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

[One-If-By-Sea]

Also from Lazar:

Hollins knew no one would catch Henderson.

The great thing is the "stack the box" defense strategy we have faced for a few years will be abandoned. That should allow us to run more and reduce the blitzing which should also reduced the amount Maye gets hit. Maye is young and bounces back, but it catches up with anyone. Look at Russell Wilson and now Pat Mahommes.

 

[PatsFan2]

As much as Kyle Williams get credit for the TD run, the throw by Maye was elite. You can see it from this angle. Could have easily been intercepted if he wasn't on the money.

Love hearing Drake Maye talk how Fast KW is because that's what we all saw PreDraft. IF KW get's it he's T Henderson @ WR one touch and goodnight. Both him and Henderson have Elite Playing Speed.

 

[PatsFan2]

The great thing is the "stack the box" defense strategy we have faced for a few years will be abandoned. That should allow us to run more and reduce the blitzing which should also reduced the amount Maye gets hit. Maye is young and bounces back, but it catches up with anyone. Look at Russell Wilson and now Pat Mahommes.

After that Tampa Game: Teams will be backing off from now on. T Henderson have arrived.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I may not know intricate football knowledge, but I did say a few times this preseason: the magic number is 23. If the offense can score 23 or more, the Patriots could a lot of their games. It just took me awhile to believe they'd clear that hump, but they have been stellar at it.

This was the most annoying thing about recent years. We could barely score 14. And victory was merely 10 points away.

10 points away was about three miles away for those teams. If the defense and special teams didn't score points, we weren't going to win.

 

[mike_usagisan]

To who?

And don't give me the ******** 'somebody' answer. They just beat the best team on their schedule on the road. They beat the 2nd best team on their schedule on the road a few weeks ago.

Where's the loss?

"Hurr durr young team brainfart" isn't an answer. They've shown since the Pittsburgh game, they're not that team. All the 'trap games' they were expected to lose, they won. Buffalo? Win. 3 road games in a row? No problem. Tampa on the road? Win, maybe their best win of the year.

So seriously, what's the loss?

Yeah, it wasn't a clean game. They haven't played a single clean game. They win anyway.

I'm really curious to see how well our defense does against Lamar. We're great at stopping the run. Does that translate to a QB who mostly runs?

 

[Real fan 02]

The great thing is the "stack the box" defense strategy we have faced for a few years will be abandoned. That should allow us to run more and reduce the blitzing which should also reduced the amount Maye gets hit. Maye is young and bounces back, but it catches up with anyone. Look at Russell Wilson and now Pat Mahommes.

Agreed. Been saying for weeks that once we show some elements of speed to put on film such as T. Henderson and Williams.. to give DCs something to worry about it changes everything. Absolutely agree on limiting drakes getting hit.. he is running to the sidelines more often but still taking hits....

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Agreed. Been saying for weeks that once we show some elements of speed to put on film such as T. Henderson and Williams.. to give DCs something to worry about it changes everything. Absolutely agree on limiting drakes getting hit.. he is running to the sidelines more often but still taking hits....

If there is less blitzing there will be less hits. Less blitzing because they are worried about speed.

 

[Thelonious]

If the Pats had the 1st pick instead of the 3rd would they have taken Maye?

Probably not. This sort of thing must drive the Jeetsistas nuts. They probably think they do everything right and get no results.

 

[Real fan 02]

If there is less blitzing there will be less hits. Less blitzing because they are worried about speed.

Absolutely.. that was against a dam good T. Bowles coached defense.. that front 7 is physical.. and we gashed them a few time.. can't coach speed.. I'd expect NYJ to be out of the box and have to play honestly..

 

[Real fan 02]

I'm really curious to see how well our defense does against Lamar. We're great at stopping the run. Does that translate to a QB who mostly runs?

Good points... it will be strength on strength.. Lamar loves to get outside.. feels like a Jennings type game to me..

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I'm really curious to see how well our defense does against Lamar. We're great at stopping the run. Does that translate to a QB who mostly runs?

The only QB we’ve played that is a legit run threat is Allen.
He had 9 carries for 53 yds.
We will need to be really disciplined in our rushing lanes. Can’t get too far upfield or Lamar will hurt us.

 

[Real fan 02]

The only QB we’ve played that is a legit run threat is Allen.
He had 9 carries for 53 yds.
We will need to be really disciplined in our rushing lanes. Can’t get too far upfield or Lamar will hurt us.

The Edges are where we have to really be sound against Lamar.. although he's running less than he used too he's a threat each time he touches the ball..

 

[PP2]

To who?

And don't give me the ******** 'somebody' answer. They just beat the best team on their schedule on the road. They beat the 2nd best team on their schedule on the road a few weeks ago.

Where's the loss?

"Hurr durr young team brainfart" isn't an answer. They've shown since the Pittsburgh game, they're not that team. All the 'trap games' they were expected to lose, they won. Buffalo? Win. 3 road games in a row? No problem. Tampa on the road? Win, maybe their best win of the year.

So seriously, what's the loss?

Yeah, it wasn't a clean game. They haven't played a single clean game. They win anyway.

To who? I don't know. But there will be a loss. Maybe more.

And I don't say this just to be a contrarian. I say this as someone who sees that this team keeps making the same mistakes over and over again. Not that there's anything wrong with that from the perspective of a young team. And what I really appreciate from Vrabel is that he is allowing them to do that because he's fully cognizant that they have to recover from a season of truly bad coaching. Instead of berating them, he's been spoon-feeding them, encouraging them to play good football.

But you do not stop making mistakes until you truly pay for it. That's the baptism, the rite of passage of a team that wants to transform into a battle-hardened playoff team.

 

[signbabybrady]

 

[patfanken]

Probably not. This sort of thing must drive the Jeetsistas nuts. They probably think they do everything right and get no results.

Well, I think they do. Clearly, despite all his reported flaws, the Pats really liked Maye, because they picked him at #3 despite several reportedly pretty good offers to trade down and pick up both an OT and QB in the first round. And think about it, would any of us be truly pissed if our QB was Pennix, Nix, or JJ plus another first round pick and another in 2025. While none of those QB's are as good as Maye, all of them have turned out to be decent starters for their respective teams.

Prior to that draft, it pretty much was consensus that the league rated the 3 top QB's, Williams, Daniels, Maye, so the Pats knew it was very likely Maye was going to be available to them for a long time knowing he had a high ceiling, but the lowest floor and STILL took him.

Now had we had the #1 pick it becomes a lot more complex. To we STILL like Maye's upside so much we trade down to the #3 spot, pick up a boatload of picks and hope Maye is still there.

BTW- for the record, Maye was my top choice when studying for that draft. I liked his size. I liked Pennix if we had traded down for the same reason. QB's get hit, and a QB's best ability is his availability, as they say. I worried about Daniel's frail body type, but I loved his skills. Had it been him that fell to us, we would have loved him here too. I believe he and Maye will have their share of exciting Match ups when they meet, as both will be top QB's in this league.

No question we lucked into the top QB of this decade thus far. The entire class of 2021 has flamed out disastrously, and I can't think of another recent young QB who even approaches Maye's skills, demeanor, leadership skills, and potential.

 

[mayoclinic]

Clearly, despite all his reported flaws, the Pats really liked Maye, because they picked him at #3 despite several reportedly pretty good offers to trade down and pick up both an OT and QB in the first round. And think about it, would any of us be truly pissed if our QB was Pennix, Nix, or JJ plus another first round pick and another in 2025. While none of those QB's are as good as Maye, all of them have turned out to be decent starters for their respective teams.

Yes, some of us would be truly pissed. You don't pass on a true franchise QB. If you think Penix, McCarthy or Nix are going to be franchise QBs, you need to re-assess.

The Patriots got incredibly lucky that Maye fell to them at #3. Thank God they didn't screw it up. The rest of the NFL is f*cked for the next 15 years, and they know it. It's their worst nightmare.

 

[KCSVEN]

Great breakdown of how good Maye was vs Bucs despite narrative not his best game, love this detail

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Just watched that 3rd and 10 run on our second drive that Henderson converted. He was this close to breaking that one too. Tb’s safety made a nice tackle or it would’ve been over 200 on 14 carries had trey gotten by him. You HAVE to get the ball in his hands 15x a game moving forward

 

[mayoclinic]

Think how much more effective Henderson will be when he gets integrated into the passing game.

 

[signbabybrady]