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Indefinite New England Patriots Thread (2 Viewers)

Boomer Esiason: Flags against Patriots were very 'ticky-tack'

"You should talk to them. Talk to the league," Belichick said when asked about the offensive pass interference calls. "I'm sure they have all the answers on that so talk to them."

 
Seeing Hightower's injury referred to as MCL sprain. Possibly multi-week, but again not worst case.

ETA:We're going to have a dream team come January.

ETA II: Simmons' podcast should be fun today.

ETA: First line of Simmons: "Today's pissed off episode in which I try to restrain myself from calling last night's Denver Pats loss a conspiracy is brought to you by Seat Geek."

 
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Old Smiley said:
Boomer Esiason: Flags against Patriots were very 'ticky-tack'

"You should talk to them. Talk to the league," Belichick said when asked about the offensive pass interference calls. "I'm sure they have all the answers on that so talk to them."
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More sour than usual from Grumpy. Must be something he ate.

 
No Edelman, Amendola and Lewis, then no Gronk for the game-tying drive. Chandler with hands of stone...still amazed he held onto the TD. No push by the OL in the running game and thus no reason for the D to respect play-action. Cannon a turnstile at OT, no matter which side he lines up. Pats putting up 24 against that D on the road, even with Denver's injuries, was impressive. Talib, Harris and Miller are enough to ruin passing games, especially an undermanned one.

Pats DL looked impressive, but the absence of both Collins and Hightower was definitely noticeable.

Pats still have the HFA edge, but are one loss from giving it to Denver. With all of the injuries, can the Pats keep it while healing up? Getting healthy for the playoffs is critical, but I would not look forward to going into Cincy or Denver again.

 
Excellent point here from Tomase:

"Consider what it took for the Pats to finally lose their first game on Sunday. Injuries to Gronkowski and stud linebacker Dont'a Hightower. At least three questionable flags in the fourth quarter, any one of which probably could've won New England the game. The bad luck of bad bounces, all of which went Denver's way, including Chris Harper's (R.I.P.) fumbled punt that ignited the Broncos' comeback.

Playing in one of the league's toughest road stadiums, in the snow, with a makeshift offensive line, minus their two best linebackers and four best receivers, the Patriots still found a way to force overtime.

How do you bury a team like that?"

 
Just gotta win out and the road to the Superbowl still goes through Foxboro.

Cincy and Den now both own tiebreakers against us.

Thankfully they both have tougher schedules going forward.
• Both face Steelers (Broncos go to Pit)
• They face each other week 16.
Verdict: Would love to see DEN lose in PIT week 15, then beat CIN at home in DEN week 16.

Hell.... DEN could be in for a letdown game going into SDC (+4.5) this weekend... particularly if they don't get healthy.

New england should be favored in every game going forward. @Jets and, to a lesser extent, @Hou look to be the potential letdowns, though nobody should be looked past.

 
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Sagarin's ratings are out for this week:

1 New England Patriots = 29.16
2 Cincinnati Bengals = 26.89
3 Arizona Cardinals = 26.71
4 Denver Broncos = 26.37
5 Carolina Panthers = 26.34
6 Kansas City Chiefs = 26.26
7 Green Bay Packers = 25.59
8 Seattle Seahawks = 25.41
9 Pittsburgh Steelers = 23.26
10 Minnesota Vikings = 22.46

HFA is worth 2.2 points this season.

Sagarin projects the following lines for NEP @ home against:

Cin (+4.5)

Ari (+4.5)
Den (+5)
Car (+5)

For the Pittsburg Games, Sagarin sees:
Den -1 @ Pit
Cin -6 vs Pit

Also, Sagarin sees Den as 1.5pt favorites at home vs Cin

 
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[icon] said:
Just gotta win out and the road to the Superbowl still goes through Foxboro.

Cincy and Den now both own tiebreakers against us.

Thankfully they both have tougher schedules going forward.

• Both face Steelers (Broncos go to Pit)

• They face each other week 16.

Verdict: Would love to see DEN lose in PIT week 15, then beat CIN at home in DEN week 16.

Hell.... DEN could be in for a letdown game going into SDC (+4.5) this weekend... particularly if they don't get healthy.

New england should be favored in every game going forward. @Jets and, to a lesser extent, @Hou look to be the potential letdowns, though nobody should be looked past.
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So what do you think is the play here regarding the injuries? At some point Amendola, Gronk and Edelman will be medically cleared to play, but perhaps just barely. Do the Pats give them extra rest to make sure they are closer to 100% come January, but at the expense of losing an extra game(s) and going on the road? Or do the Pats try to get them back ASAP to secure HFA against the lesser competition in these final 5 games, but go into a playoff game with these guys perhaps still hobbling from coming back too soon?

 
I think about the "find the groove" aspect, too. You wait them, and then they come back and the timing's all funky. Tough call.

ETA: But, there's the deal where opponents don't have recent tape on them.

 
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Yep. Any attempt at a "right" answer here would be purely speculation by myself given imperfect information regarding the actual condition of Amendola/Edelman/Gronk... Obviously HFA is important, as it accounts for roughly a 4.5pt swing, statistically... However I would personally place greater value having that trio as close to full strength as possible.

That said, these are all moving targets (health, rust, etc)

Word is Amendola is expected back this week.
Edelman is expected back for playoffs only with little or no chance of return before then.

So that leaves Gronk... IF reports are true and it is simply a pain tolerance issue, I see them trying to give him at least a week or two. The patriots DO have the luxury of knowing the outcome of CIN/PIT prior to facing HOU in 2 weeks.

I don't think anyone is going to confuse Chandler with Gronk, but with Lafell/Amendola/Chandler, we SHOULD be okay vs PHI.... with HOU being a bit more of a challenge. Sagarin would have HOU as 6 point dogs vs NEP in Houston.

 
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I was wondering about RB. In DEN it looked like the guy who was actually doing stuff/making plays was Browner. Yet he got way fewer snaps.

ETA: On the injury thing maybe the simple answer is the one. If they're cleared to play, you play them -- just limited snaps.

 
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Boomer Esiason on Sunday Night's game:

“It’s unfortunate because the only way you can beat the Patriots is if you take four of their top offensive players off the field, the officials have their hand in the game, and then you have to have some momentum switch because (Chris Harper) muffs a punt,” Esiason said Monday on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher and Rich,” according to CBS Boston Sports.

“The officials were calling penalties all over the place — some legit, some not so legit. I feel like the officials (Sunday) really let the game get out of control. “It seemed liked the entire fourth quarter there was a yellow flag on the field. And when it was thrown, it was against the Patriots. The whole thing was spiraling out of control.”

Two calls in the fourth quarter really stood out. Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was called for offensive pass interference with 5:22 remaining, negating a 10-yard gain and a first down. New England punted one play later. And safety Patrick Chung was called for defensive holding, negating a critical sack that would have forced the Broncos into a third-and-goal from the 15-yard line. Denver scored a go-ahead touchdown moments later.

“I don’t know if (those flags are) unfair, but that call (against Gronkowski) was ticky tack, as was the call against Chung,” Esiason said. “You could call these on every single pass play where there’s two players next to each other. You can’t cover a guy in the NFL anymore.

“I don’t want to sit here and cry about the officiating or sound like I’m doing that, but when the game is on the line, you have to let them play. You just have to let them play.”
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Hightower expected to miss 2-3 Weeks :(
Jamie Collins expected to play Sunday vs PHI :excited:

LInk

 
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Man, this ####### team with Dion Lewis. I can't even imagine - what a ####### shame.

In other news, Pete Morelli's crew was assigned to Pats/Eagles. These were the guys who officiated the Cardinals game this past week - its gonna be another ####show.

 
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If PHI's offense stays true to form, and continues to go three-and-out in twenty five seconds, our fill in guys should get plenty of chances to make plays.

I thought special teams, and Allen in particular, were awesome in DEN. If our drives stall because the understudies drop a ball, or we're trying to establish LG, we should be able to punt in good shape and try again.

ETA: I guess still in the back of my mind I'm afraid Chip's "genius" is going to kick in...

ETA II: Or... Chip's defense quits on him again. That'd be nice.

 
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Because I'm an idiot I said Browner above when I meant Bolden. He was the guy who was making plays. Hopefully they've got more installed for him this week.

 
kOOk said:
I get a sneaking suspicion Bolden could be a great pickup. Why no talk of him?
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Because of all the skill position players in New England, he is the least talented second only to the other special teams player Matthew Slater - #### he might even be less talented than Slater.

 
Run It Up said:
kOOk said:
I get a sneaking suspicion Bolden could be a great pickup. Why no talk of him?
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Because of all the skill position players in New England, he is the least talented second only to the other special teams player Matthew Slater - #### he might even be less talented than Slater.
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This isn't the 100 yard dash. New England's made something out of nothing a time or two, son.

 
kOOk said:
Run It Up said:
kOOk said:
I get a sneaking suspicion Bolden could be a great pickup. Why no talk of him?
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Because of all the skill position players in New England, he is the least talented second only to the other special teams player Matthew Slater - #### he might even be less talented than Slater.
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This isn't the 100 yard dash. New England's made something out of nothing a time or two, son.
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I wasn't talking about measurables at all. The best thing Bolden has going for him is experience and the fact that even though White is better than him, its not by a whole lot.

For dynasty owners id look at Trey Williams, RB Pats claimed him as soon as the Cowboys waiver him.

Hes another one of those shifty small guys, looks like somewhere between Vereen and Lewis in shiftiness, Idk how well he runs but if he is even a semi-comparable paymaker he will work his way into this offense as thin as it is.

 
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Yeah just read that Dola is practicing, Gronk is not.

Hightower is wearing a knee brace while practicing, hopefully he keeps it on and it doesn't limit him.

Also, Easley not at practice, wtf...

 
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Apparently, Williams has a mark on his face from falling asleep on his playbook. So that's good. Sounds like the Patriot way.

From here:

Williams’ size and pass-catching ability suggests he could serve as a third-down back for the Patriots.

“Yeah, possibly,” Belichick said. “Yeah. I mean, we haven’t had the guy, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Hmm. Guess that tells you something about White et al.

 
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kOOk said:
Does anybody in here think Bolden could do something down the stretch?
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No.

Seems effective in small doses, when the D doesn't account for him. If he was featured, you'd see how limited he is.

That said, he'll make some plays down the stretch and help them win a game or two. He's the poster child for a much better football player than a fantasy football player.

 
No word on Easley other than that he practiced yesterday. Edelman is apparently out of his boot already - gotta be good.

 
Amendola's going. Hope we don't lean on him too much. Still think we've got to find a groove with these other guys. Long way to go.

 
Read that Collins missed time with a 'serious throat infection', lost 20 lbs while sick.

There were a lot of rumors that he had mono or strep, the former possibly having serious implications for his career. He seems fine though.

Haven't heard either way if Hightower will play today, questionable still.

Easley also questionable, read that at his most reason check his ankle wasn't game ready but had another check coming - doubt he plays.

 
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BusterTBronco said:
What a awful team.
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Because 10-2 is so awful considering the amount of injuries they've endured. Keep on overlooking them. We'll see what happens once they're healthy come playoff time. Hopefully the Broncos aren't afraid to come to Foxboro in January again :lmao:

 
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Pretty horrible situational football by the Pats yesterday. The pooch kick up 14-0 seemed to wake up the Eagles. The decision to throw on 3rd down before the half when they were half heartedly trying to get into scoring position set up the blocked punt. Brady trying to force a ball creates a pick 6. Really bad.

 
Baloney Sandwich said:
Pretty horrible situational football by the Pats yesterday. The pooch kick up 14-0 seemed to wake up the Eagles. The decision to throw on 3rd down before the half when they were half heartedly trying to get into scoring position set up the blocked punt. Brady trying to force a ball creates a pick 6. Really bad.
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Agreed. I got the impression BB listened to his assistant coaches too much...he should stick with being a malevolent dictator :)

 
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