**Official NE Pats play an actual NFL team tonight**

[petegz28]

Yes, the NE Patriots will actually have to play against a good NFL team tonight.

We will see how good their defense really is.

[Yehoodi]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

On paper, the Eagles present plenty of problems for the Pats. Howard is a big physical RB, averaging 4.4yards/carry, and we know now that the Patriots have a problem stopping the run. Particularly up front; their DL is consistently getting little to no penetration and they are getting dominated at the point of attack.

M. Sanders also is performing well, posting the same 4.4/carry. And recently the Eagles got Sproles back on the field, and everyone knows about Sproles.

The problem is that I don't think the Eagles have been using those guys as well as they could have, which makes me wonder if they will against the Patriots.

Pederson is a pretty smart guy, he has to know that the run game is where he needs to make his butter, but it's going to be about execution. He can't really replicate what the Ravens did, as he's just not going to expose Wentz to that kind of beating.

We'll see how it shakes out, but I expect to see some sophisticated run plays with a lot of misdirection to start the game.

The Eagles are a little thin at WR going into the game, which might be a real concern if they can't get their running game going early. And honestly, outside of Jackson, who isn't going to play, I'm not terribly impressed with the PHI receiving corps. But on paper, Jeffrey, Agholor, and Hollins, present serious issues for the Patriots secondary. If Wentz can get them the ball. And if they can catch. Without Zach Ertz, the Eagles passing attack might be kind of pathetic this season.

But Ertz is there, and he's been very good this year. And the Patriots have shown that along with their run defense problems, they have a problem covering fast TEs. Their LBs simply don't match-up well with Ertz going wide. And I'm not sure he can be covered with a safety.

It's going to come down to which team makes fewer mistakes, IMO. The Eagles have the tools to win this one, even win going away. But they are also a team that has wallowed at times in making mental mistakes in just about every contest they've been in this year.

Nice write up.

Generally games come down to who makes the fewest mistakes and i do not see this game being much different.

Phila i think is better than their record.

Pats can not afford to make the same number of mistakes it did against Baltimore. I am confident that they will not repeat the same performance, but time will tell.

We will see if the Pats will adjust the personal to deal with the running game, my guess that they will, and we will see how effective it is a week from Sunday.

I thought the @Balt and @Phila would be the toughest tests as well as home against KC.

Be nice of Harry can help with some snaps.

Should be a fun game between Phila and NE

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Yehoodi

Nice write up.

Generally games come down to who makes the fewest mistakes and i do not see this game being much different.

Phila i think is better than their record.

Pats can not afford to make the same number of mistakes it did against Baltimore. I am confident that they will not repeat the same performance, but time will tell.

We will see if the Pats will adjust the personal to deal with the running game, my guess that they will, and we will see how effective it is a week from Sunday.

I thought the @Balt and @Phila would be the toughest tests as well as home against KC.

Be nice of Harry can help with some snaps.

Should be a fun game between Phila and NE

My general dislike of the Patriots aside, it's a fact that Bill Belichick's Patriots make very few mental mistakes, game to game, season in season out. They're very 'Terminator'-like in that regard. If there's a weakness to the Chiefs that I've consistently pointed to over the last 40 years, it's been a lack of mental discipline. Fortunately, they seem to finally learning how to be tougher in the brainpan.

PHI will probably make some mental blunders, was my point. If I could, I'd bet money on it. They are that predictable in that respect. The only question that remains is how much will it cost them in the game. Because there's almost no way that the Patriots don't take advantage of whatever dumbass-ery the Eagles end up doing.

One last thought: were I Pederson I would game plan to run the ball at least 20 times in the first half. The DL is where the Pats D is weakest. push them around, wear them out, frustrate them and they will start making mistakes, which is the path to victory for the Eagles. And the Cowboys when their turn comes up.

[RobertWeathers]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

On paper, the Eagles present plenty of problems for the Pats. Howard is a big physical RB, averaging 4.4yards/carry, and we know now that the Patriots have a problem stopping the run. Particularly up front; their DL is consistently getting little to no penetration and they are getting dominated at the point of attack.

M. Sanders also is performing well, posting the same 4.4/carry. And recently the Eagles got Sproles back on the field, and everyone knows about Sproles.

The problem is that I don't think the Eagles have been using those guys as well as they could have, which makes me wonder if they will against the Patriots.

Pederson is a pretty smart guy, he has to know that the run game is where he needs to make his butter, but it's going to be about execution. He can't really replicate what the Ravens did, as he's just not going to expose Wentz to that kind of beating.

We'll see how it shakes out, but I expect to see some sophisticated run plays with a lot of misdirection to start the game.

The Eagles are a little thin at WR going into the game, which might be a real concern if they can't get their running game going early. And honestly, outside of Jackson, who isn't going to play, I'm not terribly impressed with the PHI receiving corps. But on paper, Jeffrey, Agholor, and Hollins, present serious issues for the Patriots secondary. If Wentz can get them the ball. And if they can catch. Without Zach Ertz, the Eagles passing attack might be kind of pathetic this season.

But Ertz is there, and he's been very good this year. And the Patriots have shown that along with their run defense problems, they have a problem covering fast TEs. Their LBs simply don't match-up well with Ertz going wide. And I'm not sure he can be covered with a safety.

It's going to come down to which team makes fewer mistakes, IMO. The Eagles have the tools to win this one, even win going away. But they are also a team that has wallowed at times in making mental mistakes in just about every contest they've been in this year.

Generally speaking Wentz takes pretty good care of the football. Thats the 1st thing I look for vs the NEP. Plus hes running a bit more this year which is another concern as now teams will look to exploit that a little.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by RobertWeathers

Generally speaking Wentz takes pretty good care of the football. Thats the 1st thing I look for vs the NEP. Plus hes running a bit more this year which is another concern as now teams will look to exploit that a little.

I admit I haven't spent a lot of time watching Wentz this year, so this comment may be erroneous.

But in the past Wentz has shown a tendency to hold onto the ball, looking for (I assume) 2nd and 3rd windows. Trying to make a big play. This is not a good idea against the Patriots. The way they beat the Pats in the SB was mostly on first and second reads, getting the ball out relatively quickly.

If Wentz spends 4 and 5 seconds back there looking for a big play against the Pats, I expect him to either get sacked or throw the ball into coverage.

Again, if he's fixed this issue, then ignore this post.

[Yehoodi]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

My general dislike of the Patriots aside, it's a fact that Bill Belichick's Patriots make very few mental mistakes, game to game, season in season out. They're very 'Terminator'-like in that regard. If there's a weakness to the Chiefs that I've consistently pointed to over the last 40 years, it's been a lack of mental discipline. Fortunately, they seem to finally learning how to be tougher in the brainpan.

PHI will probably make some mental blunders, was my point. If I could, I'd bet money on it. They are that predictable in that respect. The only question that remains is how much will it cost them in the game. Because there's almost no way that the Patriots don't take advantage of whatever dumbass-ery the Eagles end up doing.

One last thought: were I Pederson I would game plan to run the ball at least 20 times in the first half. The DL is where the Pats D is weakest. push them around, wear them out, frustrate them and they will start making mistakes, which is the path to victory for the Eagles. And the Cowboys when their turn comes up.

Yes the Pats like to have players that are mentally tough and disciplined, as opposed to raw talent, if one has to choose between the two.

BB stresses that one single play could make the difference between winning and losing, and given the salary cap, talent levels are so close that this is more critical.

Unless a player has a solid resume of being disciplined while playing with the team, BB has no problem with cutting players if they make a mistake. He does not always do it, but he has done it before.

Time will tell if the Pats can improve their play from the Baltimore game.

The Pats have been playing a lot of sets with limited down linemen on defense, my guess would be they will adjust this to deal with a run game.

Should be a fun game.

[RobertWeathers]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

I admit I haven't spent a lot of time watching Wentz this year, so this comment may be erroneous.

But in the past Wentz has shown a tendency to hold onto the ball, looking for (I assume) 2nd and 3rd windows. Trying to make a big play. This is not a good idea against the Patriots. The way they beat the Pats in the SB was mostly on first and second reads, getting the ball out relatively quickly.

If Wentz spends 4 and 5 seconds back there looking for a big play against the Pats, I expect him to either get sacked or throw the ball into coverage.

Again, if he's fixed this issue, then ignore this post.

I don't think you are wrong. Thats actually what a QB should do vs us as more often than not the 1st option will be taken away.

Whether Wentz can do it vs our DBs is a different topic.

I think they are going to pound away at us.

[rabblerouser]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

Amazing what happens when they actually call the penalties NE commits...

Some of them.

[RunKC]

This is a good case study.

Mahomes has not had a defense in his life and still carried teams to wins and a Dee Ford **** up from a SB.

Brady has the same type of defense in this game and gets his shit pushed in.

I rest my case

[Hammock Parties]

lamar jackson is little more than 4.3 mark sanchez, propped up by D because he's an average passer

[Pasta Little Brioni]

That Raven D is average, but so is NEs offense...actually below average by advanced metrics. Propped by fluke turnovers against bad QBs. Hell Jackson can't throw either...

[underEJ]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

lamar jackson is little more than 4.3 mark sanchez, propped up by D because he's an average passer

I actually like Jackson. Sure he's still learning some stuff, but I think he looks like he continues to make better choices after learning from a mistake. I think he was an average decision maker but a pretty good passer, and we'll see over time if he can keep improving the decisions.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by underEJ

I actually like Jackson. Sure he's still learning some stuff, but I think he looks like he continues to make better choices after learning from a mistake. I think he was an average decision maker but a pretty good passer, and we'll see over time if he can keep improving the decisions.

he doesn't have a lot of consistent accuracy is his main problem - don't think it's developing at this point in year two

he'll always be mahomes bitch

[Megatron96]

Lamar Jackson was rushing an average of 17 times/game last year. This year it's 12 times/game.

Last year his completion % was about 58% for 7.1 yards/attempt.

This year his comp% is 64.3%, and he started the season above 70%. His yards/attempt is 7.6.

He's running less and throwing more for more yards and a higher completion percentage.

He still has a long way to go to be a true passer, but he's trending in the right direction. Next year he may only run 5-7 times in a game and throw for a 66% completion percentage and close in on 8 yards/attempt.

That happens, and he'll be a real long-term threat in the league. Still not Mahomes or even Watson, but just under that tier.

[aloyouis]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Ha! Let's not forget your city is the mother of America's shittiest people. Wear it dude, you people suck, and so does your football team!

Go **** yourself. In the meantime congratulate yourself that you’re the first person I’ve ever put on ignore.

I’m sure the BAG of dicks was easy for you.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by aloyouis

Go **** yourself. In the meantime congratulate yourself that you’re the first person I’ve ever put on ignore.

I’m sure the BAG of dicks was easy for you.

Oh, and don't you ****ing reply, clown, we all know you're peeking!