‘Stakes Are High’ — Patriots’ playoff pursuit begins with 3 games out of 12 – New England Patriots blog

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Notes and quick thoughts around FOXBOROUGH, Mass. New England Patriots NFL:

1. Patriots’ stakes: Bill Belichick said many times during his tenure as Patriots coach that the football season begins after Thanksgiving. It is vital for his New England football team to defeat the visiting. New York Jets Sunday1 p.m. ET, CBS() to make sure that this happens in the coming season.

The Patriots’ chances to qualify for the playoffs drop to 8% if they lose, according to ESPN Analytics. A win would increase their chances of qualifying for the playoffs to 30%.

These numbers illustrate the urgency players felt as they approached this week after returning from Week 10 with an eagerness to improve their 5-4 record.

“Stakes are high, emotions will be high, it will be highly competitive. There’s a lot on the line,” longtime captain Matthew Slater said.

“It’s a great time to make a good push,” quarterback Mac Jones said.

“Things are starting to get real,” added receiver Jakobi Meyers. “The end of the season is near. We all want to be in a good spot.”

The Jets (3-3) have more margin of error than the Patriots. They also have the motivation to give a devastating punch to their AFC East rival. haven’t beaten in each of the past 13 meetings. According to ESPN Analytics, the Jets have a 87% chance of qualifying for playoffs if they win. They are 59% less likely to lose.

One reason for the Patriots’ lower odds is their remaining schedule, which is rated among the most challenging in the NFL. Sunday’s game kicks off a potentially season-defining stretch of three games in 12 days, with a Thanksgiving road game against the Minnesota Vikings (8-1) and a Thursday night home match against the Buffalo Bills (6-3).

Most Patriots players deflected any mention of what’s ahead, willing to talk only about the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets.

“When you start thinking down the line, or think about the big picture, things get lost in the wash,” linebacker/captain Ja’Whaun Bentley said.

Captain for many years David Andrews echoed similar remarks before adding: “We have a clean slate coming off the bye. These last 8-9 weeks we can determine what it is, or what it looks like.”

2. Windy forecast The Patriots practiced at Gillette Stadium on Friday, a cold Friday with temperatures of 40 degrees. This was in order to provide players who were involved in the kicking game (such as a new punter). Michael Palardy Punt returner Marcus Jones — a simulation for the way the wind might affect Sunday’s game against the Jets. According to the forecast, gusts could reach 20 mph.

Jones, who was born and raised in Enterprise, Alabama, played in college at Houston. Jones reflected on a UConn game on the road late last November, when conditions were similar. “The main thing is just knowing the wind patterns. Sometimes it will be strong winds up high, but around where you are, it will be low winds,” he said.

3. Construction effect: The Patriots’ ongoing construction in the south end zone — which will enclose that side of the stadium once finished in 2023 — has changed the wind pattern in the stadium, according to special teams coordinator Cameron Achord and Belichick. Achord said he has kept detailed notes from each day (even in practice) and relayed: “It hasn’t been a true pattern. It’s been changing each week, so you’re really relying on what you’re feeling on game day.”

4. Rosie view: An ex-Patriots linebacker Rosevelt Colvin He tries to keep an eye on the team every week and his eyes naturally drift back to his old position. “[Matthew] Judon is killing it,” he said of the NFL’s sack leader with 11.5. “Not a lot of help from the other side, but they are creative with the rushes mixing in the inside linebackers. It looks like he’s more in the Willie [McGinest]-style role versus mine, where I’d drop more [in coverage].”

5. Conservative BB Teams are going for it on fourth down almost as much as ever, but Bill Belichick isn’t going along with the trend. This season has seen 399 plays, which is the second-most in 10 weeks since 2000. The Patriots are currently at 9.7%, which is the fourth lowest rate of go-for it in a season. This puts them on pace to be the lowest since Belichick took over as their coach in 2000.

6. Guy’s jersey: Defensive tackle Lawrence Guy This is his sixth season with the Patriots. The thing that makes this season special for his family is the change he made to the jersey’s back. It no longer reads “Guy,” but instead “Guy Sr.” — a reference to his 3-year-old son, Lawrence. “I felt like I wasn’t giving him respect,” he said. “I tried to do this last year, but it’s a process to get it done and takes a couple months after submitting the birth certificate. It got approved just in time — if you look at preseason, it’s not there, but in the season, it’s been there. This is to honor him and his name.”

7. Winter is upon us Rookie running back Kevin HarrisSixth-round South Carolina draft choice, Harris, walked out of the locker with an ice brush and a scraper. Asked if he’s ever used one before, he shook his head, smiled, and said: “I need one now.” It was a reminder that sub-freezing temperatures have arrived in New England, which can be a shock of sorts to rookies like Harris, who grew up in Hinesville, Georgia.

8. Cardona’s future: Joe Cardona has been the Patriots’ long-snapper since the team selected him in the fifth round of the 2015 draft and has been at the forefront of fighting for the position to gain more respect across the NFL, such as putting it on the Pro Bowl ballot. Cardona, who is in the final year of his contract, told Sports Illustrated he’d also like to see the position respected more at the negotiating table, which could foreshadow how he plans to approach his impending free agency.

9. Patten’s beginning: Late Patriots receiver David Patten’s son, Daquan, is now following in his footsteps after signing with the Albany Empire of the Arena Football League on Friday. It’s a decision that hits close to home, as David — who tragically died in a motorcycle accident In September 2021 — Daquan began his professional career as a player with the Albany Firebirds in 1995, and then entered the NFL with the Giants in the following year. Daquan would love that scenario.

10. Did you know that? The Patriots’ 13 straight wins over the Jets is tied for the longest active streak in the NFL, with the Chiefs having won 13 straight games over the Broncos. This streak is second in Patriots history and follows only a 15-game winning streak against the Bills between 2003-10.


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