Its a combo of BBQ sauce and KC's crazy little women.Smells funny
Regarding the running game, I share the feeling of someone upthread who said they're getting a 2013 vibe. That year the Pats ran all over the Colts in the divisional game, with Blount going for 148 and 3 TDs. I vividly remember all the talk during the ensuing week about how the new-found ground game was going to be the magic bullet and enable them to win at Mile High -- and then they went in there and couldn't do anything (leading to many I-told-you-sos from Felger, just to rub salt into the wound).Right. I don't know why the Patriots wouldn't do this? Same philosophy as towards the Chargers. It's really hard to stop an offense that can get good runs and gets the ball out fast. Given how bad KC is against the run, and I don't see a reason why we'd expect they are all of a sudden going to be good, this would seem to be the goal.
I mean, the Patriots have pretty much always been a short passing team and for 15+ years they generally haven't been stopped. That's always their bread and butter.KC will be all over the short stuff. This is the game where Gordon's absence might really be felt.
Yep. And for all the crap that Reid gets about some old clock management mistakes, he's a damn good coach. And he has a TV.I mean, the Patriots have pretty much always been a short passing team and for 15+ years they generally haven't been stopped. That's always their bread and butter.
Not saying they’re going away from it but they’re going to have to complete longer passes to win in KC. Brady didn’t have to let loose very much against LAC. He’ll have to this week and Gordon is a real asset there is all I’m saying. The team is still fully capable of going vertical without Gordon but it won’t be as easy.I mean, the Patriots have pretty much always been a short passing team and for 15+ years they generally haven't been stopped. That's always their bread and butter.
Maybe try quoting my exact words next time then. I said the Chiefs “will be all over the short stuff”, which means they will commit to stopping it. We’ll see how effective they are.Yeah, not saying that it can't happen in a 1 game sample, but simply saying "The Chiefs will stop the short stuff" needs to be fleshed out a little more.
I think this is where the weather will actually help the Patriots. "Going vertical" in those conditions might mean an entirely different thing than it would in ordinary temp and wind.Not saying they’re going away from it but they’re going to have to complete longer passes to win in KC. Brady didn’t have to let loose very much against LAC. He’ll have to this week and Gordon is a real asset there is all I’m saying. The team is still fully capable of going vertical without Gordon but it won’t be as easy.
They need to run well. They need to protect Brady who will need more than 2.5 seconds to throw those intermediate-to-deeper passes.Not saying they’re going away from it but they’re going to have to complete longer passes to win in KC. Brady didn’t have to let loose very much against LAC. He’ll have to this week and Gordon is a real asset there is all I’m saying. The team is still fully capable of going vertical without Gordon but it won’t be as easy.
Agreed. I just think that in a tough road game like this, there are going to be times when it simply comes down to winning a 1-on-1 battle because I’d bet that Brady will be under duress far more this week than last. That’s where Gordon may potentially be missed.I think this is where the weather will actually help the Patriots. "Going vertical" in those conditions might mean an entirely different thing than it would in ordinary temp and wind.
Why? What have you seen in KC that they can actually beat NE WR 1-1 defensively or whatever this strategy is you think they are going to pull out to "stop the short stuff"? Until you've seen evidence of it, this is just the fear talking. Which DB is stopping Edleman 1-1 on his option routes? or Gronk? Or White out of the backfield? What are the similar games where they have proven this? How are they stopping the short stuff and the run? How are they stopping the run, the play action and the short stuff? You speak in definitives, yet offer no proof, I think that is where DrewDawg is saying flushing it out would be helpful.Not saying they’re going away from it but they’re going to have to complete longer passes to win in KC. Brady didn’t have to let loose very much against LAC. He’ll have to this week and Gordon is a real asset there is all I’m saying. The team is still fully capable of going vertical without Gordon but it won’t be as easy.
Nothing as dispiriting as the kitchen sink. And I get particularly fucking annoyed when Josh goes there. Yeah, let me put my shackles on and stumble down the Roman road in parade with the exotic animals.Regarding the running game, I share the feeling of someone upthread who said they're getting a 2013 vibe. That year the Pats ran all over the Colts in the divisional game, with Blount going for 148 and 3 TDs. I vividly remember all the talk during the ensuing week about how the new-found ground game was going to be the magic bullet and enable them to win at Mile High -- and then they went in there and couldn't do anything (leading to many I-told-you-sos from Felger, just to rub salt into the wound).
While I certainly think they should try to run and hope that they can, I see this as potentially becoming one of those kitchen-sink games like the 2015 divisional game vs the Ravens -- trick plays, different looks -- especially if KC pulls ahead and is getting to Brady early.
My bad on the paraphrase, but again, you just described the game plan of every team that plays NE.Maybe try quoting my exact words next time then. I said the Chiefs “will be all over the short stuff”, which means they will commit to stopping it. We’ll see how effective they are.
All fair points by you and others and I was actually planning on adding to my post with data since I had started digging through some passing chart data but my damn day job got in the way...My bad on the paraphrase, but again, you just described the game plan of every team that plays NE.
The best part of this is we only have like 53 more hours...
That's funny because it's true. Apologies for my shorthand and small role in adding to this.My bad on the paraphrase, but again, you just described the game plan of every team that plays NE.
The best part of this is we only have like 53 more hours...
It will be 53 hours once we wake up on Sunday.If only it was 53 hours.
I hate when he gets into his FLACCO!ing Mode on 3rd-and-2.And I get particularly fucking annoyed when Josh goes there.
So you're not pining for some Cordarrelle Wildcat action?Nothing as dispiriting as the kitchen sink. And I get particularly fucking annoyed when Josh goes there. Yeah, let me put my shackles on and stumble down the Roman road in parade with the exotic animals.
Actually, I am pining for some Joey Bosa action.So you're not pining for some Cordarrelle Wildcat action?
If their primarily cover-1 scheme prevents receivers from getting open in time and Houston, Ford, and Jones can get there. Pass protection hasn’t always been stellar on the road and we’ve seen the receivers struggle to separate before. That’s why it might not happen. The Chargers had a horrible game plan, didn’t adjust enough or couldn’t due to injury, and got smoked. Reid is less likely to make the same mistakes.Actually, I am pining for some Joey Bosa action.
Check out the mic’ed up segment posted by DrewDawg in the Chargers game ball thread.
There, Bosa tells a teammate after a drive: “I won every rush” but didn’t lay a glove on Brady because the ball was out in 2 seconds. There is no reason to disbelieve Bosa’s assertion — that he beat his man on the Patriots’ line in time ordinarily sufficient to get home, but couldn’t get home. At least, I found no reason to disbelieve him.
Why, exactly, cannot that be the case again this Sunday? Crowd noise?
No, he'll make other ones.Reid is less likely to make the same mistakes.
That was like hitting a Mark Clear curveballNo, he'll make other ones.
Come on... I haven’t forgotten about playoff Andy. I was born and raised in Philadelphia. Roses are red, violets are blue, if you’re getting a hoagee get me one too. That’s WIPs old Andy Reid Valentine’s Day card.No, he'll make other ones.
I am getting a little sick of the McVay hype. Wade Phillips joked on twitter today (think it was posted here) that his son knows McVay if anyone is looking for a HC. But then I’ll watch a Rams game, be thoroughly entertained and reminded why McVay gets the hype. If the Pats make it I want to see them play and beat the Rams. BB beating McVay would be a great script. The old wizard vs the young-up-and-comer, or insert whatever generic hype you want to.Yeah, I don't mind him or the Chiefs. Or the Saints or Rams actually. There's a distinct lack of hate.
He's not thought to be very good at managing the clock.Reid’s mistakes are more likely to be tactical in-game decisions though right? Not major schematical mistakes and failing to make adjustments.
Yeah that’s what I’m talking about. He’s going to mess up managing the clock or timeout usage or something like that. But he’s not going to come out in zone and stay in zone while the Pats score TDs on five straight possessions.He's not thought to be very good at managing the clock.
I'll allow a "Fuck Stan Kroenke", but that's about as far as I'll go.Yeah, I don't mind him or the Chiefs. Or the Saints or Rams actually. There's a distinct lack of hate.
Nice. 2-4” of snow expected tomorrow night into Saturday, during which I assume the field will be covered. Meanwhile the forecast game-day temps continue to rise: NWS now forecasting a high of 26 and low of 20. Garden-variety winter evening.Credit where it is due.
The KC groundskeepers did an amazing job.
They just tweeted this out
It may look good, but playing on a re-sodded field that same week could pose issues. Once the field freezes and they turn on the heating coils the middle of the field will be really soft. Not sure if the coils are always on, but if they aren’t then the field will be an issue.Credit where it is due.
The KC groundskeepers did an amazing job.
They just tweeted this out
Yep. Like I wrote above the Pats did this in 2006 - and ended up going to field turf within a couple weeks.It may look good, but playing on a re-sodded field that same week could pose issues. Once the field freezes and they turn on the heating coils the middle of the field will be really soft. Not sure if the coils are always on, but if they aren’t then the field will be an issue.
Even without freezing, new sod isn’t taking root in a week. Footing is going to be iffy at best.It may look good, but playing on a re-sodded field that same week could pose issues. Once the field freezes and they turn on the heating coils the middle of the field will be really soft. Not sure if the coils are always on, but if they aren’t then the field will be an issue.
IIRC, the NFL ordered the Pats to put in the turf.I remember when the Pats used to do that a lot. Then they lost to the Jets I think and decided once and for all to get rid of it and go to field turf. Maybe the Pats will inspire them to do the same.