The 15

The Patriots host the New Orleans Saints in a week 3 tilt this upcoming Sunday.  If there is one thing that Bill Belichick preaches, it’s “ignore the noise.”  It’s posted all over the facility.  For this reason, the team will not be caught “looking ahead,” as some college teams may do the week before a rivalry game.  New England faces a Saints team coming off a loss in Carolina, where they made Sam Darnold look like John Elway.  This is likely because they are led by one of the most overrated coaches in NFL history.

              The pill popping, pedophilia priest pandering Payton brings his team to Foxboro in a battle of the 1-1s.  New Orleans did beat the Green Bay Packers week one, but I expect that to be a paper victory in hindsight, as Green Bay looks like a team that has implosion written all over it. 

Jameis Winston, once rumored to be a potential QB in New England by a local podcast, comes in off of a 11/22 performance with 2 INTs.  He will face a confident Patriots secondary, coming off of a 4INT game, allowing an average of 185 ypg in the air.  Look for pressure to come from the front even more so on Sunday, forcing Winston to think on his feet.

Offensively the Patriots will have a similar game plan.  New Orleans has the #7 defense in the league, allowing an average of only 66 ypg on the ground.  Again, as the late Lee Corso says, “not so fast my friend.”  Christian McCaffrey ran for 72 yards last week, with a TD.  This was the first true test that the Saints faced against a decent RB.  Apologies to former BC Eagle, AJ Dillon.  For anyone complaining about Matt Jones’ lack of pass attempts, they clearly do not understand Patriots football or have watched a game in the last 20 years.  Each week brings a complex game plan.  Some weeks it’s ground and pound, some weeks its pass all day.  The first three weeks’ opponents have dictated the offensive game plan. 

Although this is Truly not a space for prognostications, this is a Patriots/Over play.  Go get ‘em Jasper.

S. Tzu-Pei is an Intern for The15.

              Throughout the discourse of human history, we must wonder if Alexander Pope was a New York Jets fan.  Another autumn is upon us bringing another rookie QB, and another new head coach.  Yet, hope springs eternal for Gang Green.  Zach Wilson comes in boasting a 35.6 QB Rating and his team is installed as a 6.5pt. home underdog on Sunday.  Michael McCorkle Jones comes in boasting 2x the QBR of his colleague who was picked 13 spots later.  Still, as non Patriots HOF member Duane Charles Parcells once said, “You are what your record says you are.”

              Look for New England to have a similar offensive game plan this week.  The Jets gave up 111 rushing yards last week vs. Carolina, and will have to face a 3 headed running attack this week at Met Life Stadium.  If Damien Harris can move the ball as well as he did week one, then the Jets will be in for a long day.  Parlay that with James White and perhaps even JJ Taylor, and the Patriots could make a long day for New York’s defense. 

              Jones seemed relatively comfortable in the pocket vs. Miami last week, and look for him to improve progressions this week.  Trent Brown remains questionable, but the Patriots were able to hold the line together quite well last week in spite of multiple injuries at the right tackle position.  Look for the play action to open up and for the Patriots to pick on New York’s inexperience CBs for large plays.

              We’ll be certain to see the “Bill Belichick vs. Rookie QB” stats all day tomorrow.  21-6, if you’re keeping score at home.  But as the late Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast my friends.”  Coach Hoodie is only 8-6 on the road vs. rookie QBs.  Of those losses to rookie QBs, 2 are SB Champs in Ben Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson.  Interestingly enough, 2 are NYJ QBs in Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith.  Strange things happen in East Rutherford.

              The Patriots are winners of the last 10 games vs. the NYJ.  I do not see any way that this is not 11, come 4:30 tomorrow.  Lay the points, Jasper.  Lay the points.

S. Tzu-Pei is an Intern for The15.

Let’s check the ol’ stat sheet and see how we did! (Small sample size disclaimer goes here)

Quarterbacks:

Studs:

• Aaron Rodgers – comp 15 att 28 yds 133 td 0 int 2
• Kyler Murray – comp 21 att 32 yds 289 td 4 int 1 (5-20 1 td rushing)
• Tom Brady – comp 23 att 50 yds 379 td 4 int 2
• Matt Stafford – comp 20 att 26 yds 321 td int 0
• Joe Burrow – comp 20 att 27 yds 261 td 2 int 0

Duds:

• Ben Roethlisberger- comp 18 att 32 yds 188 td 1 int 0
• Dak Prescott- comp 42 att 58 yds 403 td 3 int 1
• Tyrod Taylor – comp 21 att 32 yds 291 td 2 int 0
• Jalen Hurts – comp 27 att 35 yds 264 td 3 int 0
• Kirk Cousins – comp 36 att 49 yds 351 td 2 int 0

Sleepers:

• Mac Jones – comp 29 att 39 yds 281 td 1 int 0
• Kyler Murray – comp 21 att 32 yds 289 td 4 int 1
• Justin Herbert – comp 31 att 47 yds 224 td 1 int 1
• Ryan Tannenhill- comp 21 att 35 yds 212 td 1 int 1

Running Backs

Studs:

• Nick Chubb – att 15 yds 83 td 2
• Antonio Gibson – att 20 yds 90 td 0
• Jonathan Taylor – att 17 yds 56 td 0
• Aaron Jones – att 5 yds 9 td 0
• Josh Jacobs – att 10 yds 34 td 2

Duds:

• Saquan Barkley – att 10 yds 26 td 0
• Austin Ekeler – att 15 yds 57 td 1
• Christian McCaffrey – att 21 yds 98 td 0
• David Montgomery – att 16 yds 108 td 1

Sleepers:

• Kareem Hunt – att 6 yds 33 td 1
• James Connor – att 16 yds 53 td 0
• Zach Moss – inactive
• Sony Michel – att 1 yds 2 td

Wide Recievers % Tight Ends

Studs:

• Julio Jones – rec 3 yds 32 td 0
• Tyreek Hill – rec 11 yds 197 td 1
• Justin Jefferson – rec 5 yds 71 td 0
• Mike Evans – rec 3 yds 24 td 0
• Darren Waller (TE) – rec 10 yds 105 td 1
• Logan Thomas (TE) – rec 3 yds 30 td 1
• Kyle Pitts (TE) – rec 4 yds 31 td 0
• Noah Fant (TE) – rec 6 yds 62 td 0

Duds:

• Odell Beckham Jr. – Inactive
• Henry Rugg – rec 2 yds 46 td 0
• Juju Smith-Schuster – rec 4 yds 52 td 0
• Calvin Ridley – rec 5 yds 51 td 0
• Kenny Golliday – rec 4 yds 64 td 0
• Zach Ertz (TE) – rec 2 yds 34 td 0
• TJ Hockinson (TE) – rec 8 yds 97 td 1
• Blake Jarwin (TE) – rec 3 yds 20 td 0
• Jared Cook (TE) – rec 5 yds 56 td 0
• Evan Engram (TE) – inactive

Sleepers:

• Diontae Johnson – rec 5 yds 36 td 1
• DeVonta Smith – rec 6 yds 71 td 1
• Mike Gesicki (TE) – rec 0 yds 0 td 0
• Anthony Firkster (TE) – rec 3 yds 19 td 0

Kickers and Defense/Special Teams to follow in Part 2!

One or more of the interns did this.