PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

Pats Posits: Saving Their Best for Probably-Not-Their Last

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In their most thrilling Super Bowl yet, the New England Patriots came back from 25 points to beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime, 34-28, cementing Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s place as the greatest Coach-QB duo in history.

A ton of new records were set or tied, including Most Super Bowls Won by a Head Coach (Bill Belichick, 5) Most Super Bowl Games (Tom Brady/Belichick, 7), most receptions (James White, 14), and Largest Deficit Overcome (25 points).

It’s taken me hours to wrap my head around this incredible victory and who knows how long it will take to fully grasp what unfolded. I never would’ve thought Brady’s performance in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 49 could be topped, but topped it was. But not before I had just about thrown in the towel.

At 28-3 in the middle of the third quarter, I dug into what I had hoped would be my Super Bowl victory cake. I was resigned that the Pats just met up with a red hot Falcons team and played their worst game of the season. Maybe they were bound to get blown out in one?

But like they always do, the Patriots never flinched. Once they cleaned up the mistakes — drops, ill-timed penalties and worst of all, turnovers — and figured out the Falcons’ coverage, Brady moved the ball at will.

Most impressive was that the legendary comeback was such a group effort. So many guys came through with clutch plays — White, Edelman, Hightower and Flowers are just three that jump out to me right away, but it was a team comeback, as much as it was Brady’s brilliance.

I can and will write thousands of words about this game, so let’s get a jump on all the analysis to come with the Posits.

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Patriots Gameplan: Super Bowl 51 vs. Atlanta Falcons

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Here we go again. The Patriots are headed to an NFL-record ninth Super Bowl, their seventh under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, and have a chance to firmly place themselves atop the history books in almost every regard.

Going to the Super Bowl never gets old. It’s wall-to-wall media coverage of your team as their season is dissected by all the best analysts. The nerves this week have been pretty tame. There’s not much to hate about the Falcons, but I’m still looking very forward to smashing them.

It’s a truly formidable test for the Patriots defense. This was supposed to be a culmination year, when all the great drafting on the defensive side of the ball since 2012 really paid off. And in a roundabout way, it still might be.

Plenty of Boston media jackasses who would love nothing more than to see the Patriots’ defense collapse so they can spend all offseason saying “toldya!”… I don’t believe the defense will let us down like that.

If they shut down this Falcons attack all that talk will be put to rest forever, along with countless other horrible takes and doubts. Unless Brady goes ham and then it doesn’t really matter how the defense plays. Because barring a couple weird turnovers, the Patriots offense should have their way with the Falcons’ defense.

I haven’t researched an opponent more in-depth than I have with the Falcons these last two weeks, and, as BB would say, the hay is in the barn. Let’s break it down in the final gameplan of the 2016 season!

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Can the Pats Copy the Eagles Defensive Plan vs. Falcons?

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One game in my Falcons’ film study that has stuck out was their 24-15 loss to the Eagles in mid-November. The Falcons put up a season-low 303 yards of offense with just 48 yards rushing.

It’s important not to take one game, especially their worst of the season, and take it as proof-positive their offense can be easily stopped. The Patriots have had plenty of outliers over the years that were extrapolated as “The Blueprint” to beat the Patriots.

Still, there’s plenty of analyze in terms of the Eagles schemes and coverages that gave the Falcons problems.

Here’s what stood out to me and what I think the Patriots are well-equipped to reproduce.

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Report: Browns Interested in Jimmy G

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Sources say the Browns’ interest in Garoppolo is real and that they’ll try to trade for him depending on how their draft evaluations go over the next five weeks or so. If the Browns decide to draft Mitch Trubisky or Deshaun Watson in the first round, they’ll be much less likely to pursue the Patriots’ backup — but wouldn’t rule it out.

But they’ll have competition for Garoppolo that will drive up the price. Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan liked him coming out of the draft, and might pursue a deal once he formally becomes the 49ers’ head coach.

The 49ers have the No. 2 pick in the draft, and are also looking for a quarterback.

But the Browns are intrigued, sources say, and they’ll strongly consider it. The cost could be the No. 12 overall pick and more.

Source: Mary Kay Cabot/Cleveland.com

As expected, teams are going to line up to get a shot at Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, with the Cleveland Browns leading the way. The Browns have two first round picks and two second round picks, so they have the ammo that the Pats will likely require to part ways with the talented Tom Brady apprentice.

I wrote this a couple months ago, and I haven’t really changed my tune. I know Brady has looked as good as ever this season but the end can come quickly and this is one position you shouldn’t mess around with. You have a player in-house and under contract for another season that can step in and win football games.

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Tuesday Patriots Super Bowl 10 Pack

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The Super Bowl circus is in full swing with the “Opening Night” last night kicking off the festivities in Houston. It’s become so much of a production compared to the old days where media availability happened during the day and was far more informal and fun. Still, it’s always good to get a read on the Patriots during these events as we close in on Super Bowl Sunday.

Here’s a 10 pack of thoughts on the latest developments…

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Which Hoodie Should Bill Belichick Wear in Super Bowl 51?

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The time has come to make my final prognostication as to what hoodie (or non-hoodie) Bill Belichick should wear in Super Bowl 51. A quick glance at the graphic above shows what Belichick has worn in his six Super Bowls with the Patriots, with the winning four on top and the losing two on the bottom.

Sorry if the dreaded red brings back some horrible feelings. But what should really jump out at you is that twice BB has cut off the sleeves of his hoodie for a Super Bowl and those two times he lost.

This was especially depressing in Super Bowl 46 because it would be Belichick’s last time in his iconic 2003 Gray Reebok Hoodie with the sleeves cut. This was Belichick’s original hoodie that he made famous and it went out with a whimper.

In Super Bowl 36 he just had a meager windbreaker and he left the sleeves alone. We were still two years away from the first time he would cut the sleeves off and wear it in a game. In 38 it was another windbreaker, but with the sleeves pushed up, not cut. Then came 39 and the sleeves weren’t cut, but they were pegged pretty good.

So the obvious lesson here — THE HOODIE MUST HAVE SLEEVES!!

I’m also going to rule out the Hot Jacket, which is the hardest decision of the Hoodie analysis. The Hot Jacket, which premiered in 2013, has been Belichick’s favorite go-to in recent seasons, going 24-8 overall, including the 2013 win over the Falcons. However he also wore the Hot Jacket in the 2013 AFCCG and the first half of the 2015 AFCCG. So the Hot Jacket is DEFINITELY OUT.

The answer is obvious — the 2016 Blue Hoodie. Belichick is 3-0 in it this season, including both playoff wins so far. He’s also been in blue for three of the four Lombardi-winning games.

The 2016 Blue Hoodie is the perfect one from Belichick to write another huge chapter of his legacy in. Let’s hope he’s listening.