Check out our latest episode of Patshow Live as we breakdown a needed win in Tampa Bay and Joe Caporoso of TurnontheJets.com joins us to give us some insight into the Jets’ 3-2 start and what we might expect to see from our young rivals this weekend. Plus our favorite media from this week and as always a visit from the Fitzy puppet. It’s all here on Patshow!
Buccaneers
Pats Posits: No Style Points On TNF
It wasn’t surprising to wake up to a lot of people pissing and moaning about the style points from last night’s Thursday Night Football win by the Patriots. On an uber-short week, against an unfamiliar opponent on the road you’ll take a victory any way you can take it, especially after how apocalyptic the Patriots defense looked on Sunday.
Really, it was only the fourth quarter that anyone should have any problem with. At that point the Patriots went to sleep on both sides of the ball after actually being quite good for most of the previous three quarters. The defense gave up 214 yards while the offense only picked up 42 in the 4th. So yes, that’s something for the entire team to focus on, but let’s not throw out the rest of the night based on the final frame.
When the narrative for three miserable days was how the defense couldn’t stop a nose bleed and the offense would have to be over-relied on, things were certainly turned on their head last night.
The defense forced six punts, including five three-and-outs and two four-and-outs. It’s hard to ask much more from any defense, even more so one that was busting coverages left and right only a few days earlier. Plus, they had to overcome two Tom Brady turnovers, something none of us would’ve thought them capable of.
The offense continues to move the ball well in between the 20s, but sputtered when the game was on the line. They remain a work in progress despite exciting flashes from Cooks, Gillislee and Hogan, and a 2015 Dion Lewis sighting.
It wasn’t pretty at the end but there was plenty on both sides to build off of and I think it’s safe to say that rumors of this Patriots teams’ demise were once again premature. Here are a bunch of Posits on the third win of the season…
Pats Get Help and Hold On vs. Bucs
The Patriots-Buccaneers Thursday Night Football clash came down to the final play with the much-maligned Patriots defense getting the stop to preserve a 19-14 victory.
The Pats move to 3-2 with an extended break to re-evaluate how things have gone to start the season. It was a needed win and hopefully one to build off of. The defense was far better, forcing six punts but showed a lack of discipline often and still struggled to stop big plays. They were also helped by three missed field goals by Nick Folk that could’ve changed the game.
The offense moved the ball frequently, but went quiet at the end, punting twice and amassing just 42 yards in three fourth-quarter possessions. A recovered onside kick helped set up a long field goal when the Pats got just seven yards when a first down would’ve sealed it.
Tom Brady threw for 300 yards but had two turnovers that luckily cost the team zero points. Brandin Cooks and Mike Gillislee continue to emerge, while Danny Amendola (eight catches) came through on third down. The offense is headed in the right direction if they can get their offensive line together for 60 minutes.
Yes, there’s still much to work on, especially the crazy number of hits that Brady is taking. But a win is a win and a long break is a long break. This game was a positive step forward for this team despite some definite problems and recurring flaws.
Here’s how it went down.
Patriots Gameplan: Week 5 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Football is already back upon us as the Patriots, donning all-white uniforms, will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football in a game that will reveal a lot about a team that was shredded on defense just four short days ago.
Simply put, by any metric, this is the worst defense Bill Belichick has put on the field since he arrived. And I say this as a Patriots uber-blogger who has focused extensively on the defense for the past 10 years. From advanced metrics like Football Outsiders’ DVOA (a personal fave) to simple things like yards- and points-per-game, the Patriots defense has been the worst in the NFL.
Now they get a stiff test on the road, facing a talented passing attack run by Jameis Winston with talented receivers Mike Evans and Desean Jackson, and a fresh-off-suspension Doug Martin, not to mention two dangerous tight ends. We’re not used to the Patriots having their backs against the wall and teetering on the edge of uncertainty, but here we are, in Week 5, wondering if this defense can be salvaged.
Tom Brady is off to one of the best starts of his career, and the fact that he’s doing it at age 40 is simply incredible. It’s unfortunate that the defense suddenly looks so lost, because if this continues they’re going to waste one of Tom Brady’s final years. While we can count on Brady to put up over 30 points almost every game, it no longer assures a win.
Still, the defense’s problems are so fundamental, I can’t help but believe they’ll steady the ship. Can they do it on a short week and on the road against a good offense? We’ll find out tonight.
Here’s the gameplan to get a win and move on to an extended 10-day break to help re-evaluate how the team can move forward.
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