PostGame Thread OFFICIAL 2025 Week 16 Postgame Thread: Patriots Clinch Playoff Berth with 28-24 win over Ravens

[Real fan 02]

I think Isaiah Unlikely was in the witness protection program last night. It said: he cost them a couple of games with some bone headed plays.

Yeah.. I didn't even see him make a play in the passing game.. thier TEs didn't hurt us too much like I thought..

 

[TommyD4207]

For entertainment purposes only... [guess it depends on what one considers entertainment]

This, mostly.

 

[hornetfb85]

Maybe. We certainly need to upgrade our interior OL. However I'm yet to be convinced Wilson is our future LG and it strikes me as sensible to move him back to his college position where I think he'll excel and upgrade at LG, probably through the draft.

I'd be very happy signing Linderbaum though. I'm just thinking about if that doesn't happen.

Agree. However they choose to improve the OL, I’m good with. IOL and a future RT.

 

[Real fan 02]

Trust me, if they had the horses and they just sucked, I'd be screaming from the rooftops just like everyone else.

Yes, agreed. I had to really come to that realization. Because guys are out thier playing lots of snaps they ordinarily wouldn't see. The depth is tested.. guys going down in game. Outside of winning & Denver losing was a blessing to keep the hopes for a bye week alive..

 

[manxman2601]

If you happen to get a hold of the all-22, watch Wilson from last night - that was his best game as a pro.

I'm curious whether you've done any draft scouting yet. Any thoughts?

 

[Ring 6]

It was a ******** answer from someone trying to save his job.
Who has clearly lost his team.

There's a lot of talent on that team. Tyler Huntley starting every game should have them better than 7-8.

Do they though? The defense is average at best.
It’s hard to win with an offense that can’t really throw the ball and a mediocre defense. They have digressed a lot in talent.

 

[TommyD4207]

Yes, agreed. I had to really come to that realization. Because guys are out thier playing lots of snaps they ordinarily wouldn't see. The depth is tested.. guys going down in game. Outside of winning & Denver losing was a blessing to keep the hopes for a bye week alive..

Gibbens led the team in tackles last night, that's how useless that stat is, because they were all 8 yards downfield - when he wasn't busy shooting the wrong gap, or covering nobody in man coverage. Elliss same thing, Tavai same thing.

I don't doubt that they're trying out there, they're just not good enough at those positions to play them on an NFL-level.

Shoutout to Anfernee Jennings though . Not only did he get an honest-to-god sack last night (using a pass rush move, a real bull rush!), but he had to play DT the entire 4th quarter. That's a quality depth piece on a team with legitimate talent.

 

[hornetfb85]

@manxman2601
I do know he’s older but all of a sudden our winning window is open. Maybe an IOL like Joel Bitonio would be a big benefit to Drake Maye and our young OL. Then draft an IOL with some RT potential like a Gennings Dunker.
LT: Campbell
LG: Bitonio
C: Wilson
RG: Onwenu
RT: Moses/Dunker

 

[TommyD4207]

I'm curious whether you've done any draft scouting yet. Any thoughts?

I'll be honest, not much, one of my teams is still in it after all. From that team though, you can't go wrong with any of those 5 that happen to declare for the draft.

 

[upstater1]

I'm off for work this morning sitting in front of the TV with 4 split screens on the morning football shows.

None of the 4 shows have said more than a minute worth about Maye and the Patriots.

Lots of Jaguars and Steelers. But for all the talk about Maye choking last week (to use Orlovsky's words) it's really weird not to hear them say anything about last night.

 

[Real fan 02]

Gibbens led the team in tackles last night, that's how useless that stat is, because they were all 8 yards downfield - when he wasn't busy shooting the wrong gap, or covering nobody in man coverage. Elliss same thing, Tavai same thing.

I don't doubt that they're trying out there, they're just not good enough at those positions to play them on an NFL-level.

Shoutout to Anfernee Jennings though . Not only did he get an honest-to-god sack last night (using a pass rush move, a real bull rush!), but he had to play DT the entire 4th quarter. That's a quality depth piece on a team with legitimate talent.

I was hoping Jennings wasn't moved.. he serves a need and is an excellent edge setter. I believe he has grown on Vrabel and I hope that he remains going forward need guys like Jennings on a team.. Tavai, Ellis and Gibbens are all down hill thumpers.. they should never been in positions to cover..but.. becuase of the injuries they are pressed into those positions. Barmore is ailing and props to him for even playing in a NFL game after what he's been through.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Trust me, if they had the horses and they just sucked, I'd be screaming from the rooftops just like everyone else.

Defense needs to be addressed hard in the offseason.
Yes we also need help on the Oline. A young TE and a WR would be nice.
But…Drake seems to developing into that top tier level QB that really makes everyone else on O better.
We desperately need pass rush, a true difference maker.
Need some more depth on the interior.
Need some LB help. When was the last time we had an off ball LB that was a top 10 guy?

 

[A Defiant Goose]

Missing the great throw to a tackled Boutte, but most of the others are here:

Most impressive to me was the 4th and 2 throw to Diggs. Think I lost a couple months of my life watching him thread that one in

 

[TommyD4207]

Defense needs to be addressed hard in the offseason.
Yes we also need help on the Oline. A young TE and a WR would be nice.
But…Drake seems to developing into that top tier level QB that really makes everyone else on O better.
We desperately need pass rush, a true difference maker.
Need some more depth on the interior.
Need some LB help. When was the last time we had an off ball LB that was a top 10 guy?

I think they might go for 2 off-ball LBs in FA (Devin Lloyd I've seen thrown around a lot), and also draft a guy. Linebacker is in a very sorry state.

I think they throw a bag a Tyler Linderbaum, and rightfully so, that guy's an animal.

 

[Real fan 02]

Defense needs to be addressed hard in the offseason.
Yes we also need help on the Oline. A young TE and a WR would be nice.
But…Drake seems to developing into that top tier level QB that really makes everyone else on O better.
We desperately need pass rush, a true difference maker.
Need some more depth on the interior.
Need some LB help. When was the last time we had an off ball LB that was a top 10 guy?

We need at least 2 Impact pass rushers.. I'm totally fine with keeping all the guys we have now and ADDING the need to them.. now we are talking..

Once we do this next off-season and draft we will be able to be more multiple on defense and create TOs.

We also need another DT/NT to pair with Barmore and Williams..

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/72660/naquan-jones

 

[Brady to Maye]

We are back in the Playoffs baby !!!

This was the best win of the year due to the comeback nature of it. The Patriots kept overcoming injuries and coming up with the big play. A tip of the hat to Drake Maye for his first 300 yard game this year.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I dont actually think that but in the first 15 pages people were really likening the two QBs and the two seasons

Mac Jones specialty was game losing drives. I was completely confident that Maye would bring them back and win the game, in part because I knew that Vrabel was going to be aggressive and put the game in his hands, and Maye is at his best when they turn him loose.

 

[Real fan 02]

I think they might go for 2 off-ball LBs in FA (Devin Lloyd I've seen thrown around a lot), and also draft a guy. Linebacker is in a very sorry state.

I think they throw a bag a Tyler Linderbaum, and rightfully so, that guy's an animal.

Devin Lloyd absolutely..

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I think they might go for 2 off-ball LBs in FA (Devin Lloyd I've seen thrown around a lot), and also draft a guy. Linebacker is in a very sorry state.

I think they throw a bag a Tyler Linderbaum, and rightfully so, that guy's an animal.

Like Linderbaum, fully endorse that!
Lloyd….not sure.
Liked him coming out but he was quite uninspiring his first couple of years.
I know he’s having a good year this, but I haven’t watched enough Jax games to give my own objective opinion

 

[manxman2601]

I'll be honest, not much, one of my teams is still in it after all. From that team though, you can't go wrong with any of those 5 that happen to declare for the draft.

I’m guessing Miami after our Martinez discussions. Mesidor and Keionte Scott are my two favourite prospects in the draft. Both were awesome at the weekend although they’ve been my favourites for a while now (Mesidor since the start of the year watching Bain and realising Mesidor was frequently beating Bain to the QB).

Also, I’ve already banked Toney as a binky for 2028.