Patriots Pregame Thread Week 18: Dolphins at Patriots, 4:25 on Fox

[Real fan 02]

Barmore is a misdemeanor. You have a bad feeling about a misdemeanor?

Agreed. However...far as the actual game.. no Waddle, no Achane. Williams will play & this defense should dominate. If we are seeing This QB make plays on them without 2 of thier best players then we have larger problems then I thought.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

Pats by 600..

 

[Gumby]

Today’s Apple weather…. A little Cold (to psych the Phish out) but …
- no great wind chill
- & no snow.

The best thing to demotivate Phish is that due to the NYJFL-mandated late start ONLY THE COIN-TOSS COMES BEFORE SUNSET (16:27)….. and then temps go down more. Lol

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Today’s Apple weather…. A little Cold (to psych the Phish out) but …
- no great wind chill
- & no snow.

The best thing to demotivate Phish is that due to the NYJFL-mandated late start ONLY THE COIN-TOSS COMES BEFORE SUNSET (16:27)….. and then temps go down more. Lol

It was 77F in Miami yesterday. Running out of the tunnel for the 2nd half at 25F to play for nothing is really hard to do. The LOLphins will only want a hot shower and to get on the plane back to Miami.

 

[mgteich]

To be a top running team we need a short yardage back and a fullback. Neither is required to get much yardage.

sorry to confuse
We need
RB1
RB2
RB3 - a reliable short yardage back
FB

Stevenson and Henderson are more than fine for RB1 and RB2. All we need to be very, very good is better run blocking. For 2026, we need to get the best that is reasonable at RB3 and FB.

 

[Uptown]

 

[TommyD4207]

Jennings has no burst/vision, ran for 35 yards in the ATL game & hasn’t done much else. He also doesn’t offer anything on ST. Johnson can do everything Jennings can do, but better & plays a role on ST.

I mean "better".

They're basically the same guy. Jennings does seem to have some late-game leg drive, that's something I guess.

They're both practice squad guys.

 

[Uptown]

I mean "better".

They're basically the same guy. Jennings does seem to have some late-game leg drive, that's something I guess.

They're both practice squad guys.

Of course. They both suck in the grand scheme of things, but I’ll take the “better” runner, blocker & catcher with ST value with experience.

 

[dliverey44]

I fully expect them all to get most if not all of those incentives . Don't you?

I think Chaisson gets it, Diggs gets the 30 yards but not 8 catches and HH gets 5 catches

 

[neuronet]

I'm very curious about this game, so much has changed since week 2 for the better for us, for the worse for them.

Vrabel will want to come out hard, fast, and kicking ass, otherwise the Broncos will just be able to relax. I expect a big first half from the Pats.

If Denver is slaughtering LA how much will that alter Vrabel's decision-making in the second half? We really don't want to risk injuries right now, so I wouldn't blame him for taking his foot off the gas even in a close game ... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I trust Vrabel to do the right thing for the team.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

If Denver is slaughtering LA how much will that alter Vrabel's decision-making in the second half? We really don't want to risk injuries right now, so I wouldn't blame him for taking his foot off the gas even in a close game ... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I trust Vrabel to do the right thing for the team.

You think Vrabs will take his foot off the gas in a close game and risk giving the 2 seed to Jax?
I don't.

 

[Real fan 02]

I'm very curious about this game, so much has changed since week 2 for the better for us, for the worse for them.

Vrabel will want to come out hard, fast, and kicking ass, otherwise the Broncos will just be able to relax. I expect a big first half from the Pats.

If Denver is slaughtering LA how much will that alter Vrabel's decision-making in the second half? We really don't want to risk injuries right now, so I wouldn't blame him for taking his foot off the gas even in a close game ... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I trust Vrabel to do the right thing for the team.

Win at all cost.. for a variety of reasons.

1. Secures us no less than 2 seed
2. Keeps the team momentum and hunger for more in the playoffs.
3. Puts a stamp on the regular season and guys can quickly turn attention to the chargers.

 

[jdlboot14]

The only situation I want our starters resting is if we're up by 20 at the start of the 4th qtr.
Dolphins can still put up points. And I agree that we need momentum and want to work on dominating, learning how to keep the feet on the throats of lesser teams.
not to mention our home record the last few years has been awful. we need to re-establish that home field advantage.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Jags & Hou are going to win. So the Patriots need a win to secure the 2nd seed.

My guess:

1. Denver
2. NE
3. Jax
4. Bal
5. Hou
6. LAC
7. Buffalo

I think the Bills are going to do everything possible to get NE instead of Jacksonville. Of course, is it possible to lose to the Jets. Even with backups?

 

[TheRainMaker]

Jags & Hou are going to win. So the Patriots need a win to secure the 2nd seed.

My guess:

1. Denver
2. NE
3. Jax
4. Bal
5. Hou
6. LAC
7. Buffalo

I think the Bills are going to do everything possible to get NE instead of Jacksonville. Of course, is it possible to lose to the Jets. Even with backups?

If Buffalo taps out of their week 18 game again that will be something else.

 

[Foxypats]

If Jax wins, (and they have a big lead right now )I am assuming we have to win to get the 2 seed. I really do not want to fall to the 3 seed plus it is always nice to finish the season with a win.

 

[NFL Mystique]

If Buffalo taps out of their week 18 game again that will be something else.

I think Jacksonville would be a much tougher matchup for them. The Patriots are good though. So hopefully karma comes back to get them.

For the Patriots, Buffalo coming in and winning would put a damper on the entire season.

 

[Uptown]

 

[neuronet]

You think Vrabs will take his foot off the gas in a close game and risk giving the 2 seed to Jax?
I don't.

Well, just to nit pick -- I said I trust Vrabel to make the right decision, and I wouldn't blame him for resting people to avoid injuries in a close game. But I do see your point, it doesn't seem his style. My guess is the game won't be that close and we'll be resting people because Miami will be wanting to go back to their warm Southern climes.