Patriots Pregame Thread SUPER BOWL PREGAME THREAD - Patriots vs Seahawks 2026 SB - The Rematch

The Gr8est said:

It still isn’t certain if Spillane can play Sunday?

Do he and Bo Nix buy their ankles from the same place?

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I'd bet they tape it, shoot it up, whatever needed for him to be out there and then they'll find out if it limits him.

To me our offensive gameplan needs to be oriented around letting Drake just play free and attack as an overarching principle.

Details:
- Offensive line NEEDS to recognize stunts. Seattle's 4 man pass rush is great when they stunt, mediocre when they have to straight rush. We can manage them talent-wise, but we have to be good against the line games. Where Leonard Williams (or Byron Murphy) lines up is often a tell (wide alignment = be prepared for a stunt coming)
- Drake must be prepared to use his feet - not necessarily to run but to find explosive pass opportunities. Zones most often break down against scrambling QBs, while they are good at defending QB runs (since eyes are still on him)
- PASS more on early downs, do not run every first down into the best run defense in the NFL. It's much easier to pass on 1st and 10 than 3rd and 7. Have to mix it up some but this should be 60/40 pass rather than 40/60 (NFL average)
- We should hunt some opportunities where we can get RBs against LBs in the pass game, esp. on the boundary with deeper passes. Their LBs are not particularly fast in coverage (not counting Emanwori as a LB). Same thing with TE on intermediate to deeper passes when we can get LBs matched up / attack the LBs zone responsibilities
- We have to take some deep shots...but they need to be earned. DO NOT take deep shots against their two-high shell straight out of the pocket (can attack this deep when scrambling and the defensive zones get muddled); we must earn these opportunities by being consistent in attacking the underneath zones with flood concepts. When Seattle goes single high, Riq Woolen and Witherspoon are very good, but if you can get iso routes on them and the protection can hold up, they are NOT Stingley/Surtain/Lassiter in man coverage. We must punish Seattle going single high when they do. This is also where RBs running wheel routes / TE seams can also work deep
- wrinkles to explore:
hurry up/no huddle - helps eliminate disguises
5 out spread - clarifies matchups, makes blitzes easy to read (best used situationally)
misdirection runs targeting outside the tackles - probably the only runs where Seattle is more average than elite (Henderson should be used for these), will be boom or bust but hope the booms go for explosives

This isn't a game where we are gonna score 30+. But if we can crack 20+ with 3 TD drives that gives us a great shot to be in it at the end.

VrabelJr said:

I just googled this and the headliner is... Kid Rock. Where do you actually watch it, 4chan?

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Ewwww..Kid Rock. Not political just don't like the dudes music

The Athletic had an interesting article on Ping Pong. Mahomes is a known Ping Pong fanatic as is Drake Maye. Maye would play against his brothers until 130 AM many nights when he was younger and won the recent NFL Ping Pong tournament. Also, there was an article about how younger siblings in larger families tend to do better at sports than others in the birth order. Brady was also big into Ping Pong, at least as an adult.

Apparently, studies have shown table tennis led to increased processing and increased workload in the frontal areas of the brain. Table tennis players showed enhancements in brain structure and function, likely leading to increased neural efficiency — or greater flexibility in communication between different parts of the brain.

This could help explain Drake's unique ability to process and see things that most QBs cannot. Interesting articles anyways if you have the subscription.

dliverey44 said:

Ewwww..Kid Rock. Not political just don't like the dudes music

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Back in the day of buying individual songs on iTunes I accidentally bought his version of Sweet Home Alabama. Gack. That wasn't bad enough, I later bought his version of Rock 'n' Roll Hootchie Koo. Double gack.

The Gr8est said:

It still isn’t certain if Spillane can play Sunday?

Do he and Bo Nix buy their ankles from the same place?

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It sounds uncertain, I agree. My guess is he plays though maybe restricted and probably <100%. Injury report tomorrow I think?

Uncle Rico said:

Back in the day of buying individual songs on iTunes I accidentally bought his version of Sweet Home Alabama. Gack. That wasn't bad enough, I later bought his version of Rock 'n' Roll Hootchie Koo. Double gack.

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Fool me once shame on you , fool me twice...I wasn't fooled I was into it the whole time. LMAO

Sorry man this was just too funny to pass by. Did the therapy help? LOL

KCSVEN said:

The Athletic had an interesting article on Ping Pong. Mahomes is a known Ping Pong fanatic as is Drake Maye. Maye would play against his brothers until 130 AM many nights when he was younger and won the recent NFL Ping Pong tournament. Also, there was an article about how younger siblings in larger families tend to do better at sports than others in the birth order. Brady was also big into Ping Pong, at least as an adult.

Apparently, studies have shown table tennis led to increased processing and increased workload in the frontal areas of the brain. Table tennis players showed enhancements in brain structure and function, likely leading to increased neural efficiency — or greater flexibility in communication between different parts of the brain.

This could help explain Drake's unique ability to process and see things that most QBs cannot. Interesting articles anyways if you have the subscription.

The scientific case for ping-pong: Why athletes — and you — should play more table tennis

Most athletes play ping-pong to whet their competitive instincts or kill time, but what if it could improve performance?

www.nytimes.com

Is the younger sibling effect real? Why Drake Maye and others benefit from being the ‘runt’

Patriots QB Drake Maye is the youngest of four boys. Research suggests younger siblings have a greater likelihood for athletic success.

www.nytimes.com

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Brady and Jordan are huge ping pong nuts

Interesting assessment of Maye but I think this is an indication of the strength of our OL to hold their own.

I pray they don't come out conservative and I pray they're not fighting field position all game like they did vs San Diego and Denver. so much of McDaniels (and most playcallers" decisions) are based on field position. The explosive punt return game has was completely neutered vs SD and Denver. Jones had a combined 3 returns for 4 yards. Against Houston He had returns of 19, which set up the first D drive and another return of 24, which set them up at the Houston 45, only needing 15 yards for a makeable FG...and cement head Maye fumbled and first down and that killed the drive as they took a 9 yard loss (Campbell recovered). Better field position opens up the playbook and LET DRAKE COOK

Betterthanmost said:

Interesting assessment of Maye but I think this is an indication of the strength of our OL to hold their own.

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"threw an interception"...yeah, and a third and 25 heave that ended up being a punt

Start passing on first down more. It might help avoid the consistent 3rd and longs they face.

Where do I get one?

dliverey44 said:

Ewwww..Kid Rock. Not political just don't like the dudes music

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If I was ever a POW, 5 minutes of Kid Rock or Imagine Dragons and I'd be singing like a canary.

FCB02062 said:

I pray they don't come out conservative and I pray they're not fighting field position all game like they did vs San Diego and Denver. so much of McDaniels (and most playcallers" decisions) are based on field position. The explosive punt return game has was completely neutered vs SD and Denver. Jones had a combined 3 returns for 4 yards. Against Houston He had returns of 19, which set up the first D drive and another return of 24, which set them up at the Houston 45, only needing 15 yards for a makeable FG...and cement head Maye fumbled and first down and that killed the drive as they took a 9 yard loss (Campbell recovered). Better field position opens up the playbook and LET DRAKE COOK

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With McDaniels, it's almost a guarantee they come out conservative.

NFL Mystique said:

With McDaniels, it's almost a guarantee they come out conservative.

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can't ya just see that one-yard plunge up the middle? Hopefully he surprises us. Overall, I am really, really glad he's on our side!

Double TE said:

He is hiring the Seattle OC as their next head coach for the Raiders. So he has to take a neutral tone. No chance he isn't really rooting for Vrabes.

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I genuinely don't think he is. No one would question him if he gave something like "I think that's an obvious answer" when asked and moved on.

I don't think that football player inside him likes the idea of another QB winning a SB with the Pats.

Betterthanmost said:

Interesting assessment of Maye but I think this is an indication of the strength of our OL to hold their own.

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So.....how do the Pats beat this cover 6?

JMC00 said:

I don't think that football player inside him likes the idea of another QB winning a SB with the Pats.

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Honestly, should we expect anything else from such a legendarily competitive person? He LOVES being the GOAT.

I love this photo of Jack Gibbens @ Media Day.


Thought I'd share.