The Official Patriots vs Jet game thread

[PATSNUTme]

Please post your comments, knee jerk reactions, and insightful observations before and during today's game vs the New York Jets 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.

Game time 1PM on CBS. The weather is not suppose to be a factor today:
Sunny, with a high near 63. West wind 11 to 13 mph.

It was reported that Talib did not make the trip, which is not a surprise. Gronk could make his first appearance of the 2013 season.

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

 

[thenepatsrule]

Official tailgating thread? Three hours before the game? Just kidding. Go Pats :rocker:

****** the PESTS

 

[VinnyPatrollie]

Kill the Rats!

 

[Uncle Rico]

Welcome to MetLife Stadium - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

This is where the Super Bowl will be held this season, so the Patriots naturally hope this isn’t their only trip here.

Hell yeah.

 

[Mack Herron]

Jeff Howe ‏@jeffphowe 2m

Alfonzo Dennard is working out with Harold Nash. Weird, he's not on the injury report, but this is a game-time decision type of workout.

With Talib out, this bears watching.

 

[manxman2601]

With Talib out, this bears watching.

Worried that Ryan/Arrington will be barely watchable.

Only kidding. Sort of.

 

[PatriotsInGA]

Lets go Pats!

 

[1960Pats]

I'm a little concerned about today.

Then again, I felt the same way last week.

GO PATS!!!

 

[Keyser Söze]

cue the rats complaining about the refs. never fails.

 

[manxman2601]

If Dennard doesn't go today, could be a big day for Harmon with, presumably, McCourty shifting back to corner.

 

[ausbacker]

What I am interested to see today.

1. The return of Lord Gronkemort.
2. How the Patriots rushing attack, in particular Stevan Ridley performs today.
3. How the interior of the DL holds up against what will be a run heavy O.

 

[Ozymandias]

Patriots all day, baby! Let's get it!

 

[manxman2601]

So this stat is quite surprising albeit coming from the "necessity is the mother of invention" camp:

Patriots have used 10 personnel (1 RB, 4 WR) on 13.1% of snaps this season compared to only three snaps all of last year. NFL Avg: 1.5%

https://twitter.com/StevePalazzolo/status/391944419177676801

Let's hope that changes today and hereon in.

 

[Mack Herron]

Mike Reiss ‏@MikeReiss 1m

Special teams captain Matthew Slater among those Patriots on the field loosening up. Has missed last 4 games.

Remember him? Also:

Jeff Howe ‏@jeffphowe 40s

Dennard has come back onto the field to stretch with teammates. Good sign for his availability.

 

[PatriotsInGA]

Patriots Inactives: Josh Boyce, Chris Barker, Aqib Talib, Danny Amendola, Leon Washington, Tommy Kelly, Tavon Wilson

 

[Mack Herron]

It's official:

 

[ausbacker]

All over Twitter that Gronk is active, officially.

 

[Ring 6]

Turning Point?

The Jets secondary stinks, and Rex insists on playing a style of D that exposes it.
Last meeting we struggled with drops, poor routes, etc.
We had no Gronk.. Dobson was in his first game and struggled. Thompkins was in his second game and struggled. Our game plan became try to hit the WRs that were running wide open deep once in a while, and throw to Edelman on passes that were better for the defense than the offense even if they worked.
Today, we have Gronk back. Those receivers will be as or more open running around in the secondary. There should be big plays to be had, if the catches get made.
This could be a huge day, and a huge turning point for the passing offense.
It would be very interesting to see the passing offense break out, and then continue to grow as Amendola and Vereen return and the rookies mature, so that we don't have a top 10 all time offense over the course of the regular season but have one that peaks at playoff time. Of course that would be better than any of the top 10 offenses we had.

 

[ausbacker]

Re: Turning Point?

I mentioned elsewhere that I'm particularly interested to see how the Patriots OL matches up with the Jets DL. Wilkerson and Richardson are forming an impressive duo. If the Patriots can establish a run game, utilize the play action and get Gronk warmed up with some easy catches early then I think you may be on to something Andy. Thompkins and Dobson showed they could create separation in their first match up. Let's hope they show that ability again (and don't drop the damn ball).

 

[Ozymandias]

Boyce as a healthy scratch is a bit of a surprise since Amendola is out.

Good to see that Slater is back though. I thought he'd be out one more week.