PostGame Thread 2025 OFFICIAL POSTGAME THREAD: Patriots improve to 8-2 with win over Bucs

[TommyD4207]

For you old timers, he reminded me of Stanley Morgan running away from those defenders, put #86 on him. He ran a 4.40 at the combine, and he was mad about it. I bet he runs faster than 4.40. Stanley Morgan was a legit 4.35.

Funny you mention Stanley Morgan.

Because I was thinking Drake Maye reminds me a lot of young Steve Grogan (a much more accurate passer, obviously)

 

[scott99]

Last week they started out strong and yet probably had their toughest game with London torching them.

The Bucs had 2 weeks to prepare remember. Egbuka and Tez are very good weapons. Had they had their full compliment of weapons I don't doubt the outcome would have been different.

Wow, forgot about that, Bucs had two weeks to prepare.

 

[Patjew]

Funny you mention Stanley Morgan.

Because I was thinking Drake Maye reminds me a lot of young Steve Grogan (a much more accurate passer, obviously)

Similar statures and running ability. And hopefully toughness.

 

[scott99]

Funny you mention Stanley Morgan.

Because I was thinking Drake Maye reminds me a lot of young Steve Grogan (a much more accurate passer, obviously)

Grogan can run and had a gun, so I get it. Maye has that IT factor though. Grogan was highly thought of for his toughness, but he was never thought of in the discussions of top QBs (top 10) back in his day.

Funny thing is, I made the comparison of the 2025 team and the 1976 team. Pats were 4-13 in 2024, and are 8-2 already this year. 1975 Pats were 3-11, and then flipped it around to 11-3 in 1976, both 2025 & 1976 teams with a 2nd year QB. Can’t believe that was almost 50 years ago, I’m old.

You guys will love this, my first Pats jersey, I got for Christmas in 1977, it was a Randy Vataha #18 jersey. I’m a native NYer, so my mom did the best she could finding a Pat’s jersey in NY. Who scored a 72 yard TD today, #18. Coincidence ? I think not.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Thats the weird thing about pointing out all the flaws in some worrisome manner. Do they have some flaws? Sure, but what team out there doesn’t.

So far this team doesn’t really have a FATAL flaw that i can see. Might have been lack of a run game outside of maye but thats kinda gone away the last 4 games

I have no problem with people saying " really bad decision," " stupid throw," " Rham needs to protect the frigging ball better," etc etc etc, that's perfectly normal, unfortunately the GDT tends to go wayyyy beyond that, and the lack of perspective in it is beyond belief. Players are going to make mistakes, players are going to have bad games, players are going to commit penalties, those things are going to happen pretty much every week, that doesn't mean they suck or are useless, they are just part of the game.

 

[scott99]

1) Sanders
2) Walter Payton

You can look it up yourself.

Some of Sander’s negative plays were like -1 on a play that would’ve been -10 by any other RB. Thats why I say Sanders is the best RB I’ve ever seen. Imagine if Sanders ran behind the early 1990’s Cowboy’s lines, and had Troy Aikman as his QB ? No offense towards Emmitt Smith, but he was no Sanders, OR Payton (who I consider #2).

 

[mike_usagisan]

Just got done reading the game day thread. ****ing hilarious. I especially liked the posters who **** all over Drake Maye for sucking so bad. Some really bright fans in there. For some reason they don't seem to realize that there is a team playing against the Patriots. They want and expect easy street every minute of every game, anything less means the Patriots players and coaches suck. Some posters quit on them faster than Navy Seal candidates during Hell Week.

Hey Ian, can you install a bell so fans can officially quit on the team during the game?

The GDT is like the animated movie Inside Out, but inside a grown football fan’s head rather than a cute little girl.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I have no problem with people saying " really bad decision," " stupid throw," " Rham needs to protect the frigging ball better," etc etc etc, that's perfectly normal, unfortunately the GDT tends to go wayyyy beyond that, and the lack of perspective in it is beyond belief. Players are going to make mistakes, players are going to have bad games, players are going to commit penalties, those things are going to happen pretty much every week, that doesn't mean they suck or are useless, they are just part of the game.

It makes you wonder what would happen if this team actually LOST one of these games

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Some of Sander’s negative plays were like -1 on a play that would’ve been -10 by any other RB.

So the other RBs are taking the handoff 10 yards behind there LOS

 

[scott99]

I think that was vs the Cowboys for Moss, greatest rookie season I’ve ever seen.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I think that was vs the Cowboys for Moss, greatest rookie season I’ve ever seen.

Yup.
did it all on only 3 catches.

 

[scott99]

Tonga is the new Fridge. There's a TD in his future.

Tonga reminds me of Danny Shelton, but he might actually be better. He’s one of the reasons why we have a top run defense.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

Was at a college softball camp all day with my oldest daughter today so I barely saw the game. But I had the displeasure of listening to high pitch Eric (bob socci) and crackhead bob (Zolak) do the game on the radio on the drive home. They are awful and I can't imagine another team has a worse combo.
Also, 98.5 mics pick up so much crowd noise you can barely hear the play by play. Play after play, socci didn't say the down and distance, whether a third down play got enough yards. It was absolutely painful.

Zo especially ruins these calls for me. Hardly any analysis, just hollering and hootin over socci in the middle of his calls

 

[moosekill]

Thoughts.

Offense

One key to this win not talked about enough is the lack of sacks surrendered. Maye only gave up 1 for -1 yard. Fantastic. He threw a lot of balls away today. In part cause he had to, but that was a big improvement.

This team has now shown it is incapable of running up the middle. They don't have the players to do it vs most of the NFL on the line. They should still do some to set up play action. but we need to focus on being an outside run team.

The main weakness of this offense is a lack of consistency. They live and die by the explosive play. If they can manage to get more consistent with making small and medium chunks they will be hard to stop. Boutte will help with that. But another has to be Maye getting better at anticipating check downs. They and him need to figure out a way put in and execute the small stuff while they keep doing the big explosive impressive stuff. Part of this is looking at your team, particularly your OL and playing around what it does well as best you can.

Williams only made 1 catch. it does mean he has arrived. But it is a hell of a lot better than not scoring a big TD. They need to find ways to set up more simple plays for him and Drake. We saw the talent today. If they can't make use of that, it be a huge shame. To get to where they want to go, they will need someone who can do what he does.

Henderson, what else to say besides the man is made of some kind of super flexible rubber. I have no idea how he had a 60+ yard TD run after that hit.

Today was a rare day when it was all WRs in the passing game for the most part. It was something it was nice to see them prove they could do. But more Hunter/Hooper/Henderson be nice.

Jennings/Johnson at RB? Nah. Try someone else I think. There has to be someone better around in the discount bin we can pick up.

Maye is now first in MVP by default really. Mahomes is off and lost recently. Allen was bad today. But he is a very soft favorite. If he wants to really help his odds, absolutely pouring on the Jets would be a good start.

Defense

Not long ago everyone on this board was rightfully doing a lot of complaining about certain aspects of this D. Mostly Hawkins and whoever was in the #2 LB spot be it Elliss, Mapu, Gibbens or whoever. I want you to for a moment to throw out the first 6 or so games and look at the last 4. How bad has the safety play overall and LB play overall been? Honestly, it has been pretty solid.

Is it perfect? Absolutely not. But there has been a turn around here. Guys are at least on the same page much more often and we aren't seeing as many huge plays given up in these games. We are in fact seeing these much trash talked players do quite well. They are not stars, but they are filling their role and being on time to their assignments. Not being caught out of position. The general cohension of the D as a whole has taken a step up. They still get beat, particularly early in the game, but we are starting to see the unit as a whole come together nicely.

The Run D today took a minor L, but it was competitive and while it gave up a few bigger ones outside of those they made things hard on the Bucs

The Pass D a number of times forced Baker to hold on to the ball. When this happens the unit as a whole has done a great job, and they did it multiple times today.

No more prevent D please. This unit is not built for it.

Overall

As the saying goes, it is the hope that kills you. i have not hoped at any point for a single time this year. This entire year i have been enjoying but seeing as a spring to next year. I have to admit.... I really don't want to open myself to the possibility they could actually pull it off. Yes everyone else is flawed and they are in the mix....

They took a huge step today to solidify themselves as a potential contender... but they are so close to so many other teams. It feels more or less like they will be coin flipping as opposed to making you feel confident in victory WHEN they are in the playoffs (not if).

But... if they get that first round bye and HFA.... it will be impossible not to dream that this team most people had no making it could take it home. But the bye IMO is an ABSOLUTE must until i fully buy in personally. Beating 4 good teams in a row is a hard ask for any team this year... no one seems up to it IMO.

************ stop typing

 

[manxman2601]

Tonga reminds me of Danny Shelton, but he might actually be better. He’s one of the reasons why we have a top run defense.

Good comp although I think Tonga offers more at getting pressure in the passing game. I thought he was just going to be a gap stuffer but he's been so much more.

 

[scott99]

I was thinking about this while driving earlier. Defensive coordinators now see that this team has deep speed, and they will need to commit a safety further back who can go make that tackle instead of getting completely roasted for multiple 60-70 yard TDs a game.

That means that there will be more space up front to run the ball, which this offense needs badly.

That’s why, for YEARS I wanted the Pats to draft EXPLOSIVE offensive weapons. Nobody was afraid of the Pat’s weapons. Now the team has an explosive RB, and they have to pay attention when Williams is on the field too. If they could add back Boutte, and have Boutte & Williams on the field at the same time, then you have players to worry about.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Triumph]

One thing about that play, what a throw by Maye ! Holy schnickes. But yeah, Hollins has surpassed anything I thought we’d get from him. Receptions, TDs, clutch catches, blocking, leadership, just Fantastic. In 10 games for the Pats, he’s almost matched what he did in 17 games for the Bills.

And, he got McDaniels fired.

 

[scott99]

I think Jonothan Taylor is MVP frontrunner

I know we talk about Drake Maye and Johnathon Taylor, but I think Matthew Stafford has to be spoken about as a front runner as well. 25 TD passes and only 2 INTs, has the Rams at 7-3.

 

[Triumph]

Wow, forgot about that, Bucs had two weeks to prepare.

The look on Bowles face after the 2nd Henderson TD was priceless.