I have a nagging notion which I hope is unwarranted that Maye will start the game but will not finish it, that the chickens will come home to roost regarding the team's dereliction in failing to provide an NFL-worthy o-line and receivers who can actually play receiver. The Titans' defense will likely play better than expected. The Pats' defense will play in what has become their customarily undisciplined manner. I do not foresee a rout at all - Maye will make the Pats somewhat competitive for a time - but the team as a whole will fail to make the plays necessary to win.
In his short NFL career, Maye has suffered an apparent knee injury, has been slammed down on his shoulder, and has suffered a concussion. Read the tea leaves. I completely understand the rationale for playing Maye this year, this game, but the risks of doing so are very real. "Players play": I get it. But players also get injured. I hope playing Maye is for the purpose of advancing his development, but suspect that the coach's and GM's interest in job security might also be a factor.
Increasingly, the relationship between Mayo and the press, between the team broadly and the press, will grow sour. We already see an increasingly whiny resentment and petulance directed at the press on the part of coaches and some players for asking quite reasonable questions about the team's failings to date.
We are 2-6, you will recall, and the two wins came against teams at the nadir of their seasons.
Time to rebuild - again - the rebuild. Step one is a clean-out of the coaching and front office staff, or should be, though I suspect the Krafts will be unwilling to acknowledge just what an unprofessional **** show the hring process by which team leadership has been rebuilt really was.
It may be instructive that the professionals who concoct the odds do not share the cheerful outlook of many Pats fans. Many predictions here would seem to suggest a fairly easy Pats win. Why?
I'd love to be wrong, of course. We'll see.
