The Patriots are in the postseason for the primary time in 4 years, and our readers have quite a bit on their minds.
Let’s reply their questions on this week’s mailbag.
@Patsfan19838268: Hello Doug – do you assume Vrabel has any remorse for a way straightforward of a camp he ran given 2 of their losses have been proper out of the gate in September?
I wouldn’t. If I have been head coach Mike Vrabel, I’d have zero regrets in anyway about how he dealt with this season. He turned a four-win crew right into a 14-win crew. I feel the Patriots most likely would have misplaced these video games no matter how he dealt with coaching camp.
And in return, the Patriots have had an especially wholesome crew this season. We’ll see what happens with Mack Hollins and Joshua Farmer after they’re eligible to return, however up up to now, operating again Antonio Gibson was the one participant misplaced for the season attributable to damage.
The Patriots weren’t thought of a deep crew heading into the 2025 season, so staying wholesome was paramount and is among the key explanation why that turnaround occurred. And if going simpler on the crew in coaching camp helped them keep wholesome in the course of the season, then it was value any early losses.
@stoolienate: I used to be pleasantly shocked with Bradbury this yr. Suppose they lock him up long-term?
That’s robust. Garrett Bradbury will likely be 31 subsequent season. And he’s already signed for 2026.
The Patriots at the moment have 2025 third-round decide Jared Wilson taking part in left guard, but it surely looks like his greatest place remains to be at heart.
So, I’d most likely let Bradbury play out his contract after which resolve in the event that they need to re-sign him subsequent offseason.
Bradbury has been a worthwhile addition on and off the sector. He hasn’t allowed a sack, and he’s been a gentle veteran chief within the locker room.
@kjbuys13: What’s the climate forecast for sunday night time and why does drake not put on sleeves? Looks like in chilly video games it takes him a pair sequence to look himself..
That’s a very good query, and one we might pose to Maye this week. My guess is that he’s merely extra snug taking part in with out sleeves. Or possibly he’s getting pressured to not look tender.
I don’t know if I agree that it takes him a bit to heat up. It was chilly in New York a pair weeks in the past when the Patriots went on six straight touchdown-scoring drives.
As for this week’s forecast, it’s presupposed to be 25 levels with an actual really feel of 11 and wind gusts as much as 22 MPH on Sunday night time.
That must be fairly uncomfortable for gamers accustomed to taking part in in sunny Los Angeles.
@MWery: Hey Doug Patriots should do that to beat Chargers
I agree with Invoice Belichick that getting out to an early lead is massive for the Patriots.
“This can be a crew that if the Chargers need to play from behind and need to cross block and attempt to shield and throw the ball 35, 40 occasions a recreation, I feel they’re going to be in loads of hassle,” Belichick stated on SiriusXM.
The Chargers are with out their prime two tackles in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, and quarterback Justin Herbert is taking part in with a hand damage.
If the Patriots get out to an early lead, then outdoors linebackers Ok’Lavon Chaisson, Anfernee Jennings, Elijah Ponder and Harold Landry (if wholesome), can tee off on these tackles. Defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore are additionally at their greatest within the passing recreation, bringing stress.
The Patriots shouldn’t have a very environment friendly cross rush, however they’re additionally not completley ineffective.
Maye and the Patriots’ offense have the power to start out sizzling. The protection simply can’t take a nap on early drives like they’ve at occasions this season.
@sabnabdab: Hen wings or nachos?
Can I decide each? If not, wings.
@silkytheIII: Tbh.. im extra so wanting ahead to a hate watch of the Payments lol I would like us to win in fact but it surely wont bug me an excessive amount of if we dont. We now have the youngest QB within the playoffs. Josh Allen getting bounced 1st spherical with no Pat, Lamar or Burrow will simply hit a lot a lot more durable for me
If each groups keep good, then the Patriots-Payments rivalry has an opportunity to be among the many greatest in sports activities thanks to 2 sturdy (and petty) fanbases.
@ted_mcgregor: One other recreation the place having somebody nearly as good as Gonzalez feels a bit wasted, given the Chargers additionally don’t make use of a real #1 . Has this yr made you query whether or not investing long run in him is sensible? Particularly in gentle of the Sauce commerce getting into to summer time.
It doesn’t make me query it. I’d nonetheless signal Christian Gonzalez long-term.
He’s one of many Patriots’ greatest gamers, and they need to be making an attempt to construct up the crew with homegrown expertise.
Gonzalez wasn’t fairly as a lot of a game-changer this season, however he nonetheless allowed simply 35 catches on 76 targets for 357 yards and one landing this season, per PFF. That’s a 64.4 passer ranking in opposition to.
Amongst 56 cornerbacks who performed a minimum of 700 snaps this season, Gonzalez ranked ninth-lowest in yards allowed. He was one in every of 10 cornerbacks to permit one or fewer touchdowns.
Would you wish to see him have higher ball abilities sooner or later? Certain. However few cornerbacks across the NFL can replicate Gonzalez’s worth.
@JohnBenne33: Damage updates?
We’ll know extra by Wednesday afternoon when the Patriots apply.
As of Monday, Vrabel was saying it was too early to know if OLB Harold Landry, LB Robert Spillane, DT Khyiris Tonga and LG Jared Wilson would be capable to return by Sunday.
It might be a serious enhance to get Landry, Spillane and Tonga wholesome and added to the protection. They’d be at full power, which is outstanding for this time of yr.
The Patriots’ run protection was a power early within the season when Spillane, Landry, Tonga and Milton Williams have been all sharing the sector. That will likely be key this week in opposition to the Chargers.
@Fourrings: Why is Henderson not used extra within the passing recreation (much like Shane Vereen)?
I feel his lack of dependability as a cross blocker is a significant factor. Since Rhamondre Stevenson returned from a toe damage, TreVeyon Henderson has solely been used as a cross blocker in simply seven snaps, per PFF. Stevenson has been used as a cross blocker in 31 snaps in that very same span of time, per PFF.
The Patriots have tried to fight that with a few of their pony units (Stevenson and Henderson sharing the sector). They’ve used that personnel grouping 46 occasions, with about half of these coming since Week 13.
First, it will get two impactful gamers on the sector. Second, it allowed Henderson to get snaps within the passing recreation whereas nonetheless being able to make use of Stevenson in blitz pickup.
