How About Those Patriots? (Newton: lawyer, vs., bus)

[SkyperTyper]

Go Bucs

[BostonMike7]

That wind was pretty brutal though. I was out around halftime and there were some serious gusts where I thought some trees in my neighborhood were going to snap. I assume the conditions in Buffalo were similar. If so, throwing a ball in that would be very risky.




Go Bucs

[htfdcolt]

It was a throwback game that didn't involve many throws! I'm sure Belichick loved this as a student of the game. Surprised we didn't see the wishbone, given Belichick's Navy connections!

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by MikePRU

Going into last night, I expected a very competitive game but a combination of the elements and what BB saw as the Bills' weakness dictated that they were going to run a lot and that keeps the score down.

It wasn't as close as the 4 point margin made it seem. The polar opposite of the Titans game last week which was a good deal closer than the "blowout" score indicated.

The Bills have a talented roster and Allen made some incredibly impressive throws in spite of the conditions. But they got handily out cached and outplayed yesterday. It cannot be understated that the Bills inability to stop the run under those circumstances isn't just a weakness, it's a fatal flaw. The Colts exploited it earlier in the season to the tune of a 40+ point drubbing of the Bills. The Patriots were arguably even more impressive. The Bills defense didn't have to respect the pass (and they didn't - they loaded up the box) and they didn't have to deal with McDaniel's trick plays. They knew exactly what was coming and they could do nothing about it.

From a coaching standpoint, you've got to wonder why they didn't change up the offensive game plan a bit in the Red Zone. They couldn't move much all game (their lone TD came on a muffed punt deep in Patriots territory) and when they finally made it into the Red Zone twice toward the end of the game, the play calling was dismal. Just a dismal all-round performance. It'll be interesting to see how they rebound. A good coach can channel this into "disrespect" and use it to motivate the team. A bad coach won't be able to get his players refocused. These are the losses that make or break teams.

[GeoffD]

^^^^^^

The Bills defense is staffed like most defenses to stop a Kansas City or warm weather/dome team passing attack. The typical NFL defense in 2021 has players with the profile of safeties playing linebacker and smaller, quick DL who can pass rush. This isn’t the first year the Patriots have defeated that kind of defense with 6 beefy linemen with one of them reporting eligible, two blocking tight ends, beefy fullback, and a beastly running back. Most teams don’t even have a fullback on the roster and their tight ends are built more like N’keal Harry than Gronk.

The Patriots have bigger linebackers than the league average. They have some serious beef at DT. The more surprising thing is that Buffalo doesn’t have a similar roster. I guess they never had to consider a lot of January home games. This game was won in the offseason.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

^^^^^^

The Bills defense is staffed like most defenses to stop a Kansas City or warm weather/dome team passing attack. The typical NFL defense in 2021 has players with the profile of safeties playing linebacker and smaller, quick DL who can pass rush. This isn’t the first year the Patriots have defeated that kind of defense with 6 beefy linemen with one of them reporting eligible, two blocking tight ends, beefy fullback, and a beastly running back. Most teams don’t even have a fullback on the roster and their tight ends are built more like N’keal Harry than Gronk.

The Patriots have bigger linebackers than the league average. They have some serious beef at DT. The more surprising thing is that Buffalo doesn’t have a similar roster. I guess they never had to consider a lot of January home games. This game was won in the offseason.

It really is surprising to see a team like the Bills get pushed around on both sides of the line like they did yesterday. Cold weather teams that play their home games outdoors have a long history of stout defenses and ground/pound capabilities on offence so they can do exactly what the Patriots did yesterday. The Bills really did build their D to stop KC.

What's surprised me more than the game itself is the Bills response. I certainly understand being frustrated, but the commentary from the coach and the players post game really seems like what you'd expect from a team that's coming apart at the seams. A coach throwing both players and coordinators under the bus? Check? Players lashing out at the media? Check. Players seemingly in denial of their role in the defeat? Check. What a mess. Theoretically, they could get back at it in practice this week and change some minds with a win in Tampa Bay next week, but doesn't seem likely based on what we've seen from them. It's entirely possible that they could get smoked down in Florida and come into Gillette a couple of weeks later and just roll over. We'll learn a lot about our division rivals over the next week or so.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

^^^^^^

The Bills defense is staffed like most defenses to stop a Kansas City or warm weather/dome team passing attack. The typical NFL defense in 2021 has players with the profile of safeties playing linebacker and smaller, quick DL who can pass rush. This isn’t the first year the Patriots have defeated that kind of defense with 6 beefy linemen with one of them reporting eligible, two blocking tight ends, beefy fullback, and a beastly running back. Most teams don’t even have a fullback on the roster and their tight ends are built more like N’keal Harry than Gronk.

The Patriots have bigger linebackers than the league average. They have some serious beef at DT. The more surprising thing is that Buffalo doesn’t have a similar roster. I guess they never had to consider a lot of January home games. This game was won in the offseason.

Dan Orlovsky was pointing this same thing out recently on ESPN's Get Up - many defenses have become optimized around defending a passing attack with e.g. smaller, quicker linebackers who are better in covering receivers, but in optimizing personnel extensively for pass defense, they've made themselves vulnerable to a power running game with big running backs, a stout offensive line and in the case of the Patriots, a fearsome fullback.

Even big running backs get squashed or tossed to the ground like a rag doll if they run straight into the grasp of a 300+ pound defensive lineman while they're still getting going - I recall seeing LeGarrette Blount looking like a boy playing with men in some of those situations... but if you have a 220-250lb back who's carved from granite and he can cleanly get past the D-linemen, the linebackers and defensive backs have a lot on their hands once he gets through the hole and is carrying a full head of steam.

Some of the Pats O-line has been blocking well downfield in some cases, and their receivers have even been doing effective blocking downfield or out at the edge where the smaller defenders are too - they all look well coached.

[LexWest]

Hard to imagine a team leading their division and the conference with a rookie QB (although he’s been playing better than other QBs in his draft class) after a one year rebuild (that could’ve been worse). Then again, if anyone could do it, actually anyone can’t—it’s Belichick.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...h-of-the-year/

Phenomenal job by Bill!

[masssachoicetts]

How did that even happen. -

im still wicked happy. Not surprised though....

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by LexWest

Hard to imagine a team leading their division and the conference with a rookie QB (although he’s been playing better than other QBs in his draft class) after a one year rebuild (that could’ve been worse). Then again, if anyone could do it, actually anyone can’t—it’s Belichick.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...h-of-the-year/

Phenomenal job by Bill!

As a lifelong Colts fan, I have grudging admiration for BB and the Pats. Add to this his outright cutting of Cam Newton before Game 1, which was somewhat surprising at the time, and absolutely the guy is a genius.