How will our offense fare against Buffalo without LaFell?

This is a concern that really hasn't been mentioned, and I'm curious to know your thoughts.

4 TE sets

One theory comes from liking to see them attempt to stretch the field a bit more, allowing the underneath/middle area to become free. As we know, our bread and butter is getting rid of the ball quickly on shorter, timing routes.

Unfortunately, we do not have LaFell, who could've helped to do this much more effectively. I suppose Dobson could certainly help to do this even if he's just a decoy, and/or Thompkins may end up being added to the active roster in the coming days.

Knowing Ryan, he's going to dedicate more resources to trying to stop Gronk, and take his chances with Edelman. If this is done effectively, we're certainly going to need someone like Amendola or Dobson to step up, and that's in addition to Edelman going off as usual.

Chandler could be a nice piece to use here, as could Lewis. We've seen success with Vereen before, particularly against tough defensive fronts such as DET and SEA (last season), so I think getting Lewis the ball in space could go a long way.

Chandler, Edelman and Lewis with the usual amount of Gronk. Lewis will have a big day and end another ridiculous chapter in the coaching career of Rex Ryan as ESPN shows his 'don't even know his name' quote before the highlights of Lewis juking his way into the endzone.

The Patriots are not the Colts.

A)They know Ryan

B) They know the Bills

C) Short range passes Brady>Luck

D) Short range routes and reliability Edelman/Gronk > Hilton/Johnson

E) Lewis > washed-up Gore vs the pass rush.

The Colts miss A. Bradshaw so much. Luck used him a lot with high success to evade/combat the pass rush last year.

The Patriots have their own version of Bradshaw in Lewis. He is the key to moving the ball on the overly bullish pass rush Brady will be subjected to. If the Oline and Brady can read the defense they will be able to take advantage of the rush as much as the rush takes advantage of Brady. Guy was throwing the ball in under 2 seconds last week. No rushers can stop that as long as the targets are ready. Does anyone doubt Edelman and Co. will be ready to bail the QB out the moment they jump off the line?

Chandler's going to be a difference maker in this one. I sorta like how he's sort of being slept on to this point.

LaFell would be nice to have, but not sure he will make a huge difference either way..

We have Gronk, Chandler, Edelman, Amendola, Dobson, Thompson(?) and Lewis.. that is quite a few weapons, and if Rex double up on Gronk he's gonna pay. With this defense I look for a lot of quick passes to keep the pass rush off balance..

BB has had 10 days to prepare for this game.. so there may be a new wrinkle or two.

A combination of deception and warm Gatorade.

im expecting a heavy use of dual TE sets and emphasis on the slot receivers and running backs. generally when we play teams with good defensive lines the emphasis is on the quick passing game.

I could see dion lewis and scott chandler having big games. amendola could as well out of the slot

I wonder if this is the week we see dual RB sets with lewis/white or lewis/cadet

TommyD4207 said:

Chandler's going to be a difference maker in this one. I sorta like how he's sort of being slept on to this point.

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I'm a die hard bills fan, and the chandler matchup perplexes me. I'm not sure what to think. He's a nice big reliable target, that can't block, is dependable in the passing game and 1 out of every 20 plays will have you yelling at the tv.

evans555 said:

I'm a die hard bills fan, and the chandler matchup perplexes me. I'm not sure what to think. He's a nice big reliable target, that can't block, is dependable in the passing game and 1 out of every 20 plays will have you yelling at the tv.

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Interesting perspective on Chandler, evens. I know for a fact that Chandler would have Pats fans yelling at the screen quite often in the past, but for obviously different reasons. .

I wonder why you have such a bad impression of his blocking. Now I know he's not like Gronk or Williams, or even Hooman, but my recollection of him vs the Pats was that he was a willing blocker who would put his face in there and got in the way. My observations from watching him in camp this preseason didn't change that impression. Am I missing something?

If a 6'8" guy can't block he probably shouldn't be in the NFL.

IIRC, LaFell had something like 2 catches over the first 3 games of the season and people had already anointed him a rock solid bust by the time we were headed for the debacle in KC, so we certainly aren't going to miss LaFell in the 2nd game of the season

I don't think Lafell would have been a huge part of the gameplan anyway. Rex's philosophy can be exploited by teams with multiple TE's. I'm expecting to see healthy doses of Gronk and Chandler.

LaFell had a big game last year. I'd like to hope Dobson will step up and have a big game. Or Chandler.

Also, I keep seeing Bills fans write off Chandler like he's extremely average. Us Pats fans will have to see for ourselves, but you guys realize he had nothing but **** QBs throwing to him for all those years, right?

Offensively for the Patriots, this game will be won or lost in the trenches and the turnover battle. If the Patriots can keep Brady relatively clean and avoid the turnovers that have seemingly cropped up in bogus fashion at Orchard Park over the last few years, then I like their chances Sunday.

The absence of LaFell hurts, but this team has become accustomed to his absence, so the force is blunted some.

The sharpest teeth of the Bills defense reside on the defensive line and to a lesser extent at cornerback.

The weak links in coverage are the safeties and linebackers, which sets up nicely for Patriots running backs and tight ends.

I think the Bills want to take away Gronk (obviously), but I do not know if they have type of players capable of doing it all game long.

I think the Bills goal is to get pressure on the Brady and force him to throw out of tempo outside the numbers to one of their talented young corners matched up one on one with the Patriots receivers.

They will try to smother Gronk off the line with double teams, perhaps safety help over the top, and leave the Patriots wide receivers one on one with their corners.

I think this sets up for a potential big game for Scott Chandler. Dion Lewis could also be a factor if he gets matched up on linebackers out of the backfield.

Edelman should eat in this game. He could wind up with 15 + targets. Gronk may not get a lot of work between the 20's in the passing game (especially if the Bills pass rush is fierce), but in the red zone, when they unveil the Aces packages, he will have his chances there, and we all know how dominant a force he is down there.

TommyD4207 said:

Chandler's going to be a difference maker in this one. I sorta like how he's sort of being slept on to this point.

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It's the classic "show your old team up" story. I think he would love to stick it to them, considering they thought he wasn't good enough to be their #1 TE and replaced him.

I foresee a lot of bubble screen plays with Lewis heavily involved, as well as play-action pass, and trick plays to counter that heavy blitz.

dannydyn said:

I foresee a lot of bubble screen plays with Lewis heavily involved, as well as play-action pass, and trick plays to counter that heavy blitz.

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Some screens to the newly acquired receiver Martin as well, maybe?

Froob said:

A combination of deception and warm Gatorade.

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Yeah, there's really no stopping the warm Gatorade--I'm really surprised more teams haven't followed up on this. It's simply not as refreshing, and if you add ice it just ends up tasting watered down. Impossible to defend against, really.