NE Patriots Draft

Pre-Game Meal: New York Jets

2009-11-21T17:15:00.000-06:00

Moving On, J-E-T-S Week, + More:

If you clicked this blog to hear me whine about a bad spot, a terrible call, or any "4th-and-2" related subject matter, you've come to the wrong place. In true New England style, I have moved on from the heartbreaking loss to the Colts. While the pain may not entirely be gone, there's just nothing anyone can do to make a difference. A regular season loss is a regular season loss and all we can do now is focus on getting our team into a position such that we can get revenge in January. Forget all the talk of how New England doesn't historically lose back-to-back games often and look at it this way: We have a bone to pick with the Jets. In week two, we let one get away in New Jersey and there is a score to settle; best believe it won't be 16-9 either. There is no way that Bill Belichick and the boys allow a regular season sweep to Cryin' Ryan and the Jersey Jets (not just because that sounds like an Elton John song).

In regard to this weekend's AFC rivalry match, the 3rd straight one for NE, Tom told reporters, "I'd like to think we're a better team now than we were in the second week. This team really challenges us. [Week 2 was] probably our lowest output of the season in points and yards, third-down, all the way across the board and we had a bunch of yards in penalties also. Playing them once, I think that can help you. We can't play much worse." The same doesn't hold for NY, after opening the season 3-0, they have dropped their last 5 out of 6 games with their lone win in that span coming against the Raiders. WOW! Good Job, guys! Hell, even I would cry if the only win i could muster up in 6, technically 7 including BYE, came against Oakland. In the NFL, wins against Al Davis and JaMarcus Russell shouldn't count.

New York's Least Favorite Weekly Match-Ups:

* 4th-and-Belichick vs. Rex Cryan - Both coaches have made headlines this week for one reason or another. Bill Belichick has been scrutinized by every analyst, columnist, and satirist for keeping his offense on the field late in Sunday's game while possessing a 6-point lead. Even Tedy Bruschi had something negative to say about it, which I have to admit, hurt me a lot. Big Rex, on the other hand, finally broke down during a team meeting in New York while proclaiming that he still had faith in his Jets. I've heard from eye witnesses that his tears are actually composed of cooking oil; take it or leave it. Either way, Sunday's game is on the horizon and it means big things for the AFC East. The Jets would feel great about making .500 and sweeping the Patriots. It would put New England at 6-4 and themselves at 5-5 right back in the division race. The Pats need to do everything humanly possible to keep the Jets in tears and away from the top of the East.

* Randy Moss vs. Darrelle Revis - Come to think of it, it seems like everyone is making headlines before this divisional clash. NBC's Pro Football Talk published an article Thursday that spoke about Revis' comments of shutting down Randy Moss man-on-man. Their studies showed that more times than not, the cornerback had safety help over the top in zone or what not. Darrelle got pretty heated in an interview with reporters who asked him his thoughts on the article. I'm thinking that Revis, who really is a phenomenal CB, will let some of his emotions get the better of him when he comes to Foxboro this weekend. The secondary will have more work to do with Wes Welker and the other wideouts not named Joey Galloway catching passes all over the field. That being said, it just seems likely that the Jets will have to pick their poison: double Moss and let Welker, Edelman, Stanback, and Watson run wild or play single coverage. If Randy gets one-on-one with Revis, expect the deep ball. Ian R. Rapoport shared some thoughts about Rex Ryan, Revis, Moss, and whether they use safety help over the top:

"What about on Revis’ interception over Moss? What coverage were they in?

“We call it Cover One,” Ryan said. “Some teams call it Cover Zero. It’s just man-to-man and you’ve got a centerfielder. Kerry had great range on that play. If they think it’s Cover Two, then hopefully they think it’s Cover Two this week too.”

Zing!

OK, everyone got that? They were in man-to-man coverage… kinda. And they didn’t cover Moss with two guys… unless Rhodes went there. Whew. Glad we got that settled."
Don't be surprised if Revis gets called for contact or makes some mistakes trying to play "super corner".

* Did You Seriously Fumble In The End Zone vs. The Jets Defense - I like Maroney a whole lot less right now because of his "performance" Sunday. I don't give a crap if you have four consecutive games with a TD; you're a starting back and that's expected of you. Another thing that's expected of you: holding on to the ball for 2 freaking yards, putting the opposition away, and keeping your coach/teammates out of screwed up, 4th quarter, game-deciding plays. Little Laurence is going to have to regain my, and I'm sure many of yours', trust back this weekend. I know that fumble is under his skin and I want him to come out strong, hit the holes hard, and run like he's never ran before. The Jets are a little banged up on defense and they seem to have lost a step or ten in the "swagger" department. Kris Jenkins is out. Carrying the assumption that New England tries to massacre New York though the air... 60 yards and a touchdown or Maroney is still in my doghouse.

* Tom Brady vs. The Red Zone - Lets be real. Regardless of last week's outcome, Tom Brady looked pretty damn good. He is making all the right decisions and has now thrown for 300+ yards in four consecutive games and five times this season. That is something even Tom hasn't done in his career yet. He now has 2739 yards, 19 TDs, and 6 INT with a 100.6 passer rating. See, that's pretty damn good. Patriot Nation sure wouldn't mind extending the 300+ streak to five, but the most important question is how Tom-once-again-Terrific will fare against the league's "apparent" 4th best red zone defense. With Wes Welker and Julian Edelman running ramped out of the slot, Maroney potentially running better, and SeaBass on the edge, it would seem like there would be no more red zone woes for the group. This is simply not the same team that we saw earlier this season at Giant's Stadium. They are playing better all-around football. There won't be any issues come Sunday; believe that.

* Bray-hand Edwards vs. Leigh Bodden - All of the sudden, Braylon Edwards is catching almost everything that is thrown his way. Maybe it's New York, maybe it's being anywhere but Cleveland, hell, maybe it's it's just being away from Mangini. Whatever it is, Edwards is apparently back to his Pro Bowl form... sounds familiar, doesn't it? Damn. Either way, Leigh Bodden has done a phenomenal job, for the most part, this season. He has played great defense and doesn't usually give up the big play. He's big and physical and that matters a lot going up against this massive, 6'3", 215 pound receiver. He's also our tallest CB. I hate to feel this good before a game, I really do, but I can't picture a stellar Sanchez-to-Edwards performace on Sunday. He'll still probably scrape up a score, but I don't think that 7 points will make any difference. At least it better not...

* Dustin Keller vs. Brandon McGowan - Dustin Keller has 347 yards and 2 TDs. Brandon McGowan has generally shut down almost every tight end he has faced this season. Considering that Keller is not on the same level as Ton Gonzalez, Dallas Clark, or Kellen Winslow, his stats will probably look the same on Monday morning after McGowan is done with him. 'Nuff said.

* Thomas Jones (minus Leon Washington) vs. The Healthier, Yet Still Injured NE D - Thomas Jone has had to become better friends with rookie RB Shonn Greene and Jets fans wish they didn't have to. NYJ running back, Leon Washington, is out for the year with a leg injury and the team has suffered. The Jets' rushing attack was among the league's best when Jones and Washington were carrying the load, but now their offense seems a little less intimidating. Even though these are still two good backs, most of the focus will be on Thomas Jones. Jones can cut fast, make reads quickly, and kick it into second gear when he needs too. It is imperative that New England prevents him from building up a head of steam. Lineman Ty Warren was spotted at practice this week, Adalius Thomas looks like he remember how to play football, and Jerod Mayo is an animal. Tully-Banta Cain wasn't at practice and the severity of his injury is still unknown. Hopefully the guys who will play can make smart tackles and do it strong. If the d-line can get penetration and force the Jets to the air... well, let's just say I'd love to see this game come down to Vinny Chase having to throw his team to victory in Gillette Stadium.

* Vincent Chase vs. One Pissed-Off Defense - He really does bear an uncanny resemblance to that guy from HBO's Entourage. It's really funny. And if someone told me that for the past 7 weeks it has actually been Vinny Chase quarterbacking the Jets, it wouldn't surprise me at all. Marky "The Sanchise" Sanchez has thrown 5 TDs and 10 INTs since the 3-0 start and the week 2 Super Bowl victory. Mark Sanchez's 66.5 passer rating is better than Kerry Collins, JaMarcus Russell, Derek Anderson, and Matthew Stafford. Two or three, depending on Eric Mangini's mood, of those QBs aren't starters anymore and the other one is a rookie on the Detroit Lions. This secondary is looking for some fresh meat and they are going to rip Marky Mark apart this weekend. He's going to be hitting the ground left and right while makingerroneous passes to Patrick Chung (I can hope, right?). Sanchez will probably be who New York wanted him to be when they traded up with the Man-idiot to select him 5th overall ; just not this season. Mark Sanchez will remain amidst the lower levels of the benched and 1-win QBs until they miss the playoffs. But I mean, they did win in week 2 right? Who cares? Oh... Does anyone know if they got to meet President Obama yet?

38-17. Patriots.
There's no way we lose this one.

Thanks for chowin' down,
-B.DelaBarrera

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Jabba The Rex

2009-11-19T20:31:00.006-06:00

Courtesy of the Global Sports Fraternity, we bring you Jabba The Rex. Can Luke SkyWelker and Han Brady defeat Jabba the Rex and the evil Jets empire?

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NFL Beatpaths: Week 11

2009-11-18T21:59:00.000-06:00

After taking a brief break to recollect our thoughts after the disappointing ending to the Colts game, NE Patriots Draft is back with this week's edition of NFL Beatpaths, brought to you by Beatpaths.com.

With strong performances against the Jets and Saints, the Patriots could easily shoot back up to the top of the Beatpath rankings, as the only team with a Beatpath to the Patriots currently is the Colts.

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NFL Power Rankings Week 11

2009-11-15T19:02:00.000-06:00

2009 NFL Power Rankings Week 11

The Elite: The Saints look suddenly vulnerable, while the Broncos are looking more like the Donkeys -- break up the Bengals?

1. Indianapolis Colts
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. New England Patriots
5. Cincinnati Bengals
6. San Diego Chargers
7. Denver Broncos
8. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Contenders: The Giants gained a lot this week by not playing, as the Eagles and Cowboys both lost. The Falcons didn't look good against the Panthers.

9. Houston Texans
10. Arizona Cardinals
11. Atlanta Falcons
12. Jacksonville Jaguars
13. Philadelphia Eagles
14. Baltimore Ravens
15. New York Giants
16. Dallas Cowboys

The Wannabes: Titans are suddenly frisky, while the meltdown in the meadowland continues unabated.

17. Carolina Panthers
18. Miami Dolphins
19. Green Bay Packers
20. Chicago Bears
21. New York Jets
22. San Francisco 49ers
23. Tennessee Titans
24. Seattle Seahawks

Al Davis and Friends: The Bills have joined the cellar, while the Browns still bring up the rear in the Week 11 NFL Power Rankings.

25. Buffalo Bills
26. Washington Redskins
27. Kansas City Chiefs
28. Oakland Raiders
29. Detroit Lions
30. St. Louis Rams
31. Tampa Bay Bucs
32. Cleveland Browns

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2010 NFL Mock Draft

2009-11-14T07:00:00.001-06:00

2010 NFL Mock Draft Order is based on our expected order of finish for the NFL Season.

Updated: 11/15/2009

1. St. Louis Rams
Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
This 2010 NFL Mock Draft won't start out with the Lions as the Rams are that bad. Sam Bradford's injury shouldn't hurt his stock too much, as he has plenty of time to heal. The Rams missed out on Stafford and Sanchez, they have to get theirs here. Bradford is a talented guy with all the throws -- the question is, can he stand up to the hits?

2. Cleveland Browns
Russel Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
This hulking guy could help Joe Thomas and the rest of the Browns o-line almost immediately, but not as much as firing Eric Mangini. Any of the other QB's in the draft would be a possibility if the Browns aren't sold on Quinn/Anderson.

3. Detroit Lions
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
In 2009 the Lions improved their terrible offense with Matt Stafford and company. In 2010, this Cornhusker beast will help improve their defense.

4. Oakland Raiders
Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St.
Al Davis loves his receivers (Walker, Moss, Heyward-Bey, etc...), and remarkably, he still needs them. Bryant and Murphy would make a great team for, uhhh, someone to throw to.

5. Kansas City Chiefs
Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
Mount Cody can instantly make the Chiefs new 3-4 defense legit. Dorsey, Cody, and Tyson Jackson would make quite a front three.

6. Buffalo Bills
Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
Aaron Schobel and Aaron Maybin can't do it all by themselves -- McCoy is a big man that has a nasty streak on the field that will fit in well in Buffalo.

7. Tennessee Titans
Aurelius Benn, WR, Illinois
Finally a weapon for Kerry Collins, err Vince Young, to play with. Benn has been the best offensive Big 10 player in 2009 so far.

8. Tampa Bay Bucs
Eric Berry, S, Tennesse
Berry is a great playmaking safety in the form of Ed Reed - a name that is not dropped lightly. Berry's ball-skills are second to none in CFB.

9. Seattle Seahawks
Jake Locker, QB, Washington
Just in case Seneca Wallace isn't the Seahawks long term plan at QB, Locker is a great passer with a huge "it" factor.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars
Tim Tebow, QB/RB/WR/TE
Perhaps the only way that the Jaguars could start selling-out games, would be to draft this boom or bust prospect.

11. Washington Redskins
Javier Arenas, CB, Alabama
Somebody has to cover the Eagles, and Arenas might be the only guy that could take on all of their weapons.

12. San Francisco 49ers (CAR)
Eversen Griffin, DE, USC
The Niners need to continue to protect Patrick Willis and let him make plays, Griffen will allow that to happen.

13. Houston Texans
Ciron Black, OT, LSU
Black could have gone 1st round in '09, but he decided to stay in the Bayou for another year. I think he made the right decision, as he can improve his strength and conditioning while refining his technique.

14. Miami Dolphins
Taylor Mays, S, USC
Jeremiah Bell is not good, Taylor Mays is. This would be an instant upgrade for the Dolphins, as Mays is faster, hits harder, and has better ball skills.

15. San Francisco
Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
The Kirk Ferentz pedigree has been hit or miss in the NFL, but Bulaga has pass and run block skills that will help the 49ers immediately.

16. Arizona Cardinals
Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
This Gator can become the next Derrick Brooks with the right coaching. He already has the great instincts and impressive frame. Injury problems could be a concern.

Mock Draft Picks 17-32

Check out Doc’s NFL Mock Draft at docsports.com

Pre-Game Meal: Indianapolis Colts

2009-11-13T07:20:00.001-06:00

Rivalries, Rivalries, and More Rivalries:

Patriots 27 - Dolphins 17.
More importantly: Joey Porter - NOTHING. For all the smack and disrespect Porter dealt out this week, he sure didn't do a damn thing to back it up. He was under the microscope from the beginning of the match and ended up in the spotlight; ridiculed on the Gillette Stadium jumbotron.

As expected, the Dolphins introduced a new wrinkle in the wildcat formation to the Patriots in the form of a 33-yard Pat White run. Overall, the defense did a pretty good job keeping Brown and Williams in front of the linebackers and shutting down a receiving corps that probably needs to go to New York to learn how to catch. Tom Brady threw an early interception to Vontae Davis on a pass to Randy Moss, but after replaying it, I'm not even sure that Davis has possession. Fast-forwarding a few quarters and past a stiff-arm to Davis' face, Moss ended up in the endzone anyway. The montage of Randy knocking down the CB, high-stepping down the sideline, and Vontae Davis crying like a baby on camera has been replaying over and over in my mind. That wasn't the best the Pats could have played, but any win tastes better with another AFC East team's loss.

This week, the Patriots will take on the Indianapolis Colts in the the Lucas Oil Stadium. This will be Tom's first time playing a game there and it should live up to all of the hype that has been stirring in the media. Bill Belichick and Brady both spoke this week on just how good the Colts and Peyton Manning are and only spoke highly about them. I can't wait to see what Tom Brady and Randy Moss can do together during their second embark to Indy. Both the Pats and the Colts are plagued by injuries and still are playing at extremely high levels. Let's get the ball rolling early!

The 9th Book of Weekly Match-ups:

* A Regular Season Game vs. The Battle For Something More - Sunday's Primetime game is very much more than just that. This showdown of the NFL's most elite quarterbacks has much more at stake than just a win or a loss. The Colts are sitting pretty at 8-0, leading their division and the AFC, while the Patriots are tied for the second-best record in the conference with the Steelers, Broncos, and the surprising Bengals. A win this week could flip the tables for Indianapolis' hot streak, boost New England's current confidence and winning streak, and make the playing field a little more level in the chase for a bye week in the Playoffs. That bye week grants home-field advantage for the Divisional round and possibly the Conference Championship; depending on who makes it there. If the Colts and the Patriots finish with the same record and get to meet in the AFC Championship, a win here would be the tiebreaker in deciding who would be rewarded with the luxury of playing on their own turf. I know the mission statement here: focus on one game at a time, but let's be honest, the two teams that are playing Sunday night are among the best in the league and could very well clash helmets further down the road to the Super Bowl.

* The Hoodie vs. Commercial Boy - Have you seen that guy from the Saturday Night Live football skits on any Sony commercials lately? Oh yeah! He's was playing ping-pong and speaking Chinese with Justin Timberlake. He was also in some MasterCard commercials a while back. That guy would be Peyton Manning and he's a pretty funny guy to watch. Unless he's lined up behind center playing against your favorite team. All of the sudden the NFL's 3-time Most Valuable Player goes from a comedian to an adversary. Manning, as usual, is in the top 5 for all major quarterback statistics. He's completing 70.6% of his passes and is averaging 318 yards per game. He has 16 TDs, 5 INT, (same as Brady) and 2545 passing yards. Teams were only able to muster up 7 sacks against this man so far in 2009 and he boasts a passer rating of 105.2. I've already complimented him too much, but it should be no surprise to those of you who are reading.

Now, it is up to Bill Belichick, with the help of Dean Pees, to create defensive schemes that will keep Peyton at bay. Because #18 likes to run a no huddle offense so often, Belichick's famed substitution packages will most likely take a hit. The main Patriots who are on defense will need to be capable of locking down the receivers (Dallas Clark included) and getting Manning, if not to the ground, to a place where he is less comfortable. Manning has one of the sharpest 6th senses when it comes to reading defenses and has the brain to audible into a play that can beat them. It's going to be up to the Hoodie to determine which guys will see the most action, based on their versatility and production thus far, and which formations they will play in. Everyone must do their job; and they must do it better than they have all year.

* Randy Moss vs. Jerraud Powers - Powers may be a rookie, but he has shown that he can hold his own with the stars this season. He has kept Larry Fitzgerald and T.J. Houz-yo-momma from scoring and stopped Ted Ginn Jr. from potentially winning a game. While all those receivers (or kick returners) have extreme talent at the wide receiver position(excluding Ginn), none possess the overall football knowledge and skill quite like Randy Moss. Moss will present Powers with his most challenging assignment yet: keeping Brady from connecting with Moss. We saw last week when Moss resurrected his former, Thundering Herd-self by running across the middle and stiff-arming his way into the endzone. This week we will see Moss all over the field, adjusting his routes himself depending on what the defense shows him, and taking the attention off of Wes Welker, Sam Aiken, Laurence Maroney, and Ben Watson. If Moss or Brady can freeze the D for one split-second, it will be lights out for Powers.

* Laurence Maroney vs. His Career - Maroney has scored a rushing touchdown in three consecutive games and will aim to make it four this weekend on National television. Over the past few seasons, due to injuries and lack of performance, Maroney has made Marion Barber look like the better Minnesota back and Patriot Nation regret drafting him over DeAngelo Williams in '06. Recently, however, he has been running harder, making cuts faster, thinking quicker, and getting into the endzone more. Even though his numbers aren't anything to drool over on paper, his production has created the perfect amount of balance in the Patriots offense and is a huge part of the reason New England is on a 3-game winning streak. That's just too good to be a coincidence.

* Shawn Springs vs. Leigh Bodden - Reggie Wayne is a beast. Shawn Springs is a veteran. In my opinion, those are all the qualifications I need to support my belief that those two will match up against each other come Sunday, but I could be wrong. Leigh Bodden's youth and athleticism could be just what we need to silence Wayne. Either way, some serious CB play will be needed to slow down Manning's number one target. Whether it be veteran skills or hard-hitting speed; something will need to be done about Reggie Wayne. He has 753 yards receiving, 6 touchdowns on the year, and countless fantasy football bailouts... but that's a whole 'nother story. He is also second in wide-receiver receptions this year with 59. Limiting Reggie will limit Indy's scoring chances. That is, if Brandon McGowan does his job.

* Brandon McGowan vs. Dallas Clark - All season long McGowan has been performing magic against opposing tight-ends; he makes them disappear. He has shut down Tony Gonzalez, Kellen Winslow, and Bo Scaife and he has made it look pretty easy. McGowan has looked like a sleeper for most valuable free-agent signing in 2009 and he will face his ultimate test when he takes on the tight-end hybrid, receiving machine, Dallas Clark. Clark has the most receptions for TEs and second-most in the entire league. He has 703 yards and 3 TDs. McGowan will still need help from fellow safety, Brandon Merriweather, because Dallas Clark is the best in the league at his position and the most important to the Colt's offense. He is Peyton Manning's pacifier in the sense that no matter what the coverage, Clark always seems to bail him out. Tedy Bruschi spoke earlier this week on the rivalry and addressed the measures that will be necessary to keep Clark quiet.

"So how can the Patriots help McGowan in coverage? They could have a defensive lineman, outside linebacker or inside linebacker jamming Clark at the line, and after that jam, the defensive player will have other responsibilities to take care of, whether it's rush the passer or pick up a running back in coverage. But the first responsibility will always be to jam Clark. That may affect the pass rush, but honestly, how often does Peyton get sacked?"

* SeaBass vs. Freeney - Whether Matt Light will be able to man the left side against Dwight Freeney or even play at all is yet to be seen. Worst-case scenario is that left tackle duties will fall to rookie Seabastian Vollmer, and that isn't a bad scenario at all. Vollmer has been impressing people a lot since he had to fill Light's big shoes. Save a few penalties and early mistakes, he has been playing like a boss. Freeney isn't the biggest defensive end, but he is definitely one of the fastest. Even though he may be a little banged up with a quad and knee injury, he has recorded at least one sack in every game this season and has 9.5 total on the year. It will apparently be up to Vollmer to do everything in his power to stop a pro-bowl end in one of his best seasons. I have faith in this guy. So should you.

Every article I've read and every ESPN spot I've seen has be talking about whether or not the Patriots can stop Peyton Manning. The question I raise to all, because apparently they have forgotten, is this: What can the Colts do to stop Tom Brady?

By the way... Jay Cutler just threw 5 INTs and no TDs against the 49ers in a !0-6 loss. Josh McDaniel's, you're a genius.

Hope you're all full.

-B.DelaBarrera

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Fantasy Football Is The Devil

2009-11-11T20:55:00.000-06:00

Hello, my name is James, and I hate Fantasy Football. I know what you are saying, he must really suck at FF, have been burned by some trades, or been beaten on a fluke play; on the contrary, I was a pretty decent player (3 titles/6 years). Last year I gave it up cold turkey, and this is what I've learned.

NFL Fans turned Fantasy football owners have changed from loyal fans in the throes of a passionate monogamous relationship, to a man who loves his wife, but sees girls on the side. Nicolas Kulish said it best-

Hands stained Denver-Bronco orange by Buffalo chicken wings shoot into the air for a Carolina Panther touchdown one minute and for a Baltimore Raven safety the next. A howl of joy greets a meaningless yardage gain in the closing moments of a game, even though the team in question is three touchdowns behind. Loyalty is now shattered into tiny shards, splintered by fantasy football teams.

Many people enjoy their sports bigamy, and proclaim that they are just as die-hard of a fan now as there ever were before taking their first sip of Fantasy. I thought the same thing until Nov. 25th, 2007. Brian Westbrook, running back for the Eagles, scored a TD in the 1st quarter against the Patriots which sealed the win in my fantasy league. I didn't cheer on the outside, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy on the inside. It was at that point that I began questioning the power of Fantasy.

Now, when I watch the New England Patriots play, be it in person, or on DirecTV, I want the Patriots to win-nothing else. Standing in Gillette Stadium last year as Tom Brady was being scraped off the field, I was shocked to see over a dozen of people in my section instantly pop open their cellphones. Were they calling to commiserate with their dad or best friend? Nope, they were getting their friend, wife, girlfriend, or mistress to try and pick up another quarterback for their fantasy team. Were they worried about the New England Patriots championship prospects, or if their "Brady's Bunch" team was going to be able to weather the storm? I'd say their priority was the latter.

Liberate yourself, truly embrace your favorite team once again, and give up the false god of Fantasy Football!

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NFL Beatpaths: Week 10

2009-11-11T19:57:00.000-06:00

The Broncos reassert themselves at the top of the NFL Beatpath rankings, even with a loss to the Steelers, mainly due to some of their previous opponents rising up the graph.

The undefeated Colts and Saints will be meeting some serious tests in the coming weeks, so big movements should be expected-either up or down.

For more info, Beatpaths.com is the place to go!

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Spotlight on Joey Porter

2009-11-09T16:40:00.001-06:00

Joey Porter was oddly silent on and off the field yesterday...

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NFL Power Rankings Week 10

2009-11-08T22:33:00.003-06:00

The 2009 NFL Power Rankings Week 10 edition has the Colts on top once again, while the Browns are the new team down below.

The Elite: The Colts had another good win against a good Texans team, while the Saints looked shaky early. The Broncos are still good, but not sure about Elite status now...

1. Indianapolis Colts
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. New England Patriots
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
6. Cincinnati Bengals
7. Denver Broncos
8. Dallas Cowboys

The Contenders: The Ravens and Giants continue their slide, while I still don't understand how the Dolphins aren't a winning team.

9. San Diego Chargers
10. Philadelphia Eagles
11. Atlanta Falcons
12. Houston Texans
13. Arizona Cardinals
14. Baltimore Ravens
15. New York Giants
16. Miami Dolphins

The Wannabes: The Bears ARE WHO WE THOUGHT WE WERE: mediocre. The Panthers couldn't quite pull off a big upset against the Saints.

17. New York Jets
18. Carolina Panthers
19. Chicago Bears
20. Green Bay Packers
21. San Francisco 49ers
22. Jacksonville Jaguars
23. Buffalo Bills
24. Seattle Seahawks

Al Davis and Friends: The VY-inspired Titans have nearly graduated from this category, while the Mangenius is lobbying to have this category named after him in next year's NFL Power Rankings.

25. Tennessee Titans
26. Oakland Raiders
27. Kansas City Chiefs
28. Washington Redskins
29. Detroit Lions
30. St. Louis Rams
31. Tampa Bay Bucs
32. Cleveland Browns

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Colts Week!

2009-11-08T16:21:00.002-06:00

For Immediate Release:
Discovery Channel

Colts vs Patriots, the NFL's best rivalry week, will feature Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and a large supporting cast. Find out if Colts behave any differently during the day than at night (kickoff at 8:20pm); what makes certain areas of the world Patriot attack "hot spots" (Tennessee, London); and what still puzzles scientists about the most feared Patriot of them all - the great Randy Moss. The week will be rounded out by some of the most popular and memorable cliches from past years.

Once again this year, NBC will educate the public about the plight of Colts around the world through public service announcements produced in conjunction with Jim Irsay. The PSAs will air each night during primetime, informing viewers about threats currently facing the Colts, such as videotapes, DVD's, piped-in crowd noise, and Tony Dungy's dome.

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Patriots vs Dolphins: Inactives

2009-11-08T08:44:00.001-06:00

The following Patriots have already been declared inactive for today's game against the Miami Dolphins:

WR Julian Edelman
RB Fred Taylor
RB Sammy Morris
OT Matt Light
DE Jarvis Green
OG Rich Ohrnberger
LB Eric Alexander
CB Jonathan Wilhite

Look for former practice squad CB Kyle Arrington to see time in the d-back rotation, while DT Ron Brace should see his first action since Week 2 due in part to Jarvis Green's surgery.

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Pre-Game Meal: Miami Dolphins

2009-11-06T07:46:00.001-06:00

Talking About Joey Porter, Hate, and Maybe Football:

"My feelings toward New England go back further," Porter said. "It goes back to my Pittsburgh days. I felt a certain way, after some things came out, way back when I was in Pittsburgh, some AFC championships I lost to them, couple times. Come to figure out a few months later why we lost. So yeah, I have a natural hate for them. Period. And that’s just gonna be with me forever."

Porter was critical of the Patriots in the wake of Spygate two years ago, and after some tap-dancing around it, he was asked directly: Do you feel like it cost you rings?

"We do this every year around this time when I do this conference call," Porter said. "You know exactly what I’m talking about. And they know exactly what I’m talking about. And that’s not gonna change."

The funny thing here is that I have hated Joey Porter for probably longer than he's hated the Patriots. Me and my friend Mark O'Brien still talk about it all time. He once said that "Joey Porter was his most hated player in NFL history that didn't wear a Jets uniform". The fact that Porter has to go and bring up the videotaping incident is absurd. That was over two years ago; and in that same interview Joey actually said that every year is a new year and some nonsense about the Fins being the AFC East champions and division going through them this year. So what happened to that beautiful theory two questions later? Why are reporters even bringing this stuff up anymore? Does Joey Porter remember how Kordell and Roethlisberger combined for 6 interceptions in those games and how that relates in anyway to defensive signals? Cost him rings? Don't make me laugh! Get over it... just sayin'

The boredom of the bye week drove me close to insanity. I just can't stand watching every other team go along and play ball while I have to listen to analysts and "experts" talk about if the Patriots really are back to form or whether Adalius Thomas is in the doghouse, etc... I'm ready to see the boys take the field and kick some Dolphin tail.

The Post-Bye Comeback Weekly Match-ups:

* The Patriots vs. The Wildcat - We all remember 9/21/08 right? For those who don't: that would be the day the Patriots became the guinea pigs for Miami's infamous "Wildcat" offensive formation. New England got smoked in that one 38-13. With some big-bodied defense, Ron Brace, 3W, Thomas, and Woods should be able to contain Miami to around 100 yards on the ground. Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown have been doing work this season, 423 yards with 5 scores / 518 yards with 7 respectively; but not necessarily out of the wildcat. Teams all around the league have taken measures to reduce the amount of yards allowed on wildcat plays and have succeeded for the most part. Good tackling and penetration at the line will be a must if we want to make Chad Henne throw and keep a comfy lead in the east. If any coach in this league can stop the Fins and hit them where it hurts it's Bill Belichick... and the four coaches they already faced this year.

* The Golden Boy vs. The Sharks In The Water - The passing attack has been there the past two week, but all of Patriot Nation is anxious to see what Tom Brady does against a team with wins. Will Allen is out and that is a check in our box, but Vontae Davis, Sean Smith, and Gibril Wilson still look pretty decent. That being said, without Allen, those 3 have combined for one pick this season. If Tom gets time in the pocket I expect him to shred this defense armed with two rookie cornerbacks. We all remember the pass where Moss blew threw a triple team (!) and connected with Brady for a score... Well, that might not be the case on Sunday but something close is highly probable. I mean, these rooks don't even know what they're up against. This isn't Marques Colston, Braylon Edwards, or Vincent Jackson. It's Randy Moss!!

* Laurence Maroney vs. Fantasy Owners Who Have Him On The Bench - Channing Crowder was limited in practice this week with a shoulder injury, so even if he plays his tackling wont be 100%. Trash-Talk-First-Porter only has 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks, that's not much comparing it to what he thinks he can do. Fast Freddy and Old Sammy are still out this week with injuries too. Therefore, expect Maroney to be able to get a good push from the left side of the line and collect something like 60-70 yards and a touchdown. That right there is potentially 13 points you won't have this weekend in fantasy. ESPN.com agrees with me 100%. Sorry, guys.

* The #3 WR spot vs. A Question Mark - Although, in my opinion, Wes Welker is the most important receiver this weekend, the question mark at the number 3 spot makes me a little shaky. If we can get some good production from that position, Miami will be like a fish out of water against the pass. Brandon Tate is potentially a burner like Stallworth was in '07 (his spin move absolutely broke Miami's ankles that year). Yet, Sam Aiken showed more than special teams potential against the Bucs when he shed a tackle and kicked in second gear for a 54-yard touchdown. Hopefully they will split time, compete for that position, and combine for some good yardage.

* Who Are Those Guys? vs. The New England Corners - Who are the Dolphin's starting receivers, you ask? On November 5th it looked like Devonne Bess and Brian Hartline/Greg Camarillo. Apparently Greg feels that "as a group [they] have four starters... that can produce when called upon". Produce meaning drop passes in Fin-language, of course.To anyone else it sounds like no one individual wide-receiver is good enough to play a starting position. Ted Ginn was stripped on his starting role due to Cleveland-Braylon Syndrome and Devonne Bess looks like he may be coming down with that too. Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden should be able to do the job alone, but if needed, my pro-bowl safety vote, Brandon Meriweather is always hanging around looking to snatch some passes.

* The Chad vs. The Patriots Defense - The Patriots pass rush looks a little better as of late, but we all know that was against some terrible teams. They're going to have to dominate the line of scrimmage, stop the RR Wildcat Express, and force Chad Henne to the air. Chad is barely boasting a 66.4 passer rating over the past two weeks with 323 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs. I just don't believe Henne has what it takes to put up numbers on the Pats D, I mean, the Dolphins only mustered up 104 yards from scrimmage in their win against the Jets and that had nothing to do with him. The wildcat is their only hope and everytime we force a punt, their dreams of a W slip further away.

* Shimmy-Shake Teddy Ginn vs. Special Teams Nationwide - Did anyone see the moves Ginn Jr. put on the Jets!? Oh my, that was some footwork. Special Teams captain Sam Aiken spoke earlier this week about staying in the lane and making good, intelligent tackles. If the Patriots special teams get caught up in a cluster trying to get to Ginn, he's subject to blast down the field and torch the bystanders. I refuse to let Ted Ginn Jr., the wide-receiver failure, beat us single-handedly. He might be fast, but I don't care. Let's shut these boys down!

Bill Belichick spoke this week about how the Dolphins are are typical Bill Parcells team (good) big, physical, and strong. These Dolphins always seem to give us a hard time, even in their 0-16 season. We'll have to put them away early and get them to try and pass their way out of their misery. Bill will be going against Tony Sporano (not to be confused with James Gandolfini) who has already almost cost the Fins approximately two games with poor game/clock management.

So here's to an exciting game, chock-full of long TD passes, trash talk, hard tackling, and haymakers!

-B.DelaBarrera

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NFL Beatpaths: Week 9

2009-11-03T16:36:00.000-06:00

The NFL Beatpaths still feature the Denver Broncos, even though the win over the New England Patriots gets beatlooped away due to the Baltimore Ravens strong win over Coach McDaniels' team.

Denver joins New England, Minnesota, Cinci, New Orleans, and Indianapolis as the only teams that don't have a beatpath leading to them. Next week's battle between the Dolphins and the Patriots and the following week's game against the Colts provide ample ammunition to shake up these early rankings.

As always, check out Beathpaths.com for more Beatpath information.

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Patriots Visa Commercial

2009-11-01T21:02:00.003-06:00

Now THAT is what I call a great shotgun snap...

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NFL Power Rankings Week 9

2009-11-01T18:36:00.000-06:00

The 2009 NFL Power Rankings Week 9 edition has a new team up top, and thankfully for the Rams, a new team on the bottom as well.

The Elite: The Vikings won a big game at Lambeau, while the Colts had to fight off the pesky 49ers late. Denver finally lost to a good Ravens team.

1. New Orleans Saints
2. Indianapolis Colts
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. Denver Broncos
5. New England Patriots
6. Cincinnati Bengals
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
8. Philadelphia Eagles

The Contenders: The Cowboys are starting to hit their stride, while the Ravens showed up big-time against the Broncos.

9. Baltimore Ravens
10. Dallas Cowboys
11. Atlanta Falcons
12. Houston Texans
13. Miami Dolphins
14. San Diego Chargers
15. New York Giants
16. Chicago Bears

The Wannabes: The Jets look suddenly pedestrian without Leon Washington and Kris Jenkins, while the Packers put up a good fight against Lord Favre.

17. New York Jets
18. Green Bay Packers
19. Carolina Panthers
20. Arizona Cardinals
21. San Francisco 49ers
22. Buffalo Bills
23. Jacksonville Jaguars
24. Seattle Seahawks

Al Davis and Friends: Vince Young revives some life into the floundering Titans franchise.

25. Oakland Raiders
26. Tennessee Titans
27. Kansas City Chiefs
28. Washington Redskins
29. Detroit Lions
30. St. Louis Rams
31. Cleveland Browns
32. Tampa Bay Bucs

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Patriots Bye Week Performance Review: Offense

2009-11-01T13:35:00.004-06:00

During the Patriot's bye week, we'd like to take a moment to check out the performance grades of the Patriots players. These rankings are courtesy of Pro Football Focus, where they track the performance of all the NFL players and teams. You really need to check out their site and read up more on how these grades are earned.

Quarterback
NFL Best- Ben Roethlisberger 26.5
NFL Worst- Jamarcus Russel -9.5
Tom Brady 12.5 (14th)

Brady has had an up and down season, so his middle of the road ranking seems only a little low. Look for his ranking to further improve as his accuracy comes back into form. How Big Ben is this far up above Brees / Manning is beyond me.

Running Backs
NFL Best- Maurice Jones-Drew 9.0
NFL Worst- Matt Forte -11.0
Kevin Faulk 2.2 (16th)
Laurence Maroney -3.2 (45th)

It's no surprise that Kevin Faulk has been our best RB (Taylor and Morris didn't play in at least 25% of snaps) as the veteran has been amazingly consistent for the Patriots during this decade.

Wide Receivers
NFL Best- Reggie Wayne 10.8
NFL Worst- Terrell Owens -11.1
Wes Welker 5.1 (10th)
Randy Moss 1.2 (31st)
Sam Aiken -0.8(54th)
Julian Edelman -1.6 (64th)

I was very shocked to see Sam Aiken ranked higher than Edelman, although Aiken's game against the Bucs certainly didn't hurt him. Welker's ranking of 10th is great, but I still feel that is too low.

Tight Ends
NFL Best- Jason Witten 12.3
NFL Worst- Sean Ryan -18.9
Ben Watson 2.2 (12th)
Chris Baker 0.4 (18th)

Two solid rankings for two solid Patriots, as both Baker and Watson have provided good blocking along with being quality targets for Tom Brady.

Offensive Line
NFL Best- Nick Mangold 21.0
NFL Worst- Demetrius Bell -24.5
Steven Neal 17.0 (2nd)
Nick Kaczur 6.5 (17th)
Sebastian Vollmer 6.4 (18th)
Dan Koppen 6.2 (21st)
Logan Mankins -0.4 (Xth)
Matt Light -3.8 (Xth)

As the left side of the Patriots line normally gets all of the accolades, I found it quite ironic to see the right side of the line cleaning up in the performance grades. Stephen Neal has played well, but Kaczur being that high was a surprise. Vollmer looks like a real keeper.

If you're wondering this is how the running avg's stack up when you break it down:

Runs over LE: 3.8 yds/a (17 attempts)
Runs over LT: 6.4 yds/a (14 attempts)
Runs over LG: 2.8 yds/a (20 attempts)
Runs over OC: 6.5 yds/a (24 attempts)
Runs over RG: 4.4 yds/a (31 attempts)
Runs over RT: 4.0 yds/a (31 attempts)
Runs over RE: 3.5 yds/a (21 attempts)

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NFL Beatpaths: Week 8

2009-10-27T16:16:00.001-05:00

The Beatpath Rankings come in a bit skinny this week, with some beatloops really shaking some things up. The three undefeated teams are obviously high up in the rankings, but Denver is still cream of the crop with its win over the New England Patriots giving it many other beatwins.

The lowly Bucs and Rams are so bad, that every team that has a win has a beatpath to these poor sisters. Tennessee doesn't have a win, but there are still a few teams without beatpaths to the Titans.

Still unsure what all this "Beatpath" stuff is all about. Head over to BeatPaths.com and find out the methodology behind the madness, like what a beatfluke or a beatloss is.

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NFL Power Rankings Week 8

2009-10-25T18:40:00.007-05:00

The 2009 NFL Power Rankings Week 8 edition features some close calls at the top of the pile, and another Patriot beatdown.

The Elite: The Vikings had a tough game on Sunday, as they should have won were it not for 14 defensive points for the Steelers. The Bengals, Colts, and Patriots all looked like world-beaters, while the Saints had to work for it.

1. Indianapolis Colts
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Denver Broncos
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. New England Patriots
6. Cincinnati Bengals
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
8. New York Giants

The Contenders: The Steelers are back on track, and the Texans and Dolphins (2-4?) still look dangerous. The Eagles looked good against a terrible Redskins team.

9. Baltimore Ravens
10. New York Jets
11. Atlanta Falcons
12. Arizona Cardinals
13. Dallas Cowboys
14. Houston Texans
15. Philadelphia Eagles
16. Miami Dolphins

The Wannabes: The Packers beat up the Browns and the Bears got embarrassed. The Bills just won't go away, and the Chargers still look pesky.

17. Green Bay Packers
18. San Diego Chargers
19. San Francisco 49ers
20. Chicago Bears
21. Buffalo Bills
22. Seattle Seahawks
23. Jacksonville Jaguars
24. Carolina Panthers

Al Davis and Friends: All 8 of these teams are so bad, I haven't heard the word "parity" this year yet.

25. Oakland Raiders
26. Cleveland Browns
27. Kansas City Chiefs
28. Washington Redskins
29. Detroit Lions
30. Tennessee Titans
31. Tampa Bay Bucs
32. St. Louis Rams

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Patriots Keep On Rolling

2009-10-25T16:07:00.000-05:00

After winning 59-0 last week, the Patriots continued their destruction of the dregs of the NFL cellar, beating the winless Tampa Bay Bucs 35-7.

While Tom Brady threw two interceptions in the game, his accuracy was top-notch throughout the game. Brady hit Sam Aiken and Wes Welker in stride on underneath routes that allowed the WR's to run it into the endzone for touchdowns, while he dropped a perfect ball into Ben Watson's awaiting hands for his 3rd TD.

The offensive line, however, wasn't as crisp as usual. Logan Mankins and Sebastian Vollmer combined for a multitude of holding and false-start penalties, although Vollmer did seem nicked up.

The Patriots defense was able to put pressure on Josh Johnson early and often, forcing three interceptions and scores of quarterback hits. Brandon Meriweather's pick six to start the game set the tone and the Patriots strip-sack of 2nd string QB Josh Freeman to finish the game, were perfect bookends for the defense.

With the bye week on tap, the Patriots will look to get healed up after a brutal seven weeks. Ty Warren, Sebastian Vollmer, and Randy Moss all got nicked up during the game and will be using the training table early and often this week.

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Patriots vs Bucs: Inactives

2009-10-25T11:01:00.000-05:00

The following players will be inactive today against the Tampa Bay Bucs:

CB Terrence Wheatley
C/G Rich Ohrnberger
C/G Kendall Simmons
DL Ron Brace
WR Julian Edelman
RB Sammy Morris
RB Fred Taylor
OL Matt Light

Expect Ben-Jarvus Green-Ellis to see extended playing time following his hard running against the Titans and the fact that Taylor/Morris are inactive.

Brandon Tate and Mark Levoir are both active on the 45-man roster and should see some playing time with Julian Edelman and Matt light out.

The Patriots continue to put their faith behind 6th-round DT Myron Pryor, as opposed to 2nd round pick Ron Brace

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Pre-Game Meal: Fish and Chips Edition

2009-10-23T07:00:00.003-05:00

How 'Bout Them Patriots?

Sunday was one of the more fun, memorable moments of recent Patriots for me. My friend, Tom, called me around 3:45 PM to tell me that the Pats were warming up and it was snowing in Foxboro. "It's snowing... we win," he said. We laughed about it initially, but once the Titans got the ball, those jokes quickly became reality. I didn't think the Titans were that terrible and the Pats D was that lock down. Tennessee simply could not muster up anything through the air and Chris Johnson's big runs couldn't even add up to 3 points.

Tom Brady played one for the record books, throwing 3 touchdowns to Randy Moss, 2 to Wes Welker, and 1 to Kevin Faulk, five of those TD passes came in the second quarter alone! Week 6 marked the 2nd time that Tom has thrown for six scores and shares that honor with Peyton Manning for quarterbacks since 1969; the last time Manning did it was in 2004. The offense was seriously sparked when Laurence Maroney busted through the line for a 45-yard run for a touchdown. After a Titan's 3-and-out and a few snaps in to the Patriots drive, BenJarvus Green-Ellis tossed the pigskin back to Brady on a flea-flicker for 40 yards and a TD to none other than Randy Moss.

These guys seriously put up Madden numbers on Tennessee this past weekend. Brady was 29/34 on 380 yards passing, 6 TDs and no INTs. Randy Moss caught 8 for 129 and 3 scores, while Wes Welker caught 10 for 150 yards and 2 TDs of his own. Maroney racked up 123 on the ground and a score. The defense had picked off 2 passes, recovered 3 fumbles, kept the Titans to 9 first downs(2 on penalties), and shut their offense out. The 59-0 blowout marks the 4th biggest regular-season slaughter by any team ever, and the largest since the seventies.

I'm not going to say anything about the Titans, they lost, badly. But I will say that the Patriots played their best, most sound football yet. They were exquisite in the kicking game, the passing game, the running game, the defending game....you get my drift. Even though they let up almost 200 yards on the ground, it's still Chris Johnson, and he still didn't score. Keeping Johnson out of the end zone is great run-defense in my book.

I'd like to take this moment to CALL OUT every single "Patriots fan" of whom were abandoning ship like lemmings prior to this game. I can't tell you how many headlines I saw that said stuff like: "The End of The Dynasty" and "The Patriots Run is Over". These were from New England sources. Mr. NEPatriotsDraft himself has said countless times this season, it took Peyton Manning (coming off a knee injury in 2008) until about week 11 to really get into form. The Colts had a losing record after week 5 last year. Peyton went on to win the NFL's Most Valuable Player and bring Indy to the playoffs. So next time someone wants to jump ship on the Patriots; do me a favor and stay in the water. We don't need fake fan negativity over here: either you're with us or you're not. Learn some patience... people lose games. Go find another team who knows how to win better then Bill Belichick and the boys.

Anyways... when there is good news, there is always some bad news.

Julian Edleman has a broken arm and the Patriots are in need of a #3 wide receiver. With Galloway cut (no arguments there) that spot will ultimately be filled by either rookie Brandon Tate, Terrence Nunn, or, former Dallas Cowboy, Isiah Stanback. In true Patriots style, we won't know the answer for a couple of days because the entire practice squad is taking the trip to London this week. Sammy Morris, Matt Light, Fred Taylor, and Darius Butler also did not practice this week.

Other Good News: I'm also going to personally thank Marky "Sanchise" "The Shamchez" Sanchez single-handedly threw the Patriots into first place of the AFC East by tossing 5 interceptions to our rivals to the north-west-west, the Buffalo Bills. I will never wish injury on a player, for obvious reasons, but the Jets' loss of NT Kris Jenkins is a serious blow to their defense and could have a serious impact on their sesaon.

Now let's leave last week where it belongs-in the history books, and move on to this Sunday. The New England Patriots vs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers...

You Wanted The Best, You Got The Best. The Hottest Match-ups In The World:

* Tom Brady Does The UK vs. The Buccaneers Secondary - Tom Brady looked like a video game quarterback in Sunday's destruction of the Titans. Hopefully the plane ride and change of scenery doesn't take away from the momentum. The Patriots are going from a terrible defense to another not so hot defense. Teams should be worried when their rookie coach Raheem Morris isn't too excited about playing the next game: "You’re obviously happy to take your game international and make it a bigger game than it already is. At the same time, you’re going to play a team that just scored 59 points.” I doubt Tom Terrific will drop 6 TDs, but he could score somewhere between 2-4. The Tampa Bay defense gives up an average 28 points per game on defense and it doesn't seem like they are locking down any time soon. If the offensive line continues to keep Tommy off of the ground against a weak d-line, the Patriots should soar through the air in London. The 0-6 Bucs have little to be happy about, especially when the Patriots are 15-point favorites on Wednesday. With Jermaine Phillips out with a broken thumb, most of the safety duty will fall to Tanard Jackson who returned a Jack DelHomme interception last week in Tampa. Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber will be lined up at CB to try and keep Wes Welker and Randy Moss at bay (no pun).

* Randy Moss vs. Aqib Talib - Aqib Talib is in is first starting season and is a serious corner back as well. The Former Kansas star has shut down Steve Smith and DeSean Jackson in the last two games. Even though DeSean is a second-year and Smith is disgruntled, those are some pretty nice achievements. I don't expect Talib to completely silence Moss, as I expect Randy to have at least one touchdown during this one. The intimidation factor is there from what we did to the last 0-for team. If Randy can get tough off of the line and play on his A-game against this young CB, he should end up with +100 yards and a score.

* Laurence-Firm vs. The Second-to-Last Run Defense - This Tampa Bay defensive is struggling. The rush isn't there at all and they cannot plug up the gaps or make their tackles. They are giving up big runs and that is just what the doctor ordered for Laurence Maroney and Law-Firm (BenJarvus Green-Ellis). These two backs could produce some serious numbers on the ground with the right blocking from the o-line and play calling from the sideline. Maroney is going to still be pumped from his breakout performance against Tennessee and I think he will be able to make this the second week in a row that he has a big game.

* The Tampa Bay WR Corps vs. The Patriots Secondary - Tampa Bay features Antonio Bryant, Michael Clayton, and Kellen Winslow. These are some pretty talented wideouts, but Josh Johnson just can't seem to get it to them enough. Jonathan Wilhite, Darius Butler, and Leigh Bodden will be matched up against the receivers and should be able to restrict the passing game. Bodden has been pretty lock down this season and if the defense can get to Johnson early to disrupt him, there is no indication of him relenting. I expect that if Adalius Thomas starts, either him or safety Brandon McGowan will be matched up against TE Kellen Winslow. Winslow can run and catch like a WR, but the Patriots have dealt with that before. When the Pats faced Atlanta and Tony Gonzalez, McGowan kept him to one catch for 10 yards.

* Cadillac Williams vs. The D-Line and Linebackers - Cadillac Williams has been running well this season, but still, he only has 276 yards and 2 TDs. ESPN released a video where their simulation projections predict that if Cadillac rushes for 140 yards AND the Bucs can force 2 Patriot turnovers, they still only have A 6% CHANCE OF WINNING. I don't expect him do rush for half of his season total against the Patriots in another country. Jerod Mayo is back in full effect and the renewed presence of Junior Seau has sparked this defense. With Seau this year the Patriots have not allowed a score... just sayin'.

We should be able to win this one.
Thanks for your time. Enjoy the weekend in London, boys.

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Department of Tate

2009-10-22T19:22:00.005-05:00

UPDATE: Brandon Tate has been activated to the 53-man roster and will play on Sunday.

The more I reminisce about watching Brandon Tate in college, the more I can't wait for him to hit the field this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Bucs. Here's a little highlight video to whet your appetite:

I think that I could make a living throwing to this guy...

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DJ's 2010 NFL Mock Draft

2009-10-22T14:03:00.007-05:00

We welcome a new writer to NE Patriots Draft today, with his very own NFL Mock Draft. Please let him know what you think of your team's pick in the comments below.

Check out the official NE Patriots Draft 2010 NFL Mock Draft too!

Updated: 11/2/2009

1. St. Louis Rams
Russel Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
The Rams were great when they had Orlando Pace (and some other guys...) - Okung and Jason Smith can point them in the right direction.

2. Cleveland Browns
Jake Locker, QB, Washington
Brady Quinn is all but gone and Derek Anderson is, well, Derek Anderson. Locker brings the intensity that Mangini craves.

3. Detroit Lions
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
The Man named Suh will instantly upgrade the Lions poor defense. If their offense can continue to improve, we might see 6-7 wins in 2010.

4. Oakland Raiders
Eric Berry, S, Tennesse
Al Davis loves long touchdowns, and Eric Berry is a game-changing safety that can provide those exciting plays.

5. Kansas City Chiefs
Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St.
DB squared (Dwayne Bowe and Dez Bryant) would be a great help to Matt Cassel, especially if the Chiefs could add some o-line help in the FA market.

6. Buffalo Bills
Aurelius Benn, WR, Illinois
Terrell Owens isn't getting any younger, and Benn brings the same physicality and speed to the position. After Juice Williams, Trent Edwards will look like Dan Marino.

7. Tennessee Titans
Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Kerry Collins = old. Vince Young = crazy. Sam Bradford = cool, calm, and collected - when he isn't hurt that is.

8. Tampa Bay Bucs
Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
McCoy would have been a 1st round pick last year, but his performance this year cemented his position as a top-10 talent.

9. Seattle Seahawks
Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
It might be time to put the Hasselback/Wallace era to bed, and Clausen would be the man to tuck in the sheets. A great arm and vision compliment some able feet.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars
Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
If nothing else, Spikes might sell some tickets for the Jags. This behemoth LB will bring it on run-downs, and is getting more fluid in passing situations.

11. Miami Dolphins
Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
Clayborn is a rare talent that has the ability to play in the 4-3 or the 3-4, as he is equally adept at playing the run and the pass. His functional strength is off the charts.

12. San Francisco 49ers (CAR)
Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
Patrick Willis will LOVE playing behind this mountain of a man that stuffed the run in the SEC.

13. Houston Texans
Taylor Mays, S, USC
Mays would have been the first safety off the board last year, but this year he will take a backseat to Eric Berry -- still a game-changing talent at safety.

14. Washington Redskins
Javier Arenas, CB, Alabama
The Redskins can't draft an owner, so they'll have to settle for a great corner that can also support the run.

15. Dallas Cowboys
Trevard Lindley, CB, Kentucky
Mike Jenkins needs some help, and the big-framed Lindley will be able to provide it. Excellent in the red-zone, Lindley has the skill-set to match up with bigger receivers.

16. Arizona Cardinals
Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU
LaFell is a great receiver, but the Cardinals will be hoping that either Benn or Bryant falls to them here.

17. Denver Broncos (CHI)
Joe Haden, CB, Florida
The Broncos defense is very good, but their CB corps will eventually need a boost when Champ Bailey gets old -- which will be sooner, rather than later.

18. San Diego Chargers
Sergio Kindle, DE, Texas
Shawne Merriman may be done in San Diego, and the Chargers need another impact pass-rusher -- Kindle can provide that type of talent.

19. Philadelphia Eagles
Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
The Eagles need LOTS of help on their o-line, and Trent Williams and Bryan Bulaga are the best on the board, but Bulaga is an injury risk.

20. Green Bay Packers
Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss
Hardy is a great rusher that also has the skills to play the run or work out in coverage -- a helpful skillset for the 3-4.

21. Baltimore Ravens
Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
Dunlap is an aggressive player that would be a great system fit for the Balitmore Ravens.

22. New York Jets
George Selvie, DE/LB, South Florida
A 3-4 hybrid guy, Selvie needs to put on some weight if he doesn't want to end up like Vernon Gholston.

23. San Francisco
Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
Bulaga has battled physical problems all year and hasn't been living up to his normal high standards. His upside still makes him worth a 1st round pick.

24. Seattle Seahawks (DEN)
CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson
Kind of a toss-up between Spiller and Best, with the Seahawks being happy with either at this point.

25. Minnesota Vikings
Rolando McLain, LB, Alabama
While there might be more pressing needs, McLain would be too good to pass up for the Vikings at this point. He and Greenway would be fun to watch.

26. Cinci Bengals
Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Gresham, a complete TE, would provide another competent target for Carson Palmer and add a quality blocker.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers
Ciron Black, OT, LSU
The Steelers need to do a better job protecting Big Ben, and that starts up front.

28. New England Patriots
Tim Tebow, QB/RB/TE, Florida
Bill Belichick LOVES versatility and competitiveness, which Tebow has in spades. Where he will play is the big question though.

29. Atlanta Falcons
Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia
Jonathan Babineaux needs some help inside against the run, which the big Atkins would provide.

30. New York Giants
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
Pierre-Paul has the ability to transition to OLB and the size/wingspan to stay at defensive end.

31. New Orleans Saints
Reshad Jones, S, Georgia
Jones is a good cover safety that will learn greatly under the tutelage of the much improved Saints secondary.

32. Indianapolis Colts
Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida St.
Robinson is a fluid corner, that has the mentality to be effective in run support, perfect for the Colts defense.

Listed at: DC Sports Report, Walter Football, NLSFF, Hail Redskins, Draft Dog, and our very own Patriots Mock Draft Database.

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NFL Beatpaths: Week 7

2009-10-21T17:52:00.001-05:00

The Patriots move up to #2 in the Beatpath rankings, right behind the Denver Broncos. The Pats were able to jump up due to the Buffalo Bills creating a beatloop and ending the Jets' beatpath to the Patriots.

For more NFL Beatpath information, check out Beatpaths.com today!

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