‘But seriously, this is not the game for you and 12 best friends to spell out “LET’S GO, BUFFALO” on your shirtless bellies.’
Archives for January 2022
Late season surge by Bills pass rush could be critical against Patriots’ Mac Jones
‘On their way to four straight victories, according to Pro Football Focus, the Bills have generated 96 QB pressures which include sacks, hurries and QB hits. There were 19 sacks and because of that spike, a pass rush that felt like it was lacking most of the season wound up finishing with 42 sacks, tied for 11th in the NFL, while their sacks per play percentage of 7.34% was sixth best.’
Does Bills’ Josh Allen need to take a little off his throws in freezing cold? Stefon Diggs thinks so
‘“It’s just going to be so cold, bro. My fingers get cold, toes get cold,” Diggs said. “As soon as you come off [the field the trainers are] like, ‘do you need a coat?’ And you’re just like, ‘nah, get away from me.’ But they’re always there for me, so I feel like I’ll be fine. … I’m not too much of a complainer, and I played in one of the coldest games in history, like when we played in the playoffs vs. Seattle at the Minnesota Gophers stadium. It was like negative something. So this ain’t nothing. I’ll be alright.”’
Bills’ Emmanuel Sanders returns to practice: Should he start vs. Patriots over Gabriel Davis?
‘According to Pro Football Focus, Davis dropped three passes in the game. Sanders only has three drops all season in 14 games (13 starts). He’s played 747 snaps this season, which is the most he’s played since 2019 when he split 842 snaps between the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers. The 34-yard-old has caught 42 passes for 626 yards and four touchdowns compared to Davis, who’s caught 35 for 549 yards and six touchdowns on only 571 snaps.’
Boston website created poll asking Patriots fans about benching Mac Jones vs. Bills: How many considered it?
‘The poll was voted on close to 20,000 times with the Patriots fan base showing loyalty to their rookie quarterback in the event that he struggles. Of course, the alternative in this scenario was Brian Hoyer, a veteran whose best days are far behind him.’
Buffalo Bills are ‘unpredictable playoff entrant’ with potential for deep run (Post-Week 18 power rankings)
‘It feels like they’re still struggling to play a complete game.’
After a title repeat, Bills goal still super
‘The Bills were listed as early 4.5-point favorites, and I like their chances. I realize Belichick has made a career of bamboozling opposing quarterbacks and coaches — even Hall of Fame ones. And Allen has endured some struggles, completing just 49 percent of his passes the past two weeks and 63 percent for the season — six points below his 2020 average. But he is such a gifted and gritty athlete. He is so difficult to defend because of his size, quickness and ability to make throws no one else can, as well as his penchant for gouging even the most disciplined of defenses with killer runs.’
Bills are now the clear favorites against Patriots, and receiver Stefon Diggs knows why
‘“I feel like [Tom] Brady was a huge part of those struggles,” Diggs said. “Probably because of what he did at the quarterback position. Just overall those teams were a force to be reckoned with.”’
Can the Patriots finally crack the Bills pass defense in the Wild Card round?
‘Furthermore, by majoring in only a handful of complementary and well-camouflaged zone coverages instead of every defensive call, the Bills can focus on opponents’ preferred route concepts and jump them come kickoff. That formula, brought to life by several fast and sound tacklers, yielded the league’s No. 1 pass defense by completion percentage allowed and yards per attempt. Against the Patriots, Buffalo blanketed several of Jones’ favorite routes in Week 16, forcing him to hang in the pocket longer than desired.’
Patriots-Bills Wild Card battlegrounds: Can J.C. Jackson shut down Stefon Diggs?
‘Diggs has often bested J.C. Jackson, the Patriots’ No. 1 corner in every head-to-head meeting since he arrived in Buffalo. In Week 16, they wrestled to a close Diggs victory. He finished with seven catches for 85 yards, though only four were at Jackson’s expense. The problem was those receptions included a touchdown, a third-and-10 conversion on Buffalo’s final touchdown drive, and a fourth-down conversion.’
Pats defense prepares for another round vs. Josh Allen
‘”Last time we played these guys they had a great game plan, they were very patient, they did a bunch of different things,” said Mayo, speaking with the media on Tuesday. “The first time we played them it was kind of unusual circumstances with the weather. We’ll see what happens this time around, obviously, these are two different teams and what happened in the past, you look at those games but this is a game in itself.”‘
Wednesday’s New England Coverage
Patriots’ Jerod Mayo would take a head coaching job interview, but he’s focused on game-planning for the Bills (Boston Globe)
Bills are now the clear favorites against Patriots, and receiver Stefon Diggs knows why (Boston Globe)
Can the Patriots finally crack the Bills pass defense in the Wild Card round? (Boston Herald)
Patriots-Bills Wild Card battlegrounds: Can J.C. Jackson shut down Stefon Diggs? (Boston Herald)
Why importance of Patriots rushing attack will be ‘up a notch’ in Wild Card playoff game at Buffalo (Boston Herald)
Patriots special teams coach Cam Achord hopes his group has ‘positive impact’ against Buffalo (Boston Herald)
Patriots CB Jalen Mills placed on COVID-19 reserve, could miss Wild Card game at Buffalo (Boston Herald)
Patriots-Bills injury report: Christian Barmore, Isaiah Wynn projected to be limited Tuesday (Boston Herald)
Josh McDaniels and Jerod Mayo open to job interviews, but focus is currently on the Bills (Boston Herald)
Longtime Patriots RB coach Ivan Fears non-committal on return next season (Boston Herald)
Damien Harris’ toughness has impressed Patriots RB coach Ivan Fears, ‘You have to love the kid for fighting through’ hamstring injury (Springfield Republican)
Will Jalen Mills be able to play against Bills? Patriots CB placed on COVID-19 list Tuesday (Springfield Republican)
Patriots say Christian Barmore, Kyle Dugger both would have practiced Tuesday, 12 players limited (Springfield Republican)
Longtime coach Ivan Fears explains how some players can be ‘caught by surprise’ by playoff football (Springfield Republican)
Bill Belichick ‘open book’ for Jerod Mayo, who is focused on Buffalo but will ‘absolutely’ take Broncos interview (Springfield Republican)
Tom Brady wouldn’t leave Buccaneers win until Rob Gronkowski got $1 million incentives (Springfield Republican)
Giants fire Joe Judge after he went 10-23 in two seasons as New York’s head coach (Springfield Republican)
Patriots Analysis: Playoffs may bring out their best — or that’s it (Nashua Telegraph)
Julian Edelman Bets $100K on Tom Brady Facing Bill Belichick in Super Bowl LVI (SI)
How Patriots, Bills Have Reversed Roles Since First Buffalo Visit (NESN)
With Bills Looming, ESPN Identifies Patriots’ X-Factor For NFL Playoffs (NESN)
Patriots Place Starting Corner On COVID List Ahead Of Playoff Game (NESN)
Patriots Injury Report: New England Gets Good News On Four Key Players (NESN)
Patriots Sign Familiar Corner To Practice Squad Ahead Of Playoff Game (NESN)
Why Patriots Captain Believes Jerod Mayo Should Be NFL Head Coach (NESN)
Julian Edelman Bet Six Figures On Tom Brady-Bill Belichick Super Bowl (NESN)
Patriots’ Georgia Products Celebrate Bulldogs’ National Championship (NESN)
Why Patriots Legend Predicts New England Will Beat Bills In Playoff Game (NESN)
Will Patriots’ Josh McDaniels Be Left Out In NFL Head-Coaching Search? (NESN)
Jerod Mayo Opens Up About Head-Coaching Hopes, Broncos Interview (NESN)
How Patriots’ Steve Belichick Reacted To Brian Flores’ Dolphins Firing (NESN)
Why Tom Brady Called Bill Belichick ‘Best Coach’ He Could ‘Ever Ask For’ (NESN)
Should Josh Allen’s stats in cold weather give Patriots fans hope? (NBC Sports Boston)
Initial forecast for Pats-Bills calls for nasty weather in Buffalo (NBC Sports Boston)
Here’s who Jerod Mayo reportedly will compete against for Denver job (NBC Sports Boston)
Giants fire head coach Joe Judge after two seasons (NBC Sports Boston)
Patriots may be slumping, but Bills aren’t as good as they seem (WEEI-FM)
Patriots place Jalen Mills on reserve/COVID-19 list, status for Saturday vs. Bills unknown (WEEI-FM)
12 Patriots listed on first injury report ahead of Bills game (WEEI-FM)
Matthew Slater stands up for Patriots special teams coach Cam Achord (WEEI-FM)
Listen: Matthew Slater says Jerod Mayo ‘deserves’ to be NFL head coach (WEEI-FM)
Jerod Mayo ‘absolutely’ will interview for Broncos’ head coaching job (WEEI-FM)
Josh McDaniels answers question about being head coach again like he has in past (WEEI-FM)
Patriots place starting cornerback on reserve/COVID list (WBZ-FM)
Two former Patriots return to Foxborough on practice squad, futures contract (WBZ-FM)
Patriots estimate perfect practice attendance on Tuesday (WBZ-FM)
Patriots-Bills weather update: ‘Ice Bowl’ in Orchard Park? (WBZ-FM)
Giants fire former Patriots special teams coordinator Joe Judge (WBZ-FM)
Patriots Place Jalen Mills On COVID-19 List (WBZ-TV)
Patriots Reunite With Cre’von LeBlanc, Sign Cornerback To Practice Squad (WBZ-TV)
Tom Brady Sends Total Love Letter To Patriots, Belichick And Kraft In What Was Meant To Be Final Documentary Episode (WBZ-TV)
Mic’d Up Rob Gronkowski Made Sure To Ask Tom Brady For One More Catch — For $500,000 (WBZ-TV)
Cam Newton Wants To Stay In NFL, But ‘I’m Not Coming Back For No 5-12 [Season]’ (WBZ-TV)
Pats defense prepares for another round vs. Josh Allen (Patriots.com)
From Madden to Mentor: Myles Bryant’s Relationship with Devin McCourty (Patriots.com)
NFL Notes: Ready for a wild weekend (Patriots.com)
Wild Card Playoffs: Patriots – Bills Injury Report (Patriots.com)
Patriots Mailbag: Headed to the playoffs, stopping Josh Allen, looking ahead and more (Patriots.com)
Opinion: Could this be Bill Belichick’s last game against Bills?
‘It’s a simple truth. The grueling schedule, working dusk-to-dawn, seven days a week, draft prep, OTAs, minicamp, training camp, 17 regular season games, playoffs, it’s all just too much for a 70-year-old man.’
Jordan Poyer on Patriots: It’s everything you ask for in a football game
‘“They beat us at home, we beat them at home, it’s a playoff game in Buffalo, NY on Saturday night. It’s just everything you ask for in a football game, in a football season, in this type of game right here,” Poyer added.’
Expect the second-coldest playoff game in team history when the Bills take on the Patriots this weekend
‘The sun will set at 5:06 p.m. this Saturday, and once the sun sets the temperature will drop into the single digits. Expect a temperature close to 9 degrees at kickoff with a temperature around 5 degrees by the end of the game. Winds will be light out the east at 5 to 10 miles per hour.’