PatsPropaganda

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Patriots vs. Broncos AFCCG Film Review

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I feel like I finally saw the game for the first time just now, getting a chance to look at the All-22 film. For those of you who were lucky enough to miss it, I came down with a killer stomach bug Saturday afternoon that destroyed me through the night. That made watching the game on Sunday less than optimal.

There was no pregamming. No pump up music or good food or drinks. I could barely muster the strength to coordinate my Patriots outfit for Hoodie’s sake! Nope, spent the game sipping Gatorade and nibbling on saltines, praying that the nightmare unfolding before me was just some kind of fever dream.

Alas it was not. But there was plenty on here to make me sick if I already hadn’t caught whatever Jamie Collins had the middle of this season.

There’s been plenty of great film review already out there, but I had to take a look for myself and most of what has been discussed was confirmed. But here’s what I saw with my own eyes.

First, let’s say I can’t wait to go back to Denver next year even though we have no idea who their QB will be. Every time we go there we kill ourselves with un-Patriot-like football. Football is a game of inches and that was very true in this one. 

The Pats just hung in there and kept fighting when it seemed like the game was hanging by a string multiple times. Despite all the negative attention being heaped on everyone this week, this game was winnable in spite of it all.

Yes, Wade Phillips deserves a ton of credit but it was nothing the Pats haven’t see and shredded before. The problem was that they weren’t expecting it, weren’t ready to counter it and once Brady couldn’t get locked in the game was a struggle.

Nothing sums this up better than seeing Julian Edelman wide open on a couple plays yet Brady is forcing it deep to Bolden. Seriously I pray I never have to watch a Brandon Bolden-centric ground game ever again. It’s like Matthew Slater at wide receiver. You’re awesome at special teams. Stick to what you’re awesome at.

Hard to ask for the defense to do too much better than they did. Yes the first drive was gross but also aided by a questionable PI call. Collins blew two coverages that resulted in touchdowns but outside of those two plays there were barely any legitimate big plays made on the defense. Anderson’s 30-yard run in the fourth quarter was the only real breakdown.

All things considered the defense did everything they had to do to let the offense win the game. Take that defensive performance in any other season-ender and the Pats probably win. Could we have used another takeaway? Sure. But they forced punt after punt and only gave up three points after the half. What else can you ask?

Collins and Hightower led the way, but Brown and Branch were standouts as well. The secondary all stayed right with their guy in man coverage and limited YAC. Matt Patricia must be driving himself crazy because the defense was good enough to win despite facing two turnovers and multiple short fields.

Nuggets:

Malcolm Butler’s stop on third-and-1 where he takes off like he’s shot out of a cannon to tackle Anderson for no gain in the third quarter was such a clutch play. Butler deserves every bit of praise he gets now as a #1 corner. 

Amendola seemed like he was hurt after every play. Very curious to see what the offseason holds for him.

The troubling thing about the offensive line and likely why Gugs got the axe, was how out of sync they looked. There was no rhythm, especially in the run game. And even when they brought in Fleming to go max protect, Miller blows right by him for the worst sack of the day. Just unacceptable because they looked clueless.

Sebastian Vollmer will be having nightmares about Demarcus Ware, who owned our veteran tackle almost every down. Even at the end, Ware just kept coming and Vollmer just didn’t have the foot speed to compete.

Just too painful to ever watch the failed two-pointer again. Gronk was so so wide open. 

Can’t believe how Brady hung in there and just kept fighting after taking the beating of his life. And to think they were just a play or two away from winning this thing is such a testament to Brady and the team’s mental toughness. They went down like champs should go down, swinging to the last.

After a full two days of reflection and taking a calm look at the film the fire has already started for the 2016 season for me. And yes, we get to go back to Denver. With pretty much this entire team coming back the Pats will clearly be the AFC favorites come September, but we all know it’s a win in Mile High that will be the big thing we all want.

Greg Cosell’s Film Review: How Denver’s D dominated the Patriots

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Greg Cosell’s Film Review: How Denver’s D dominated the Patriots

Always enjoy Greg Cosell’s breakdowns even when they’re about the season-ender. It’s hard to believe the Patriots would be so slow, or even refuse outright to adjust to what Wade Phillips was doing on defense. They’ve seen it all before. How was there no counter punch to help Brady find a rhythm? 

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https://www.patspropaganda.com/19/

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Offseason Monday 🙁

https://www.patspropaganda.com/offseason-monday/

Pats Posits: We’re on to the Offseason!

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And that’s all she wrote on the 2015 Patriots after getting thoroughly dominated by the Broncos’ defense in Denver.  I didn’t think the Broncos could win a straight-up fight. And while there were quite a few fluky dumbass plays by the Pats, it basically came down to the Broncos defense dominating the Patriots offense.

So full credit to them. We’ve see seasons end like this before. Does it mean blow everything up? Not even close. The entire core returns next season, and with players returning from injury like Nate Solder and Dion Lewis, the Patriots offense is already much better today than it was as they walked off the field in Denver.

But this one was every bit as maddening as past season-enders have been. They weren’t as sharp as they needed to be from the outset. That included a stupid headbutt by Stork that backed them up after a big punt return by Amendola.

I do think the Patriots were late to realize the Broncos offense was done, in hindsight taking field goals at the end probably would’ve won the game. They always err on the side of aggression so I can live with it.

What was brutally apparent was that as soon as the Pats punted on their first possession after winning the toss and receiving, they would be playing catchup the rest of the game. The Broncos had their best drive on their first drive, and never came close to a long sustained drive the rest of the game.

Saw plenty of complaints out there about not deferring, but it’s not that uncommon as we think. They received against Denver in 2013 as well, along with two other times that season. It certainly backfired in this one.

The Pats defense deserves a lot of credit too. They didn’t get much help and they forced five punts and let up just a field goal in the second half. They stopped the run. They got to Manning. They did everything a defense needs to do in the playoffs. And they’re all coming back.

Despite the constant catchup, I really liked our chances for most of the game. Even without their best game, the Pats still went down to the wire and went down swinging. They will never be a team that simply folds and it’s a point of pride no matter how the season ends.

Will take a few days to wrap up the season and then it’s on to free agency and the draft. Another offseason is upon us. Ugh.

Which Hoodie Should Bill Belichick Wear in the AFC Championship?

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As you’re all probably aware by now, I track Bill Belichick’s game day attire and in recent years as it’s come to light, I believe more and more that somehow I have a direct line to whoever chooses his wardrobe.

Last week was another prime example when I said BB should wear the “Hot Jacket” that he was 9-1 in despite it likely being winter conditions that might require something warmer. Yet there was BB on Sunday, wearing that Hot Jacket and moving to 10-1 in it.

It was similar in both SB46 and SB49 when my pregame picks magically ended up on BB. Let’s see if we can keep that streak going this weekend.

Things are a little more complicated this week because Belichick actually wore that same Hot Jacket the last time the Pats were in Denver for the AFC Championship and they lost. Still, Belichick is now 16-6 in the Hot Jacket, making it his second-most-worn gameday attire only to the famous Gray Reebok Hoodie with the sleeves cut off (he was 31-9 in that).

Here’s a quick look back at what BB has worn in AFC Championships:

BB hasn’t worn gray at all this season and that’s probably for the best since he’s 3-2 in that color. He’s 3-1 in Blue and with temps expected in the 30s/40s it’s likely going to need a hoodie or some layers under the Hot Jacket.

If he goes with a blue hoodie he’s worn three different ones this season:

  • 2015 Nike Hoodie: 1-1, Win over Giants, loss in Denver.
  • 2014 Nike Hoodie: 1-1, Win over Bills, loss to Eagles
  • 2013 Nike Crewneck: 1-1, Win over Tenn, Loss to Jets

Each one has it’s own issues, but all things considered there was only one truly epic, legacy win this season and that came against the Giants. That leads me to pick the 2015 Blue Nike Hoodie.

Yes, they lost in Denver with him in that one, but we also finally got the Eli Manning monkey off our back with it as well. 2015 has been impossible to define outside of its injuries. But wins over the Giants, Chiefs and then pulling this one out over the Peyton/Broncos would truly define this 2015 team. Thus the 2015 hoodie makes the most sense.

The Hot Jacket is still a reasonable second choice, but the weather is likely not going to make that the most comfortable selection. And if he must go with a Blue Winter Jacket, so be it, he’s 1-0 in those, but let’s just hope he keeps the 2015 Hoodie underneath.

So let’s all cross our fingers he’s wearing this hoodie below!