PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

bill belichick

Patriots Gameplan: AFC Championship vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

by

The New England Patriots host the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday in the AFC Championship, for the right to represent the conference in Super Bowl 52. It’s New England’s seventh-straight conference championship game, trying to win three-of-four Super Bowls for the second time with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Crazy.

This was a weird year in the NFL as the power structure, aside from the Patriots, has mostly been turned over. After years of being a punchline, the Jaguars introduced their fully-healthy defense to the league behind sporadic but effective Blake Bortles, who has played two playoff games of turnover-free football. For all the talk of the Jags’s defense being the only threat, their offense was 5th in points and 6th in yards.

Pats-Jags doesn’t have the same feel as AFC Championships against the Colts, Ravens and Broncos , but the Jaguars have earned the right to become the latest contender to try and knock off Tom Brady and Bill Belichick at home in the AFCCG, something only the 2012 Ravens did.

Tom Brady’s apparent thumb injury adds a new level of intrigue, with the Patriots being noticeably feeding the flames. Ryan Hannable summed it up nicely here.

What do the Patriots need to do to beat the Jaguars and get back to the ‘ship? Here’s the gameplan.

 

[Read more…] about Patriots Gameplan: AFC Championship vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Belichick Hoodie AFC Championship Prediction

by

It’s been quite then week for the Hoodie Database. Just when I think my signature stat is totally played out, Belichick goes and throws a huge curveball like he did last week against the Titans. I wrote all about here and dedicated an entire segment on Patshow to it.

The big takeaway? That Belichick busted out the old Reebok hoodie, the one that made him famous. Maybe it wasn’t the gray version we’re most familiar with but really, the gray did the heavy lifting through the Reebok Hoodie tenure, the Blue came around later so it makes sense it’s the one that was preserved and taken from the closet after six long seasons.

Now, with Belichick busting out old hoodies, it’s no wonder the Pats are the favorites to take home the Lombardi Trophy once again. You can bet on the Patriots to win Superbowl 2018 online at Betting-Super-Bowl.com but first they need to win the AFC Championship over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

So what should Belichick wear to get past the Jags? Let’s take a quick look back at the last six AFC Championships.

[Read more…] about Belichick Hoodie AFC Championship Prediction

Belichick Hoodie Bombshell! The Return of the Reebok Hoodie

by

Usually after a big playoff win I dive right into my analysis with the Pats Posits, my quick-hit piece laying out everything that stood out to me from the game. Well, not today.

That’s because after years of Bill Belichick Hoodie Database research, predictions of what he could and should wear, Belichick dropped the biggest bombshell of his Hoodie career on us against the Titans.

Last night as the game started I almost lost my mind as soon as the first shot of the coach crossed the screen at TKO Shea’s where we were doing some live broadcasting for Patshow. The tweets at me began almost immediately. While I wasn’t the only one to notice Belichick’s Hoodie, I was the only one who instantly realized what was happening:

He was wearing the Blue Reebok Hoodie, a hoodie he had not worn since 2011 and one that quite frankly I’m not sure he was allowed to wear given the NFL’s new sideline apparel deal with Nike.

[Read more…] about Belichick Hoodie Bombshell! The Return of the Reebok Hoodie

Belichick Hoodie Prediction vs. Titans

by

As I do for every playoff game it’s time to figure out what attire Bill Belichick could and should wear against the Titans on Saturday night. By now you know all about the Hoodie Database and all of the advanced stat metrics, like blue or gray, cut sleeves or intact, and hot jacket or hoodie. I’m not sure if you can get an NFL betting line on it, but if you can you’ve come to the right place for the ultimate insider info!

First, a quick look back at the season as it broke down like so:

  • Hot Jacket — 8 games, 6-2
  • 2017 Gray Cut Hoodie — 5 games, 4-1
  • Winter Gear — 2 games, 2-0
  • 2017 Blue Windbreaker — 1 game, 1-0

The Hot Jacket just isn’t realistic with rain and cold weather in the forecast, which likely means we’ll be seeing some of kind of winter or rain jacket. That leaves some detective work because more often than not Belichick will have a hoodie underneath. So keep an eye out for the 2017 Cut Gray Hoodie, the one with the neck slashed out too.

Historically, here’s how Belichick’s dressed in the last seven divisional rounds:

[Read more…] about Belichick Hoodie Prediction vs. Titans

Injury-Riddled Pats Still Crushing Tomato Cans

by

By now you know the Patriots injured reserve list in 2017 is long and distinguished. Here’s a reminder of what it looks like via Patriots.com and it’s not a pretty picture. 

According to ManGamesLost.com (subscription required) the Patriots ranked second overall in the league in lost 2016 performance. Add in that the Pats were particularly hit hard by free agency departures on defense, compounded by the retirement of Rob Ninkovich and it’s understated how different the 2017 team is from the one that won the last Super Bowl.

[Read more…] about Injury-Riddled Pats Still Crushing Tomato Cans

Coffin Corner: The Benefits of Fan Fic and STATS!!!

by

Friday’s — well it wasn’t exactly a hit job — what should we call it? I think, Fan Fic? Fan Fiction is basically where people take their favorite show, book or movie and develop their own stories for the characters.  It’s responsible for some really bad writing and lots of gratuitous sex, but it’s also responsible for the billion dollar 50 shades franchise, which was Erika Mitchell’s kinky fan fic for the Twilight series. In this version, the love triangle centers around the principle characters of the New England Patriots for the last 20 years.

No cheating accusations, no conspiracies (really), just palace intrigue and open and juicy unanswered questions and also the new tidbit that Bill Belichick personally awards a Patriot Of The Week award now (good scoop, Seth!). My read on the piece is that it’s generally true without being accurate. It gathers a growing sense that there may be a rift, while suggesting there is evidence without presenting any.  I’m actually shocked, Wickersham never brought up Belichick high-fiving the offense after scoring on Miami late. I mean, what’s more scandalous than that?!

The biggest problem with the piece is that Wickersham never entered the building and likely never talked to anyone of import in the story. Maybe he talked to Guerrero or McDaniels or Patricia or one of the younger coaches, but no one who knows anything about what he’s purporting to know. So it’s just idle workplace gossip and rumor-mongering, which as we’ve learned is sort of Wickersham’s thing.

[Read more…] about Coffin Corner: The Benefits of Fan Fic and STATS!!!

5 Takeaways from ESPN’s Brady-Belichick-Kraft Article

by

Last night, Bruce Allen dropped the news that ESPN was about to run a “hit” piece on the Patriots this morning that dove into growing tension between Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft. Of course Patriots fans went ballistic at the mere mention of this and the internet was ablaze with takes before anyone had even read what was actually written.

Well the article came out this morning and honestly I found it pretty tame and mostly just expounding on what had already been reported locally.

It did contain plenty of interesting details but, after 18 years of the central figures working together, there’s nothing that is all that hard to believe. There are certainly details that left me scratching my head a bit, things that were left out or muddier than I think they needed to be, but overall, I found it more interesting that outrageous, and a reminder of all the moving parts involved with managing a football team, much moreso one that has had such unprecedented success.

Here are the five takeaways that I found most interesting, and what this all means as we enter the playoff bye week.

[Read more…] about 5 Takeaways from ESPN’s Brady-Belichick-Kraft Article