Patriots Pregame Thread Patriots Chargers Sunday @ 8pm - pregame thread

[NFL Mystique]

The way I would decide this is who do I take to win me a game this weekend all things else being equal.

Mahomes pre-ACL and Allen would come first.

But I'd take Maye ahead of the rest right now... ahead of Burrow, Herbert and Stafford.

Lawrence is on the next tier just slightly ahead of Lamar Jackson.

1A and 1B: Mahomes and Allen
3 Maye
4A, 4B, 4C: Stafford, Herbert, Burrow
7 Lawrence
8 Lamar Jackson

Tough to disagree with this

 

[bresna]

This is funny... I'm glad that I haven't been imagining things this year.

 

[n1997y]

The way I would decide this is who do I take to win me a game this weekend all things else being equal.

Mahomes pre-ACL and Allen would come first.

But I'd take Maye ahead of the rest right now... ahead of Burrow, Herbert and Stafford.

Lawrence is on the next tier just slightly ahead of Lamar Jackson.

1A and 1B: Mahomes and Allen
3 Maye
4A, 4B, 4C: Stafford, Herbert, Burrow
7 Lawrence
8 Lamar Jackson

“Mahomes pre-ACL”

If you’re talking history why not just go vintage Brady and be done? Or pre-neck Peyton?

At this point I’d argue Jackson is past his prime and should fall off that list, unless you’re talking historical Lamar Jackson? I mean, Lamar was outdueled by Aaron Rodgers just this past weekend, so why is Rodgers not on that list ahead of Jackson?

Right now I’m not sold on Allen either. He’s also showing signs he may be past his prime.

In general I think it’s silly to try to make that list. There are really only a few QBs who can truly elevate everyone around them enough to carry their team. I don’t think think the Pats would be at 14-3 with Stafford behind center instead of Maye, for example. Maybe with healthy Mahomes, not sure with Josh Allen. Doubtful with Herbert or Burrow. Big question mark is who is OC? And HC? I’d consider Josh McDaniels and Mike Vrabel as important an advantage as the QB. Not sure even Drake Maye would do as well with different coaches. Entire discussion seems as pointless as debating whether Belichick or Brady was more valuable.

 

[n1997y]

This is funny... I'm glad that I haven't been imagining things this year.

Vrabel can’t let him block, or he’d have to find a new shtick for razzing Diggs.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Can we talk about Mumford showing up here has seemed to have made all the difference?

We can't block with our TEs, so we have to go jumbo.

 

[Real fan 02]

Well beating Josh Superman Allen will be a Great Test for him.

Allen is going to carve them up..

 

[patfanken]

This is funny... I'm glad that I haven't been imagining things this year.

My new favorite Pats clip this season. (and shows the chemestry that created the "We all we got/ We all we need" culture and relationship with the coaching staff

 

[Real fan 02]

I was talking about Houston. But our formula is to put it in Drake Mays shoulders. Run the ball enough to keep the defense honest, success is gravy, and use the entire field and all 5 weapons in the passing game.
The second we start playing “stay on schedule” offense and abandon the focus on chunk plays, our season will be over.

Agreed. But what I'm saying is if the running game is working and getting us into the redzone and scoring similarly to how it's been the last few weeks of the season then I say stay the course. Of course we know Drake can do it. I'd rather dictate and wear down a defense with the running game if possible.

 

[Real fan 02]

IF or when??

How many top WR have Lawrence had.. since he been in the league?? He was the first overall pick of his draft class.. he should have been elite from day 1 not 5 years later..

 

[palialka]

Why does Denver have over twice the chance of the Patriots when both teams have the same record? I think the Sportsline Simulations are a bit lacking.

I think they’re over-hyping the Broncos home field advantage. Playing in Denver can be difficult; I saw it first hand in a 90s Monday night Pats loss at the old Mile High stadium, but I don’t think the odds should be doubled in comparison to NE.

 

[Steve102]

I think they’re over-hyping the Broncos home field advantage. Playing in Denver can be difficult; I saw it first hand in a 90s Monday night Pats loss at the old Mile High stadium, but I don’t think the odds should be doubled in comparison to NE.

They play less games.

 

[palialka]

They play less games.

That too

 

[n1997y]

My new favorite Pats clip this season. (and shows the chemestry that created the "We all we got/ We all we need" culture and relationship with the coaching staff

“But I was willing!”

Love it!

 

[patfanken]

The fact is that we can beat anyone and everyone can beat us. It is as simple as that. When we look back on it next Monday it will all probably come down to the TO's. Who get's them. Who loses them.

Here is a case for the Chargers to come in and win. .,

1. LA's (still hard from not to put SD down) biggest weakness is their OL. no question. HOWEVER, the Pats biggest weakness on D is their pass rush That sort of negates each other and bodes well for LAs passing game and Herbert and his top receivers, who are better than the Pats' top receivers.

2. Herbert will have almost 2 more weeks of rest for his left hand when he takes the field and be as healthy as he's been in months. Plus he's hungry to get his first playoff win in his 3rd try. He'll be VERY motivated and locked in
.
3. Lately the Pats defense against the run has been bad. Even with Milt back it didn't look great against lowly Miami. The Chargers have a great rookie RB and will take advantage of that weakness and the lack of speed at the 2nd level and strong edge play, especially if Spillane and Landry don't go.

4. LA's pass offense is strong where the Pats pass defense is weakest. at the 2nd level and up the middle. We watched Miami move the ball up and down the field through the first 3rd quarters using motion and 7th round rookie QB. Twice in the 2nd half Miami was driving for the tying score in the red zone when they pissed themselves.

5. On Defense they Chargers have the ability to create INSTANT pressure both from the outside and up the middle. Tart will go head-to-head with Bradbury and make his life miserable forcing the Pats to double him all day and open big gaps for their speedy LB's and S's to take advantage of. The Chargers have 2 proven edge rushers to put fast pressure that way too. They will have Maye speeded up all game and prone to making mistakes against the chargers fine secondary, which includes a top 5 safety in Derwin James who will figure largely in both the Passing and run game. This is a defense who held the #1 seeded Broncos to 19 points ALSO on the road and with no offense to protect them and a Denver team with everything gain, against a Charger team who had 0 to gain

6. And lastly, This Charger team has faced a FAR harder road to get here. They played the #1 seed Broncos twice. the best defense in the league and rapidly rising Texans, plus they beat the eagles . PLus KC at the start of the year when they were at their best. They have wins over Denver and the Steelers.

BTW- don't bother rebutting my points. I already know most of the answers. This is just a rhetorical case I made just to show that we should not take this team for granted.

 

[upstater1]

“Mahomes pre-ACL”

If you’re talking history why not just go vintage Brady and be done? Or pre-neck Peyton?

At this point I’d argue Jackson is past his prime and should fall off that list, unless you’re talking historical Lamar Jackson? I mean, Lamar was outdueled by Aaron Rodgers just this past weekend, so why is Rodgers not on that list ahead of Jackson?

Right now I’m not sold on Allen either. He’s also showing signs he may be past his prime.

In general I think it’s silly to try to make that list. There are really only a few QBs who can truly elevate everyone around them enough to carry their team. I don’t think think the Pats would be at 14-3 with Stafford behind center instead of Maye, for example. Maybe with healthy Mahomes, not sure with Josh Allen. Doubtful with Herbert or Burrow. Big question mark is who is OC? And HC? I’d consider Josh McDaniels and Mike Vrabel as important an advantage as the QB. Not sure even Drake Maye would do as well with different coaches. Entire discussion seems as pointless as debating whether Belichick or Brady was more valuable.

Generally confused what you're saying here. I thought we were talking about active QBs?

I phrased it myself. Who would you want playing this weekend's game all else being equal. A healthy Mahomes is my #1 answer. That's why I mentioned the ACL.

 

[jdlboot14]

Spillane practiced last week, but not ready to go. Maybe this weekend!

I think he's more important for any playoff run than Landry or Tonga. Mostly because of his intensity and communication. Landry has long dropped off any use whatsoever. Tonga & Durden might be closer than we thought.
The only huge concern with Spillane coming back is that it took him the first 2 to 3 weeks of the season to really get up to speed with toughness & tackling. After 4-5 weeks out, will he need a game to find it again? We can't afford to have a slow reacting / hesitant MLB. At least Gibbens has had the last month to start to look a lot better in the last 2 games (whether that's because it was Cook & Ewers ??)

 

[mgteich]

We can't block with our TEs, so we have to go jumbo.

Yes, we use an OL as our 3rd TE.

I like that use of resources.

 

[n1997y]

Generally confused what you're saying here. I thought we were talking about active QBs?

I phrased it myself. Who would you want playing this weekend's game all else being equal. A healthy Mahomes is my #1 answer. That's why I mentioned the ACL.

Ok. I thought your post was an evolution of the discussion about how good Trevor Lawrence has become, trying to put that into perspective with a way of comparing other QBs, and I’m saying I don’t think such comparisons are very useful. There are too many other factors, like the supporting cast, the coaching staff, etc.

And I’m also saying that it’s somewhat specious to invoke a parallel reality. A healthy Mahomes doesn’t exist today, but the rest of the matchup would be today’s supporting roster including their current skills development and state of health. Same thing with Lamar and Allen.

All being equal, as they are today, not weeks ago, I’m not sure Mahomes or Allen get much confidence from me. Lawrence might be my choice over either of them, today. Six weeks ago, pre injuries, is a moot point. That’s what I’m trying to say, even if I’m not saying it very well.

 

[Ring 6]

Agreed. But what I'm saying is if the running game is working and getting us into the redzone and scoring similarly to how it's been the last few weeks of the season then I say stay the course. Of course we know Drake can do it. I'd rather dictate and wear down a defense with the running game if possible.

If the run game destroys them sure. What im
saying is we need to play for explosive not ball control and getting to makable 3rd downs. Playing for chunks plays and having 3rd and 10s sometimes is better than play conservative to get to 3rd and 4

 

[upstater1]

Ok. I thought your post was an evolution of the discussion about how good Trevor Lawrence has become, trying to put that into perspective with a way of comparing other QBs, and I’m saying I don’t think such comparisons are very useful. There are too many other factors, like the supporting cast, the coaching staff, etc.

And I’m also saying that it’s somewhat specious to invoke a parallel reality. A healthy Mahomes doesn’t exist today, but the rest of the matchup would be today’s supporting roster including their current skills development and state of health. Same thing with Lamar and Allen.

All being equal, as they are today, not weeks ago, I’m not sure Mahomes or Allen get much confidence from me. Lawrence might be my choice over either of them, today. Six weeks ago, pre injuries, is a moot point. That’s what I’m trying to say, even if I’m not saying it very well.

? It's all hypothetical. We're not trading for any of them.

We're not trading for a Mahomes, healthy or injured.

We're all just speculating