I mean, who does she think she is?
This time of year is all about enjoying the little blessings of life.
Not even Tom Brady’s last year.
And it couldn’t be further from the truth now.
Brendan Schooler’s hold negating a 46-yard return on the the opening kick.
Yet another duck hook off the foot of the thoroughly unreliable Chad Ryland.
Conor McDermott’s hold taking a touchdown off the board.
A complete defensive breakdown on a simple screen pass.
A hold on Alex Austin X-ing out a fumble recovery.
Bailey Zappe’s inexcusable interception.
–And there’s another disturbing trend that will bolster your argument that Belichick is sundowning before our eyes.
There’s a notable drop off as the game goes on pretty much every week now.
Those were running out the clock to end the half and Zappe’s pick.
By the time they ran their next snap, they were down 24-10.
–More concerning still is how Zappe melts like a candle as a game wears on.
In the 2nd half, it’s 43.3, with 0 TDs, 4 INTs and 10 sacks.
And yesterday he was 6-for-12 with 39 yards after the half.
He’s more like one of those “opener” pitchers they’re trying to ruin baseball with.
Let’s call him the Patriots' fluffer.
Not exactly deep balls, but at least working the intermediate areas, hitting Hunter Henry and DeVante Parker.
The problem though is that this offense has zero margin for error.
So Bill O’Brien went conservative enough to win the Iowa Caucus to set up Ryland’s miss.
Everything has to go perfectly for this team to put points on the board.
Overcoming mistakes and soldiering on to keep moving the chain and finish drives is SO 2018.
Most significantly the interception, which was intended for … who, exactly?
Maybe Zappe is so prone to these errors because he’s confident he can make these throws.
Which would be a great trait to have if he could actually make them.
Instead it’s just aDunning-Kruger Effect.
As Inspector Dirty Harry Callahan put it, “A man’s got to know his limitations.”
–There’s no question that Belichick and Reid are boys.
(I mean that in the friendship sense, I’m not just gendering them.)
It’s not hard to imagine them hanging out in the offseason.
So it has to be hard on Reid to witness Belichick struggles.
So I respect him for respecting Belichick by not taking it easy on him.
Straight from the Stooges"Three Little Pigskins"episode.
The fact he sprung it on a 3-10 team speaks volumes about his feelings for their coach.
That he still regards him as a threat, even if no one else does.
This screen pass was absolute child’s play.
The Patriots had a 6-man line, all of whom bit on the play action.
Trey Smith sold his block on Christian Barmore before letting him through.
Creed Humphrey engaged Davon Godchaux just long enough to sucker him into think he’d beaten the block.
Then both set up a wall in front of Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
A wall in search of someone to block.
Jabrill Peppers broke through but couldn’t wrap up.
It’s like taking it easy on an old, decrepit fighter at the end of his career.
A few of whom made the most of their chances.
I’ll begin with Keion White, simply for his hustle on that Edwards-Helaire catch and run.
Granted, he didn’t make the tackle.
They did it with Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, with all their 3rd down backs through the years.
If a guy can play, he can play.
If he can’t, he’s a waste of a roster spot.
–By no means is Jahlani Tavai one of the depth guys I’m talking about.
Over the last two seasons he’s emerged as a staple of the defense.
A tough, run-stuffing, sideline-to-sideline defender and an excellent compliment to Ju’Whaun Bentley on the second level.
You’re too good a player for that ragtime.
Then again, that’s the sort of shenanigans this team pulls now.
It’s in their DNA.
–It should be noted that Christian Barmore is the best player on the Patriots active roster.
Without question, he’s the best we have.
That’s the paragraph.
–It’s been my honor and privilege to write this long without mentioning Travis Kelce.
Because he was a non-factor, with five catches for just 28 yards.
–This Week’s Applicable Movie Quote: “I love ya.
We all love ya.
But this is a terrible night.
And youre too good a father to act like this.
In years to come you want your children and your family to remember all the love you gave us.
You just cocked it up.
when Austin was flagged for that holding call was JC Jackson was a last minute scratch.
Due to some kind of personal issue no one is talking about.
Stay tuned on that.
What a strange trip it’s been for him the last couple of years.
–Let’s end this on a high note.
From now until January 7th, it’ll be “Tonight … we … are all …
