The Official Patriots vs Saints game thread

[PATSNUTme]

Please post your comments, knee jerk reactions, and insightful observations before and during today's game vs the New Orleans Saints on this thread. Please do not start other threads about to today's game. A post game thread will be started by someone for comments after the game.


The weather for today game:
<LI class=row-odd>This Afternoon Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. East wind around 7 mph. <LI class=row-even>Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 39. Calm wind.
Kelly, Washington, and most likely Gronk will be out for the Patriots, with the full inactive list about an hour from now.

New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Let's hope for a good game, no injuries, and a Patriots victory.

 

[PatriotsInGA]

Lets go Pats! Pull the upset!

 

[Uncle Rico]

Please post your comments, knee jerk reactions, and insightful observations before and during today's game vs the New Orleans Saints on this thread. Please do not start other threads about to today's game. A post game thread will be started by someone for comments after the game.


The weather for today game:
<LI class=row-odd>This Afternoon Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. East wind around 7 mph. <LI class=row-even>Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 39. Calm wind.
Kelly, Washington, and most likely Gronk will be out for the Patriots, with the full inactive list about an hour from now.

New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Let's hope for a good game, no injuries, and a Patriots victory.

You can say that again.

 

[Froob]

Is this the official thread?

 

[Uncle Rico]

Is this the official thread?

I'm seeing triple and I've had one beer.

 

[SVN]

Final 5 Patriots inactives: TE Rob Gronkowski, WR Matthew Slater, G Chris Barker, WR Josh Boyce, S Tavon Wilson

 

[ctpatsfan77]

No GRONK.

Austin Collie in over Josh Boyce.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

When will boyce learn the playbook?

 

[PatriotsInGA]

Maybe Collie plays the slot role

 

[SVN]

No GRONK.

Austin Collie in over Josh Boyce.

Reiss kinda predicted this early in the week.

 

[Sciz]

Mark Ingram is out, meaning we don't get to see the Saints waste plays by handing the ball off to him. Lame.

 

[SVN]

Ed Werder has more...awesome analysis and inside info.

Ed Werder ‏@Edwerderespn 2h
Drew Brees told me that he's not concerned if Pats put CB Aquib Talib on Jimmy Graham, saying Colston and Sproles ready for breakout games
Retweeted by Tom E. Curran

 

[patsfan-1982]

did Boyce just become Taylor Price 2.0 oh well I was at lest hoping to see him return a kick

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Man I wanted to see some gronk spikes.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Man I wanted to see some gronk spikes.

Well, maybe we can get some Edelspikes instead.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Danny just dunked the ball through the uprights, maybe we get some of those instead.

 

[PatsSox363804]

Ed Werder has more...awesome analysis and inside info.

Ed Werder ‏@Edwerderespn 2h
Drew Brees told me that he's not concerned if Pats put CB Aquib Talib on Jimmy Graham, saying Colston and Sproles ready for breakout games
Retweeted by Tom E. Curran

What Sproles did against Miami wasnt a breakout game?

That said, I am most concerned with him. Not sure how the hell we're going to stop him. Graham is tough but at least we can hit him at the line, not sure we have anyone that can touch Sproles.

 

[MTM558]

I know I usually look at most things through a pessimistic lens - it's just my nature. But this afternoon, I really don't give the Patriots much of a shot. I'm expecting a loss, and won't be surprised if it's a blowout.

Rob Ryan has always given Tom Brady fits, the Dallas Cowboys game 2 years back the most recent example, and the Cleveland Browns the year before that.

Combine that aggressiveness with a struggling Tom Brady, a group of rookie and otherwise fragile WRs, no talent at TE whatsoever, and an inconsistent group of RBs, this could get out of hand quickly.

On offense, the Patriots are carrying into this game...

RB: LeGarrette Blount, Brandon Bolden, Stevan Ridley
WR: Danny Amendola, Austin Collie, Aaron Dobson, Julian Edelman, Kenbrell Thompkins
TE: Michael Hoomanawanui, Matthew Mulligan

That's scary (in a bad way).

On Defense, as improved as they are, I don't know if they can overcome the losses of Wilfork and Kelly, especially this week when facing a talented stable of players in Brees, Sproles, Graham, Thomas, Colston... It's just too much to ask for.

As bad as today may be, the good news is that even if they lose, they're only 4-2 and should still be 1st in division. Up next would be the Jets and Steelers - challenging yet winnable. By then, hopefully Gronk is playing or he is IR'd and the team begins to reorganize offensively.

 

[varjao]

That's my thinking into this game

No team in NFL that starts 4-0 is fraudulent or got an easy start, we didn't face SB contenders apart from the Falcons, but the Bills always give us a hard time playing in Bufallo, the Jets has a great defense, Tampa has good players, and we could have won the bengals without the drops or that rain at the end of the game.

We are not having the same performance from the last years but this isn't going to be an easy game for the Saints at all.

 

[jmt57]

It Is What It Is » Inactive analysis: Rob Gronkowski, Josh Boyce both out for Patriots vs. Saints

The Patriots have submitted their list of inactives for Sunday’s game against the Saints, and the following players are inactive:

Offensive lineman Chris Barker: A young offensive lineman who is a healthy scratch.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski: The will-he-or-won’t-he saga regarding the tight end will go on for another week, as he won’t play against the Saints. Expect a heavy dose of Michael Hoomanawanui and Matthew Mulligan in his place.

Defensive lineman Tommy Kelly: The veteran defensive lineman appeared to injure his knee in the second half of last Sunday’s loss to the Bengals, and didn’t practice or speak with the media this week. Expect the Patriots to rely on youngsters Joe Vellano, Chris Jones and Marcus Forston this week against the Saints.

Running back/returner Leon Washington: The former Jet and Seahawk has been plagued by injuries for a sizable portion of the season — an ankle issue kept him out of practice all week. Devin McCourty worked as the kick returner in his place last week against the Bengals, and we could also see Brandon Bolden back as a returner as well this week.

Special teamer Matthew Slater: The Pro Bowler has been back at practice, but it appears the team wants to wait at least one more week before making sure that wrist has returned to 100 percent.

Defensive back Tavon Wilson: The safety and special teamer has struggled with a hamstring problem the last couple of weeks — he wasn’t active last Sunday against Cincinnati.

Wide receiver Josh Boyce: With the emergence of Austin Collie, the rookie out of TCU is rendered expendable for this week.​