If we hadn't seen it for ourselves, we wouldn't believe it. When Atlanta took a 14-0 lead with 8:48 remaining in the first half of Super Bowl 51, erasing that deficit would have counted as the greatest comeback in the game's history. An ensuing 57-yard drive by New England that took 15 plays (including two … Continue reading Patriots Super Bowl 51 Review, With Perspective

New England coach Bill Belichick manages the back end of his roster as well as any NFL coach. Past Patriots champions benefitting from the rise of unsung athletes (in 2014, cornerback Malcolm Butler started just one game; this past season, running back James White scored zero rushing TDs) points to the readiness of every player. … Continue reading Patriots Pre-Draft Roster Roundout

Hey there, Patriots fans. Feel like you've gotten a bit behind in draft research? This may, in part, result from your having lives outside of football, but also because you've been floating through the daydream ending of New England's 17-2 championship season. Well, we here at BSMW want to help. Starting with the first installment … Continue reading Round-By-Round Review, Pats Draft 2017

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