Patriots Pregame Thread Week 17 pregame: Pats vs Jax

[Ross12]

The COVID situation for Jacksonville is interesting. They have so many players out right now that you'd think the game would be moved, however even if all their guys came back it'd still be a game heavily in NE's favor. That shouldn't matter too much, but considering it's the last two weeks of the season, moving this game to Tuesday and then forcing NE to play Miami on a short week in a potential winner-makes-the-playoffs game would really suck. Not fair to essentially punish the Patriots because Jacksonville has an outbreak. But at the same time, if you don't move the game then you're punishing Jacksonville for being bad, pretty much.

I wonder if Jacksonville would honestly just take the forfeit if you asked behind closed doors. They most likely want the #1 pick since it's unlikely that prospect is a QB and they already have their guy.

My assumption is that we'll know today at some point if they intend to move it or not.

 

[RobertWeathers]

The COVID situation for Jacksonville is interesting. They have so many players out right now that you'd think the game would be moved, however even if all their guys came back it'd still be a game heavily in NE's favor. That shouldn't matter too much, but considering it's the last two weeks of the season, moving this game to Tuesday and then forcing NE to play Miami on a short week in a potential winner-makes-the-playoffs game would really suck. Not fair to essentially punish the Patriots because Jacksonville has an outbreak. But at the same time, if you don't move the game then you're punishing Jacksonville for being bad, pretty much.

I wonder if Jacksonville would honestly just take the forfeit if you asked behind closed doors. They most likely want the #1 pick since it's unlikely that prospect is a QB and they already have their guy.

My assumption is that we'll know today at some point if they intend to move it or not.

They'll play it and I fully expect the league to falsify enough test results to make it happen

 

[venecol]

They'll play it and I fully expect the league to falsify enough test results to make it happen

Aren't you being a tad dramatic with this statement?

 

[Toofy]

A great article by Evan. Looking at Mac's 20+ completion rate and tax by Meyers , I strongly believe the key for Mac is to get Jonnu involved in short seam routes or ball hand offs. He is a monster for Yard after carry and we routinely go 3rd and long which is our Achilles heel .

Earlier Mac 3rd down completion rates were beyond belief , now it's a miracle if he completes it. Teams have figured us out. Agholor is not the deep threat we wanted , nor is Mac the person who can really throw the dimes on consistent basis .

I think we should just stop planning with agholor and focus completely on meyers-bourne, Jonnu and Henry for the passing game. Use Harry as a blocker and a surprise element on long contested throws now and then .

Go back to the Brady dink and dunk and use the running backs as passing backs as a safety lever for Mac .

Patriots Mailbag: the Missing Ingredient in Pats Offense as They Build Around Mac Jones - CLNS Media

Although the Patriots are focusing on clinching a playoff berth, their offensive personnel is missing a key ingredient to maximize Mac Jones' skillset.

www.clnsmedia.com

 

[RobertWeathers]

Aren't you being a tad dramatic with this statement?

Nope.

Do you think you are being naive in thinking a key player who is vax'd will be kept out of an important Week 17 or playoff game?

 

[venecol]

Nope.

Do you think you are being naive in thinking a key player who is vax'd will be kept out of an important Week 17 or playoff game?

So you think the league has been "falsifying" test results? There's been plenty of players that have come out of the protocols in <5 days since they revised the testing requirements. You believe they've been falsifying the tests? Interesting.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Well the league did falsify the results of PSI for the Pats Colts game and then deep sized (effectively "falsified") their league wide PSI testing results the following season. Playing loose & fast and disparately with some Covid tests would not be a first. I don't know if they are playing games with Covid tests, probably not, but I do not trust the 32 implicitly.

 

[RobertWeathers]

So you think the league has been "falsifying" test results? There's been plenty of players that have come out of the protocols in <5 days since they revised the testing requirements. You believe they've been falsifying the tests? Interesting.

No.

I'm saying they will or they just won't test a player who may be suspected of having COVID.

Way too much money at stake.

 

[venecol]

No.

I'm saying they will or they just won't test a player who may be suspected of having COVID.

Way too much money at stake.

I don't think they need to since they can get almost the same outcome by revising the rules.

1. Revise testing standards to allow different types of tests, add the C/T threshold, allow more testing faster, eliminate testing of all vaxxed players, etc.
2. Lower quarantine period from 10 to 5 days incl. unvaxxed players.

I'm as skeptical as the next guy, but why risk "falsefying" tests when they've already watered down the rules legally? The down side would be too costly, especially after suspending players for "falsifying" vaxx cards. Why not falsify Wentz or Cousins tests?

Sounds like a conspiracy theory.

 

[amfootball]

They'll play it and I fully expect the league to falsify enough test results to make it happen

I think the new rules are helping with that.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I think the new rules are helping with that.

Not to be a conspiracy guy, but the new rules are set up to enable, not "help with that". Vaccinated players are not tested except on a random basis. Who establishes the random basis? Who can change the random basis at any time? Who can selectively random test as they see fit? That is controlling the situation, even if they do not falsify actual tests. Simply test more or less to create the result you want. Is this really tough to see through?

 

[VJCPatriot]

So is this game actually gonna happen or is JAX too covid-stricken? It feels like they'd have to activate their whole practice squad just to field enough players to put in the stadium from the sounds of it!

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I don't think the league cares about Jacksonville at this point in the season. If this were a game that had major implications for both teams, then it probably gets postponed, but with Jacksonville on track to get the 1st overall pick the league just wants to get it done and over with.

 

[amfootball]

Not to be a conspiracy guy, but the new rules are set up to enable, not "help with that". Vaccinated players are not tested except on a random basis. Who establishes the random basis? Who can change the random basis at any time? Who can selectively random test as they see fit? That is controlling the situation, even if they do not falsify actual tests. Simply test more or less to create the result you want. Is this really tough to see through?

I agree. I think the rules are to help with ensuring the key guys (QBs) play in the post-season. The NFL had to do that or else the season was ruined.

 

[Ross12]

Not to be a conspiracy guy, but the new rules are set up to enable, not "help with that". Vaccinated players are not tested except on a random basis. Who establishes the random basis? Who can change the random basis at any time? Who can selectively random test as they see fit? That is controlling the situation, even if they do not falsify actual tests. Simply test more or less to create the result you want. Is this really tough to see through?

If you want to take a conspiratorial route, consider the fact that the Patriots were already without Agholor for their game against the Bills and then early in the week, their essentially #1 receiver Bourne (who is vaccinated) was "randomly" chosen for a test and tested positive. While he did qualify to return on the Saturday before the game, he was not able to practice all week and thus wasn't really part of the game plan.

 

[venecol]

Not to be a conspiracy guy, but the new rules are set up to enable, not "help with that". Vaccinated players are not tested except on a random basis. Who establishes the random basis? Who can change the random basis at any time? Who can selectively random test as they see fit? That is controlling the situation, even if they do not falsify actual tests. Simply test more or less to create the result you want. Is this really tough to see through?

Yea, but the discussion is about the league falsifying tests.

 

[ashley]

Happy New Year everyone!!!! Getting you ready for a Saturday:

 

[RobertWeathers]

I don't think they need to since they can get almost the same outcome by revising the rules.

1. Revise testing standards to allow different types of tests, add the C/T threshold, allow more testing faster, eliminate testing of all vaxxed players, etc.

Too late in the game to do that. Gotta go thru NFLPA etc.

2. Lower quarantine period from 10 to 5 days incl. unvaxxed players.

Already did that.

I'm as skeptical as the next guy, but why risk "falsefying" tests when they've already watered down the rules legally? The down side would be too costly, especially after suspending players for "falsifying" vaxx cards. Why not falsify Wentz or Cousins tests?

The won't even test them is my point. So players play and get a paycheck and the owners get their star players on the field. Everyone wins. No one gets hurt. Something 345 Park ave and 32 owners can get behind

Sounds like a conspiracy theory.

Just like hiring a law firm to manipulate ball pressure test results?

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think the new rules are helping with that.

OK so if Aaron Rodgers has COVID-like symptoms the Friday before the NFCCG the NFL and the Packers will test him just to be sure?

 

[venecol]

@RobertWeathers
1. They've already done it. It was the 1st set of rule revisions in response to omicron.
2. Exactly.
3. They're already not testing every player as part of rule revisions. See #1
4. Ok?