We're on to Buffalo

[Mack Herron]

Me too, although it's weird they'd bother with Reedy for one week then - especially if Hogan will be ready by then too.

Hannable report:

It’s important to note he will need a few weeks of practice before returning to game action so with four weeks left in the regular season after Sunday, it would seem like if he is going to return he will need to get back on the practice field very soon. The Patriots have one player remaining who can come back from injured reserve and at this point it seems like it will be Mitchell, or nobody. Vincent Valentine is the only other possibility and he doesn’t appear close.

Sunday 7: Will Malcolm Mitchell be able to help Patriots this season?

 

[Uptown]

 

[maineman209]

Another fun fact:

Brady, Brissett and Garoppolo are all starting QBs today.

 

[Uptown]

Can Patriots Generate Pass Rush With Trey Flowers Inactive Vs. Bills?

 

[PP2]

Another fun fact:

Brady, Brissett and Garoppolo are all starting QBs today.

Too bad they're all 1pm game. How awesome would it be if we saw each of them at 1, 4, and 8:30?

 

[maineman209]

Can Patriots Generate Pass Rush With Trey Flowers Inactive Vs. Bills?

I'm not sure that generating a pass-rush is a high priority for this game. It seems to me that maintaining consistent, solid coverage (especially with McCoy, Clay and O'Leary) and making certain that McCoy and Taylor are contained on the ground are more important. Very good edge-contain will be crucial, I think.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Can Patriots Generate Pass Rush With Trey Flowers Inactive Vs. Bills?

The assumption is the KVN will step up. Well, that would be great ... if he plays. Without TF and KVN it could be a pretty tough day (not that I'm writing the Pats off even then!)

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'm not sure that generating a pass-rush is a high priority for this game. It seems to me that maintaining consistent, solid coverage (especially with McCoy, Clay and O'Leary) and making certain that McCoy and Taylor are contained on the ground are more important. Very good edge-contain will be crucial, I think.

Spot on. If there is a game in which the pass rush is de-emphasized and it's a priority to contain a QB and control rush lanes this is it. The BUF receivers are overmatched compared to the NE secondary. This SHOULD be a 2-3 score win for the good guys

 

[maineman209]

The assumption is the KVN will step up. Well, that would be great ... if he plays. Without TF and KVN it could be a pretty tough day (not that I'm writing the Pats off even then!)

Even if KVN plays, his lateral movement might be compromised a bit. The focus for other edge-players in this game probably needs to be on containment and coverage.

 

[RIpats88]

The assumption is the KVN will step up. Well, that would be great ... if he plays. Without TF and KVN it could be a pretty tough day (not that I'm writing the Pats off even then!)

yeah, a large part of the bills offense is tyrod taylor's legs. defenses job today is going to be to keep him in the pocket and not lose contain. really other than him and McCoy the bills dont have much weapons.

 

[PP2]

I'm not sure that generating a pass-rush is a high priority for this game. It seems to me that maintaining consistent, solid coverage (especially with McCoy, Clay and O'Leary) and making certain that McCoy and Taylor are contained on the ground are more important. Very good edge-contain will be crucial, I think.

Beat me to it. If there was a game Flowers was going to miss, couldn't do better to miss this one. We definitely don't want to pass-rush to allow Taylor to resort to his legs to bail him out. Better to force him to rely on his throw, so edge contain is far more important today than interior pressure. We want to keep their pocket intact, and this is going to drive the uneducated fan crazy.

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[Ring 6]

Reiss is also strongly hinting at Mitchell coming back,as opposed to Valentine.
I'm good with that.

Weird because earlier he was telling us valentine was ready and Mitchell wasn’t close.
I think we need to recognize Reiss is just giving an opinion when asked and doesn’t have much real info to go on.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Weird because earlier he was telling us valentine was ready and Mitchell wasn’t close.
I think we need to recognize Reiss is just giving an opinion when asked and doesn’t have much real info to go on.

Ryan Hannable from weei said VV was not close.

I question if any of these guys knows a damn thing

 

[Ring 6]

Ryan Hannable from weei said VV was not close.

I question if any of these guys knows a damn thing

This is the problem. Is it based upon knowledge or opinion. Reiss was saying VV was close something like 6 weeks ago.

It could be that BB is delaying the decision based upon health but cutting the fat Frenchman and promoting a midget clouds that too.

 

[RobertWeathers]

This is the problem. Is it based upon knowledge or opinion. Reiss was saying VV was close something like 6 weeks ago.

It could be that BB is delaying the decision based upon health but cutting the fat Frenchman and promoting a midget clouds that too.

I do think BB is waiting until the last possible moment until he's forced to make a decision. For example, if he activated MM and Uncle Phil blew out his knee , that would be less than optimal

 

[Mike the Brit]

OK! KVN and Flowers (M) are playing. Time for them and Cameron Fleming to have great games.

And "Iron Mike" Gillislee doesn't get to ram the ball into his old team. He's the only healthy scratch. Tough coach, BB, tough coach!

New England Patriots (@Patriots) | Twitter

EDIT: Oh, and welcome back, Eric Rowe!