with, Massachusetts has been in the news for another reason – sports betting. 

While the fanbase of the Patriots spreads far beyond the state lines, it’s hard to deny that a significant portion of the New England support comes from MA, so what’s been going on with sports betting, and how does this impact the Patriots?

The State of Sports Betting in MA

It’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride for Massachusetts when we talk about sports betting, with months of back and forth seemingly getting no closer to a decision. But around 5am a deal to legalize sports betting in the state was agreed, and signed into law by Gov- Charlie Baker a few days later. 

And it’s been all hands on deck to get things ready for the start of the NFL season so residents would have the chance to wager on the Patriots without needing to cross into New York or Connecticut. While it will certainly be a few months before online sports betting is really up and running, numerous retail options could be live before the first game of the season. So get ready to find the best NFL betting promotions and get some skin in the game for what will certainly be a thrilling NFL season. 

How does sports betting impact the Patriots?

Patriots game recap 2!

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The Patriots scoop up a pre-season win at Gillette against the Carolina Panthers

Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Isn’t it great when the first drive of the game is a Patriots defensive penalty? 

Obviously I jest, but in some seriousness, the Patriots did notch up 12 penalties during the win against the Panthers. But hey, it’s the pre-season, there is still plenty of time to tighten up… insert grimacing gif of choice!

Not to single guys out, but well, this is a game recap. Scanning a play and not blocking at all as well as some penalties, earned James Ferentz himself a spot on many peoples bad list, even if the late hit for unnecessary roughness at the end of the second quarter, was perhaps a little sweet revenge. 

Whilst there is considerable depth at wide receiver at the moment, and we are watching guys to make that final 53, unfortunately Tre Nixon had a catchable ball that he… didn’t, and Josh Hammond suffered a similar fate. 

But the offense wasn’t all bad, not at all. Damien Harris with great pass protection, and to risk cries of “biased for tight ends” we finally saw something from Devin Asiasi, did we see enough, the jury is still out, but he had a great grab for a 19 yard reception as well as several other good catches. 

As well as wide receiver choices, the running back room has some depth and skill sets, and JJ Taylor may be on the bubble, but not for the sake of trying! Yes, he had a drop on an easy short pass, but he scurries around with some good movement, and threw a great block for quarterback protection considering he isn’t exactly a tall guy. 

Speaking of quarterback, as much as I love me some Mac Jones, I really do, Bailey Zappe ignoring the Panthers player wrapped around his ankle and still making the throw… delicious. 

The defense has reportedly had a good training camp. Watching the last two pre-season games, against the Giants last week and now the Panthers, the defense have been the stronger side of the Patriots. 

Whilst there is a lot still being talked about with coaching and play calling, the defensive mind of Bill Belichick continues to bear fruits!

The good list for the defense is definitely long. Davon Godchaux with some good spin coverage, Ja’Whaun Bentley swallowing up the receiver, Christian Barmore on the edge barging in, Matt Judon pushing his mark back giving Lawrence Guy the opening for some quarterback pressure, Josh Uche with the sack, and that is all just in the first quarter! 

Josh Bledsoe forced a fumble and Myles Bryant was on the collect, but the officials with the premature stop of play, possible cost the Patriots some points, good job its only a pre-season game huh?

The end of the second quarter saw Mack Wilson almost having an interception, reading the quarterback’s eyes well, showing that the Chase Winovich trade-off, could really pay-off!

And just when you thought the pace of the game was ebbing away, Terrance Mitchell with the safety! Well, actually it turned out to be a fumble recovery and a touchdown. And finally, Brandon Schooler made sure his name was noted down in your game book, by sealing the Panthers fate with an interception within the final moments, and so the Patriots notched up their first pre-season win of 2022, Pats 20 – Panthers 10. 

Until next time, you lovely lot! Go Pats!