The New England Patriots will face a familiar foe in Week 7 while taking on the Carolina Panthers in a road contest.
Robby Anderson, who’s having a tough start to the year, spent four seasons with the New York Jets and is extremely familiar with the Patriots’ defense. Anderson totaled 207 receptions for 3,059 yards and 20 touchdowns in his four years with the Jets.
He then moved on to the Panthers in 2020, where he tabbed 95 catches for 1,096 yards and three touchdowns. While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Anderson discussed a scenario in which that production could’ve been in Foxborough.
“When I played them, from what I can remember, (Belichick) usually would put man coverage (with) a safety over the top and scheme me, do things like that,” he said, via NESN. “Kind of take me out of the picture. He even told me that, too. Last year when I was in free agency, he tried to get me to sign. He was like, ‘I’m tired of scheming against you. I’m tired of going against you.’”
The Patriots didn’t have a lot of extra money entering the 2020 season and Anderson went on to sign a two-year deal worth $20 million. Things may have looked differently if Anderson was a free agent this offseason.
He’s currently 0-8 against the Patriots and discussed the upcoming matchup.
“I look at their team like I’m going against Bill Belichick and Tom Brady,” he said. “Tom’s not there, obviously, but I know how they’re going to come regardless of who is on that team. I know the type of system that Bill Belichick is running with that defense and the tenacity and the style of play and the things they do.
“I know it’s going to be a war, and I know the key to beating the Patriots is playing fundamentally sound football. I’ve seen it since my rookie year (with) the Jets — if you give them a turnover or the team turns over the ball, that’s what makes the difference in that game. It’s just doing all the little things correctly against them.”
Anderson and Stephon Gilmore are just two of the familiar faces the Patriots will see in Week 9.
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