6 Patriots who need to step up for the playoffs

Tom Brady is among the Patriots who need to step up.

Here are six New England Patriots who need to step up for the playoffs, with the team set to face off against the Tennessee Titans in the wild-card round on Saturday at 8:15 p.m.

Tom Brady, QB: This season probably hasn’t been Brady’s worst. But it’s close to it. His statistics look a lot like his first few seasons in the NFL: 60.8 completion %, 4,057 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, eight interceptions. His 6.6 yards per attempt are his second worst (in seasons when he has started 12 games or more). The only consolation is that his interception % (1.3) is his fifth best. He knows he needs to posses the ball to win games — so he’s doing just that. The problem is that, at times, he’s only doing that. The Patriots offense needs to play better and with more consistency. That starts with Brady.

N’Keal Harry, WR: A part of Brady’s struggles have been married to his receivers’ issues. The rookie, Harry, has been among those with issues, particularly as the Patriots brought him along in his first few weeks. But the narrative has changed. Maybe he played too much in Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys when he only had one catch. But at this point, it’s hard to imagine a scenario of him playing too much. He’s got the most upside with Mohamed Sanu apparently struggling to grasp the offense. Harry will need to be a reliable option for Brady in the playoffs.

Rex Burkhead, RB: His increased workload has me wondering whether the Patriots were saving him for the playoffs. Or, perhaps, New England coincidentally managed to get him healthy in time for the postseason push. Whatever the circumstances, Burkhead looks excellent and at a good time. The Patriots will need his contributions in the running and passing game. He has been a challenging man to tackle with the ball in his hands.

Shaq Mason, G: Mason has regressed in 2019 after a handful of Pro Bowl-caliber seasons. It’s hard imagine that he’s incapable of playing better. Certainly, his poor play is tethered to the equally rough work from Marcus Cannon. Together, they have to step up their play in the postseason. Brady and Sony Michel will depend upon it.

Jon Jones, CB: Opposing quarterbacks have bullied the slot cornerback in recent weeks. And he’s been battling a groin injury, which may be influencing his quality of coverage. The secondary, as a whole, had an atrocious Week 17. But the unit will likely see improvements from peripheral cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and J.C. Jackson. The big question will be whether Jones can return to form as a solid slot cornerback.

Patrick Chung, S: He has had a tough few weeks in coverage, with tight ends Dawson Knox and Mike Gesicki each managing touchdowns. In Week 16, Knox got open on three different post routes, with quarterback Josh Allen delivering just one accurate pass despite having a very open tight end. And then Gesicki was open for the Dolphins’ game-winning touchdown in Week 17. Chung is typically a strong defender in coverage against tight ends — he’ll need to find his way back to that level of play.

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Bills at Patriots: 5 matchups to watch

The Buffalo Bills are playoff bound and can make a run at the AFC East if they can beat the dreaded New England Patriots.

The Buffalo Bills have punched their ticket to the playoffs after their road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. Now the Bills have a chance in winning the AFC East with a victory of the dreaded New England Patriots… though the Bills will need some help.

The Bills and Pats met once this season, week four in Buffalo where the Patriots won 16-10. It was a defensive battle throughout the game, and game that saw Josh Allen leave with a head injury in the fourth quarter.

This will be a tough matchup for the Bills at Foxborough on Saturday, so these are the important matchups to watch:

Jordan Phillips vs. Ted Karras

After two strong seasons with the New England Patriots, center Ted Karras has taken a step back in his third season. Throughout the season he has allowed two sacks, and been called for three penalties. On Saturday, he’ll be facing the underrated defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. 

Jordan Phillips has had a career resurgence in Buffalo since joining during the team late last season. In his first full season with the Bills, Phillips has ten sacks, one forced fumble, and 12 tackles. Phillips has been able to create pressure inside the pocket, which has resulted in quarterbacks releasing the ball earlier than expected and leading to errant throws.

Phillips didn’t have a great game against the Patriots, he had just four tackles, and didn’t contribute any sacks. The Patriots offense is based around quick passes, and a stout run game. Which doesn’t play to the strengths of Phillips game. 

If the Bills want to get the best of the Hall of Fame quarterback, Tom Brady, Phillips will need to collapse the pocket and make the 42 year old scramble, and try to extend plays. Phillips will be vital for the potential divisional push, which starts on Saturday. 

Julian Edelman, Ted Karras active for Week 15 against Bengals

Good news for Tom Brady.

Tom Brady has to be happy ahead of Week 15.

Receivers Julian Edelman and Mohamed Sanu and center Ted Karras were all listed as questionable with injuries, but they were all active on Sunday for Week 15 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Edelman had an existing shoulder injury, but this week, the receiver was also listed with a new issue, a knee problem which he suffered in Week 14. Sanu has been dealing with a lingering ankle issue. And Karras will make his return after missing Week 14 when he had a knee problem.

But that’s who will play. Here’s a look at who won’t play:

Korey Cunningham, OL
Ryan Izzo, TE
Byron Cowart, DL
Damien Harris, RB
Jason McCourty, CB
Jermaine Eleumunor, OL
Cody Kessler, QB

McCourty was present in Week 14, though he played a limited role. He did not play in Week 13. He is dealing with a groin issue. That could promote JC Jackson and Jonathan Jones into bigger roles on Sunday.

New England kicks off in Cincinnati at 1 p.m.

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Patriots have no kicker at practice in Week 14; Ted Karras absent

No kicker. And no Ted Karras.

The New England Patriots have one practice left in preparation for Week 14, and yet they have no kicker on their roster for Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

On Thursday, the Patriots practiced sans-kicker, according to reporters on the scene. The team was also without center Ted Karras and defensive tackle Byron Cowart.

Karras left the Patriots’ Week 13 loss to the Houston Texans with a knee injury. He is expected to miss multiple weeks, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That will thrust reserve center James Ferentz into the role.

Patriots had seven players limited in practice on Wednesday: Ja’Whaun Bentley (knee), Marcus Cannon (illness), Patrick Chung (heel), Julian Edelman (shoulder), Jason McCourty (groin), Mohamed Sanu (ankle) and John Simon (elbow). The Patriots will provide an injury report for Thursday’s practice in the afternoon.

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Patriots are fortunate to have the ideal backup lineman with James Ferentz

When an NFL team’s second-string center leaves the game due to injury, it oftentimes leave the coaching staff in shambles.

When an NFL team’s second-string center leaves the game due to injury, it oftentimes leave the coaching staff in shambles. Especially if that second-string center exits the game in the final stretch of the regular season.

This happened to the New England Patriots in Week 13 when they lost Ted Karras to a knee injury. New England has been without its starting center David Andrews this season because of blood clots, leaving them with Karras as the starter for the year. He’s done an excellent job handling the ball and keeping Tom Brady upright.

Fortunately for the Patriots, James Ferentz was still around to plug in for Karras during that Week 13 matchup. The 30-year-old journeyman has had quite the interesting career thus far, and it’s likely that his NFL career would be over if the Patriots didn’t keep him. He ran out of practice squad eligibility last season, so he either made the 53-man roster, or he didn’t.

He made the roster, and he feels fortunate to play the role that he’s in. Ferentz spoke with reporters on Wednesday and discussed his current role.

“I’ve been really fortunate to have a role,” Ferentz said, transcribed by NESN. “It’s been a backup role and whether it’s left guard, center, right guard, it doesn’t really matter to me. My job is to make sure I’m ready to play anything I’m needed to do. I’m just really thankful to have a job.”

That’s the mentality that keeps the Patriots relevant every season, and it shows why having reliable backups make all the difference. Instead of shopping for a new center during Week 14, the Patriots can focus on other areas of the team.

“Every week you just kind of put your head down and just focus on preparing,” Ferentz said. “And for me, that’s been a backup role. I’m very grateful for that role. If you’re needed, you just hope that you’re ready to go, and that’ll be the same plan this week again. We’ll see what happens Sunday. And for me, I just need to stay in my routine and make sure I’m ready to go.”

As for Karras, his injury is considered minor and he’s expected to return within the next couple of weeks. Ferentz will hit the bench at that point and remain a constant player that provides security and depth for this team.

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Patriots still don’t have a kicker at practice for Week 14

So… who’s going to kick for the Patriots in Week 14?

The New England Patriots still have no kicker on their roster. The team released Kai Forbath this week, and did not sign a replacement. That left New England without a kicker at practice on Wednesday in Week 14 ahead of a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

It’s an oddity for a team to go without a kicker in the middle of the regular season. Surely, they’ll add one. But apparently, they’re waiting patiently before signing their guy.

Center Ted Karras also wasn’t present for practice. Karras suffered a knee injury during the Patriots’ loss to the Texans in Houston in Week 13. He is expected to miss multiple weeks, which is likely to thrust center James Ferentz into the starting role. Ferentz is technically the Patriots’ third-string center, as the Patriots top player at the position, David Andrews, went on IR with blood clots at the start of the season.

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Report: Ted Karras believed to have suffered an MCL sprain

The Patriots starting center could be out for an extended period.

The New England Patriots may lose center Ted Karras to an MCL injury, according ot NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Karras has been serving as the team’s top center after the Patriots lost starting center David Andrews to blood clots before the season started. He will not return this season, but it sounds like the Patriots are optimistic that Karras could be back. Rapoport did not provide a timeline for recovery, however.

Center James Ferentz filled in for Karras on Sunday night. Ferentz has been with the Patriots for the last two seasons on and off the practice squad after spending time with the Houston Texans and the Denver Broncos.

Karras seemed to grow more comfortable in his role as the season wore on. He has been a backup for most of his career while filling in for injured starters, but he seemed to be enjoying one of the best seasons of his career in the middle of the Patriots offensive line.

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