‘”We do approach everything as playoff caliber in all things we do and go 1-0 every single week. But I think in the back of everyone’s head it is that we’re playing Monday Night,” Phillips said. “We’re playing against the Patriots and we’re playing someone in our division. I think that’s probably in the back of all our minds.”‘
Archives for October 2018
Sunday’s New England Coverage
James White has become the Patriots’ Mr. Reliable (Boston Globe)
Sony Michel returns to practice for Patriots (Boston Globe)
Tom Brady thrives even without full arsenal (Boston Herald)
Rob Gronkowski is ‘good’ for homecoming vs. Bills (Boston Herald)
Sony Michel doubtful, Rob Gronkowski and Josh Gordon questionable for Patriots’ Monday night game at Buffalo (Springfield Republican)
Sony Michel injury update: New England Patriots RB returns to practice (Springfield Republican)
Josh Gordon credits his teammates for helping him catch up (Providence Journal)
Sony Michel returns to practice (Providence Journal)
Rob Gronkowski said he’s feeling better and expects to play (Providence Journal)
Patriots: Back-and-forth Barner now getting his feet under him (Brockton Enterprise)
Patriots notebook: Coach White? It may be in running back’s future (Brockton Enterprise)
Rich Garven’s NFL notes: Patriots’ defense in search of consistency (Worcester Telegram and Gazette)
Patriots: Gronkowski expects to play on Monday in Buffalo (Lawrence Eagle Tribune)
Patriots: Michel returns to practice, Rowe and Schwenke still absent (Lawrence Eagle Tribune)
Gronkowski reports improvement in advance of MNF matchup (The Sports Xchange)
Patriots RB Michel returns to practice (The Sports Xchange)
Injured Sony Michel Returns To Patriots Practice; Two Players Absent (NESN)
Rob Gronkowski Intends To Play Monday, But Should Patriots Tight End? (NESN)
Selflessness Of Patriots Receivers Has Been Integral To Josh Gordon’s Progress (NESN)
Why Tom Brady Believes Patriots’ Offense Still Is In Its ‘Infancy’ (NESN)
Patriots Injury Report: Three Ruled Out Vs. Bills; Sony Michel Doubtful (NESN)
Did Tom Brady, Other Patriots Seriously Consider Pursuing MLB Over NFL? (NESN)
McCourty disappointed by criticism of Jenkins, Players Coalition (NBC Sports Boston)
Gronkowski (ankle/back) expects to travel with Patriots to Buffalo (NBC Sports Boston)
Injury report: Michel practices, but listed as doubtful for Monday (NBC Sports Boston)
Patriots rule 3 players out vs. Bills, while Sony Michel is officially doubtful (WEEI-FM)
Tom Brady continues to have high praise for Josh Gordon: It’s so impressive what he’s done in short period of time (WEEI-FM)
Rob Gronkowski (back/ankle) says he’s feeling better, expects to travel to Buffalo (WEEI-FM)
Sony Michel Returns To Practice, Listed As Doubtful For Patriots On Monday Night Vs. Bills (WBZ-TV)
Wrap Up 10/27: Inside, Michel gives practice a try (Patriots.com)
Transcripts: Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski Press Conferences 10/27 (Patriots.com)
Week 8: Patriots – Bills Injury Report (Patriots.com)
Bills’ LeSean McCoy listed as questionable versus Patriots
‘McCoy has not been cleared to play yet despite practicing on a limited basis the past three days, as he’s allowed under NFL concussion protocol rules. He was hurt when he landed on his head while being tackled along the sideline on Buffalo’s second play from scrimmage in a 37-5 loss at Indianapolis last weekend.’
Bills RB McCoy still in concussion protocol
‘McCoy was at practice Saturday but was wearing a non-contact jersey. He was injured in last week’s 37-5 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.’
Top 5 reasons Buffalo’s Week 8 Monday Night Football game will be epic
‘After spending five of the last seven weeks on the road, the Bills are finally back home at New Era Field. Playing before the best fans in the NFL, the team is looking to get their third win. The game will mark the first time the Bills are meeting with a division opponent this season and their first contest against the Patriots since Christmas Eve last year. Buffalo has a tall task in front of them in stopping the red-hot Pats, but the team has proven effective at home under McDermott’s tutelage. With a victory, the Bills will move to 8-3 at New Era Field with McDermott at the helm.’
Fan Mailbag: Trade deadline sparks fan questions
‘It appears from reports that LeSean McCoy is a player who is drawing the most interest from outside parties. The key thing to realize here is the Bills are dealing from a position of strength. I don’t believe they want to move McCoy, so in order for a team to land him in a trade with Buffalo, they would have to overpay to convince the Bills to part with him.’
Bills Today: Bill Belichick on Thurman’s legendary Super Bowl XXV performance
‘“He was tough. He was tough,” Belichick said. “Great back that could do it all, could play on all three downs. Obviously, a great runner, great in the passing game, tough competitor. It was always a battle with him. Fortunately, we won our share as a team, but he was a hard guy to handle.”’
Vic Carucci’s Take Five: Bills’ D more likely to rebound than Derek Anderson is
‘At this stage, Anderson’s shortcomings don’t figure to stem all that much from a lack of knowledge about the Bills’ offense or what to expect from an opposing defense. His understanding of the scheme and the plays is sufficient and in line with what one would expect from a quarterback in his 14th NFL season. The bigger problem is that Anderson simply doesn’t have the physical conditioning to perform at a credible enough level to allow the offense to be competitive.’
Bills fans: Now is the time to turn our rage into roar
‘There doesn’t seem to be a need to identify and control our emotions leading up to MNF because they have all been so dulled recently. The season seems over by week seven. The marquee players and units we really wanted to see in this game and show off to the rest of the country and world are either not playing or not playing well enough.’
Bills’ rookie Tremaine Edmunds has had predictable ups and downs to start NFL career
‘Now, here’s the good news. While Edmunds has made several mistakes in the first seven games of his NFL career, he has also made several eye-popping plays that give the Bills every indication that he is the star in the making they believed he’d be when they picked him No. 16 overall with the second of their two first-round draft picks.’
Patriots’ Bill Belichick gushes over Bills’ Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, but safeties are skeptical
‘”It’s hard to talk about one without talking about the other one,” Belichick said. “They do an excellent job of disguising their coverages and the blitzes, because they do pressure a pretty fair amount. They are both very instinctive and make some plays based on anticipation, experience, recognition of offensive formations or plays as they develop. They react to them pretty quickly.”‘
‘Optimism’ surrounding LeSean McCoy’s availability for MNF (Report)
‘”All concussions are different and all players dealing with concussions are different,” Rapoport said, “but the early signs on this one are at the very least positive. We know that because LeSean McCoy did practice on a limited basis on Thursday. That means he’s progressed enough in the NFL’s concussion protocol that he can go out there and do some limited work. Obviously did not participate fully, but the word is he feels good and there is some optimism that he’ll be able to go play for the Buffalo Bills. At the very least, it seems, he’ll be full strength against the Patriots Monday night.”‘
Is Charles Clay key to offensive success on MNF, and 8 more things to watch vs. Patriots
‘In the last three weeks, New England has struggled to stop tight ends against the Colts, Chiefs and Bears. Eric Ebron, Travis Kelce and Trey Burton combined to catch 23 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns over this span of time.’
Saturday’s New England Coverage
Patriots rookie J.C. Jackson showed a gift of grab vs. Bears (Boston Globe)
Rob Gronkowski looking ready to go for Bills game (Boston Globe)
Patriots running low on backfield options (Boston Herald)
Patriots rookie J.C. Jackson is tied for the team lead in interceptions. Could he see more playing time? (Springfield Republican)
Rob Gronkowski, Josh Gordon limited on New England Patriots injury report Friday (Springfield Republican)
Bill Belichick offers remarkably high praise for Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy (Springfield Republican)
Sony Michel misses third straight New England Patriots practice Friday (Springfield Republican)
Patriots brings in Obi Melifonwu for a visit (Providence Journal)
Sony Michel, two others, miss Patriots walkthrough (Providence Journal)
Another work shift for Patriots; Monday night madness in Buffalo (Brockton Enterprise)
Patriots notebook: Brady closing in on Manning’s touchdown record (Brockton Enterprise)
Barner next man up in Patriots’ backfield (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)
Patriots notebook: Belichick echoes praise for Patriots’ linebacker Van Noy (Attleboro Sun Chronicle)
It won’t be very eventful Pats shuffle off to Buffalo (Nashua Telegraph)
Pats’ run game back in spotlight entering Buffalo matchup (AP)
Patriots Hosting Super Athletic Massachusetts-Native Safety On Visit (NESN)
Patriots Notes: Will Rob Gronkowski Continue Dominance Over Hometown Bills? (NESN)
Patriots’ Stephon Gilmore Has Been One Of NFL’s Most Disruptive Cornerbacks (NESN)
How Kyle Van Noy Surprised Bill Belichick After 2016 Trade To Patriots (NESN)
Patriots Practice Report: Sony Michel, Eric Rowe Unlikely To Play Vs. Bills (NESN)
Patriots Mailbag: What Is New England’s Biggest Need At Trade Deadline? (NESN)
Injury report: Gronk again practices, Michel doesn’t (NBC Sports Boston)
Rob Gronkowski has work cut out to hit performance-based incentives (WEEI-FM)
Patriots reportedly hosting former Raiders second-round pick safety Obi Melifonwu (WEEI-FM)
Devin McCourty expects middle fingers from Buffalo fans Monday night (WEEI-FM)
Rob Gronkowski present at practice Friday, which seems like good news for Monday (WEEI-FM)
Bill Belichick has tremendous praise for Kyle Van Noy (WEEI-FM)
Rob Gronkowski, Dont’a Hightower remain among 9 players limited for Patriots (WEEI-FM)
Gronkowski Among 9 Players Limited At Patriots’ Friday Walkthrough (WBZ-TV)
Patriots Reportedly Hosting Former Raiders Safety Obi Melifonwu (WBZ-TV)
Week 8: Patriots – Bills Injury Report (Patriots.com)
Transcript: Bill Belichick Press Conference 10/26 (Patriots.com)
Presser Points: Belichick – Special attention to kicking game (Patriots.com)
Transcript: David Andrews Press Conference 10/26 (Patriots.com)
What They’re Saying: Buffalo Bills (Patriots.com)
Game Preview: Patriots at Bills (Patriots.com)
Keys to the Starting Lineup present by CarMax: Pats execution beats Buffalo emotion (Patriots.com)
Game Predictions: Expert picks for Patriots at Bills (Patriots.com)
Bills defense looking for a chance to bounce back Vs. Patriots on MNF
‘”We’re finally back at home, we get our crowd behind us, we get that whole atmosphere. We know it’s going to be electric, I mean we’ve been hearing about it all week,” said defensive end Jerry Hughes. “We know that’s not how we play Bills’ defense. We know that we can perform better especially against the run, so we certainly have our matchup cut out for us. But we have to come out there and play great defense.”‘