PostGame Thread OFFICIAL POSTGAME THREAD: Patriots Beat Bills 23-20

[PatsFanInVa]

Hey ****ers - may we have this feeling all season, actually competing, not rebuilding!

 

[Since1960]

They say that confession is good for the soul, so I admit that last night I was expecting another one of those dreaded “moral victories”. Truth be told, pretty sure that MANY (if not most) of you were right there with me. Example: Remember the Brady return game in ‘21 when we “earned” our “moral victory” with a missed winning field goal less than a minute to play. Off the left goal post no less. Brutal!
Gotta tell ya - screw those moral victories! We went through 20 years of giving *other* teams “moral victories” and last night sure felt like a return to those days is getting close!

 

[Triumph]

All the crying in the first quarter about running into stacked boxes...
...led to 12/12 on playaction in the 2nd half.

That's what happened.

Teams don't buy the playaction if you don't actually try to run the ball. That's why rushing attempts are nearly as important as rushing yards.

The Bills had 8 or 9 in the box on virtually every play in the first half.

Buffalos D got tired in the 2nd half though and likely tired because NE ran the ball. Mickey D set the Bills up for later demise and was able to stay the course because the NE defense kept the Bills O out of the endzone. Manning and the Colts used to do the same thing to the Pats. First half body punch and keep the NE defense on the field and 2nd half move in for the knockout.

 

[JoeyCee]

11-6 team if they play like this every week. That was the toughest game they'll play all season.

 

[TommyD4207]

11-6 team if they play like this every week. That was the toughest game they'll play all season.

No, that game will be @Tampa.

 

[Vindicate]

Trying to think of things I'd like to see Maye still improve on.. Hitting receivers in stride? Finding those receivers in their open zones - anticipating those open zones?

Extremely impressed, happy, and quite frankly shocked to see how well he has come along. Great stuff.

 

[TommyD4207]

The Bills had 8 or 9 in the box on virtually every play in the first half.

Buffalos D got tired in the 2nd half though and likely tired because NE ran the ball. Mickey D set the Bills up for later demise and was able to stay the course because the NE defense kept the Bills O out of the endzone. Manning and the Colts used to do the same thing to the Pats. First half body punch and keep the NE defense on the field and 2nd half move in for the knockout.

I said it in the GDT, Bradbury was just wearing out the Bills interior line the entire first half. He was playing at an incredibly high level in the run game.

 

[TommyD4207]

Trying to think of things I'd like to see Maye still improve on.. Hitting receivers in stride? Finding those receivers in their open zones - anticipating those open zones?

Extremely impressed, happy, and quite frankly shocked to see how well he has come along. Great stuff.

Keeping his eyes downfield and anticipating pressure that isn't there. He still bails out of the pocket too fast sometimes. It's not a critical mistake because he throws so well on the run, but he has to trust his guys (which is tough for him, he's taken hits in college and the pros quite a bit), because they're playing pretty well.

 

[Triumph]

Some Bills fans told me that Vegas is always right.

8.5 points.

 

[Triumph]

I said it in the GDT, Bradbury was just wearing out the Bills interior line the entire first half. He was playing at an incredibly high level in the run game.

The OL likes being on the arse kicking end of the deal in lieu of retreating and taking punishment.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

I dont care what anyone says, but Corky Mac could not make some of those throws that Maye completed last night. The margin for error was too finite. Maye was running - right or left- and delivered the ball where it had to be. Maye seemed to play better not cooped up in the pocket like a sitting duck.

Diggs, Maye, Mickey D and the Pats D won this game.

1. I never dreamed that I would write this after what i had read about him, but Diggs is a team player and he willed this team to beat the Bills. Diggs wanted this win so bad and I'm glad that the Pats were able to deliver for him after that WR performance. Diggs caught everything and was so crazy clutch. He absolutely torched Buffalo for nearly 15 yards per completion.

2. When the WR room reviews this game film, they are going to learn a lot from how Diggs played. Getting open when Maye was under duress. Footwork concentration was textbook on the sideline completions. Completing the catch. There was never any debate on any of Diggs receptions. I bet Josh Allen missed old SD last night.

3, Maye, what can you say? That was his biggest game yet and he stepped up to the challenge. No INTs because Maye played smart and took the sack or failed 3rd down conversion so that the Pats offense could live another day. NE only converted 3 of 9 3rd down conversions for 33% which is quite low. That takes maturity. Maye has an incredible arm and is a strong runner though he looks like the thin man. Maye is not slow or not tough either. He took some hits and got back up like a Champ.

4. Maye had no TDs, but Henry sort of let him down in the EZ. That OK, because the Pats still have lots to correct even though they won. Henry will be looking for the ball earlier next time. Another possible TD to Pop was tipped at the LOS. Maye pass attempts being tipped have been occurring more and more and need to be cleaned up. A completion to Diggs center field was also tipped.

5. McDaniel's has made all the difference in the world. He operates this offense like a heavy weight fighter setting up his opponent for the KO and its still a work in progress. Vrabel can focus on coaching the team and managing the game and does not need to be concerned about the play calling. Rahm basically had 2 walk in TDs after a tough start. Glad that they did not bail on Stevenson if Gibson is seriously injured and cant go for a while.

6. Pats have a defense. NE held Buffalo to 3 sorry points in the first half. Coleman did not have a good night at all because of Gonzo - 4 receptions for 23 yards a TD and fumble for loss. None of the Bills WRs had any success last night because of this NE secondary. The CBs are legit. Trash BB all you want, but Gonzo and Marcus Jones are franchise picks. The only "White out" was the NE defense erasing the Bills WR corps. TE on the other hand is a concern. The Bills TEs were 8 for 8 and 123 yards. Most TE receptions were big chunk plays. The Bills converted 55% of 3rd down conversions (5 of 9) and had the ball for 9 additional minutes.

Props to Borregales on his first clutch FG. Many a Kicker would have shanked it.

Im not saying that the Pats are back baby, but I definitely got the vibe last night that the Pats were like the Dynasty years where the NE defense kept the game close and the Pats QB had just enough time to get in FG range for the W. Games like this build the legend of Drake Money Maye.

2 responses:
- McDaniels da man
- the Pats ARE back baby!

 

[PatsfanTN]

2 responses:
- McDaniels da man
- the Pats ARE back baby!

Our McD is better than their McD!

 

[scott99]

That was a huge kick by Borregales.

That’s what makes Vrabel a great coach, he could’ve easily have cut Borregales after 3 misses in his first two games (missed an easy FG, and then 2 XPs in game 2). Nobody would’ve complained. The confidence Vrabel has shown in Borregales was what has given Andy the confidence to do his job. The game winner would’ve been good from 70 yards, it was a bomb, a no doubter. Now we have a kicker who can win games.

I’m a huge history fan, so I think back to Vinatieri. He had some seriously tough games early on in his career. Parcells stuck with him, and he was good by the time Belichick took over, but really became a Hall of Famer during the early dynasty years under Belichick.

 

[Bill Lee]

Best win since Brady left.

I've been trying to frame things myself since the game ended last night, and I'd have to say it's the best I've felt about the Patriots since winning SB53. And in a way perhaps better, since we all knew in early 2019 that it looked like things were going to wind down one way or another in the not too distant future, whereas now we're right at the beginning of something that looks like it can be the start of a long period of success. This isn't the snow angel game, but it's not too far off it for me.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

11-6 team if they play like this every week. That was the toughest game they'll play all season.

The schedule just gets better and better:
- a definite loss at Cinci now looks like a probable win
- I figured splits with Mia & Jets, 2 losses to Buffalo (2-4). It now looks like 6-0 is possible, and 5-1 very possible
- even the definite L at Baltimore could now be a W
- I still don't see us winning at Tampa, but now it doesn't feel impossible

To keep it level-headed, we'll probably lose a couple that we thought would be wins, but 12-13 wins is not crazy talk. This week's NO game will tell us a lot, that's a dangerous trap game if I ever saw one.

 

[patchick]

Games like this build the legend of Drake Money Maye.

And on national tv. The Pats have been playing nothing but 1:00 games with minimal attention, and Maye hasn’t been putting up especially gaudy TD and yardage numbers to command attention. Most fans across the country had no idea how good he’s actually looking. That changed last night.

 

[TommyD4207]

That’s what makes Vrabel a great coach, he could’ve easily have cut Borregales after 3 misses in his first two games (missed an easy FG, and then 2 XPs in game 2). Nobody would’ve complained. The confidence Vrabel has shown in Borregales was what has given Andy the confidence to do his job. The game winner would’ve been good from 70 yards, it was a bomb, a no doubter. Now we have a kicker who can win games.

I’m a huge history fan, so I think back to Vinatieri. He had some seriously tough games early on in his career. Parcells stuck with him, and he was good by the time Belichick took over, but really became a Hall of Famer during the early dynasty years under Belichick.

Reporters finally started calling him Andy this week.

More kicks like that, they'll call him by his real nickname. Borg.

 

[The Gr8est]

Best throw of the game?

And a strong hands catch by Diggs.

Saw that a few times tonight. A lesser receiver could have lost the ball.

 

[PatsFan2]

So glad I took today off, woke up and I am still pumped after last night.

Wish I could say the same had to go to work.

 

[Sect140]

I found a good replacement for Gibson…Zamir White.

Raiders had him healthy scratch today. They have Jeanty…could prob grab White for a pick swap.

It will be interesting because the Chargers will also be shopping for a RB this week.