PostGame Thread 2026 Official Postgame Thread: Patriots close out preseason w/37-13 loss to the Browns

[mgteich]

As far as I can tell, the only guys who played last night who have any chance of making the roster are below:

A few series:
- QB DeVito
- WR Williams
- WR Chism
- RB Larison
- TE Arkin
- S Pettus

More than a few series:
- QB Morton
- OT Lomu
- OT Crownover
- CB Vildor
- CB Woods
- CB Prunty
- DT Taylor
- DE Swinson
- DE Jacas
- LB Britt

Out of the second larger group above, the only player that is likely to make the roster and see the field more than limited snaps without injury circumstances is probably Jacas.

When last I did the roster, I had all of your list making the 53 except Larison and Arkin. With one of the 4 injured not on the 53. I would also include Arkin.

Also, I believe the Morton and Obiazor (the 4th ILB) will be on the initial 53.

 

[Wozzy]

Posters forget that In 04 he pats went 1-3 in preseason and won the super bowl

I don't think things are nearly as dire as many posts here, especially last night in the immediate aftermath of the game, suggest.

Last night the immediate backups (2nd string) played roughly 2 series offensively and about a third to a half of the game defensively. Many guys played a little more because they missed time earlier in camp and are playing catchup. Beyond that, it was the entire backend (3rd, 4th, 5th string) of the roster... guys who weren't making the 53 anyway.

Not only that, but the schemes they were running were very vanilla, mostly zones defensively, and using different coaches at both coordinator spots.

Preseason for all it's dressed up to be is still practice. It's about basic fundamentals and effort. Sure in the last two games there were missed tackles, poor edge contain, mistakes... but this roster went from one of the older ones in the league last year to one of the youngest. The coaches realize development doesn't end with the start of the regular season and many of these young guys have a lot of work to do.

Just like we saw with last year's rookies, they will continue to gain more experience and improve. We saw the evolution of Craig Woodson last year where he looked unsure at times and tentative which made him look slow at the beginning of the season, to the playoffs where he looked like one of the best defenders on the field.

Stay healthy, keep developing the youth, make additions where you need to. This should be a very competitive team, albeit playing a much tougher schedule.

 

[PatsFan2]

As far as I can tell, the only guys who played last night who have any chance of making the roster are below:

A few series:
- QB DeVito
- WR Williams
- WR Chism
- RB Larison
- TE Arkin
- S Pettus
- DT Taylor
- DT Farmer
- DE Jacas

More than a few series:
- QB Morton
- OT Lomu
- OT Crownover
- CB Vildor
- CB Woods
- CB Prunty
- DT Taylor
- DE Swinson
- LB Britt

None of that second group are likely to see the field at all even if they make the roster for more than limited snaps unless there are injuries.

Tanner Arkin have very minimal value now with our Tackle Depth. I would go with Lomu or Crownover no pun over Him. You can see why CB Kindle Vildor have been on so many Teams he's meh! Prunty is a Rookie. Most of those^ minus the obvious would make it through waivers. I wouldn't rush to put Lan Larison or Jam Miller on the 53; I don't see any Team coveting them.

 

[PatsFan2]

Embarrassing. Yes its only pre season, but losinng 37-13 speaks to some problems with the roster make up.
No points in second half and giving up 37 points to third stringers.

Taylor Green >>>Behren Morton

Kyle Williams is a keeper

Edge and LB are huge problems and the fact that they were not dressed in free agency is on Vrabel and the Front Office. No fixes are coming in the door at this point. Pass rush is going to be a big problem m this year for the patriots.

Overall, it seems like the RB position is not going to be anything special

QB 3 Morton is a JAG. I think the Ptats could have done better than Devito and Morton. Obviously if Drake goes down, we could be looking at a 4 win team.

To improve depth Patriots are going to have to scour the waiver wire on saturday and substitute the weak links at the bottom of this roster and bring in unpolished but higher upside refuse from other teams.

Potential Big Name Cuts pats should consider picking up:

1. Evan Neal, OG Giants
2. Darren Waller, TE
3. Emmanuel Ogbah, Edge
4. Mazi Smith, DT
5. Will Levis, QB
6. Jerry Tilllery, DT
7. Dameon Pearce, RB
8. Trevor Penning IOL

Good list.

 

[imahobgoblin]

Tanner Arkin have very minimal value now with our Tackle Depth. I would go with Lomu or Crownover no pun over Him. You can see why CB Kindle Vildor have been on so many Teams he's meh! Prunty is a Rookie. Most of those^ minus the obvious would make it through waivers. I wouldn't rush to put Lan Larison or Jam Miller on the 53; I don't see any Team coveting them.

Very far off on Arkin. They dumped $15 million into Julian Hill for a reason - To pair a blocking TE with a FB to improve the running game and set up play action. While the offense's strength is now the pass, they have to repair the run after last year. Arkin has turned heads at training camp by emerging as the team's top inline blocking TE. He will make the 53.

 

[reflexblue]

I don't think things are nearly as dire as many posts here, especially last night in the immediate aftermath of the game, suggest.

Last night the immediate backups (2nd string) played roughly 2 series offensively and about a third to a half of the game defensively. Many guys played a little more because they missed time earlier in camp and are playing catchup. Beyond that, it was the entire backend (3rd, 4th, 5th string) of the roster... guys who weren't making the 53 anyway.

Not only that, but the schemes they were running were very vanilla, mostly zones defensively, and using different coaches at both coordinator spots.

Preseason for all it's dressed up to be is still practice. It's about basic fundamentals and effort. Sure in the last two games there were missed tackles, poor edge contain, mistakes... but this roster went from one of the older ones in the league last year to one of the youngest. The coaches realize development doesn't end with the start of the regular season and many of these young guys have a lot of work to do.

Just like we saw with last year's rookies, they will continue to gain more experience and improve. We saw the evolution of Craig Woodson last year where he looked unsure at times and tentative which made him look slow at the beginning of the season, to the playoffs where he looked like one of the best defenders on the field.

Stay healthy, keep developing the youth, make additions where you need to. This should be a very competitive team, albeit playing a much tougher schedule.

I don't take these games seriously especially now adays when there only three preseason games. I view the first weeks of the new season as an extension of pre season.

 

[KCSVEN]

Took a quick look at Kyle Williams. 8 pass plays, open 8 times. Made me go back and watch all 35 routes in preseason. He was open a lot. Clearly better than the backups he played against.
-His releases are high quality.

The criticisms of him have been route running, hands and Drake Maye and him being on the same page:

Granted he didn't need to run a lot of complicated routes, but when he had to do something different, he did it well. He also caught everything catchable. Can he make Boutte type tight coverage catches? Playing against backups he didn't have the opportunity. Too open or the QB made a bad throw. He realistically could have had Randy Moss 2007 numbers in these pre-season games.

He's an NFL receiver, just a question whether his upside is Boutte level or higher. Still need to see him click with Drake.

 

[PatsFan2]

Took a quick look at Kyle Williams. 8 pass plays, open 8 times. Made me go back and watch all 35 routes in preseason. He was open a lot. Clearly better than the backups he played against.
-His releases are high quality.

The criticisms of him have been route running, hands and Drake Maye and him being on the same page:

Granted he didn't need to run a lot of complicated routes, but when he had to do something different, he did it well. He also caught everything catchable. Can he make Boutte type tight coverage catches? Playing against backups he didn't have the opportunity. Too open or the QB made a bad throw. He realistically could have had Randy Moss 2007 numbers in these pre-season games.

He's an NFL receiver, just a question whether his upside is Boutte level or higher. Still need to see him click with Drake.

I think they'll use him to take the Top Off the Defense like DeSean Jackson. I think that's KW's ceiling.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

There were a lot of rumors last night and a few sources close to Gonzo, like his trainer that Shefter tweeted then deleted, that said some stuff. Once think posted was that the contract is there, but there are some really weird options to it that others don't have. I suspect Wolf has a theory on how to mitigate the cap hit and he is doing something weird to try it. Gonzo's agent won't bite and Wolf has not buckled.

Ya, read about his trainers tweet, then also saw something refuting Kraft’s claim that they offered a contract that would have made him the top paid CB.
I have no idea what the hold up is.
Lots of contradictory info and speculation out there.
One thing I do know is we need him in 2026 badly.
They gotta figure this **** out.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Williams showed why we kept him and let Boutte go. Williams developed a few yards of separation on that catch. Boutte probably would have made the catch but with the defender draped on him. and probably would have been stopped short of the goal line as his YAC has never been good.

I’m a big KW fan, think he has a bright future.
However, on his TD the CB had good coverage until he turned to look for the ball and basically stopped. If he just kept running it’s very likely it’s not a catch, and definitely not a TD.

 

[PatsFan2]

Nice to see priority FA WR Kyle Dixon show his stuff. He started slow but picked things up in the end. Dixon - DeG and Dorner will be Three nice pieces on our PS. Players who initially learned our system.

 

[PatsFan2]

I’m a big KW fan, think he has a bright future.
However, on his TD the CB had good coverage until he turned to look for the ball and basically stopped. If he just kept running it’s very likely it’s not a catch, and definitely not a TD.

Shows you can't skip a beat against KW because; he'll get a step on you. A Game of inches; Drake Maye should take advantage of that.

 

[mgteich]

I don't take these games seriously especially now adays when there only three preseason games. I view the first weeks of the new season as an extension of pre season.

I look at the scrimmages as pre-season games

 

[reflexblue]

I look at the scrimmages as pre-season games

I can see that, everybody not inured plays

 

[Sciz]

Two interesting roles last night…

Arkin, the presumed TE3 if there is one, played more of a complementary TE role rather than moving to the top of the TE depth chart. Dippre and Westover split the majority of the single TE snaps, with Arkin coming on the field as either the FB or second TE. That would match more of his projected role.

Saunders played the entire game at safety, with Pettus, Brown, and Manuma all taking turns next to him.

 

[PatsFan2]

Two interesting roles last night…

Arkin, the presumed TE3 if there is one, played more of a complementary TE role rather than moving to the top of the TE depth chart. Dippre and Westover split the majority of the single TE snaps, with Arkin coming on the field as either the FB or second TE. That would match more of his projected role.

Saunders played the entire game at safety, with Pettus, Brown, and Manuma all taking turns next to him.

Jack Westover seems much improved... I don't get Dippre.

 

[Clonamery]

I look at the scrimmages as pre-season games

Yeah and I look at the Draft as a marriage that will end in divorce sooner or later.

 

[Steve102]

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think they'll use him to take the Top Off the Defense like DeSean Jackson. I think that's KW's ceiling.

DJax was a complete receiver but your point is taken. If he can haul in 50% of balls which are 30+ yards in the air then the D has no choice but to pay attention to him.

 

[Wozzy]

Took a quick look at Kyle Williams. 8 pass plays, open 8 times. Made me go back and watch all 35 routes in preseason. He was open a lot. Clearly better than the backups he played against.
-His releases are high quality.

The criticisms of him have been route running, hands and Drake Maye and him being on the same page:

Granted he didn't need to run a lot of complicated routes, but when he had to do something different, he did it well. He also caught everything catchable. Can he make Boutte type tight coverage catches? Playing against backups he didn't have the opportunity. Too open or the QB made a bad throw. He realistically could have had Randy Moss 2007 numbers in these pre-season games.

He's an NFL receiver, just a question whether his upside is Boutte level or higher. Still need to see him click with Drake.

Many fans equate depth chart to “good” versus “worse,” when that’s not the case in many circumstances.

Williams will be better than Boutte, I’m not afraid to say it. Plus his speed will be a net positive on the team as a whole. Drake can throw it a mile, Williams can go get it.

Boutte was limited, it’s visible in his stats and tape, his tendency to disappear for long stretches despite single coverage and the simple fact the team spent vast resources to improve the starting WR duo.