NFL GAME DAY DISCUSSION Week 15 pre-game thread: Patriots vs Colts

sb1 said:

Colts starting to talk themselves up. Good stuff. I hope the Pats locker room heard this

Carson Wentz: I'm confident we'll be able to run the ball against New England

The Patriots have a reputation for taking away what an opponent's offense does best.

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

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I can understand why he’d say this. Our defense as good as they’ve been ranks 19th on run defense with 4.4 yards per attempt and the titans ran for 200+ on us at home. Let’s see if our defense can rise to the challenge

sb1 said:

Paywalled so I can't read it but our old buddy Doyel crying again about Deflategate and McDaniels...

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He recaps the low points on his twitter feed, which i won't link either (but you can find it)

Gregg Doyel, Indy Star, on twitter
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Bill Belichick remains smug, Josh McDaniels remains a twerp, and DeflateGate remains fresh. When Patriots visit Colts on Saturday, I hope you boo their ass – and wouldn’t mind if the Colts beat their ass.

Redman443 said:

I can understand why he’d say this. Our defense as good as they’ve been ranks 19th on run defense with 4.4 yards per attempt and the titans ran for 200+ on us at home. Let’s see if our defense can rise to the challenge

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Your "19th" ranked rush defense gives up 26 yards per game more than the #1 rush defense.

Your defense is also #2 in pass defense with under 200 yards per game.

Redman443 said:

I can understand why he’d say this. Our defense as good as they’ve been ranks 19th on run defense with 4.4 yards per attempt and the titans ran for 200+ on us at home. Let’s see if our defense can rise to the challenge

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Yeah. We've played 3 teams so far in the top 10 in rushing, and the Colts are 2nd in the league. We're 19th right now in rush yards allowed but also top 3 in fewest rushing first down % allowed, leading the league in fewest rush TD allowed and I believe we haven't allowed a 100 yard individual rusher yet. We're averaging 111 yards rushing allowed a game since week 4 and that includes the Titans game.

I think we'll find out a lot about how well this team stops the run on Saturday. Hopefully the Titans game was a one-off.

sb1 said:

Yeah. We've played 3 teams so far in the top 10 in rushing, and the Colts are 2nd in the league. We're 19th right now in rush yards allowed but also top 3 in rushing first down % allowed and lead the league in fewest rush TD allowed and I believe we haven't allowed a 100 yard individual rusher yet. We're averaging 111 yards rushing allowed a game since week 4 and that includes the Titans game.

I think we'll find out a lot about how well this team stops the run on Saturday. Hopefully the Titans game was a one-off.

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I feel like stats like that (and my anecdotal eye test) tell me that this run defense is good enough to stop the run when that's their top priority, but not good enough to keep it in check when it's not. The best run defenses stop the run even when they're favoring defending the pass. Pats aren't there, but like you've noted, when it's goal to go or 3rd/4th and 1, they seem pretty capable of making the big stop.

Sicilian said:

I feel like stats like that (and my anecdotal eye test) tell me that this run defense is good enough to stop the run when that's their top priority, but not good enough to keep it in check when it's not. The best run defenses stop the run even when they're favoring defending the pass. Pats aren't there, but like you've noted, when it's goal to go or 3rd/4th and 1, they seem pretty capable of making the big stop.

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I think having Dugger back will help a ton. He can defend both run and pass.

LOL. Too bad all of them are relying on the Jets to do something good against Miami.

Win Saturday and then the Bills game at home and we're AFC East champs. Simple enough.

sb1 said:

I think having Dugger back will help a ton. He can defend both run and pass.

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I think Dugger is a star in the making!!

AFCE Seeding scenarios entering week 15. Pats have paths to finish anywhere between 1-7 or Eliminated.

One of these teams looks not like the others...

1st time in a while the Pats will face a bonifide NFL running back. We will see how it goes. I expect the Colts will score in the 20s. Hopefully the Pats can keep up.

Colts run for 130 or so but get stuffed once or twice when it really counts. Wentz throws 2 picks, Pats win 24-16

Chase Winovich took a vet day off and was out testing the snowmaking at NH ski resorts.

Some practice notes:

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-4)​

DID NOT PARTICIPATE
OL Yodney Cajuste, Illness
LB Ronnie Perkins, Ankle
LB Chase Winovich, Illness
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
C David Andrews, Shoulder
DL Christian Barmore, Knee
LB Ja'Whaun Bentley, Ribs
RB Brandon Bolden, Knee
OT Trent Brown, Calf/Wrist
K Nick Folk, Left Knee
RB Damien Harris, Hamstring
S Adrian Phillips, Knee
FULL AVAILABILITY
QB Mac Jones, Left Thumb

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-6)​

DID NOT PARTICIPATE
LB Bobby Okereke, Illness
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
TE Jack Doyle, Ankle
FULL AVAILABILITY
TE Kylen Granson, Not Injury Related - Personal Matter
C Ryan Kelly, Knee/Illness

I believe that, in every game that Taylor has been held to less than 100 yards, the Colts have lost. In fact, those are the only games the Colts have lost.

G1.Seahawks (56 yds) - L (3.3 avg)
2.Rams (51) - L (3.4 avg)
3.Titans (64) - L (6.4 avg)
5. Ravens (53) - L (3.5 avg)
8. Titans (70) - L (4.4 avg)
12. Bucs (83) - L (5.2 avg)

Interesting. Given that Taylor is a Lynch/Chubb-esque RB, is our defense capable of keeping Taylor under 100 yards? Obviously it's very reductionist to only look at Taylor, but he obviously is a big part of that offense working well (in tandem with a great offensive line). If not, then how do you still keep the ball out of his hands? How do you force the Colts to rely on weaker parts of their offense?

I guess one way would be to come out and score quick to keep the run game as a less enticing option for the Colts. However, it's not like we have a score-on-demand offense, and our redzone woes have been much commented on.

This is a very, very good test for the Patriots, I think. It's a combination of things at which we're not thoroughly outmatched but are slight questionable or weaknesses that will test Mac, the offensive production, and our run defense. Whoever loses this game loses by a field goal or maybe one score.

We fans, rightfully, are on a need to know basis on these things, but, from a human, not football perspective, should there be some concern for JJ Taylor’s health given that he’s now been on the Covid list since 11/29? Hope the young man is okay.

Indy Star's Doyle still itchy about Airballs
I once gaf about that
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RE:
Vax/NoVax
This could happen:
Superbowl. 2 QBs 'exposed'
-Neither actually gets covid
-Vaxed QB can be back in 24 hours
-No Vax man has to sit 5 days....

For an anticlimatic
too dramatic in the most wrong way Cheese Bowl.

"Not the drama WE ANTICIPATED"
As Aerron insists in drama, it would somehow be fitting

GB punished for not 'standing by their man'
Kkarma is tHE bEOTCH.
*

We should be informed of which strain
people are getting

Delta not same as Oh-mi-chrome
In fact, I would volunteer for the latter
from what I have read:
Mild, no deaths,+immunity to more treacherous forms?

Sign me up for that, thx
*
Keep the faith, people.

Archive of bitter loser Doyels tired shtick

Good to know we are still in your thoughts, buddy.
*
Now that you mention it?
Tom still owes Payaton a punch in the face,
Not down with the good buddy thing

Part of some I have to say not welcome
changes in our great man

Another? Tom's crack about D, how difficult is tackling.
No. That isnt the same guy, eexactly.
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Tidbit From the otherwise tedious must miss
Ariens/Cowhard interview?
Bruce Does Not Attend The O Meetings.
Is handed the game plan Mon or Tues.

So expect AB to be on the field, as needed
Brady's team now
Ariens job is officially to STFU and get out of the way.

Bothers me, because I was hoping he would screw things up.