Patriots @ Bills Post Game Thoughts

Few injuries are scarier for lifetime earnings than a season-ending injury in an RB's first contract year. That REALLY sucks for Ridley, if it's what happened.

Second consecutive season-ending injury in Game 6 for a great player and leader really sucks too, if that's what happened to Mayo.

The defense got 3 takeaways and 5 sacks, and still gave up 3 TDs plus a 2-pt conversion. That certainly leaves room for a range of forecasts and interpretations.

I like how you put it in a vacuum like that...Buffalo players and fans talking like its the Super Bowl for them, stadium maxed out, Pats missing starting center, right guard, SLB, Browner a DNP and Brady gimped up...what are these ranges of forecasts to be discerned from that? They will suck in many ways moving forward?

Quite honestly I didn't know what to expect before the game started. I picked the Pats to win by 7 but then I always pick the Pats to win. I am so proud to say I am a Pats fan and yesterday's game told why with all the diversity they still figured a way to win impressively. I hope the injuries aren't as bad as suspected but I think that is wishful thinking. We will find a way to beat the Jets Thursday, new players will step up to help the elites.

I saw a shirt on the field yesterday with the name Amendola on it that's an improvement. The receiving stats say he had zero receptions. I always wonder what game he is playing certainly not one the Pats are involved with at the moment.

Joker said:

Stork and Hightower had head" injuries, DaB...that's means concussions I would guess...Thursday makes it ten days out...should be enough

Click to expand...

Hightower has a knee injury. He tried it out before the game and wasn't ready. Hopefully, the short week gets him there. Stork's injury occurred in Thursday's practice. That might get him enough time to get on the field, or maybe not, depending on how hard he got knocked. Connolly has had several concussions now. Hopefully, he gets a couple weeks off.

DocHoliday said:

Pretty happy with the game overall, but wish they'd take shots down the field on 3rd and 15 instead of waving the white flag and running Vereen up the middle for 2 yards.

Click to expand...

I'm more frustrated with their unwillingness to throw on 2nd and 15, where a 7-yard pickup makes 3rd down manageable. If 3rd and long comes and they want to play field position with this defense, I can live with that.

juny said:

Anyone know what exactly happened for Hughes first personal foul? I didn't see anything on replay, perhaps he said something?

Click to expand...

He was all fired-up and congratulating his teammates while standing over the ball carrier, he might have kicked him, but my guess is that he was being penalized for the previous play, where he pushed Brady to the ground so long after the throw that the officials weren't even looking anymore. Did anybody at the game see if that replay got put up on the Jumbotron?

JMC00 said:

On the decline they said.

Click to expand...

I believe you were *****ing about his first 4 games last week.

Fencer said:

Few injuries are scarier for lifetime earnings than a season-ending injury in an RB's first contract year. That REALLY sucks for Ridley, if it's what happened.

Second consecutive season-ending injury in Game 6 for a great player and leader really sucks too, if that's what happened to Mayo.

The defense got 3 takeaways and 5 sacks, and still gave up 3 TDs plus a 2-pt conversion. That certainly leaves room for a range of forecasts and interpretations.

Click to expand...

It's the NFL and teams are going to score, with the mantra being, 'The other guys get paid to make plays too.' The only TD that bothers me is the final Bills TD. If you remember, Dennard had a chance to stop Woods way short of the marker on 3rd and 10. Instead, he misses an easy tackle and the Bills convert the 4th and 2 that should have been 4th and 8. Then he gets burned on the very next play for a big gain.

Every D gets scored on in this league and it's asinine (not you, Fencer) for people to think that NE won't allow some points. It's going to happen. Can this team get the tough stops when they matter? That is what is going to determine if this D is really worth anything, IMHO.

BobDigital said:

The pass rush did not get there enough. Nink came on late but should have been there the first 3 quarters. Run D was overall stout today and I was happy to see that. We need to learn to cover TEs. It is still a big weakness of the team.

Click to expand...

Nink was getting held on pretty much every play.

One thing that is coming through is that the Patriots now have a pretty clear idea of who their base defense personnel are -- or, at least, they did before Mayo's injury:

Ninkovich-Jones-Wilfork-Jones

[Hightower]-[Mayo]-Collins

Dennard-McCourty-Chung-Revis + Arrington

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-...21/patriots-defensive-snaps-wilforks-workload

Looking at the distribution it is clear that they want to keep their main defenders on the field throughout the game. Rotational players (Ryan, Harmon, Wilson) are getting very few snaps. Of course, the injury to Mayo is going to mean a re-adjustment, but my bet is that the stable-personnel model continues.

pencilneckgeek said:

Hightower has a knee injury. He tried it out before the game and wasn't ready. Hopefully, the short week gets him there. Stork's injury occurred in Thursday's practice. That might get him enough time to get on the field, or maybe not, depending on how hard he got knocked. Connolly has had several concussions now. Hopefully, he gets a couple weeks off.

Click to expand...

IMO, Hightower and Stork were rested with the view that this would be a real short week.

If Connolly had to have a concussion, the timing couldn't be better with Stork replacing him on Thursday and a bye coming up.

Fencer said:

Few injuries are scarier for lifetime earnings than a season-ending injury in an RB's first contract year. That REALLY sucks for Ridley, if it's what happened.

Click to expand...

Have to feel bad for the kid, for once he's really put it together- conquered his ball control issues only to be hit with a season-ending injury.

PP2 said:

IMO, Hightower and Stork were rested with the view that this would be a real short week.

If Connolly had to have a concussion, the timing couldn't be better with Stork replacing him on Thursday and a bye coming up.

Click to expand...

I agree.

After Thursday the Pats have 2 games in a 30 day period. Get past Thursday with a win and no more serious injuries, and the Pats should be in good position to rest up and tune up for the stretch run.

mayoclinic said:

I agree.

After Thursday the Pats have 2 games in a 30 day period. Get past Thursday with a win and no more serious injuries, and the Pats should be in good position to rest up and tune up for the stretch run.

Click to expand...

That's what really hurts me about the injuries yesterday. Had those guys been able to survive yesterday and Thursday, then NE would be sitting pretty for the home stretch.

DaBruinz said:

I truly hope that the league fines Mario Williams for the hit on Gronk's knee. It was clearly intentional and the Pats lucked out that Gronk's knee wasn't blown out again..

Click to expand...

Agreed. And the late hit on Brady by Hughes looked like an attempt to dive at the knee too.

Who is Casey Walker? When did we get him? He's giant.

At risk of sounding conspiratorial, I thought they were blowing that steam whistle during the Pat's offensive huddle too often.

tasmlab said:

Who is Casey Walker? When did we get him? He's giant.

At risk of sounding conspiratorial, I thought they were blowing that steam whistle during the Pat's offensive huddle too often.

Click to expand...

He was signed off of CAR's practice squad at the end of September when Siliga went on IR w/ designation to return.

tasmlab said:

Who is Casey Walker? When did we get him? He's giant.

Click to expand...

dales804 said:

He was signed off of CAR's practice squad at the end of September when Siliga went on IR w/ designation to return.

Click to expand...

From Mike Loyko on twitter:

Casey Walker like Brian Tyms was recommended to Bill Belichick by personnel man Michael Lombardi.

Click to expand...

https://twitter.com/NEPD_Loyko/status/521662297052557312

mayoclinic said:

From Mike Loyko on twitter:



https://twitter.com/NEPD_Loyko/status/521662297052557312

Click to expand...

Someone telling bill players to look at and take. Finally. Maybe lombardi will give bill some differing opinions in the draft room also.

More importantly....why in God's name is Tony Siragusa

a) gainfully employed as a sideline reporter

and

b) unable to shut up?

He's a sideline reporter, yet he talks almost as much as the guys in the booth.

dales804 said:

He was signed off of CAR's practice squad at the end of September when Siliga went on IR w/ designation to return.

Click to expand...

And he has played very well, I might add.

BobDigital said:

The pass rush did not get there enough. Nink came on late but should have been there the first 3 quarters.

Click to expand...

The pass rush was slowed down by the Marshall Faulk plan. Jones and Nink would bump the RB, if he released to their side before turning toward the QB. In the second half, Jones lined-up over Chandler in passing situations and would bump him, instead. Several times, he would carry Chandler for 3 steps in the backfield before starting his pass rush. This worked and was more important than bringing the pressure, as passes to the TE over the middle and RBs in the flat are Orton's strength.