PostGame Thread 2026 OFFICIAL POSTGAME THREAD: Patriots Beat Eagles 24-21

[mgteich]

What has he done?

That is for Vrabel to judge. Chism seems to be better than last year, a developing #5 WR.

If Vrabel doesn't agree, I certainly have no issues with him being on the PS with Dorner and DeGennaro.

 

[PatsFan2]

We're carrying 3, it would be crazy not to with the free roster spot.

I think we can get creative with B Morton I don't see a Team putting him.on their 53. I feel deep down that Chism would make it through Waivers; same with Jam Miller and Lan Larison.

 

[turkeyneck]

Tom Tupa redux. When Vinny Testaverde tore his achilles, Tupa, the punter stepped in and threw a few TD and nearly won the game for the Jetes, versus Pats in 1999 opener.

Babe Parilli punted for a season with GB and fired off a few as Pats QB.

 

[Wozzy]

I think we can get creative with B Morton I don't see a Team putting him.on their 53. I feel deep down that Chism would make it through Waivers; same with Jam Miller and Lan Larison.

QB is the most sought after position in the NFL. If you have a young gem you don’t expose him to waivers. The Browns, Jets or Cardinals would snap him up in a heartbeat.

 

[patchick]

I'd take Saunders over M. Brown. Last CB spot will be a battle - but Prunty wins it based on ceiling potential.

IMO Prunty is already showing well. I thought he looked good last night, not in a making-plays way like Vildor but in an invisible-because-they-don’t-even-throw-there way.

 

[Uptown]

 

[reflexblue]

Found the incessant chatter between Zo and the McCourty twins insufferable.
They do not announce the game, unfortunately.
Very difficult to watch with the current style of the announcers.

Maybe the krafts need outsiders to call the game like they use to.

 

[Rob0729]

I disagree, there's still utility for young players to dress and prepare for real game-like conditions. It's also still a showcase for borderline players to earn roster spots, if not on their current team, for other teams thin at those positions.

Besides, greedy owners will take preseason away while adding more games to the regular season. Unless they're increasing the size of rosters, this is approaching dangerous territory for the players. Owners will strangle the golden goose if the players union and fans don't hold them in check.

You don't want game one to be your rookies first pro experience in the stadium in front of a crowd. Game simulations are helpful.

You don’t need to televise or force season ticket holders to pay for tickets for a scrimmage between back up. I just don’t think they should force a mediocre product in preseason games standards on the fans.

And yes, the owners will continue to add more games that will eventually eliminate preseason.

 

[n1997y]

ALT for Chism.
I really liked what DeGennaro showed too. IF we had to risk waivers for Chism, I'd feel good about landing DeGennaro on the PS.
He looked very similar in play style, and is much faster than Chism. (4.4 vs. 4.7)
He's not as experienced in this offense yet, but seems to get open a lot. I'd love to see him start this week in CLE.

At this point if I have to chose between Pop, Chis, and DeG I’d be willing to see Pop go. I’d like to get something for him, but he’s in the last year of his rookie deal and he like Boutte is about to get much more expensive.

 

[Rob0729]

OMG please just NO! Maybe get rid of Zo, put Hoyer in his place.

But I really want to see the games play out with the back of the roster guys fighting for their professional lives.

The very argument you make in favor of joint practices over games is to me an argument against that. The controlled scripted nature of practices means there’s not the chance for guys to rise to the occasion when the unexpected happens. We’d never get to see Morton punting, for example. Or Amari Gainer Quintayvious Hutchins forcing a game clinching fumble. And Kyle Williams taking a 68 yard TD to the house would not stand out, it would be lost in the dozen or so similar plays made by AJ and Doubs and Boutte et al. Look back at the joint practices and could how many such plays were reported. They are different kinds of sessions, and the gameplay is still needed. Plus it gets the coaching staff a chance to practice game situations, challenges, substitutions, decisions under real time pressure not simulated.

Preseason games provide situational elements that joint practices do not. They give players on the roster bubble a chance to show how they respond to live game anction. Eliminating them would detract from the overall quality of the NFL season.

EDIT TO CORRECT ABOVE

If preseason games are as important as you just made them, why won’t Drake Maye, AJ Brown, Romeo Doubs or any other starter play a down in the preseason. Both starting WRs haven’t taken a non-practice snap with Maye yet and most likely won’t until they set foot in the field in Seattle.

Preseason games have some benefit, but clearly not as much as you think. Morton isn’t going kick punts in the season. He might not even be on the 53 man roster if they think they can get him through waivers and onto the practice squad. And Williams 68 yard TD was beautiful, but I don’t know if he could fake out a starting CB like he did with the back up last night.

 

[n1997y]

You don’t need to televise or force season ticket holders to pay for tickets for a scrimmage between back up. I just don’t think they should force a mediocre product in preseason games standards on the fans.

And yes, the owners will continue to add more games that will eventually eliminate preseason.

Easy fix. Take preseason games out of the season ticket package and sell them all as general admission.

What? You don’t think the season ticket prices will be reduced if they do that? Do you really think they’ll go down if preseason games are eliminated?

If that’s what you’re *****ing about just let it go and let those of us who enjoy preseason games enjoy them in peace without your *****ing, please.

 

[n1997y]

If preseason games are as important as you just made them, why won’t Drake Maye, AJ Brown, Romeo Doubs or any other starter play a down in the preseason. Both starting WRs haven’t taken a non-practice snap with Maye yet and most likely won’t until they set foot in the field in Seattle.

Preseason games have some benefit, but clearly not as much as you think. Morton isn’t going kick punts in the season. He might not even be on the 53 man roster if they think they can get him through waivers and onto the practice squad. And Williams 68 yard TD was beautiful, but I don’t know if he could fake out a starting CB like he did with the back up last night.

I didn’t say they were important to Maye, Brown, Doubs, or any other starters. Nor did I say it was important to me to see Maye, Brown, Boubs, or any other starters in the preseason games.

In fact what I said was that it’s important to see the non-starters in game action, and that’s part of the value of the preseason. So you’re arguing a non-existent point.

I didn’t say how high the value is, just said preseason games have enough value to keep them. You were discounting the value, now you’re saying they have some value. So how about leaving them alone, and just keeping them.

 

[BobDigital]

Thoughts on last game and the depth chart.

QB - Devito vs Morton is a real close one to me. In any case we have Morton cheap for 4 years. If Devito wants money after this one, he needs to prove he can be a true elite back up (which he hasn't imo yet) or let him walk.

WR - Williams is not just go routes. He has improved all around. Still has things to work on. The thing is he has to do it with Maye. So someone needs to go, cause he can't gain much more with Maye being his QB IMO. Chism should make the roster to. I am okay trading either Douglas or Boutte. I want these young cheap options to get reps and improve. Particularly Williams.

TE - I have no idea here how Arkin did... honestly, looking for someone to tell me.

RB - Larison has to be the 3. he has come back well from his injury. He won that job tonight. Do you keep a 4th? IDK.

OL - Keep in mind... we didn't see much of our 2nd string out there tonight. It was mostly 3rd. No Rotan, Brown and Bryant was hurt early (a big story). The only other guy we will be carrying for sure who was out there (if you think Brown is a lock... I still give him a strong edge) is Lomu. Who while raw and made some errors was very solid tonight for a guy in preseason game 2. I keep hearing about the depth issues here. And we are talking about the 10th guy or PS guys... not anyone likely to play unless the injury bug hits hard. Right now the Brown and Bryant injuries loom loud. But Rotan and Lomu should be able to give us some relief if things go wrong.

Edge - Swinson didn't have a huge sack or anything. But he held the edge and got a bit of pressure, though unfortunately quick releases happened a lot when he was pass rushing. I think he has really improved and i liked what i saw, particularly his strength. Jacas was hit and miss. But you see the talent. Gainer to me is a PS guy with upside. The depth here has potential. The question is the starters of Landry, Jones and Ponder who are clearly the 3 ahead. What can they do?

DT - this to me is the most concerning spot. But the only 2 guys who didn't play were Barmore and Williams. And this group featuring guys who will play NFL minutes got blown off the line by the big Eagles OL. The loss of Tonga here could be bigger than some thought. Gregoy, Durden and Farmer all looks good last year, but how much of that was having the run D aspect taken care of for them? Frankly an DT signing here for a run stopping specialist may be needed. As i think this group's depth lacks power.

LB - IDK? To many TEs on the other side not getting picked up. There were a few flashes but the depth last year was swapped for this... i don't feel better off honestly.

CB - Prunty is going to be good. He is very young and already this good. Give him a full year and who knows. Vildor looks like what you would expect an experienced career back up to look like. Woods may be the 6th.

S - I though there were good and bad things here... but overall encourages. Pettus, Brown and Saunders had moments i liked. I don't think you keep all 3. But i wouldn't put Saunders down as an autocut just yet. Saunders has good size and explosive speed. And is now on year 2 after sitting on Miami's and our PS mostly for year 1. He looks more ready to be an NFL guy. I will watch him more.

To me more than the OL... the DTs are an issue. But it may just be a match up thing... how many OLs are big enough and good enough to take advantage of the lack of strength our depth has? Maybe only the Eagles. Still... is signing DaQuan Jones worth it? Maybe... it wouldn't be super cheap... anywhere between 4-6M probably for 1 year... but it would help solve this issue immediately.

 

[Family]

That's been Zolak's drunken sports radio hot take the last couple of weeks, yes.

You relying on Scott Zolak's "analysis" for your opinion is quite telling.

No I saw Vrabel yelling at Williams for it directly after the play.

That you don't know that was the way to play the ball is what's telling.

 

[Wozzy]

You don’t need to televise or force season ticket holders to pay for tickets for a scrimmage between back up. I just don’t think they should force a mediocre product in preseason games standards on the fans.

And yes, the owners will continue to add more games that will eventually eliminate preseason.

Prospects fighting for a roster spot here or elsewhere would disagree with you.

It’s also good for scouting other teams to see what they have on the backend of their roster.

The Pats might need some offensive line or ILB help after yesterday’s injuries, having some film to scout teams deep at those positions could be helpful.

 

[DarrylS]

Still a huge room for improvement. At best they were mediocre.

 

[Uptown]

List of still available Veteran LB, Edge players:

Joey Bosa
Kyle Van Noy
Shaq Thompson
Bobby Wagner
Bobby Okereke
Matt Milano
Hasson Reddick
Andre Tippett
Lawrence Taylor
Luke Kuechly
Patrick Willis

I’m sure there are others, but these are the ones of note..

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

It’s Tyquan all over again sort of. Speed is blinding people.

Speed doesn’t do you good if the only thing you can do is running straight.

I don’t know how Williams will see the field in the regular season. A.J Brown, Doubs, Boutte and Hollins are all in front of him. Douglas is a pure slot so Williams won’t take his spot.

if it was me, I would keep Chism over Williams because he is the only backup slot. I don’t think Williams will matter with how little he will see the field.

The original plan IMO was to draft Williams and hope that he was gonna be good enough to replace Boutte this year. But he clearly isn’t.

I don't get the Thornton comp at all.
Williams absolutely dusts opponents off the line.
That is a skill that is very, very hard to teach, impossible for some.

 

[KCSVEN]

Thoughts on last game and the depth chart.


DT - this to me is the most concerning spot. But the only 2 guys who didn't play were Barmore and Williams. And this group featuring guys who will play NFL minutes got blown off the line by the big Eagles OL. The loss of Tonga here could be bigger than some thought. Gregoy, Durden and Farmer all looks good last year, but how much of that was having the run D aspect taken care of for them? Frankly an DT signing here for a run stopping specialist may be needed. As i think this group's depth lacks power.

Durden did not play either, he was really good last year. Williams, Barmore and Durden are all dominant at times. How many teams go deeper that that with good talent? DL will be a strength, not concerning to me at all. Edge and LB more a concern but again have not seen Dre'Mont Jones or Ponder on the field so we will see. It's the NFL, depth is a concern with every team.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Found the incessant chatter between Zo and the McCourty twins insufferable.
They do not announce the game, unfortunately.
Very difficult to watch with the current style of the announcers.

And they were actually infinitely better than last week.
When I was watching I thought to myself that maybe Zolak was talked to during the week, because he was way less annoying than last week.
Still not good, I think he's an idiot, but it was very noticeable to me.