Protection for Brady paramount for Patriots

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said on Tuesday that these types of situations are just part of the game and they’re just doing the best they can to adjust. LeGarrette Blount’s blast was predictably stuffed. Chandler, however, never crossed the numbers and veered back to the sideline before the ball was snapped. For all of that, the Patriots still came out with their 10th win in as many starts this season, taking a 20-13 decision that ended any pretense of a race for the AFC East title, as well as hamstringing Buffalo’s hope of reaching the playoffs since Johnson or Flutie was still a thing. For a little perspective, the 16-0 Patriots of 2007 were an awesome +21.0 in overall relativity, easily the best of any team we’ve tracked since creating the indicator in 2004.

Well the offense has definitely fallen in recent weeks due to all of the injuries.

But, then, the competition will be better, too.

Taylor said he would prefer targeting Watkins more often, but noted that depends on how teams cover him. They need a healthy Taylor, and they need him to step up his play. They’ve recovered nine fumbles on top of 10 interceptions, and lead the league by having turned four of those turnovers into touchdowns. He exited the game after a punt return in the third quarter and was unable to return. Several of those were of the teeth-rattling variety, including one to the chin late in the game from defensive end Jerry Hughes, from which it appeared Brady needed a beat to recover.

That’s survivable against some foes, obviously, but typically it’s indicative of when the Patriots are the most beatable. Whether Bill Belichick and the rest of his staff decide to change the pass protection scheme or to increase the number of blockers in the backfield, an adjustment needs to be made. As he explained, one of his agents even reached out to the team. That’s the exact record they had a year ago 10 games into the 2014 season, with Doug Marrone coaching, Kyle Orton quarterbacking (to use the word loosely) and the same bunch of guys playing defense. Generally, everything in your body makes you want to punch them in the face. “You’re trying to throw to the open guy”, Ryan said. So we got to look at that.

It was a mistake-filled game for the officials. They entered Thanksgiving 19th in scoring and 24th in yards, no better than 17th-best in either passing or rushing. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – With his second career start just a few days away, Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler doesn’t know how many more games he’ll start this season and he doesn’t know how long Peyton Manning will be out.

One of Brady’s favorite targets, tight end Rob Gronkowski, remains the biggest threat.

Now, one may also say that the Patriots should rely more on the running the ball because of the scarcity of available receivers, but this may be very hard and is not advisable.

Missed offensive opportunities cost them. They’re not getting there enough (2.7 times per tilt, 22nd) to comfortably settle for field goals.