The Game Ball Thread: Wk. 10 vs Browns

Van Everyman

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Newton
Rham
Bourne
Jakobi
Duggar, who had a pick and also committed legal murder on ST
The whole DL, who absolutely crushed it today
 

Super Nomario

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Best game of the season. O only had 9 drives: 6 TDs, 1 FG, 1 punt, 1 kneel-down. Almost perfect. D was similarly excellent after the first drive. Standouts:
- Dugger for the INT and big stick on the KR
- Mac's best game. Almost flawless
- Stevenson, Bourne, Meyers, Henry
- OL
 

Super Nomario

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Oh and the playcalling on both ends. Browns were 1 of 11 on 3rd down. And all the McDaniels moves we criticize (toss on 3rd and short, screen on 3rd and long, gimmicky end arounds / reverses) come up aces today.
 

m0ckduck

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3rd down: 6/6 when it mattered early.

McDaniels: best game we've seen from him in a long time.
 

Eck'sSneakyCheese

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The entire team gets game balls. Yes, even you Josh. There, I gave him credit. What an all around dominant game.
Mac
Rham
HH
Bourne

Judon
Barmore
Dugger
Wise

I could literally name off everyone. Except Meyers kick returns. Or lack of. Those were terrible.
 

Zincman

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Steve Belichick. Great defensive game plan. What? No? The board was willing to trash him when the D underperformed early this year. Doesn't he deserve some credit now that its a monster?
 

Ralphwiggum

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Steve Belichick. Great defensive game plan. What? No? The board was willing to trash him when the D underperformed early this year. Doesn't he deserve some credit now that its a monster?
I‘ll second this one. I was critical early on, and I still think the nepotism thing is a bad look generally. But credit for the D improving and looking legitimately dangerous on defense.
 

j44thor

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Trying to recall the last time they dismantled a good team in a near must win game to this degree. It has been at least a few years I think, I welcome this feeling.
Games balls for all
 

DJnVa

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I'm sure there are reasons it doesn't matter but the Pats are now third in the NFL in point differential.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Really hard to choose just 3, but I'll go:

1. Mac, for a great bounce back effort against a key conference rival. 3 TDs.
2. Stevenson, for his first 100 yard game and that amazing 5 yard run from just outside the Pats end zone to get them some breathing room. 2 TDs.
3. Bourne, for important rushing yards on reverses and the great TD catch

HM, offense: Henry for the 2 TDs, Harry for the blocking, Meyers for some first down catches and his first TD, and the whole OL
HM defense: The line, the secondary, and the linebackers. Complete effort after the first drive

Demerit: Meyers as punt returner. Get well soon Gunner.
 

Eddie Jurak

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I'm sure there are reasons it doesn't matter but the Pats are now third in the NFL in point differential.
When you think about it, they have only had one beat-down all year, vs New Orleans. And it was only a moderate beat down, a 15 point loss. They have won games by 41, 38, 19, 18, 3 and 3. They have lost by 15, 2, 1, and 6 (OT). So 2-3 in close games, 4-1 in one-sided games.
 

SMU_Sox

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Offense: would be easier to name the guys who don't deserve a game ball... Offensive line, Rhamondre Stevenson, Bourne, Meyers (Not a good day as a punt returner though), Henry, Harry, Mac Fucking Jones, Bolden.
Defense: Judon, Bentley, Dugger, the rest of the secondary, Barmore... KVN, Guy, Phillips. Like the offense it would be easier to list the guys who didn't get a ball.

The coaching and execution today has been the best of the season given the competition and the dominance displayed. I thought this was going to be a close game and foolishly even thought the Browns had a fraction of an edge. Instead the Patriots thoroughly dismantle the Browns and I am wondering just how good they can be this year. Last 4 games they've gone 4-0 and outscored their opponents 150-50, +100 net points. Outfuckingstanding.
 

RorschachsMask

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Van Everyman

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The “convert Harry to TE” talk is silly. No one ever does that. Besides, the Pats put a lot of emphasis on their WR blocking.

What would be more interesting if Harry were to start catching a few balls if they start leaving him open while trying to bottle up Bourne, Meyers and the other guys.
 

E5 Yaz

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He never wears that shit and I appreciate it. I find the pseudo military garb the NFL pumps out to be a bit disrespectful. They already spend too much time talking about games as battles and players as going to war. The stakes aren’t that high.
Yep
 

NortheasternPJ

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The “convert Harry to TE” talk is silly. No one ever does that. Besides, the Pats put a lot of emphasis on their WR blocking.

What would be more interesting if Harry were to start catching a few balls if they start leaving him open while trying to bottle up Bourne, Meyers and the other guys.
I don’t know what his issue is. He’s a 1st round pick, always pops out at practice and can’t even get a look in a game when he’s facing the 3rd-4th CB. So frustrating
 

Eddie Jurak

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The “convert Harry to TE” talk is silly. No one ever does that. Besides, the Pats put a lot of emphasis on their WR blocking.

What would be more interesting if Harry were to start catching a few balls if they start leaving him open while trying to bottle up Bourne, Meyers and the other guys.
One would think his emerging reputation as a blocker could eventually be exploited in play action.
 

axx

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McDaniels, surprisingly. Had an answer for just about everything the Browns tried to do on defense.
 

tims4wins

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McDaniels, surprisingly. Had an answer for just about everything the Browns tried to do on defense.
I continue to be surprised that anyone is surprised about McDaniels. He is elite. One of the best out there. This board and Pats fandom in general hates him. But the day he decided to ditch the Colts in February 2018 was one of the great off-season days in franchise history.
 
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I continue to be surprised that anyone is surprised about McDaniels. He is elite. One of the best out there. This board and Pats fandom in general hates him. But the day he decided to ditch the Colts in February 2018 was one of the great off-season days in franchise history.
Co-sign. It's embarrassing that people bash McDaniels as much as they do. Are there playcalls we all hate? Of course. A few of the more recent ones were calls he bashed HIMSELF about in the days following the game. So yeah, he's not perfect, but oftentimes the calls people kill him for have more to do with execution than the actual playcall. Again, not ALL, there are brain farts, but for the most part he's one of the best at his job in the WORLD.
 

Eck'sSneakyCheese

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Co-sign. It's embarrassing that people bash McDaniels as much as they do. Are there playcalls we all hate? Of course. A few of the more recent ones were calls he bashed HIMSELF about in the days following the game. So yeah, he's not perfect, but oftentimes the calls people kill him for have more to do with execution than the actual playcall. Again, not ALL, there are brain farts, but for the most part he's one of the best at his job in the WORLD.
I’m sorry man but this is just off the mark. It’s embarrassing for us as fans to question him because he questions himself? I think it makes it more fair that we’re questioning calls if he’s also questioning them.
 

alydar

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I love how much the team legit enjoyed Meyers‘ first TD. People who I don’t think were in the play ran down to the end zone to join the party. That‘s a good sign.
 

tims4wins

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I’m sorry man but this is just off the mark. It’s embarrassing for us as fans to question him because he questions himself? I think it makes it more fair that we’re questioning calls if he’s also questioning them.
Questioning a play call or even multiple play calls is fine, it’s what all fans do. Calling him a moron and a terrible OC is ridiculous.

BB isn’t infallible by any means. But did you listen to his comments this week on Josh?
 

8slim

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I continue to be surprised that anyone is surprised about McDaniels. He is elite. One of the best out there. This board and Pats fandom in general hates him. But the day he decided to ditch the Colts in February 2018 was one of the great off-season days in franchise history.
Agree 100%. McDaniels has been one of the top OCs in the league for quite some time. I understand when people express frustration during a game. We’re emotional, that happens. But to not recognize how good he is when things cool down is ridiculous.
 

streeter88

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Just watched the highlight as I couldn't catch the game live. Mac had incredible touch today - great bounce back from a couple of tough weeks.

Some of his great throws:
  • Early 12 yard completion to Henry - low and away but between 3 defenders where only Henry could get it
  • Rainbow 3 yard TD to Henry - corner of end zone - perfect timing
  • 3rd and 9 rainbow to Meyers over the shoulder for 27 yards
  • 23 yard TD pass to BOURNE down the seam and between 2 defenders - this one looked like a throw Brady would make
  • 19 yarder to Henry 3rd quarter - again fabulous touch.
He is really in sync with Henry even more than with Jakobi - some of the connections are just beautiful to watch. Pity it wasn't Mac for Meyers' first TD pass.

But otherwise absolutely nothing at all to complain about today. A beautdown. Or beatdown. Whichever.

Edit: 23 yards TD was to Bourne.
 

cournoyer

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At the game today with my uncle and dad. I said this has been the best game McDaniels has had in years. They both looked at me with the most interesting expression...they're so used to bashing him that it took them a second to comprehend that I was right. Absolute clinic by him today
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Judon (pinned)
Dugger
The rest of the D
OL
Stevenson

And what did @SMU_Sox call the Pats QB? Mac Effing Jones?

Yeah, especially that guy. He's no gunslinger. He slings dimes.
 

Jimbodandy

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Too hard to cut down the game balls to three or so. But if I have to pick:
*Judon (pinned)
*JMcD
*Rham

Oline and Dline were outstanding. Amazing game plans from offense and defense and almost flawless execution. Best 60 minute performance in a couple of years. This Cleveland team is not that bad.

I'm glad that folks are talking about Harry. His blocking has been good, and he pancaked an edge today. I think that caught some eyes.

New receivers were gold. Pressure all day on BM. Coverage downfield was excellent.

All around great stuff.
 

SMU_Sox

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Sometimes I think it’s harder to appreciate how good of an OC Josh is because we don’t have a ton of consistent perspective. As someone who consumes a diverse group of football pods and content in general I think it helps with that perspective. When you listen to the best minds of the media and/or real football analysts get into discussing offensive coordinators all and I mean all have a ton of respect for Josh as an OC. No one is perfect but he’s one of the best. In particular the Athletic pod, Matt Waldman, Mike Renner, Brandon Thorn, Mark Schofield, Doug Farrar, Kurt Warner, Phil Perry, etc etc etc have all chimed in on Josh and again all of them have heaped praise on him. Just passing that along. As for my own opinion I love McDaniels. He adjusts to what the offense does best and can game plan schematically magnificently. Sometimes I disagree with play calls and everyone has a bad day at the office but he’s a top 5 guy for me perennially. He also deserves a game ball (non-player division). Steve Belichick is doing a hell of a job too.
 
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