Author: Chris Warner

While I'm sure the frequency will dissipate with time, every few hours or so I begin chuckling to myself. I can't help it. New England won their fifth Super Bowl in the game's first-ever overtime, 34-28, after trailing 28-3 with 8:31 left in the third quarter. Even after the confetti, the parade, and the trophies … Continue reading Patriots Thursday Observations, “It’s Not Over Yet” Review

Sorry you won't read many observations about the Super Bowl here. I'm loathe to watch the Sunday pre-game stuff for a couple of hours, much less two weeks. I'm thinking it should be close, like all New England Super Bowls this millennium, and high-scoring. So… go ahead and place your bets, I guess? Spent the … Continue reading Patriots Thursday Observations, “That Guy” (Senior Bowl)

Though they did it with more difficulty than most foresaw, the Patriots defeated the Texans, 34-16, in a hard-fought divisional playoff match. New England advances to the AFC Championship for a record sixth year in a row, taking on Pittsburgh Sunday evening at 6:40. As someone who predicts these games with all the assurance of … Continue reading Patriots Thursday Observations, Texans Review

The lack of excitement surrounding New England's playoff premiere seems a little … weird? Looking at both teams, the Patriots should win their tilt with Houston Saturday night. Plenty of statistical evidence backs them up, from their win over the Texans in Week Three, to the addition of Tom Brady since then, to the Space … Continue reading Patriots Thursday Observations, Playoff Bye Week

We go into every season knowing that, some day, some year, another team in the AFC East will overtake the Patriots. That year was not 2016. As they have since 2009, Tom Brady and friends won the division, this year finishing atop the NFL standings with a win over a division rival. (For a fun look back, … Continue reading Patriots Thursday Observations, Dolphins Review

  In a game with about as much suspense as a first-grader's knock-knock joke, New England stepped on New York early and kept the pressure on their foot, piling up both Patriots points and Jets turnovers in a 41-3 gift to Gillette fans. Or, as play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle put it at the two-minute warning, … Continue reading Patriots Thursday Observations, Jets Review

This past Sunday, New England turned their perennial nightmare venue into a dream showcase, using all three facets of their game to beat conference rival Denver 16-3. In the process, they won the AFC East for the eighth year in a row and secured a first-round bye. (It says a lot about the expectations of … Continue reading Patriots Thursday Observations, Broncos Review