Patriots have not had the best start to the season... two tough losses to top teams in week 1-2, laid a couple of eggs week 4-6, and with the Bills Dynasty coming to town today, it was looking like the Patriots may pack it in for the season and focus on '24.
But with legendary offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia in the house after his Patriots HOF induction yesterday, the NEPs had some different plans in order - a plan to look like an actual football team against one of the great ruling families of the AFC East and a three time consecutive Divisional Playoff appearance team in the Buffalo Bills. One of the great dynasties the league has ever seen, filled with poor coaching decisions in the biggest games, lots of sideline bickering between receivers and QBs, and never truly becoming a proper threat in the AFC, but talking and acting like they always were. The game today looked a little something like this:
Outstanding play to kick it off from Jabril Peppers:
Great throws like this one all damn game:
Some halftime electricity from the two newest Patriots HOF members (glad Vrabel is welcomed back after being the coach to end the NEP dynasty in Jan. of 2020):
And ended like this:
Gesicki may have a worse griddy than Producer Reese, but if he scores a game winner, it's acceptable:
Jabril Peppers is a pro bowl caliber player - New England Patriots are DB University - Stevenson running the ball more effectively, Demario Douglas getting into the action - is Pharaoh Brown the best tight end on the Patriots? No but I do like him and some of the plays he's made this season.
News leaked that Belichick signed a new contract extension through the end of the season, he ain't goin nowhere, defense is still legit, get Scar in the damn stadium as much as possible and the offensive line just plays better via osmosis - people forget that he was a big part of why the 2015 Patriots struggled down the stretch when he took a year off coaching. On offensive line play in particular, the issues were readily apparent, culminating in the offensive front getting smashed by the Broncos in that AFC title game in Denver.
300 wins, not including postseason which matters way more, for our guy Bill Belichick. Greatest coach in the history of organized sports. Excited to see the RKK speech he makes in the locker room that will come out likely tomorrow. Is 12-5 back on the season?! Could be... pray for B-Rider.
P.S. Mac Jones, you're not great at the QB sneak. Let's either work on it at practice, in the backyard at DCPC, or let's just get it out of the playbook. Good game, though.
Social Media
Damn good article, Dan!
Got it out fast, too!