PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

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For a while there on Saturday, when New England was trailing visiting Miami 17-0 at the half, I was starting to wonder if anybody really wants the AFC’s top seed? The Patriots looked headed for a rare loss at home in December, Houston has suddenly has lost two in a row, while both Pittsburgh and Baltimore got beat handily on the West Coast in Week 15. Those are your top four contenders for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, and everybody looked headed in reverse to some degree.

But the Patriots (12-3) steadied themselves in impressive fashion and rallied to beat the Dolphins 27-24, clinching a first-round bye in the procees. With a win next week at home against Buffalo, New England’s eighth in a row to end the regular season, the Patriots would lock up the No. 1 seed and AFC homefield advantage.
New England proved again it’s a mentally tough team, unlike their chief AFC East rivals, the wilting Jets. Tom Brady started horribly against the Dolphins, at one point being 3 of 13 for 37 yards in the first half. But when the smoke cleared, Brady was 27 of 46 for 304 yards, with one touchdown pass and two rushing scores. Brady set a new single-season career high for passing yards (4,897), and Wes Welker re-emerged in a big way, with 12 catches for 138 yards, and a new franchise mark for receiving yards in a season (1,518).

I know the Patriots have been knocked out of the playoffs after losing at home in the postseason openers the past two years, but I still think New England, with its defensive liabilities, becomes the clear-cut AFC Super Bowl favorite if it gets to play twice at Gillette Stadium in January.

Matthew Stafford leads Detroit Lions into playoffs for first time since 1999 – Don Banks – SI.com

https://www.patspropaganda.com/for-a-while-there-on-saturday-when-new-england/

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Defensive Player of the Week
New England LB Jerod Mayo. Days after signing a rich contract extension, Mayo showed the Patriots they were smart holiday shoppers. He had 13 tackles and two sacks in New England’s 27-24 win over Miami. It was his second sack that helped the Patriots clinch the game. With eight minutes left and New England nursing a 20-17 lead, Mayo sacked Matt Moore and forced a Miami punt. The Pats scored on the ensuing drive, wrapping up the win.

Aaron Rodgers the clear-cut MVP after dismantling Chicago Bears – Peter King – SI.com

https://www.patspropaganda.com/defensive-player-of-the-week-new-england-lb-jerod/

Was it a mistake for Patriots to let Brandon Tate go?

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Was it a mistake for Patriots to let Brandon Tate go?

Tate’s stats with the Bengals are below (courtesy ESPN Boston). Given the Pats struggles on kick off returns and lack of a young receiver it’s fair to look at what Tate has done and think he could’ve helped a bit, at least in the kicking game. It’s a safe bet he’d have contributed more than Tyquan Underwood, Taylor Price and Chad Ochocinco combined.

WR Brandon Tate (Bengals)

  • Week 16: Two kickoff returns for 40 yards, and one punt return for 2 yards in a 23-16 home win over Cardinals 
  • Week 15: Four kickoff returns for 101 yards and 2 punt returns for 71 yards in 20-13 road win over Rams 
  • Week 14: Two kickoff returns for 33 yards and 1 fair catch on a punt in a 20-19 home loss to the Texans 
  • Week 13: Four kickoff returns for 103 yards and 5 punt returns for 54 yards in a 35-7 road loss to Steelers; loses a fumble on one kickoff return 
  • Week 12: Four kickoff returns for 90 yards and 2 punt returns for minus-5 yards in 23-20 home win over Browns 
  • Week 11: Four punt returns for 24 yards in 31-24 road loss to Ravens 
  • Week 10: Two kickoff returns for 56 yards and four punt returns for 43 yards in 24-17 loss to the Steelers 
  • Week 9: Three kickoff returns for 51 yards and 5 punt returns for 9 yards in a 24-17 win at Tennessee 
  • Week 8: Scores on a 56-yard punt return in a 34-12 win at Seattle; adds four kickoff returns for 113 yards 
  • Week 7: Bye 
  • Week 6: Two punt returns for 35 yards (long of 33); 2 kickoff returns for 55 yards in a 27-17 home win over Colts 
  • Week 5: Three punt returns for 43 yards; 3 kickoff returns for 76 yards 
  • Week 4: Returns 7 punts for 69 yards in 23-20 home win over the Bills; adds 3 kickoff returns for 66 yards 
  • Week 3: Returns 3 punts for 31 yards with 3 fair catches; 2 kickoff returns for 50 yards 
  • Week 2: Returns five punts for 29 yards (5.8 avg.) in a 24-22 loss at Denver; no kickoff returns as all were touchbacks 
  • Week 1: Handles punt returns and kickoff returns in 27-17 win over Browns; finishes with 1 punt return for 15 yards and 3 fair catches, and has four kickoff returns for 92 yards, with a long of 35

Notes on the Patriots – Dolphins ReWatch

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Hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas yesterday. We’re on vacation all week so forgive me for the sporadic to non-existant posts. The fact is that we know what we got with the 2011 Patriots and speculating whether or not the defense will suddenly be consistently tough seems useless.

That’s probably why I wasn’t really that surprised when Miami torched the Pats on a few drives last weekend. We’ve seen it all year and expecting anything otherwise, especially against a team that was playing well like the Dolphins had been, is foolish.

The Patriots can win the Super Bowl, but things are really going to have to go their way. Tom Brady will have to put together three solid playoff games (something he hasn’t done since 2004), and the defense is going to have to be opportunistic and keep getting takeaways.

Here are our notes after re-watching the Dolphins game:

Jerod Mayo is finally really coming on like we’d been hoping for. He’s always been a tackling machine but the last few weeks he’s been turning into a big play machine. This will need to continue in the playoffs. 

Dane Fletcher is also really adding some speed to the defense. He’s been a good Spikes replacement. He just needs to wrap up and finish his tackles and he’ll cement himself as a solid building block for the future.

This is it, last week for Spikes and Chung to get a game in before the playoffs. Both players could still help in the playoffs (Chung especially) but they won’t have much time to knock the rust off. One missed tackle is all it takes in the playoffs. Both players will face questions in 2012 if they can make it through a season.

I’ve never seen a more up and down corner than McCourty. Sometimes its a huge swing just between snaps. He’ll need to put together some consistency if the Pats are going anywhere. Nothing kills you more than needless 3rd down penalties and McCourty’s put together a few of them.

I like Ihedigbo for his toughness but I don’t see him as a long term solution at safety. Sometimes just staying healthy is enough to get you playing time. As a special teams piece, I’ll take him long term.

Not expecting Guyton back. And as anyone who knows me will tell you, I’m not that broken up about it. 

Pats used a heavy front four that got pushed around early, creating the creases that Reggie Bush thrives on. They also got little pass rush pressure from their base front which due to the heavy nature isn’t a total shock, but it only made Andre Carters absence that much more noticeable. 

I think the pass coverage could pull it together for a playoff run, but I have real concerns about the pass rush from the base front four without Carter. If we see Mark Anderson out there in base we’ll know BB does too.

Brandon Deaderick is quietly having a great season along with Kyle Love. The enigma known as Ron Brace remains unable to stay on the field. 

I don’t know if Shaun Ellis is saving something for the playoffs but his get up and go got up and went. 

Prayers for Matt Light and Logan Mankins are my number one concern. 

Its scary how this offense goes back and forth from useless to unstoppable. They’re so patient for good reason even when they look as bad as they did in the first half. 

Stevan Ridley or Woodhead will have a huge playoff game. Not sure which just yet. 

When we talked about the Pats inability to develop receivers perhaps we shouldve given them credit for Hernando?

We all still know its possible for TFB to go into three game berserker mode for the playoffs and lead the Pats to SB #4 right? Just need the defense to continue to force turnovers and hold teams to field goals. Start getting your heart ready for the playoff games now, I’m sure we’re all going to be having heart attacks multiple times.