10. 49ers Goal-line Stand (Super Bowl XVI)

The San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals met in Super Bowl XVI at the Pontiac Superdome in Pontiac, Michigan. The slightly favored 49ers, led by Joe Montana, Dwight Clark, and Ronnie Lott, put together a goal-line stand in the third quarter that stands out as one of the all-time great Super Bowl moments.

After Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson failed to get in the end zone on first down and Pete Johnson lost a yard on second down, Anderson tossed the ball to Charles Alexander who, on a missed route, was brought down by Dan Bunz to force fourth down.

9. Lynn Swann’s Bobbled Catch (Super Bowl X)

Lynn Swann had just four receptions for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl X against the Dallas Cowboys, but they were four of the biggest receptions in Super Bowl history, going for a total of 161 yards and a touchdown. The most memorable of the four receptions stands out as an all-time great Super Bowl moment.

In the January sun at the Miami Orange Bowl, quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw a long pass down the field to Swann who somehow came down with the 53-yard reception after a bobble. Though the 64-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter was longer, the bobbled catch is even more memorable, standing out as one of the most improbable catches in NFL history.

8. Vince Lombardi’s Last Game with the Packers (Super Bowl II)

Super Bowl II between the Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders at the Miami Orange Bowl wasn’t one of the more competitive games in Super Bowl history, with the Packers taking a quite easy 33-14 win. But it is one of the most memorable games in NFL history because it was the final game Vince Lombardi would coach for the Packers.

In a moment forever secured in NFL history, the Packers carried Lombardi off the field after securing the win over the Raiders. The legendary coach would be stricken ill and die untimely just two years later in 1970 at just 57.

7. Jackie Smith’s Drop (Super Bowl XIII)

Jackie Smith is one of the NFL’s all-time greatest tight ends, as well as one of the all-time greatest Cardinals. His Hall of Fame resumé comes entirely on the merits of his St. Louis Cardinals career. However, his one season with the Dallas Cowboys provided the moment that is perhaps most attached to his NFL career.

In a Miami Orange Bowl Super Bowl rematch between the Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Roger Staubach attempted a pass to a wide open Smith in the end zone in the third quarter. In an uncharacteristic turn, Smith dropped the ball, killing a sure touchdown for the Cowboys. It’s long been said that Smith expected the ball to be thrown by Staubach in his usual manner, but Staubach, seeing how wide open his target was, decided to loft it to him. Regardless, the moment lives in Super Bowl history.

6. Patriots Comeback (Super Bowl LI)

The largest comeback in Super Bowl history happened at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas in Super Bowl LI. Whether you see the comeback as a testament to Tom Brady’s greatness, an all-time great halftime adjustment, or an epic collapse by the Atlanta Falcons, the game is one of the most memorable Super Bowls ever played.

With the score 28-9 in favor of the Falcons at the start of the fourth quarter, the New England Patriots rattled off 19 consecutive points to tie the game and set it to overtime. After Brady hit James White, Danny Amendola, and Chris Hogan to get the Patriots down the field, a pass interference call would put the team in the red zone. On a pitch to White, the most improbable win in Super Bowl history was cemented as he scored the final touchdown.

5. Titans Just Short (Super Bowl XXXIV)

At the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, the Tennessee Titans gave the “Greatest Show on Turf” all it could handle. Led by the warrior Steve McNair, the Titans just wouldn’t go away. The high-powered St. Louis Rams were on the ropes as McNair led the Titans offense down the field one last time late in the fourth quarter.

As the clock stood at six seconds remaining in the game, McNair and the Titans had time for just one more play in an attempt to tie the game. A final pass was completed to wide receiver Kevin Dyson who had darted across the middle of the field to get open. Rams linebacker Mike Jones wrapped up Dyson, as the receiver reached out for the end zone and came up just short of the goal-line as time expired.

4. James Harrison’s Interception (Super Bowl XLIII)

Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida was the sight of one of the greatest Super Bowls in NFL history. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals exchanged a number of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history, one of which was James Harrison’s goal-line interception return for a touchdown.

Harrison intercepted a pass from Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner to take away a Cardinals touchdown, returning it 100 yards for a touchdown just before halftime to increase the Steelers’ lead to 17-7. At the time, it was the longest play in Super Bowl history.

3. Larry Fitzgerald’s Touchdown (Super Bowl XLIII)

Again, during Super Bowl XLIII, one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history took place. This time, Larry Fitzgerald provided the moment on a 64-yard touchdown catch from Kurt Warner to give the Cardinals their first lead of the game 23-20 with under three minutes to go in the game.

This moment was massive, as it appeared the Cardinals may have been on their way to winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history, their only championships coming in the pre-Super Bowl era of the NFL. It didn’t happen, of course, as the Steelers would go down and score on a game-winning drive that provided yet another list-worthy moment.

2. Helmet Catch (Super Bowl XLII)

Then-University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona was the site of the famous “helmet catch” by David Tyree to lead the New York Giants to victory over that season’s thought-to-be-unbeatable New England Patriots, who had gone 16-0 in the regular season. Eli Manning’s escape from pressure to make the pass was perhaps equally as improbably as the catch itself.

The Giants’ victory was over a Patriots team favored by double digits. In fact, the Giants didn’t even win their division during the regular season. All of this adds up to one of the ultimate David vs. Goliath stories in professional sports history.

1. Joe Namath’s Guarantee (Super Bowl III)

Super Bowl III at the Miami Orange Bowl remains the biggest moment in Super Bowl history. Charismatic New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath’s guarantee of victory over the seemingly superior Baltimore Colts was one of the gutsiest, some might say stupidest calls in professional sports history. Nevertheless, the 19.5-point underdogs pulled off the impossible.

The game was also huge in changing perceptions around the game of pro football. At the time, it was believed that AFL teams stood absolutely no chance against NFL teams, having been beaten badly in the first two Super Bowls. The brash, confident Namath laid waste to that idea, on his way to 206 passing yards, an MVP performance, and what is still the greatest moment in Super Bowl history.

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By: Jeremy Trottier

The AFC East has been one of the lesser contested divisions in the NFL these past two decades, with the New England Patriots dominating it for a large number of years.  With the all-time series in favor of the Dolphins, the difference in wins is now narrowed down to only 6 games at 60-54-0 and was even within 2 games in 2019 prior to the Dolphins winning the last 4.  In this article, I will be covering some of the most notable games in this rivalry’s history and bringing back some memories from this long-standing matchup. 

December 9^th, 2018 ”“ The Miracle in Miami

Let’s start off with something recent in this rivalry, just for those who are newer to football as most fans of either team will remember this. 

Many will remember this game for the late heroics, which we will get to shortly.  But many do not remember how amazing this game was prior to that moment, as it was a highly contested game throughout all 4 quarters.  27-21 at halftime in favor of New England after a 21-point 2^nd quarter, and then they got shutout in the 3^rd and Miami took the lead 28-27.  New England rallies back with 2 field goals in the 4^th, which leads up to the final drive. 

Stephen Gostkowski kicks off with 16 seconds left in the 4^th, Kalen Ballage returns it to the Miami 31-yard line.  With 7 seconds left, Ryan Fitzpatrick throws to just before midfield to Kenny Stills, who laterals to Devante Parker, who does the same to Kenyan Drake, taking the extra 48 yards to the endzone.  The best, or worst, part depending on which fanbase you are a part of, is that playing deep safety was none other than Rob Gronkowski”¦a tight end”¦who got turned around and was the last man to beat and missed the tackle.

Is this the best game of all time between these teams?  No.  But is it one of, if not the most memorable single play between these two teams?  Absolutely.

September 4^th, 1994 ”“ Dan Marino’s Revenge

A game that seems to be heavily overlooked in the Patriots vs Dolphins rivalry was one that featured a slew of high-level battles.  Dan Marino returning from his Achilles injury vs Drew Bledsoe in the season where he led the league in passing yards and various other passing stats.  Bill Parcells vs Don Shula, two of the best coaches to ever grace the game of football with their knowledge. 

This game simply put was a battle through and through, even with Miami falling by 11 points in the 2^nd quarter.  Irving Fryar is your guy to thank for this win if you are the Miami Dolphins, who had one of the best all-time performances that is never talked about.  Remember the Randy Moss 3 reception, 163-yard, 3 touchdown statline for the Vikings?  Try 5 receptions for 211 yards and 3 touchdowns for Irving Fryar on this day.  On the other side, Patriots receiver Ben Coates had 8 receptions for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns, which is also, extremely amazing. 

The quarterback battles come in close second with how impressive they were.  Drew Bledsoe had 421 passing yards on 32/51 accuracy, 4 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and a 98.6 passer rating.  Dan Marino?  23 for 42 for 472 yards, 5 touchdowns, 1 interception, and a 124.3 passer rating.  This was the Dolphins revenge game for the Patriots knocking them out of playoff contention the year prior, and they ended up winning 39-35, even after not scoring in the first quarter. 

Oh, and did I mention the field was a mess of ripped up grass and mud?  It had poured most of the morning, and the half football/half baseball field of Joe Robbie Stadium was an absolute mess.  Yet, it turned into one of the best passing games of all time.  Amazing. 

January 12^th, 1986 ”“ Patriots finally win on the road

Finally, we have the game of firsts.  This game was the first time the New England Patriots (not the Boston Patriots) had ever won in Miami, which was impressive enough as they had to try 15 times under the new name before finally beating Miami in their home stadium.  On top of that?  It was the AFC Title game.  On top of that?  It was the first time the Miami Dolphins ever lost in the AFC Title game. 

This game was also the battle of absolute polar opposite teams.  New England focused on rushing the ball and defense, forcing 6 turnovers in the game, yes, 6.  3 of which being fumbles and 3 being interceptions.  In terms of the running game, New England ran the ball 53 times on the day, gathering 255 yards across all players, and weirdly enough, only 1 touchdown.  The other 3 touchdowns came in 12 passing attempts and 10 completions for Tony Eason, who only had 71 passing yards on the day. 

Miami on the other hand, passed 48 times for 20 completions with Dan Marino, who also had 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  Miami only ran the ball 13 times on the night, 40 less than the Patriots.  This was just simply put a weird matchup that no one expected, yet it happened, and it was extremely intriguing. 

The post Breaking down the history of the Miami Dolphins vs New England Patriots appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

The Buffalo Bills host the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football in one of the most hotly anticipated games of the season. 

With a combined 15-8 record and one win between them and still two games to play against each other, there is a lot at stake in this game. 

In a battle for the AFC East crown and the number one seed, is this the start of a new rivalry in the NFL? 

Head Coaching Excellence

Both these teams are helped by excellent head coaches. Bill Belichick is widely seen as the greatest head coach of all time and Sean McDermott is one of the best young head coaches around. 

One thing a team needs to succeed is strong and reliable head coaching. This will ensure both teams will be competitive for years to come. 

Since arriving in 2017, Sean McDermott guided the Bills to their first playoff appearance since the 1999 campaign and also their first playoff wins since the 1995 season when they went all the way to the AFC Championship game earlier this year.

Belichick is proving, with their 8-4 record so far, that he can more than cope without Tom Brady. Their defense looks far better than it did last season, without the injuries and opt-outs suffered in 2020. Running back Damien Harris has 643 yards and 8 touchdowns to his name. They also have a new rookie QB that has massively impressed during his first-ever NFL season.

QB Battle 

Mac Jones was drafted fifteenth overall by the Patriots in this year’s draft. He was expected to be the backup to Cam Newton, but the former MVP was cut before the start of the season, leading the way for Mac to be the starter in New England. So far, he has 2,850 yards, 16 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in the 12 games so far this campaign. This has him projected to end the season with 4,038 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Not bad for a rookie. 

He looks composed in the pocket, with a tremendous amount of confidence on the field for someone so new to the league. 

His rookie season has gone a lot better than Josh Allen’s did. The Bills QB had a troublesome first two seasons that led to many questions from outsiders looking in as well as the NFL media. He proved himself last season, with a brilliant campaign as the Bills went the furthest, they have been in the playoffs since the 1993 season. He threw for 4,544 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. This season, he has thrown for 3,071 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 picks. 

He also knows how to use his feet, with 8 rushing touchdowns and 421 rushing yards in 2020. He is also the team’s second leading rusher so far in the 2021 season, with 383 yards and 3 touchdowns. 

This is going to be a very exciting QB battle, between two young quarterbacks that are going to be great for a number of years. Whilst Allen is the more experienced and completed player, Mac Jones has that swagger that not a lot of young players have in the position. It is harsh for Mac more than anyone else to make the comparison to Brady, but he does look like a young version of TB12. 

A Wide Open AFC

The AFC is wide open this year. The NFC has five teams that everyone knows is good whereas no one knows who is good in the AFC. Everyone is beating each other, and suffering shock defeats in the process.

New England have hit form at the right time, with a current six game winning streak that has seen them go from 2-4 to 8-4. Meanwhile, the Bills’ inconsistent past few weeks has allowed their division rivals to creep up the table. The run game has been poor, and teams have been much more able to stop Stefon Diggs, despite the stats telling you otherwise. The defense has made a step up, which will help Bills if they are to make the postseason. 

There is just two wins separating the number one seed Baltimore Ravens and the seventh seed Los Angeles Chargers. Both the Pats and Bills will be optimistic that they can still secure both the AFC East and the top seed in the AFC. This adds more importance onto the game on Monday Night Football as well as their week 16 matchup. 

Game Prediction

This game is going to be tight and tense. Defensively wise, the Bills have allowed the least yards per game, with the Patriots in fourth. Buffalo are also top of the league in passing yards allowed (1,964) whereas the Pats are in seventh (2,411). Buffalo are also fifth in total rushing yards allowed (1,063), with New England in the lowly position of 25^th (1,389). This has to be where the Bills capitalise. Whether this be lead rusher Devin Singletary or Josh Allen, this will be the way to beat New England. 

No team has allowed fewer total points in the league this season than Buffalo (1^st) and New England (2^nd). Despite the Patriots’ poor run defense this season, they have managed to stop teams getting many points, which is a credit to their redzone defense. New England’s 48.39% is only topped by the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints, with the Bills in seventh (51.61%)

If New England can keep this up against the Bills on Monday, then this is how they can beat the Bills, stopping them on crucial plays and in crucial areas on the field . 

In terms of the game, form is going to be a massive factor and New England have it. They may be on the road, but I am backing the Patriots to secure a vital win and gain a two-win advantage over Buffalo.

Score prediction: Patriots 27-24 Bills 

The post Patriots vs Bills Preview: Is This The Start Of A New Rivalry? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Reese Nasser

The New England Patriots were arguably the team most impacted by Covid opt-outs in 2020. They lost key pieces on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. These losses represented both their play on the field and their record at the end of the season. 

New England finished 2020 with a 7-9 record, their first single-digit win season since 2002, and their first losing season since the year 2000. 

But 2021 should be different for this New England defense. They have been aggressive in fixing this defense, through the draft and free agency. This defense will look vastly different than it did in 2020 when they allowed 22.1 ppg, their most in more than 20 years. Here’s why this Patriots defense will return to form in 2021. 

Returning players post-covid 

The Patriots will be getting back veteran linebacker Dont’a Hightower this season after he chose to opt-out of last season due to concerns with covid. 

The last time that Hightower stepped onto the field for the Patriots, he left his mark. He played well in 2019, recording 5.5 sacks, 71 tackles, and 8 tackles for loss. 

He has crafted out his role in New England. He has spent eight seasons with the Patriots and even though this team has gone through a drastic change, he should continue to be a leader on this squad in 2021. 

Young players 

New England has gone out of their way to establish a defense consisting of some of the NFL’s best young talents. They have continued their streak of being one of the best drafting teams in the NFL, continuing to find hidden gems and getting lucky enough to have star collegiate players fall to them in the draft. 

The Patriots drafted safety Kyle Dugger out of Lenoir-Rhyne with the 37th pick in the 2020 draft. New England took a swing on selecting Dugger, as many teams chose to pass on him due to him being from a division II school.

Dugger played well when called upon as he started 7 games for the Patriots and appeared in 14. He recorded 64 tackles and overall looked like a building block for this defense. He will have big shoes to fill, as he steps into the role left by longtime safety Patrick Chung who opted out of 2020 and eventually made the decision to retire.

Linebacker Chase Winovich will also look to be a long term piece of this defense. Entering year-three, Winovich is finally starting to find his footing in this Patriots defense. He has recorded 5.5 sacks in both of his first two seasons and has recorded 74 tackles and 10 tackles for loss during his time. 

Strong Rookie Class

The Patriots went heavy on defense in the 2021 draft. After selecting Alabama quarterback Mac Jones with their first pick of the draft, they doubled up on defense with their next two picks. With the 38th pick, they selected Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore. They then selected Oklahoma edge rusher Ronnie Perkins with the 96th pick. 

Barmore was highly regarded as the draft’s best defensive tackle. His lasting until pick 38 caught many people off-guard and the Patriots will benefit from this selection. 

Barmore will look to be a day one starter on this defense. In his final 11 games at Alabama, he racked up 9.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks. The Patriots will expect big things from their second-round selection. 

Oklahoma edge rusher Ronnie Perkins will be more of a long-term development for the Patriots. He will sit behind and learn from some of the league’s best at his position. 

Perkins was one of college football’s best edge players in recent seasons. He spent three seasons at Oklahoma where he made an impact from day one. During his time, he tallied 16.5 sacks and 32 tackles for loss. He could be a shocking addition to this defense and could be a big piece in the near future. 

Free Agent Signings 

The Patriots went all in on free agency this off-season. They spent big on both sides of the ball. On defense, they added solid defensive players such as Matthew Judon, Kyle Van Noy, and Davon Godchaux. The players that they added on defense could cause this unit to instantly become one of the NFL’s best. 

Matthew Judon could prove to be the biggest signing for this defense. He signed a four-year $56 million dollar deal that will make him a centerpiece of this defense. 

Judon played during his time with the Baltimore Ravens. He spent five years in Baltimore where he recorded 34.5 sacks and 103 quarterback hits. 

The Patriots clearly have a history full of success, and after a lackluster 2020 are looking to make sure that this upcoming season is different. They have gone all in with the team that they have assembled. This defense has been consistent for this team and their 2021 will show that they will return to being elite. Expect big things from this unit this upcoming season. 

The post Why the Patriots defense will return to being elite in 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Pat Pitts

The Patriots received a culture shock finishing their season in Week 17, then watched as their former face of the franchise won another Super Bowl. Their 7-9 record ranks as the second worst season Belichick has had in New England. In 2000, the Patriots finished the season 5-11. The next season turned out a bit different. 

History repeats itself. 

If I was asked to summarize the Patriots’ 2020 season, I would not be nice. It was like reading about a tragic car crash in the newspaper. The more you read into it, the worse the incident becomes. 

A new year means a fresh start. Thank you football gods.

The Bills winning the AFC East snapped an 11-year consecutive streak of the Patriots sitting atop of the division. A historic streak that may be in jeopardy by how the Bills looked last season. Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs mirrored Brady & Moss in 2007 at times. The Dolphins caught the eyes of fans after barely missing the playoffs behind a rookie QB. It is going to be a competitive division this year, but not for Jets fans. 

Sorry. 

The Patriots will reclaim their throne at the top of the AFC East this season. The Bills and Dolphins have talented, young rosters ready to compete for a Lombardi, but they are missing one thing. A head coach who has won more Super Bowls than both of the franchises combined.

Belichick needs to prove to the football world he can win without Tom Brady. He trails his former QB in that department. This is the year he will even the score and it starts with the division. 

These three reasons are a few of many reasons why they will win their 18th division title in 21 years. 

A rebuilt offense

The 2020 Patriots lacked a lot of things but mainly star power. Cam Newton can play scapegoat, but look who his receivers were. Jakobi Meyers and Damiere Byrd led the team in targets. Belichick knew he had to make an upgrade. 

The signings of Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor are leaps and bounds better than the mediocrity Newton threw to last season. In addition, however, Newton gained two of the league’s top five tight ends in Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. As a result, the offense becomes an instant improvement without a down of football played. 

In 2011, the Patriots relied heavily on their two TE system in Gronk and Hernandez. The duo ranked two and three in every major receiving category, targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns. With Newton’s regressing arm, these two will be more significant in the offense than fans realize. 

Defense wins a championship, again. 

Belichick’s championship teams consisted of TB12 and stalwart defense. Guys like Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, and Ty Law were the core of the first dynasty, while Dont’a Hightower, Stephon Gilmore, and the McCourty Bros. carried the torch into the second one. 

Who’s next in line of the throne? 

The Patriots signed a few players to help with their 25th ranked defense against the run. Matt Judon (EDGE), Devon Godchaux (DL), and former Patriot Kyle Van Noy (LB) help the cause with their run-stopping ability and getting to the quarterback. 

They even upgraded their passing defense, signing Jalen Mills and placing a second-round tender on J.C Jackson, who had a breakout season finishing top three in interceptions. Training camp will bring many eyeson who will pick up the torch into the third dynasty era. 

History always repeats itself.

I look at sports a bit differently than most people. Nevertheless, there are patterns within all sports, specifically in certain franchises. The Patriots have a few of these patterns, but one stands out in particular. 

Since 2000, the Patriots have not won the AFC East three times However, the 2000,2002,2008). The season following their failure to capture, they won the division. Two of those three times, they played and won that year’s Super Bowl. 

Yes, it is a bit out there, but history repeats itself. Constantly. 

The New England Patriots are destined to climb back up the mountain, even without Tom Brady. Bill Belichick knows the game better than he knows his own family. He understands how to win and win often. So whether division winners this season. I guarantee it.  

The post Why the Pats could return to being AFC East champions appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jeremy Trottier

Last season the New England Patriots lost the AFC East division title for the first time since 2008, in their first season without their former franchise QB Tom Brady.  These struggles were not solely due in part to the loss of Brady however, as they had many opt-outs in the 2020-2021 season as well due to Covid-19.  Early on in the season the Patriots looked somewhat competitive for a period of time, but then started to fall off after Cam Newton took to Covid protocols and they lost all their momentum. 

With that said, this bout of poor play could continue into the 2021-2022 season.  Will it?  That remains to be seen.  However, in this article, I will be going over three reasons as to why the Patriots could miss the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.  

Strengthening Division

One of the biggest reasons the Patriots struggled last year on top of the roster issues was how strong the division had become.  The Buffalo Bills made it all the way to the AFC Championship and won the division, which was impressive on its own.  With Josh Allen finally having that breakout season the Bills were waiting to see, and Stefon Diggs being a phenomenal WR1 for them, they really showed that they are a hugely competitive team in the NFL again.  Adding on the pass rush in the form of Gregory Rousseau and Carlos Basham JR will exponentially increase their defensive capabilities, as they lacked it heavily last season.  The addition of Emmanuel Sanders and his Super Bowl pedigree/veteran leadership will also really help out with their offensive attack.

The Miami Dolphins also has continued to improve this offseason after just barely missing the Wild Card spot last season.  With Tua Tagovailoa as the new full-time starter, if he can prove himself to be the dual-threat QB everyone saw him be in college, the Dolphins could be primed for a playoff appearance.  The additions of Jaylen Waddle, Will Fuller, Jaelan Phillips, Jevon Holland, and Liam Eichenberg should all hugely improve the team at their respective positions.

Finally the New York Jets, who had a sneakily decent offseason and have pushed themselves into a spot to win quite a bit this year if things go right.  The first spots they improved were along the defensive line, bringing in Carl Lawson, Sheldon Rankins, and Vinny Curry, who will all be huge improvements to this unit.  Corey Davis, Tyler Kroft, Tevin Coleman, Lamarcus Joyner, and Jarrad Davis highlight some of their other signings who could improve the team.  Obviously the biggest two talking pieces being Zach Wilson and Alijah Vera-Tucker, who both should be massive upgrades.

Quarterback Development/Rotation

The quarterback position for the Patriots is basically just a throw-up in the air right now, between Cam Newton and Mac Jones.  Trying to work with both of them this season will be quite the task as if whoever starts turns out to have a bad start, they have to completely change the offense for the other QB.  They are so wildly different in terms of play style that this would be a huge detriment to Bill Belichick and would likely lead to a few losses as they rotate everything around.  

Cam Newton would play more with the ball in his own hands rather than anyone else’s, as he rushes a ton, which is fine because he is good at it, but it really does not space the offense out at all.  Mac Jones on the other hand is the polar opposite, he wants the ball out of his hands and into the hands of the teams playmakers, which is not good in improvisational situations.  This leads to quite the dilemma, where either way they go, they could end up having to switch at some point.  As of now, Bill says Cam is in the driver seat to start, to quote him:

“I think he’ll (Jones) be able to process the offense, It’s obviously gonna take a lot of time, we’ll see how it goes. Cam’s our quarterback. Whatever time Jarrett (Stidham) or Mac are ready to challenge and compete, we’ll see how that goes. Right now, Mac, he’s just got a lot of learning in front of him.”

This is an interesting quote, as Stidham is also included here, possibly just to be fair to him.  If Stidham is truly in this conversation, that deepens things even further as the Patriots then would have three QBs vying for one spot by the mid-season mark.  

Receiving Corps

Even with the offseason moves the Patriots have made, they still lack a true WR1 currently.  Bringing in Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne is a good start to create some depth/WR2 and WR3 options, however, neither are a true first option.  Jakobi Meyers was solid last year as the starter, but he was not exceptionally strong in terms of yards even with 59 receptions and 81 targets.  Some may say the TE position can carry the production, however that is unlikely as we saw that type of offense for a few years in Baltimore where they have Mark Andrews, but he alone cannot take the brunt of all the receiving, and even they have Marquise Brown.

At the end of the day, both Cam Newton and Mac Jones will need a primary wide receiver to throw to, its as simple as that.  Whether they make a trade, find someone in free agency (even though the options left are not optimal for a WR1), or even draft one next season, it will need to happen without a doubt.  The Patriots best option here in my opinion would be using this year to figure out the QB position and settle in all their new players into the scheme.  Once the 2022 Draft rolls around, grab a receiver like Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, or Justyn Ross, and make their push for the playoffs with a true receiving core and set in stone QB.  

The post 3 reasons why the Patriots could miss the playoffs again appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Tayyib Abu

Cam Newton enjoyed an inconsistent debut season as the Patriots quarterback. Understandably, there was always going to be some growing pains. Newton is an entirely different quarterback to Tom Brady; add a truncated offseason program and a lack of weapons;

Newton was climbing a steep mountain. Nevertheless, the former MVP played well, even recapturing some of that MVP form at times. Conversely, some erratic performances blighted his season. Newton returns in 2021 in Foxboro.

This year, rookie quarterback Mac Jones will share the quarterback room in Massachusetts. The pressure is on Newton to master the offense and be QB1 come opening day. It’s time to break down why the former first overall pick and MVP could master the attack in 2021.

Reason One – Familiarity

Familiarity is often said to breed contempt. However, familiarity can be a quarterback’s best friend, even more so in New England. The Patriots run an adapted version of the Erhardt-Perkins offensive system. It got installed by Charlie Weis nearly 20 years ago, and the Pats have stuck with it since.

One of the more complex elements to learn about this playbook is the verbiage. It is very different from the standard NFL playbooks that the rest of the league utilizes. We saw Tom Brady struggle to adapt in the early phases in Tampa Bay, and the same can get said for Newton.

Now with an entire season’s worth of experience as well as a full offseason, Newton should be able to wrap his head around the playbook at a higher level. The first building block of success for quarterbacks is understanding every tiny detail of the offence. Newton should get that checked off this offseason.

Reason Two – New Weapons

The whole NFL world knew the severe lack of talent and depth hurt the Patriots last year. With Julian Edelman retiring this offseason, the final piece of the Brady Bunch finally departed 1 Patriot Place. Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft knew the offense required a significant overhaul. Therefore, it surprised no one that New England spent big as soon as free agency started.

Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Kendrick Bourne, and Nelson Agholor all made their way to New England. In addition, new England added experienced players that Newton could form relationships with immediately. The two tight ends could be an inspired decision from New England. Jonnu Smith is an excellent red-zone target, while Hunter Henry is a gritty, talented pass-catching target between the numbers.

Newton excelled in 2015 when he had Greg Olsen at his best; he could recapture some of that magic with these two players. Finally, the Patriots understand the potency of two-tight end sets and 21 personnel. With a big, physical runner at quarterback, it could unleash Newton’s ability as a runner.

Reason Three – Full Health

Cam Newton has not played an entire 16 game season since 2017. A myriad of different injuries and concussions have plagued him since his MVP campaign. Fortunately, Newton looked in good physical shape last year, and in the early phases of minicamp, no injury concerns have appeared.

Newton is a player that must play at full throttle to be at his best. Sadly, he hasn’t been at 100% so much of his career, and it’s affected his confidence and on-field play. If Newton can enter training camp healthy, he can start the season in the best condition since 2015.

Reason Four – The Running Game

The Patriots are committed to running the ball. The ground game is something that Bill Belichick wishes to establish. With their bevy of complementary backs, the Patriots will lean on the run a lot in 2021. Their offensive line ranked 10th in ESPN’s run block success rate metric, and they should be strong again. With an established running game, the playbook should open up for Newton.

His play-action game is still strong; New England could even use play-action, bootlegs or designed rollouts for Newton out of heavy personnel. Newton can thrive when throwing into good windows; a successful running game could do that for him. Finally, a running game can add Newton’s threat of running to the backfield, especially in the red zone.

The post Why Cam Newton could master the Patriots offense appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Reese Nasser

Bill Belichick is regarded as maybe the greatest coach in all of sports. He has created a dynasty with the New England Patriots. A dynasty where he has one six Super Bowls. Now there are questions about the future of his team after they struggled for the first time in years. But even with questions surrounding the team, Neither Belichick nor his legacy have been diminished. He is looked at through the same lens as other legendary coaches such as Greg Popovich, Nick Saban, or Phil Jackson. Each has created their own legacy; their own way of doing things. And yet, even when Belichick is discussed, he is held to almost a different standard than the others.

Belichick’s Outlook on the Game

Belichick has achieved his success by how he views the game of football. His approach differs from many others. He sees the game as black and white, win or lose. When talking about the game, he quotes The Art of War. “Attack weaknesses and utilize strengths.” 

For Belichick, it is that simple. Just figure out a way to win, at any cost. And don’t stop until you do win. The Patriots reaching nine Super Bowls is no accident. 

Oftentimes when looking at Belichick when he coaches, there is a lack of emotion. He is so locked into the game that even when his team is winning, he still appears almost disinterred. It is not until the job is done and the goal has been achieved that Belichick will crack. 

Team Philosophy 

When watching him coach, it is almost poetic. The team is a well oiled machine, working together. There is a clear foundation within the Patriots. As noted by many players, it is very much a team first mindset. The Patriots can be compared to the New York Yankees in that way. Whenever a player goes to one of these teams, their personality is almost put on the backburner. Instead, they become a part of the team fully. 

Belichick creates a team that is always prepared and the approach that they take to the game is like no other. He doesn’t say much outside of football. Even in regards to football, he stays fairly quiet. On the occasion that he does speak, it is always worth quoting. 

He has created a strategy and a team outlook that is very difficult to recreate. Belichick has one of the most extensive coaching trees in the NFL. Yet very few of these coaches have gone on to achieve success with their other teams. When looking at the roster of the Patriots, much like the revolving coaching staff, it is the same next man up philosophy. Even with the best players to come through New England, Belichick has treated them all the same. They come and go yet the Patriots have stayed solid and the goal has never changed. Be the best team you can be and put the team first. Belichick’s unique ideology and philosophy has led this charge and as long as he is coach in New England, you can’t expect any of this to change. 

The post Why Belichick’s philosophy is still successful and unique appeared first on Pro Football Mania.