{"id":39011,"date":"2021-12-12T05:00:56","date_gmt":"2021-12-12T10:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=39011"},"modified":"2021-12-11T14:50:02","modified_gmt":"2021-12-11T19:50:02","slug":"patriots-news-12-12-much-needed-bye-week-afc-east-notes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2021\/12\/12\/patriots-news-12-12-much-needed-bye-week-afc-east-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots News 12-12, Much Needed Bye Week, AFC East Notes\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning, here is your <\/span>Sunday Patriots news 12-12<\/b> and AFC East Notes.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots have won seven in a row and now have a game and a half lead over Buffalo (courtesy of the MNF win) as well as (for now) the top seed in the AFC. But after 13 games, the bye week is a great time for them to get some of their injured players some time to rest and recover.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With a Tampa Bay victory, the Patriots would actually gain another half-game over Buffalo to increase it to two games. So that one will definitely bear watching today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Three of their final four games (Indianapolis, Buffalo, and Miami) will all have an effect on the division and the conference. Don\u2019t look now, but Miami has won five in a row and Brian Flores crew has been putting together a nice run.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Have you checked out our<\/span> PatsFans.com sortable stats<\/span><\/a> for the Patriots? It is a great resource for all of the players on the roster.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Quick Hitters For the Pats, and the NFL:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Homefield Advantage? Not So Much: <\/b>The Patriots home record of 3-4 is a different vibe for the team under Bill Belichick, but overall in the NFL, especially in the AFC, the expected home-field advantage after the fans were allowed back in after the COVID lockouts of 2020, haven\u2019t materialized.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Buffalo has a 3-3 record at home, while the Colts, Bengals, and Chargers all have 3-3 records as well. The best teams at home in the AFC are the Ravens at 5-1, and the Chiefs at 5-2. The NFC has two undefeated teams at home, Tampa Bay and Green Bay, while the team with the best record in the NFL, Arizona is just 3-2 at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

It will be interesting to see if this continues into the post-season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hunter Henry: <\/b>The Patriots tight end and his wife Parker welcomed their first child, this week, which they shared on Instagram.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Henry had said that he\u2019d miss a game if his wife went into labor during a Patriots game but the timing favored the team as his wife went into labor during the team\u2019s bye week which will also allow a little bit of bonding time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Devine Ozigbo: <\/b>The Patriots signed Ozigbo to their practice squad after J.J. Taylor was placed on the Reserve\/COVID list. But his signing could open the door for the back if Damien Harris\u2019 hamstring injury keeps him out for any time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ozigbo, 5\u201910, 220 pounds averaged 7 yards per carry while rushing for over 1000 in his senior season at Nebraska. While he only ran a 4.65 at his pro day, he also ran a very good 6.95 in the 3-Cone Drill with a 37-inch vertical leap. He\u2019s a powerful runner that could fit in the Patriots system if the need arises.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Demaryius Thomas: <\/b>The former Broncos, Texans, Patriots, and Jets WR who earned five straight Pro Bowl berths, died this week at the young age of 33.\u00a0 Thomas had great production with Denver, especially after Peyton Manning was brought in at QB.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He last played in 2019 and was known to suffer from seizures during the past year. It is believed that he died from a seizure on Thursday night at his home in Atlanta.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4th & 2 Podcast:<\/b> If you haven\u2019t checked out our <\/span>PatsFans.com podcast, <\/span><\/a>\u201cPatriots 4th & 2\u201d in a bit, please check it out. We gathered earlier this week to do a MNF recap of the win over the Bills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Russ Francis\/Chuck Fairbanks:<\/b> The former Patriot tight end and head coach both should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame…this will be on our Sunday posts until it happens.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Bill Belichick Coach of the Year Award?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Kliff Kingsbury was drafted by the Patriots and Bill Belichick in 2003 out of Texas Tech but is now the head coach of the Cardinals and has his team with the best record in the league at 10-2. Despite that, Kingsbury is considered the #2 coach for the annual Coach of the Year award. Belichick, who rarely gets support for the award, is considered the odds-on favorite to be named this year\u2019s Coach of the Year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That is quite the turnaround for Belichick who some media and fans were questioning whether it was time to begin looking to replace the coach after a 2-4 start in 2021 after a very rare 7-9 losing season a year ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kingsbury, however, believes that the award should not just go to Belichick this year, but every year. Not only that, but he believes it should be named after the Patriots coach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey should just name the award Bill Belichick and when he retires, bring that back,\u201d Kingsbury said to the media when asked about he and Belichick being #1-2 in the odds for the award. Belichick has won six Super Bowls as head coach of the Patriots, has won more than 300 games, including 31 in the postseason, but yet has been named the Coach of the Year, just three times.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUntil he retires, I don\u2019t think anyone else should get that award. He should be that every single year he is coaching.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gillette Stadium, Big Changes Coming, Could it Affect Games?<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Kraft family is planning on some massive changes to Gillette Stadium that will enhance the fan experience as well as increase the indoor space of the venue, but could these changes also affect football games on the field? We\u2019ll have to wait and see.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a released statement, the Kraft family is calling these changes \u201cthe most dramatic Gillette Stadium improvements since its opening in 2002.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The renovations, which are slated to begin in 2022, will begin with the plaza which is wasted space right now on game days as this is where fans have to pass by security to enter the venue. Security checkpoints will be pushed out and then the plaza will be open for fans to enjoy \u201cpart of the game-day experience and atmosphere,\u201d according to Kraft Sports & Entertainment Chief Operating Officer Jim Nolan.<\/span><\/p>\n

The iconic lighthouse is going to be enlarged and enhanced, rising to 218 feet above the surrounding area and now fans will be able to enjoy a 360-degree view from the observation deck which will be open 365 days a year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The open end of the stadium is going to be closed up as there will be a 75,000-square-foot glass-enclosed hospitality and function space as this portion of this new space will connect the East and West Putnam Clubs, the East and West Dell Technologies Suites, and the upper concourse.<\/span><\/p>\n

From the Patriots website, <\/span>A 370′ x 60′, curved radius HD board will be installed in the north end zone, making it the largest outdoor stadium video board in the country. From replays to fan cam moments, this new board will elevate the game-day experience for fans<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the bottom area will still remain open to the plaza, but by closing the top area, it is worth wondering if this could impact football games. At times the open end of the stadium could be tricky when kicking field goals. Could the renovation change it? Possibly. And for those fans who have traveled to other venues in the league, Gillette isn\u2019t as conducive to being as loud as others. The open end has a lot to do with that. With those glass-enclosed function spaces, could Gillette become louder? We\u2019ll see. But from the artist\u2019s concept shown below\u2026it looks fantastic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The largest outdoor stadium HD video board in the country, a 218-feet high lighthouse with a 360-degree observation deck and re-imagined gathering spaces.<\/p>\n

More on the upcoming @GilletteStadium<\/a> renovations: https:\/\/t.co\/ekDqqrdDtY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 New England Patriots<\/strong><\/a> (@Patriots) December 10, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n