Pre-Game Thread- Bears @ Pats

[Bill Lee]

 

[PatsFan2]

HOF stats in the making there.

 

[Ross12]

Wow, career highs

 

[Sicilian]

And you just know it would be two catches for -3 yards on failed bubble screens, and then 20 yards on one leaping grab that makes you think, "Man, that's what he's supposed to do!" before he lands and dislocates his elbow.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Wow, career highs

I shudder to ask... is that hyperbole?

 

[JMC00]

• The table below compares Meyers to all NFL wide receivers with at least 100 receiving snaps this year.

Jakobi Meyers	PFF Receiving Grade (Rank)	Tgts/Route Run % (Rank)	Yds/Route Run (Rank)	Explosive Pass Plays
2022 Statistics	79.9 (No. 9)	26.5% (No. 9)	2.74 (T-No. 3)	10 (T-14th)

• The table below shows data gleaned from PFF WR/CB matchup chart.

Bears CBs	Kyler Gordon – 50.3 Cov. Grade	Kindle Vildor – 68.9 Cov. Grade	Jaylon Johnson – 67.0 Cov. Grade
PFF Matchup Advantage – Snaps	79.4 – 27	102.1 – 9	63.9 – 4

• Meyers’ 102.1 matchup advantage against Vildor is the second-best rating on the Week 7 slate.
• Gordon has been roasted for 2.27 receiving yards per coverage snap, third-most among all NFL cornerbacks with at least 100 coverage snaps, and his 67.5% open target rate is fifth-highest.

 

[TommyD4207]

3 would be a career high, right?

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Agholor didn't practice yesss.

Really? That's kind of carried away. He's a potential asset when he's on the field - anybody who's not your binkie isn't therefore N'Keal Harry. And honestly, you might have hoped for Harry to be gone, but even in his case -- by extended injury? I dunno. Glad he left the way he did.

Imagine if BB knew as much about cornerback personnel as the people in this forum! (that said, after the 17 games I will be glad if we look around and see unanimous fawning "grades" for everybody in this secondary... all we know is they are as good as you could ask for so far -- at least, I see that as known.

I have a feeling Mac will start. It's at home, Mon night. 2 first round QB's from last year.
There's a lot to prove for BB. (and even more for Mac)
All Mac needs is a good opening drive for a TD to get the mojo back on his side.
If he can manage the game well, win it, and have 0 turnovers, all the Zappe hype will end.
But if the offense struggles, the mob won't care that the Bears are a much better D, they will call for Zappe. I hope it doesn't happen.

You guys.

I don't know about your local bars and diners, I live down here, but I don't see it as a mob either way. I think the optimistic read is that we hit twice in the draft at the QB position. Mac has slipped since last year, and Zappe -- the unknown, mind you, who knows what happens when there is film on him -- is firing out of the gate.

Mac is leading drills and so on, so that could be reality or mirage (perhaps intentional mirage.)

Forget about dividing up your co-fans into pro-Mac/pro-Zappe "tribes." Unlike a certain ex-QB flailing in his golden years in Florida, disoriented and unaware that the Bucs are an NFL team rather than a retirement village squad, they are both Patriots QBs. (I had to do it. Love TFB, or more accurately the memory of TFB Classic, but around here we just need to let go of the former guy in favor of the current guys. edit - I initially said "let go of the current guy." This shlitz runs deep.)

BB will do what he does, and to me no matter who the choice is, this is enjoyable -- we see another card in one of two young QBs' careers. In Mac's first year, and Zappe's first two games, they have been legit NFL QBs. Even though Mac had a cruddy sophomore campain before the sprain, I think he will figure it out. That said, t's been a distinct pleasure to see that our "number 3" guy is good enough to absolutely abuse the Detroits and Clevelands of the world, and I would be curious and tentatively confident to see either of them against the better teams (Chicago is not that, of course, but whoever starts it will be fun to see how in tune this team can get.)

I love the Zappe hype. Now, assuming we get to see Mac play, we get to see him answer--to compete for "his job," to quote a previous first rounder. It's the way of the world, Mac, though usually you get a little more than a year before they replace you with a younger version

 

[jimnance]

Wow. Those would all be career highs

 

[Bill Lee]

I shudder to ask... is that hyperbole?

Started at wide receiver and totaled career highs with eight receptions for 72 yards at Seattle...

Source: N'Keal Harry (WR): Bio, News, Stats & more

 

[PatsFanInVa]

It would be nice to get Damien Harris back, Stevenson was good as the full-time lead back last week but Harris and Stevenson are a really potent one-two punch spelling one another. The Bears will probably be working hard to stop the run again like Cleveland was last week, and I don’t really want to have to send Stevenson into a wall all game long. Rotating in Harris would be really helpful.

I would love to see them have the opportunity to work in some lesser-knowns, e.g. Other Harris and Strong. I know Strong is sub-4.4 lightning, and I would love to see him take advantage of what's becoming a beautiful outside run scheme. I believe Other Harris is between-the-tackles thunder (with hands), whereas Stevenson and Main Harris are both Thunder-and-Lightning.

We might have to wait another year to see how much either of the new kids picked up, but if Main Harris is out another week, I'd love to see them in action (if the brain trust says they're ready to see action)

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Started at wide receiver and totaled career highs with eight receptions for 72 yards at Seattle...

Source: N'Keal Harry (WR): Bio, News, Stats & more

That is sort of a relief lol

 

[PScottman]

Stonehands

 

[Zuma]

 

[ashley]

 

[Salsalife]

So Sunday night we will find out who starts at qb or is it's a gameday decision?

 

[slash83]

I miss Mac

 

[TheRainMaker]

Lol at these questions reporters ask. I get it, they have to do for their job, but what do you expect Mac to say? "No, my ankle feels terrible".

 

[Zuma]

Lol at these questions reporters ask. I get it, they have to do for their job, but what do you expect Mac to say? "No, my ankle feels terrible".

It's a waste of time asking...agreed. But IMO the body language and demeanor said more. To me it says he's not playing Monday night...and I will be wrong I'm sure.

 

[TheRainMaker]

It's a waste of time asking...agreed. But IMO the body language and demeanor said more. To me it says he's not playing Monday night...and I will be wrong I'm sure.

I think he is itching to get back out there though as Zappe has a chance to get two out three more wins at worst which would make them 6-3 or 5-4. Zappe would then be 5-1 or 4-2 as a starter and the noise will get louder he should keep playing.