Patriots Pregame Thread Pre-Game - Divisional Round Texans at Patriots

[Vindicate]

Wouldn't it be something if Maye have close to 300yds against them?? They can just drop the MVP off at Gillette.

Like I've mentioned - He had 3 TD's against them last year and their pass defense is roughly the same, except for the added ancillary benefit to overall defense of drastically bolstering their run defense.

I don't think it'll be the same story, our attack will be more calculated and diverse, and, primarily, we will win.

We saw what our defense looks like, or rather, it's capacity, now that everyone is healthy. I really don't think Gonzo will be held out.

Maye isn't going to get confused by the Texans defense, they do not care about "schemed" pressure, they trot out the same look every single snap. He will have to beat incredible talent - and he can do that. The Texans hand you the keys and dare you to drive against them, they don't throw you weird looks. It'll be a great matchup for Maye, I think.

 

[Vindicate]

Our base Offense should include 6 OL's.

Curiously, I think that we have better opportunity for passing yards out of that set.

Put Henry in at the slot and keep them on their toes if he's gonna be run blocking and crack an unsuspecting LB or demand a slot CB to come down to protect against him playing the pass.

It's times like this you realize how valuable Gronk was. Imagine wondering if he's gonna block or run a route lol.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Even if the Texans get by with just defense this week, do you think they can actually win the SB without doing much offensively? Something tells me it's not sustainable.

 

[Vindicate]

Even if the Texans get by with just defense this week, do you think they can actually win the SB without doing much offensively? Something tells me it's not sustainable.

This is one year where yes, you can do it. Darnold and Stafford ain't gonna know what to do against their DL. Everyone said the NFC is tougher but really I just think they're just as weak as the AFC this year, imo.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

Man, that 2015 AFCCG was one of Brady's finest moments. He took more hits and stood there than any game i could remember. He was incredible.

And then he missed a wide open Gronk in the end zone on the 2 point conversion.

If he won that game imo that would have been stuff of legends

 

[VrabelJr]

Like I've mentioned - He had 3 TD's against them last year and their pass defense is roughly the same, except for the added ancillary benefit to overall defense of drastically bolstering their run defense.

I don't think it'll be the same story, our attack will be more calculated and diverse, and, primarily, we will win.

We saw what our defense looks like, or rather, it's capacity, now that everyone is healthy. I really don't think Gonzo will be held out.

Maye isn't going to get confused by the Texans defense, they do not care about "schemed" pressure, they trot out the same look every single snap. He will have to beat incredible talent - and he can do that. The Texans hand you the keys and dare you to drive against them, they don't throw you weird looks. It'll be a great matchup for Maye, I think.

3 TDs but also 2 INTs and 4 sacks. Two of the TDs came when the game was out of hand. They whooped our ass last season but we're a lot better now.

 

[NFL Mystique]

This is one year where yes, you can do it. Darnold and Stafford ain't gonna know what to do against their DL. Everyone said the NFC is tougher but really I just think they're just as weak as the AFC this year, imo.

I think Denver would really be tough because of the noise.

But if you are saying Stafford would not know what to do, will Maye? Stafford is a veteran and probable MVP. He has won a SB before.

 

[jal]

Houston’s D is aggressive. Take from that what you will.

I would like to see quite a bit of condensed formations. I don’t think five wide is an answer to anything against the Texans. Expecting Maye to execute lengthy drives with many short throws from an empty backfield might be too much for him at this point and that’s not something we’ve been doing this year anyways. Brady was in the system for a couple years before he started orchestrating much of a drive with an empty backfield in 2002 (the beginning of the kc game stands out to me)

Move the pocket every now and then. Roll Maye out. Rodgers had a nice completion from a rollout last night.

Above poster mentioned the Texans keeping it more simple and playing fast. I think that is to Maye’s advantage. Just make them over commit…

I think you have to go with two different looks, each with different objectives:

1) Go jumbo, get more linebackers on the field, throw against those linebackers (out of play action) and run right at those scary edge rushers to tire them out

2) Spread them out and throw a lot of quick passes out of no huddle / no substitution so the pass rushers get tired and can't get a rest

We may need to alternate these strategies, or even combine them. Get 2 TE, 2 backs on field to get their big defensive package on the field then spread out and don't let them substitute.

The one thing we CANNOT do is just line up out of shotgun against their usual nickel D and try to throw on them with a huddle. You are just asking for Maye to get clobbered, whether because their pass rush is overwhelming or their secondary smothers our top 3 receivers in man coverage or both. They have better players than we do out of standard packages....we need to get their lesser defenders on the field and then do our best to keep them on it.

 

[Vindicate]

3 TDs but also 2 INTs and 4 sacks. Two of the TDs came when the game was out of hand. They whooped our ass last season but we're a lot better now.

Right. He threw those ints but he has seen this defense and he made **** happen against it. This won't necessarily be a surprise to him. I think that works even more to our advantage.

 

[Vindicate]

I think Denver would really be tough because of the noise.

But if you are saying Stafford would not know what to do, will Maye? Stafford is a veteran and probable MVP. He has won a SB before.

Maye is mobile and has unreal poise. He is better than Stafford. He is smarter. That's my take.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

The short week is a good point I hadn't thought about.

TRANSCRIPT: Mike Vrabel's First Patriots Press Conference 1/13/25 | PatsFans.com

Here's what new head coach Mike Vrabel had to say in his first press conference with the New England Patriots on Monday.

www.patsfans.com

Mike Vrabel was born on August 14, 1975, three days before the Vikings visited Schaefer Stadium for a preseason matchup with the Patriots that Sunday.

As you all know, I've complained about us not getting the bye week after valuing it most of the season.

In retrospect, again, I believe things are working out for the Patriots. Again, as you all know, playoff football is no way the same as the regular season. Pressure, intensity, and stakes are way higher. Both participants face elimination with a loss.

The Patriots have several veterans, some even with playoff experience, but overall the team is new to this, certainly as a team this year. Facing all this as they did on Sunday I think was better than sitting around for two weeks and then having the divisional round thrown in our faces. This team needs all the experience they can get.

There isn't much hatred for me this week for our opponent. Mike's first pro coaching gig was with the Texans for four years, experience that we all including himself are grateful for. Ray Clayborn's last job that I know of was with the Texans.

Raymond Clayborn 'totally surprised' by Patriots Hall of Fame honor

He never won a Super Bowl with the Patriots, and Raymond Clayborn believes that hurt his case for the team's Hall of Fame in the past. Now he's in.

www.espn.com

I...may have voted slightly more than once for Ray in that fan vote...

Anyway, I got to meet him when he came to Foxborough, and I'm very grateful for the chance for us to chat.

Houston earned their chance to play here, and they will bring it on Sunday and I expect us to be ready.

Unless the Broncos miraculously decide to run the football, it looks like we'll have one more home game this season. First, we have to take care of business on Sunday afternoon. We had better commit more to the run from hereon in. I think the fan support has been superlative for the Patriots, and they need it to continue.

The Patriots have experience this season facing adversity, and facing deficits. This is highly beneficial, and I expect there will be obstacles and adversity ahead in the next month. It's the kind of pressure we as fans have faced many times in the past, along with the Patriots' coaches. We all have to be ready..

 

[Vindicate]

Houston’s D is aggressive. Take from that what you will.

I would like to see quite a bit of condensed formations. I don’t think five wide is an answer to anything against the Texans. Expecting Maye to execute lengthy drives with many short throws from an empty backfield might be too much for him at this point and that’s not something we’ve been doing this year anyways. Brady was in the system for a couple years before he started orchestrating much of a drive with an empty backfield in 2002 (the beginning of the kc game stands out to me)

Move the pocket every now and then. Roll Maye out. Rodgers had a nice completion from a rollout last night.

Above poster mentioned the Texans keeping it more simple and playing fast. I think that is to Maye’s advantage. Just make them over commit…

The Texans are built to stop Brady. Brady would have a very very very hard time against them.

Maye's mobility gives himself a quality to use the Texans against themselves.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Wasn't that, like, during the game? Tweet is timestamped last night at 10:53 PM.

Yes - good catch. I'd edit or delete the post but don't seem to be able to.

 

[Ross12]

Yes - good catch. I'd edit or delete the post but don't seem to be able to.

Not sure why you can't but I deleted it for ya.

 

[SVN]

This is one year where yes, you can do it. Darnold and Stafford ain't gonna know what to do against their DL. Everyone said the NFC is tougher but really I just think they're just as weak as the AFC this year, imo.

Yes but the offensive head coaches on the NFC side remaining are quite good. I can certainly believe mcvay and shanahan can figure out a way to score vs the texans.

 

[Ross12]

So, I’ve been a TBI physician for almost 20 years. And I just looked through the protocol the NFL posted online.

There aren’t any hard stop time periods included in the protocol. Some of the timelines are left to the discretion of the Club physician.

As I read it, there isn’t any way to say who can or can’t be cleared in time

That's true, but at the same time, the protocols require them to do X activity with no setbacks, then do Y activity, etc. And many of those things are part of scheduled team activities. So you couldn't necessarily just blitz through all of them in a day. You'd need to do the first thing on the first day it is available successfully, and then to progress to step 2, you'd have to wait for the next opportunity to do it. Most of the items aren't things you can just go do in your private time or after practice, generally it's all done during practice time/hours.

The concept of "no setbacks" has a time constraint as well. So you have to do the task, then they have to wait a reasonable amount of time afterwards to make sure you don't backslide and start getting headaches, nausea etc. There are necessarily delays between even if they aren't rigidly outlined.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

As I read it, there isn’t any way to say who can or can’t be cleared in time

But there is typically a 5-step protocol:

• Return-to-Participation (RTP) Protocol: A five-phase graduated process post-diagnosis:
  1. Symptom-limited activity/rest.
  2. Aerobic exercise and balance training.
  3. Football-specific exercises and strength training (non-contact).
  4. Full-contact practice.
  5. Full clearance for game participation.
• Each phase requires no symptom recurrence, with neurocognitive testing often involved. Clearance comes from the club physician and must be confirmed by an Independent Neurological Consultant (INC).

About 25% of players don't miss a game. But with a short week (and the travel schedule here) that percentage surely drops considerably.

 

[SVN]

The Texans are built to stop Brady. Brady would have a very very very hard time against them.

Maye's mobility gives himself a quality to use the Texans against themselves.

Brady IMO had a tough time with spin the dial defenses. "We do what we do" ones as talented they maybe were easily outcoached by the pats during that time.

 

[Ross12]

This is one year where yes, you can do it. Darnold and Stafford ain't gonna know what to do against their DL. Everyone said the NFC is tougher but really I just think they're just as weak as the AFC this year, imo.

Yeah it depends on the opponent. Darnold and Stafford would fold. Purdy might be able to handle it. Caleb, I'm not sure. He loves to run around so it's possible.

I agree with you about AFC v NFC btw. The NFC "was" tougher but the teams that were considered tougher at one point in time are almost all gone. The only scary team left is Seattle. The rest of the NFC teams are all fairly flawed, and even Seattle runs the risk of Darnold turning back into a pumpkin.

 

[TommyD4207]

The Texans are built to stop Brady. Brady would have a very very very hard time against them.

Maye's mobility gives himself a quality to use the Texans against themselves.

Brady would have a hard time against them, because Cover 2 hole-shots weren't exactly the strength of his game.