Good morning. Here are your Patriots news and notes for December 15. The Patriots are off their bye week. Can you believe that Christmas is only 10 days away? This year has flown by.
The Patriots are entering the final stretch of a complex and frustrating season. They are 3-10, and as Bill Parcells used to say, “You are what your record says you are,” which is true. But this team could easily have been 7-6 right now. That’s the frustrating part. They’d still be a badly flawed team, but the outlook would look a lot better from there.
This final stretch includes the Cardinals this afternoon, the Bills, the Chargers, and then the Bills again. It is a tough stretch, and they probably won’t win any of these four. At this point, win or loss is unimportant; they’re already out of the playoff picture.
But how they play these last four games, especially both against the Bills, is essential. If they can hang tough with Buffalo, they can build on this for next year. There are a lot of holes to fill. Let’s Go!
Thoughts on the Bill Belichick Hire By UNC:
“These are the times that try men’s souls…” Judging from some of the comments and stories I’ve read this week, you would think Bill Belichick would make his coaching debut at 72 rather than walking in with eight Super Bowl rings and a defensive game plan for one of those on display in the Hall of Fame.
Look, none of us know how it will work for him there. He could fall flat on his face or excel beyond anyone’s thoughts. If I were a betting man, I would choose the latter rather than the former.
Belichick will have to deal with many things he’s never had to do before, such as recruiting visits, schmoozing with boosters, and the like, but unlike his press conferences, he can be charming when he wants to be. This season, his media career has been an eye-opener for those who took him at face value.
But his good buddy Coach Nick Saban is always there to answer questions and lend his support. Belichick should have plenty of NFL coaches to lend a hand in teaching the young kids. And that is what he’s about…teaching. It was when he was in his element. I remember a practice in training camp from 2011, where he taught Markell Carter, a rookie linebacker from Central Arkansas, the finer points of blocking a punt.
His son, Steve, will join him as UNC’s Defensive Coordinator and his old friend Mike Lombardi will be on hand as the GM of football operations. I’d expect some of his other NFL cronies will surely hop on board with a chance to build up a program known more for basketball than football.
Saban said this week that it will be a big challenge for Belichick at UNC. That’s why I think he’ll succeed there. He’s a coach through and through. And what better way to light a fire under him than for others to write them (and him) off?
If you are a high school kid with the talent to be really good at college football, why wouldn’t you want a guy with eight Super Bowl rings and six as a head coach to bring the best out of you?
And if you are that kid’s parents, wouldn’t you want Belichick teaching your kid how to be the best player he can be? Belichick spoke about UNC becoming a pipeline to the NFL. That has to be music for the kids’ ears in the transfer portal. And one thing is for sure. UNC will get some air time next season because Belichick is on the sideline.
I loved it when he held up his dad’s old UNC sweatshirt from the early 1950s when Bill was just a little tyke. Wouldn’t it be cool if Drake Maye did a little recruiting for his alma mater this year?
UNC a football school? Who’d have “thunk” it?
Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:
Randy Moss: The former Patriots great and NFL Hall of Fame WR announced this week that he’s suffering from cancer found outside his bile duct between his pancreas and liver. Moss is undergoing chemo and radiation for his condition and had a procedure to place a stent in his liver on Thanksgiving after his urine was discolored.
Moss was always one of the more personable players off the field with the fans and one of the most extraordinary talents on the field. He thanked “his prayer warriors” for their support and posted on social media, “Let’s Moss Cancer.”
All the best, Randy; we hope to see you back in the booth soon.
Mack Wilson: The former Patriots’ linebacker is having a good season with the Cardinals and should be a big factor today. Wilson has 67 tackles, which is third on the team, three sacks, four TFLs, a fumble recovery, an interception and four passes defensed.
“That was honestly one of my challenges going into the offseason and whatever team I was going to be with, was them using my athletic ability and using me in different ways that people didn’t really know what I could do. Not too many teams knew I could rush the passer. They have been doing a good job implementing me in different situations. I just ask them to continue to load the plate.”
Last season, he took on an expanded role with the Patriots and played well as an inside backer and edge rusher—both areas where the team has struggled in 2024. Hindsight is 20/20, and given the Patriots’ struggles at off-the-ball linebacker this season, perhaps the Patriots should have kept him in NE.
But with the Cardinals, he’s found a home. And he’s excited for today.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to playing them,” Wilson said to the Cardinals.com. “We still have to take each day, and I really need to control my emotions going out there against them. But it will be fun seeing some of the guys over there. It will be even better to get a win.“
Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast: Derek and I recorded our podcast and predicted the Patriots’ game against Arizona and other games. Please check us out and give us a listen on YouTube, Apple, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position. This will be discussed in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t even in the team’s HOF.
Area 51 News: Players to Watch Against the Cardinals —
The Patriots are in Arizona this week, where they’ve played pretty well on the road. They’re hoping to continue that trend later today. The Cardinals are in the thick of the playoff race and will be pulling hard for a victory to keep pace.
While the Patriots are out of the hunt, they’re playing with house money now and can play the spoiler down the stretch. All four of their remaining games are against teams either in the hunt (Arizona, LA Chargers) or already locked in a playoff slot (Buffalo twice). However, the Bills still have an outside shot at the #1 seed, so this could come into play.
So, if the Patriots are to pull an upset today in Arizona, these are the players to watch against the Cardinals.
Drake Maye —
Maye has been steadily progressing and getting better this season as he gets more comfortable running the offense. His ability to scramble when the play breaks down has been an added feature that opponents must be aware of.
The Cardinals play mainly a zone defense similar to the Colts, and in that game, Maye completed 80 percent of his throws. I expect he’ll have good results today, but the big issue remains in the Red Zone.
The Patriots have to improve in the RZ if they are to compete in these last four games. And despite roster issues in the offensive line and at WR, the onus is on the quarterback to get things going. Fair or not, it falls on Maye to get it done in the red zone. But AVP has to get creative and loosen things up for the rookie quarterback.
Christian Barmore/Davon Godchaux —
The Patriots are facing a Cardinals team that can run the football and averages 139.8 yards per game. James Connor is a pile mover between the tackles, and Kyler Murray is electric with the ball in his hands. The Patriots currently rank 28th in run defense in DVOA. It will be a long afternoon for the defense if they don’t contain the running game.
The team may use a spy on Murray to limit his yards rushing (Brendan Schooler?), putting a lot of pressure on the interior defensive line to slow down the running game. With DL Jacqueline Roy placed on IR, this puts the onus on Barmore and Godchaux. With the two-tight offense Arizona runs, they are tough to stop.
Antonio Gibson —
After basically being an afterthought in the Patriots offense for most of the season, the team is starting to use him more down the stretch. And it is overdue, especially in the passing game. Gibson has been a good receiver out of the backfield during his career, and he could help with some of the red zone issues the team is facing inside the twenty.
With opponents keying on Rhamondre Stevenson and slowing his production in the running game, Gibson has been steadily increasing his production running the ball lately. Dust off the old wheel routes this week!
Christian Gonzalez —
The outstanding second-year cornerback will face off against the dynamic rookie Marvin Harrison Jr., who will be a significant red zone threat. The much-hyped rookie is having a very good season, catching 45 passes for 655 yards (14.6-yard average) with seven touchdowns.
The Cardinals have two big targets in the passing game, and Gonzo must take away one (Harrison).
Jabrill Peppers —
Peppers has only been back for one game since he was removed from the Commissioner’s Exempt List, but this week, he must help take away the Cardinal’s best weapon, TE Trey McBride.
McBride is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. He has 80 catches for 851 yards, which is second in the league for tight ends. Surprisingly, however, he has yet to score a touchdown this year. Let that streak continue for one more week.
Honorable Mention: Cole Strange. Hopefully, we’ll see him back on the field today for the first time this season.
Parting Shots:
The Bills take on Detroit today, which should be the game of the week. This could be a Super Bowl preview this week, with arguably the two best teams in the NFL. The Bills defense took a shot to the nose last week in LA, and they need to play much better than they did a week ago.
The Lions are super tough at home, and their offense is tough to stop, but they are beat up right now. The Bills squeak out a very tough, high-scoring road win this week. I’m going to say 38-35.
The Dolphins, whose playoff aspirations are on life-support, face a tough matchup with the Houston Texans today. And they may be without LT Terron Armstead this week. He’s listed as doubtful.
Among the rumors surrounding the Jets this week, given the “curse” and “bad gene,” Garret Wilson will reportedly request a trade this offseason. And the best one yet… a report is floating out there that the Jets should enter the Sam Darnold sweepstakes this spring. Wouldn’t that be strange?
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Week 15 Predictions:
Thursday Night Football:
LA Rams over San Francisco 1-0
Sunday, December 15,
Kansas City over Cleveland
Cincinnati over Tennessee
Washington over New Orleans
Baltimore over NYG
Carolina over Dallas
NYJ over Jacksonville
Houston over Miami
Buffalo over Detroit
Denver over Indianapolis
Philadelphia over Pittsburgh
Arizona over New England
LA Chargers over Tampa Bay
Sunday Night Football:
Green Bay over Seattle
Monday Night Football:
Minnesota over Chicago
Atlanta over Las Vegas
Bye Week: None
Last week: 11—2
2024 Season 154—54
2023 Season 178—94
2022 Season: 178—92—2
2021 Season: 183—88—1
2020 Season: 169—86—1
2019 Season: 162—93—1
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“Yeah, absolutely. As a leader, I think the one thing they want is consistency, and hopefully that permeates throughout the organization. As you continue to try to build on a culture, I think the attitude of not getting too high and too low is a good mark of a leader.
“I would also say that it’s a good thing that our quarterback is pretty much the same way, and hopefully that continues to permeate throughout the rest of the group. We have guys on this team that we talk about every Wednesday, it’s changing the page no matter what happens.
“If you ride that rollercoaster of emotion, whether through reading articles, social media, not playing as much or as well as you would like to play, if you ride that rollercoaster, it turns into a toxic environment. We try to keep that out of here.”
Patriots head coach, Jerod Mayo was asked by the media to explain why his message has remained the same all year, something several veterans have stated, despite the team’s 3-10 record.
