An Independent Patriots Blog
Quick-hit thoughts around NFL, New England Patriots – ESPN Boston
Favorite Sunday read, lots of good nuggets, including a mention of Aaron Dobson, who will get another chance to show what he’s got sooner than later.
Otherwise, it will be a day of stress-free football enjoyment, hopefully the last one of these until the *fingers crossed* playoff bye week.
MUST WATCH!!!!!!
Potential roadblocks for New England Patriots – ESPN Boston
Agreed on all these fronts that Reiss lists. Lots of ball left this season and we certainly didn’t win the Super Bowl by beating Peyton Manning and the Broncos last week. But there are some boosts coming as well with the bye week, including some guys getting more healthy, new guys getting more time to get up to speed in the system and of course, the returns of Chandler Jones and Sealver Siliga at some point. My favorite? Dominique Easley finding his groove as a pass rusher. I still believe.
Great breakdown from Oliver Thomas on Browner!
Here’s mine, basically the same except at the top.
7. @ Jets – just a chance to rub some salt in the wound that it is the 2014 season for them.
6. Bills – Garoppolo time!
5. Lions – good test, but I think the Pats will be ready for them after the beatings they gave us in recent preseasons. Hope Megatron plays to see him vs. Revis.
4. @ San Diego – they’ll present some challenges, especially on the road. Depends on which Chargers team shows up – last weekend’s one that got blown out by the Dolphins or the one that got off to a hot start. Probably one that comes down to the end.
3. Dolphins – I kind of think they’re overrated right now and I have my doubts they can put up much fight in mid-December weather in Foxboro. But if there’s a playoff spot on the line it could be a good one.
2. @ Green Bay – Fun matchup but not a critical game for either team. Good road test for the Pats at a time when they should be rounding into the best football.
1. @ Indy – The LOS has been a house of horrors for the Pats (4th and 2, SB46) and the Colts would love nothing more than to finally get a win vs. the Pats after getting dominated the last two times in Foxboro. This feels like a proving game and one that will impact the playoff seedings. Big, big tilt on national TV. Can Andrew Luck play a perfect game? That’s what it will take.
I think that’s a good way to put it. As I said in an answer earlier this week, I think the bye week needs to focus on ways to get guys like Amendola and Wright (and maybe Dobson) more involved in the passing game. Teams will catch on to what the Patriots are doing with Gronk-LaFell-Edelman. Not that that means they will shut it down completely, because that’s a very tough trio to contend with, but there will be times where they cause the Pats offense some problems. Those are the times where switching gears to Amendola/Wright/Dobson might help.
