Tag: belichick

3 keys to victory for Patriots in Week 6 vs Raiders

Here are 3 keys to victory for the Patriots on Sunday against Josh McDaniels and the Raiders

The New England Patriots take on old friend Josh McDaniels and the Las Vegas Raiders in an important game on both sides on Sunday.

The Patriots are fresh off two embarrassing losses, and with turmoil setting in Foxborough, people forget how frustrated Raiders fans might be with their team as well.

This game features two of the worst offenses in the entire league, but along with the offensive struggles, the Patriots also have a depleted defense and poor special teams unit. This game might not be pretty, and it will be a rock fight. But it is probably the most important game for Mac Jones and Bill Belichick with the Patriots, and McDaniels with the Raiders.

One could argue the team that loses this game will likely be fighting an uphill battle for their job at the end of the year. Let’s get into this week’s keys for the Patriots to end their two-game losing streak and get back into the win column.

Seven-step plan for Patriots to get back to playoff contention

It’s time to start over for the Patriots. Here’s a seven-step plan on how they could get back to playoff contention

The New England Patriots have been teetering towards mediocrity ever since Tom Brady left in 2020. But the scales may have finally flipped to the Patriots being one of the worst teams in the entire NFL.

The Patriots haven’t scored an offensive touchdown since Pharoah Brown’s solo touchdown performance against the New York Jets in Week 3.

Yikes.

I can go on and on about how it is time for Bill Belichick to be out as the Patriots coach and general manager, but I will keep it simple. Quite frankly, the game has passed him by. The team is lacking talent, and they’re making continuous mistakes that coaching should have fixed by now.

It’s not just this year, either. These issues can be traced back to 2019, which was the final year with Tom Brady.

Teams that start 1-4 make the playoffs just 2.9 percent of the time.

In light of the Patriots’ terrible start and likely another failed year of making the playoffs, it’s time to actually answer the “how” in the Patriots’ succession plan. Today, we’re delving into what that could look like, while also detailing a step-by-step plan leading up to the 2024 season.

The Morning After: Don’t let late-game effort overshadow root issues

An impressive rally from the Patriots shouldn’t overshadow the multiple holes that need addressing on the team.

Christmas almost came early this year.

The New England Patriots almost completed a 22-point comeback against one of the more prolific offenses in the entire NFL, as the defense pitched a shut out in the second half and forced a few turnovers.

As the game rolled to the final minutes, it looked like the Patriots could just run the ball, drain the clock out and punch it in to seal off a victory.

But the Cincinnati Bengals punched the ball out of Rhamondre Stevenson’s hands, ending the game there and cutting the Patriots’ playoff hopes off in the moment.

Let’s not get too optimistic, as the Patriots still have numerous issues that are mostly stemmed from offensive coaching. Watching this game should tell people that this is not quarterback Mac Jones’ fault.

There is a clear need to get help all around him. Offensive tackles, receivers, tight ends, coaches—you name it. Virtually, everything on the offense has struggled to amount to much.

Let’s get into the leftover notes from this Christmas Eve matchup.

5 potential landing spots for Kyren Willams in NFL draft

Where do you hope to see Kyren playing this fall?

Former Notre Dame star running back Kyren Williams likely won’t be the first or second ball carrier to have his name called in this spring’s NFL draft but could very easily be the third or fourth.  He doesn’t have ideal size or breakaway speed but there isn’t necessarily a weakness in his game, either.

He isn’t the ideal running back in terms of being a draft prospect but certainly has the skills that should make someone’s offense improved.  Where would his best chance of NFL success be?  And what teams would make the most sense to draft Williams?

Here are five of the best potential landing spots for the two-time Notre Dame leading rusher.

Related:

The best photos of Kyren Williams at Notre Dame

Every Notre Dame leading rusher since start of Lou Holtz era

Watch: Horse named Belichick wins final leg of Canada’s Triple Crown

A horse named Belichick won the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown series.

It was the ultimate hunch play for New England Patriots fans in the Breeders’ Stakes Saturday at Woodbine in Toronto.

Belichick, the stablemate of race favorite Mighty Heart, pulled off the upset as the second choice in the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. And if you love the Patriots, you probably had the exacta because the horse that finished second is named Meyer.

The Patriots were coached by Ron Meyer from 1982-84.

Belichick returned $8.70 for a $2 win bet. He paid $5 to place and $3.40 to show.

The exacta of Belichick and Meyer returned $119.10 for a buck.

If you consider this an omen, you probably believe New England is going to do well against the San Francisco 49ers in Foxborough on Sunday.

Watch: Notre Dame’s Kmet Discusses Replacing Gronk

In the short video you can see Kmet discuss growing up and watching Rob Gronkowski star at tight end which simply made me feel old.  You can find out just how big of a Gronk fan Kmet was during his high school days.

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Where is Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet going to be headed to play professional football?  Some have him going in the first round while others don’t see him getting selected until the third round of this week’s NFL Draft.

Kmet had a video call with Mackenzie Salmon of The Sports Pulse and discussed exactly that, as you can watch above.

In the short video you can see Kmet discuss growing up and watching Rob Gronkowski star at tight end which simply made me feel old.  You can find out just how big of a Gronk fan Kmet was during his high school days.

He also shares his thoughts on the evolution of the tight end position and why it takes longer for tight ends to develop in the NFL compared to players at other positions.

I have trouble believing Kmet ends up being taken by the Patriots at 23 overall but I doubt Kmet is there when New England is scheduled to make their second pick at 87 overall.  If Kmet is to be the long-term replacement for Gronkowski in New England, I’d guess it’d mean the Patriots make a trade in order to select him.