On to Miami .. PRACTICE news

[long distance]

Perfect game to end the regular season and good final test before playoffs.

Two different teams from the start of the season on big winning streaks:
-- Ajayi & Wake turning the Miami team (since DE Wake became a starter in Week 6, he leads the NFL with 10.5 sacks and the Dolphins have gone 9-1). Great test for NE run D and OL.
-- Brady, Ninko, Rowe, KVN, McClellin /reset/, (Floyd) and of course Lewis all new on the field for NE since week 2. (Pats have never lost with Lewis in the lineup - so I guess they're not resting him..)
_

First personnel news. While Maxwell should be good to return, starting S Abdul-Quddus could sit out.

 

[oldrover]

Thank you!!!! I've been looking forward to this thread!

On other undefeated stats, Ajayi is 9-0 this season when he gets 14 or more carries. Gotta have Hightower healthy for this game.

 

[Mack Herron]

Dolphins vulnerabilities per Chatham. Blood in the water.

 

[Kontradiction]

Rest those with nagging injuries and those that they can't afford to lose (except probably Brady who will actually want to play at least a quarter because he's a maniac).

 

[The Gr8est]

I expect we will see a lot of Michael Floyd. If he is going to be useful to the team in the playoffs this is the perfect opportunity to give him some quality reps, whole limiting risk to others.

I am also expecting to see Cyrus Jones getting reps at punt returns. He fielded one punt vs the Ravens without incident, let's see if he has calmed down and making better decisions. It is clear BB hasn't given up on him.

I am also wondering if, like the limited use of the late season line shifts and disguises we have seen on defense, if the Pats are limiting Mitchell's targets with the plan to unveil him during the playoffs.

 

[long distance]

Here highlights from their only loss in last 10 weeks @BAL. But it was a heavy one. And a clear recipe for Sunday. With Gronk this would be too easy. A game for #88. And Lewis, White, Julian.

 

[long distance]

 

[Ring 6]

Rest those with nagging injuries and those that they can't afford to lose (except probably Brady who will actually want to play at least a quarter because he's a maniac).

Can't sit players with HFA on the line.

 

[Kontradiction]

Can't sit players with HFA on the line.

Watch them do just that with the players nursing nagging injuries.

 

[The Gr8est]

Watch them do just that with the players nursing nagging injuries.

I'd like seeing Bennett get some rest. But Pats are limited at TE right now with only Lengel, and maybe Develin, available.

 

[long distance]

The only member of the Pats that has experience with this “winning“ Dolphins is Michael Floyd.
Week 14, ARI@MIA.

 

[Ring 6]

Watch them do just that with the players nursing nagging injuries.

Maybe a player or 2 but your post said test everyone with nagging injuries or that they cant afford to lose.
That would be a mistake imo.

 

[FourierSeries]

Can't sit players with HFA on the line.

The Raiders are a team with no defense and a backup QB. The top seed is no longer as important as it was before Carr's injury.

 

[The Gr8est]

The only member of the Pats that has experience with this “winning“ Dolphins is Michael Floyd.
Week 14, ARI@MIA.

Well that was only because the Dolphins were deliberately arranging to have it rain harder when the Cardinals had the ball.

Bastages!!!

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

The Raiders are a team with no defense and a backup QB. The top seed is no longer as important as it was before Carr's injury.

Naw. It's important. I rather face pittsburgh in the afc chanpionship game and not the divisional round.

 

[Kontradiction]

Maybe a player or 2 but your post said test everyone with nagging injuries or that they cant afford to lose.
That would be a mistake imo.

There are only a handful of guys they absolutely can't afford to lose. One of them is Brady who I'm sure will play at least a quarter to get the work in as he usually does. They cannot rest "everyone" as depth won't allow it. They will rest a handful of guys though. Those guys will either have nagging injuries or be too important. It happens every year in Week 17.

 

[Kontradiction]

The Raiders are a team with no defense and a backup QB. The top seed is no longer as important as it was before Carr's injury.

Pretty much. If worse comes to worse, they'll have to go to Oakland in the AFCCG to play Matt McGloin and an awful defense. That won't happen though as pretty much any team in the AFC will put the tires to Oakland in Oakland in the playoffs. Even if the Pats get the second seed, they'll more than likely still have HFA.

 

[FourierSeries]

Naw. It's important. I rather face pittsburgh in the afc chanpionship game and not the divisional round.

I'm not concerned about any team as long as the Pats are healthy. Ideally, we would have the #1 seed. But if some guys need to be rested to make sure they're healthier for the postseason, then so be it.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

I expect we will see a lot of Michael Floyd. If he is going to be useful to the team in the playoffs this is the perfect opportunity to give him some quality reps, whole limiting risk to others.

I am also expecting to see Cyrus Jones getting reps at punt returns. He fielded one punt vs the Ravens without incident, let's see if he has calmed down and making better decisions. It is clear BB hasn't given up on him.

I am also wondering if, like the limited use of the late season line shifts and disguises we have seen on defense, if the Pats are limiting Mitchell's targets with the plan to unveil him during the playoffs.

I hope Jones gets a bunch of punts to catch.

 

[TruthSeeker]

It is clear (per Mike Lombardi) that the Patriots will be playing all out to win against Miami this week.