Patriots News 11-17 And Players To Watch vs. Rams

Good morning. Here are your Patriots news and notes for November 17. The Patriots return home to play the LA Rams at Gillette Stadium today, with the chance to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.

The Rams are still very much in the playoff hunt in the NFC despite their 4-5 record and are looking to bounce back after a sluggish performance against Miami on Monday Night Football. The Rams, coming off a short week are traveling to the East Coast, so it will bear watching if the time change and the shorter practice week has any effect on their performance.

The Patriots are looking to stack some good games together. After losing six in a row, they’ve won two of their last three games. A win against a potential playoff team would signal that they’re perhaps turning a corner in their rebuild.

Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:

Tyquan Thornton: The Patriots waived WR Tyquan Thornton on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Patriots were carrying seven wide receivers on the 53-man roster, with Thornton being the seventh option.

He was active for the first five games of the season but has been inactive for four of the last five. He has four receptions for 47 yards this season. His three-year Patriots totals are 28 games played, 39 receptions for 385 yards, and two touchdowns. Many thought he would be cut after the Patriots drafted Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker this spring, but he survived for ten games.

Thornton was never able to marry his blazing 4.28 speed with on-field success. He suffered from injuries and while his practice tape was impressive, it didn’t materialize on the field during games.

Yannick Ngakoue: The veteran pass rusher should make his debut this week against the Rams and it will bear watching if he can help the Patriots generate more pressure from the edge especially with Deatrich Wise questionable to play this week after getting injured in Chicago.

Ngokoue has 70.5 career sacks and had four sacks last year. And he could be an effective member of the defense. While we know that he’s not quite the same guy he was with the Jaguars, his veteran savvy and natural ability will bear watching.

“I’m just excited, happy for the opportunity,” said Ngakoue via Patriots.com. “You know, we just won a game last week versus the Bears, so I just want to help continue building that energy and that momentum so we can continue it for the following weeks.”

Christian Barmore: The Patriots’ best defensive lineman is questionable to play today against the Rams. However, the Patriots have activated him to the active roster on Saturday after the news that Thornton was waived. That, in itself is great news. However, I’d temper expectations against that this week, since he hasn’t had a padded practice or played in a game since January.

But the fact that Barmore, who suffered from blood clots after the second practice of training camp back in July, was back to practice on Thursday was amazing. I think the Patriots will take the cautious approach with him and let him get an entire week in of practice before they activate him for a game.

But getting Barmore back would be a huge boost for the Patriots in both the run and pass defenses. He’s a tremendous disruptor and his ability to generate an interior pass rush (8.5 sacks last year) will bear watching.

“Just to see Barmore out there, it was a great sight to see, head coach Jerod Mayo said. “There’s a chance [Barmore will play on Sunday]. We have a meeting with the doctors after practice today. There’s a chance.” More below

Kyle Dugger: The Patriots’ safety may return to action this week after missing the past three games. He’s a good playmaker in various spots on the defense. However, in his absence, safeties Marte Mapu and Dell Pettus have filled in well.

Dugger’s nagging ankle injury has kept him just limited in practice, but getting him, back would be another huge boost for the defense.

Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast: This week, Derek Havens and I wrapped up the Bears game and discussed Maye’s play. We then did a quick breakdown of the Rams game, giving our predictions for that and other games. Please check us out and give us a listen on YouTube, Apple, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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 is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position. This will be discussed in 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 even in the team’s HOF.

Area 51 News: Patriots Players To Watch Against The Rams —

This week, the Patriots are playing the Rams and of course it starts with the chess match with head coach Sean McVay. One of the best offensive coaches in the game, he’ll throw a lot of looks and formations against the Patriots this afternoon. The Patriots coach staff must be able to match with him.

And of course, the Rams’ offense runs through QB Matt Stafford. He’s now 36, but can still generate some high-powered passing numbers, especially now that both Cooper Kupp and Puca Nacua are back and healthy.

“When I look at this team, especially offensively, it starts with the quarterback, a guy like Matt Stafford who’s done it at a high level for a very long time,” said Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo. “I don’t think he gets the credit that he deserves, but he is a very accurate passer, can make all the throws, and just because he’s older, doesn’t mean that he can’t move around in the pocket a little bit.”

Offensively, the Patriots will look to keep the balance that they showed a week ago, And to get more out of the passing game where they started slowly last week. Both teams offenses are predicated on running the football first and then using it to open up the passing game. That’s the key for both teams, getting the running game going and stopping the run.

Here are our Patriots Players to Watch this afternoon if the Patriots are to win today.

Drake Maye: Maye will be looking to get the passing game more productive this week. He had his lowest passing yards in his four full starts last week. The pass protection was better, but he and the WRs have to step up against the Rams.

The biggest key for Maye this week: Finishing plays in the red zone. The Patriots settled for three points four times last week. They won’t be able to afford that against LA. The Rams front seven is very good, so there won’t be as many opportunities to run. However, that threat give LA something to be aware of.

Keion White The Patriots’ second-year pass rusher has been consistent with getting pressure on opposing QBs but after a hot start to the season with four sacks in the first two games, he’s been blanked in the sack production. Until last week. Against the Bears, he had a sack, two TFLs and two QB hits.

If the Patriots can find a way to get the pass rush going again with White, Deatrich Wise, Anfernee Jennings (each with two sacks last week) and newcomer Yannick Ngakoue, who should play this week. It’ll go a long way in aiding for the Patriots to notch a win this week.

Rhamondre Stevenson: Stevenson had his best game in awhile last week against the Bears, and the team needs an even better output against the Rams. The offense of Alex Van Pelt requires the running game to be key to opening up play-action passing and taking some shots down the field.

After several weeks with little production from the running backs, Stevenson led the way with 74 yards against the Bears. If he can consistently get good yardage on early downs, it will put Maye in easier down and distance situations to keep drives going.

Look for Stevenson and Antonio Gibson to figure in the screen game against a very aggressive Rams’ pass rush. If they can catch a time or two during the game, it would at least give LA some pause in their “ears pinned back” aggressiveness.

Hunter Henry: The Patriots’ most consistent offensive skill position player, Henry is facing a Rams’ defense that is 25th in the NFL at defending tight ends, allowing an average of about five catches and 58 yards each game this year.

Henry attacking the seams will be an area that the Patriots will hope to exploit. However the Rams defense is young and aggressive. And Maye and Henry will have to be on time and on target this week.

Christian Gonzalez: The Patriots’ talented second-year cornerback who still only has 14 games of experience will face either Kupp or Nacua, on the outside. Neither is a burner, but both have the excellent ability to make contested catches and keep the chains moving.

Gonzalez is having an excellent season thus far and will be looking to lock down his side of the field, forcing Stafford to look elsewhere.

Prediction: The Patriots face a good Rams team that was beset by injuries offensively and weathered the storm defensively with a lot of young players who are finding their way. The secondary gives up a lot of yardage but is a ball-hawking unit, so keeping the turnovers down is a priority.

The New England secondary will have their hands full with the Rams’ receivers, but played their best game of the season last week against a good Bears’ skill position group. Getting the pass rush on Stafford is a big key as well.

Offensively, the Patriots should be able to get some yardage on the ground and through the air. Drake Maye will have to find some matchups and pick his spots against a front seven that features two excellent pass rushers in Byron Young and Jared Verse.

Look for Bryce Barringer and Marcus Jones on STs to play a key role again on flipping field position. Barringer is averaging 50.8 yards per punt on the season and Jones is stacking good games together on punt returns. He had another 20+ yard return last week to set up a field goal.

It is going to be close, but I’m drinking the Patriots Kool-Aid once again.

Patriots 24-23

Parting Shots:

The Bills have again ruled out Keon Coleman this week and with Amari Cooper questionable, they won’t have all of their weapons when Kansas City comes to town. Dalton Kincaid is also out for Buffalo. The Chiefs will be without RB Isaiah Pacheco, K Harrison Butker, and DE Charles Omenihu.

This should be a very entertaining game this week, one of many on the slate. I like the Bills this week to beat KC and end their unbeaten streak. Not having Butker this week in breezy Buffalo could be the difference.

The Jets play the Colts at home in the Meadowlands and the ongoing myth that the Jets are alive for a postseason spot spun by the national media continues. The Jets are 3-7 and are no position to be talking of playoffs or “running the table” as Rodgers said prior to last week’s thumping by Arizona.

Rodgers isn’t the guy going to lead the Jets to a Super Bowl and the Davante Adams trade was a bust. The Jets will be on the hook for $49 million if they decide to cut ties with Rodgers, so he’ll be around in 2025, another year older.

But any better? Doubtful. The Jets will be looking to snag a QB in the first round of the draft and then let him develop while seated behind Rodgers. Oh and by the way, the rumors are coming that Rodgers would welcome Mike McCarthy after he’s sure to be fired in Dallas. That would be good news for the rest of the division and the AFC in general.

The Dolphins play the Raiders this week, which they should handle, but at 3-6, their road to a playoff spot is far from guaranteed, especially with games at Green Bay, at Houston, and home against San Francisco. They also have two games against the Jets. So, which one is running the table?

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Week 11 Predictions:

Thursday Night Football:

Philadelphia over Washington 1-0

Sunday, November 17:

Green Bay over Chicago
Detroit over Jacksonville
Minnesota over Tennessee
Miami over Las Vegas
New England over LAR (total homer pick)
New Orleans over Cleveland
NYJ over Indianapolis
Baltimore over Pittsburgh
Denver over Atlanta
San Francisco over Seattle
Buffalo over Kansas City

Sunday Night Football:
LAC over Cincinnati

Monday Night Football:
Houston over Dallas

Bye Week: Arizona, Tampa Bay, Carolina, NYG

Last week: 9—5

2024 Season 109—43

2023 Season 178—94

2022 Season: 178—92—2

2021 Season: 183—88—1

2020 Season: 169—86—1

2019 Season: 162—93—1

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“I think the guys came out with a lot of energy on Wednesday. That practice was fantastic in full pads, very physical practice, very punchy practice. Yesterday, I thought offensively, one of the better days that we’ve had. Now, that goes back to the process. It doesn’t always equal a win on Sunday, but at the same time, it’s very encouraging that the team has been able to practice at a high level.

“We just have to bring that energy going against a good football team – regardless of record – going against a well-coached football team, and we just have to be able to go out there and match all their energy and enthusiasm and execute. When it’s all said and done, this game comes down to execution, and that’s our expectation.

“I would say yesterday was a good day practicing, and just to see [Christian] Barmore out there was a great sight to see.

“The expectation is there is no expectation.

“When he’s ready to go, he will play. I know he’s excited, and he’s been wanting to get back on the field for a long time. A lot of credit to the doctors and the medical staff. They’ve done a great job handling the situation with Barmore. It’s tough as an athlete when you have something like blood clots because you don’t have a cast on, you don’t have a sling on or anything like that. It’s almost like that invisible – ‘I feel good enough to play, I feel good enough to play,’ but there are definitely steps and procedures that we have to get through. But he is practicing, and we’re excited for that.”

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo spoke about facing the Rams, the team’s practices this week, and the excitement of seeing Christian Barmore back on the practice field for the first time since Day 2 of training camp.

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“Talent sets the floor; Character sets the ceiling.” Bill Belichick

Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]

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About Steve Balestrieri

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)

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