Good morning, and Happy Gameday for the last Patriots football for the season. There will likely be some significant changes after today’s game, and this may be the last time we see Bill Belichick on the Patriots sideline and Matthew Slater in a Patriots uniform.
The disappointing season ends with a familiar foe, the Jets, who are suffering through disappointment of their own. Despite each team’s losing records, it promises to be a typical NE-NY game, a tough, physical matchup.
With the weather expected to dump some significant snow in the area, the running games for each team will be an important factor for winning this matchup.
We’ll list our players to watch and keys to the game below.
Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:
Trent Brown: The Patriots left tackle has been ruled out of Sunday’s finale officially due to an illness. Bill Belichick said that Brown, who didn’t practice at all this week, was suffering from “flu-like symptoms.
Brown is a free agent after this season and will likely be moving on. According to a report in the Boston Herald, Brown was openly discussing playing next year for an NFC team after the Patriots’ win over Pittsburgh.
Rookie Gifts: The team’s rookies were given snow brushes/scrapers this week, and the reaction from Demario Douglas was certainly amusing. Douglas wasn’t even sure what to do with it.
Douglas, speaking with ESPN’s Mike Reiss, said, “This is new to me. I’m from Florida.” But it was also a message from Belichick to the rookies. Although the weather is expected to be bad, you’re expected to be on time.
Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast: If you haven’t listened to our PatsFans.com podcast, Patriots 4th & 2”, in a bit, please check it out. Patriots 4th & 2 has expanded.
Derek Havens and I did a quick recap of the Bills game last week and discussed the changes that are invariably coming for the team.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t in is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed the game with how teams used the tight end position…this will be on our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t in the team’s.
Patriots Players To Watch Against The Jets —
The Patriots and Jets meet for the second time this season and close out the 2023 season, which was a disappointment for both teams. The Patriots have won the past 15 games against Gang Green and would like to extend that to Sweet 16. Say what you will about Mac Jones (and many of you have); he was 5-0 against the Jets. Now it is Bailey Zappe’s turn to see how he can fare against the Patriots’ bitter rival.
The Jets signed Aaron Rodgers this spring, but he’s on IR; Zach Wilson didn’t pass concussion protocol, they gave Tim Boyle a shot, and now it is Trevor Siemian’s game.
Here are our Patriot players to watch today.
Matthew Slater: The 16-year vet is likely playing in his last game, and he should be going through a range of emotions in front of Gillette Stadium’s crowd. The 38-year-old STs maven is still playing at a high level. Last week, he provided a key block on Jalen Reagor’s 98-yard TD on the opening kickoff.
Slater wasn’t sure that he’d even last a year in the NFL when he was a rookie 5th-round pick, but he landed in the right place with the Patriots and Bill Belichick, who puts such a high priority on special teams’ play. And Slater gives a ton of credit to his coach.
“I wouldn’t have had a third of the career I’ve had without Coach. He’s pushed me every step of the way. He’s shown a belief in me when a lot of people wouldn’t have and gave me a chance coming out of college when a lot of other teams would not have.
“He’s kept me around a lot longer than I thought he would. So I certainly appreciate that and appreciate the way he leads from the front, his example, his sacrifice, and his accountability. I could go on and on about Coach, but simply stated, I’m not standing up here talking to you without Coach Belichick.”
Slater will have to wait for five years before he’s eligible for a vote in Canton. And while no STs players (other than kickers or kick returners have been voted in), Slater is certainly deserving. No players who have at least 10 Pro Bowls, which Slater has, are not in Canton. Time will tell.
Bailey Zappe: Can Zappe shake off the horrible start he had in Buffalo against a Jets defense that is very good against the run and the pass? He got into a little bit of rhythm in the second half against the Bills but will have to play a clean game with no turnovers this week, where points are expected to be at a premium.
The Jets have an excellent front seven and should be able to bring pressure on Zappe, considering the Patriots patch work offensive line. Since Zappe became the starter, the offense has generated many more explosive plays. But the offense has been less efficient as Zappe struggles in the short/intermediate game.
Kevin Harris: With the weather expected to be snowy for the game, a premium may be placed on the running game. If that is the case, we can expect Harris to get more snaps this week with Ezekiel Elliott.
Harris hasn’t played much this season, but last week, he caught a 48-yard pass against Buffalo. An extended look against the Jets would go a long way in getting a look for more snaps next year. Harris is an ERFA and should be back in 2024.
Marte Mapu: The Patriots’ rookie should see some extended snaps this week as the team plays out their final game of the season. Breece Hall, the excellent RB of the Jets, has been excellent out of the backfield, catching 74 passes this year.
Hall will be a focus in the Jets’ short passing game, something that Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, and Mapu will be looking at stopping. Mapu has the speed and athleticism to handle this task, and it would be a great opportunity for him to get some more experience.
Prediction:
The Patriots and Jets are mirror images of each other. Very good (Top 10) defenses with struggling offenses that turn the ball over and can’t score enough points.
It comes down to who turns the ball over and who can piece together enough running room for the backs to exploit. I think the Patriots will force Siemian into a few turnovers, and the Elliott/Harris tandem will grind out enough yards to send the team and possibly Belichick and Slater to go out winners. Patriots 13-10.
Week 18 Predictions —
Saturday Games:
Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Houston over Indianapolis
Sunday Day Games:
Cincinnati over Cleveland
Detroit over Minnesota
Jacksonville over Tennesee
New England over NYJ
New Orleans over Atlanta
Green Bay over Chicago
Tampa Bay over Carolina
Las Vegas over Denver
Philadelphia over NYG
Arizona over Seattle
San Francisco over LA Rams
Dallas over Washington
Kansas City over LA Chargers
Sunday Night Football:
Green Bay over Minnesota
Last Week 13—3
2023 Season 166—90
2022 Season: 178—92—2
2021 Season: 183—88—1
2020 Season: 169—86—1
2019 Season: 162—93—1
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“He’s just about the perfect player,” Belichick said. “He does everything you want him to do for your team. He’s the first guy in, last one out, and is a minimal play-time player in terms of the total number of plays he plays, but the way he trains, the way he prepares, communicates — he does everything he can to help the team.
“He has tremendous, total respect from everybody in the organization,” Belichick continued. “Players, coaches, staff, you name it. And he’s earned it. He earns it every day. Every day, he comes in like he might get cut that day. Prepares and practices and performs like, ‘If I don’t do good today, I might not be here tomorrow.’ That’s a tremendous attitude.”
“I think Slater really is eventually going to be a Hall of Fame candidate,” Belichick said. “As a coverage player, not as a specialist and he’s not a returner. So he’s in a very unique category, one that I don’t think is represented in the Hall of Fame. But based on what he did during his career, the length of time he did it, and the level he’s done it at … I would say this guy has been as productive as anybody has ever been at his position throughout his entire career, which is very lengthy. I think he’s the best that’s ever done what he’s done.”
Bill Belichick, on Matthew Slater, if he Slater was worthy of the NFL’s Hall of Fame after his playing career is over.
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“Talent sets the floor; Character sets the ceiling.” Bill Belichick
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A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)
