I’ve had some variation of Mexican food for the first two games, both wins, so you know what I’m firing up for tonight. Enchiladas, jalapeno poppers, salsa, guac and chips. Guacamole isn’t just for the Super Bowl, you know.
House Money
Consensus amongst the gridiron cognoscenti is that the Patriots are playing with house money. Yeah, okay. I get it. 2-2-0 was going to be more than good enough for Tom Brady to take New England into the playoffs; maybe not the #1 seed but a first round bye wouldn’t be out of the question.
But even if I’m playing with house money, I still want to win. Wouldn’t you?
I don’t want 2-1-0. I want 3-0-0!
Do you think Bill Belichick was in the locker room before pre-game warm ups, shrugging his shoulders, telling his players, “Well, I guess they got us this time, guys. We’ll have to play because we’re contractually obligated but honestly I’m not expecting anyone’s best effort tonight, okay?”
No. The answer is no. That was not happening. That did not happen.
Okay, you knew that.
Belichick wants this game as badly as any game he’s coached. Why? Because it’s the next game. He’s reminding his players they’re home underdogs. The New England Patriots! In Gillette! They think you were just Tom Brady - I mean Jimmy Garoppolo and a bunch of spare parts! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? No!
Okay, it’s just one point but why sweat the details?
Lovable?
The Patriots are once again 2-0, but they are a different kind of 2-0. They're 2-0 as plucky, resilient, overachieving underdogs, not conquering giants. Deflategate made the Patriots interesting and, for everyone south of Interstate 84, kind of likable again.
-Mike Tanier, Bleacher Report
I read Mike Tanier’s column on Monday and I’m still not sure how to react to this.
Systematic
Jimmy Garoppolo’s success gave the haters another opportunity to say, “See, anyone can look good in the Patriots’ offense. Tom Brady isn’t that great; he’s just a system quarterback.”
If Jacoby Brissett authors a 24/32/280/2 slash line tonight, that noise is only going to get louder. Hey, he was 6/9/92/0 in a little more than a half last Sunday. How about 12/18/185/0 with no turnovers. Even Kirk Cousins would like that.
Of course, it could be that Jimmy G is just that good and maybe - just maybe - the stage won’t too big for Jacoby Brissett, tonight. Maybe it’s not the system, or not just the system; maybe Brady, Garoppolo and Brissett can ball.
Here’s what I think. I think the Patriots have the best starting QB in the NFL, the best backup QB in the NFL and the best 3rd string QB in the NFL.
And they also have a really good offensive system.
So, here’s my question to the “It’s the system, stupid” crowd: If it is the system, then why aren’t other teams copying the system so they can plug their not that good quarterbacks into that system and become wildly successful like the Patriots and Tom not that good Brady?
Hey, there just aren’t that many really great QBs out there like Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton, are there? There are plenty of Blaine Gabberts and Case Keenums and Blake Bortles, though. So why aren’t the teams without really great QBs like Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton running the Patriots’ Earhardt-Perkins offensive system? Heck, why aren’t teams with really great QBs like Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton running it, too?
If the system can make Tom Brady look like the greatest of all time, just imagine what Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton could do?
Okay. Point made. I can stop now, right?
The Jimmy G Trade Machine
The only controversy surrounding the New England quarterback position seems to be whether to trade or keep Jimmy Garoppolo. Should they risk trading him during the 2016 season, once Brady returns? Can they afford to keep him? They’d probably need to use the franchise tag which would make Jimmy G the most expensive backup quarterback in the NFL - we’re assuming Tom Brady makes good on his promise to play well into his 40s and at a high level, of course.
The prospect of trading Tom Brady generally is dismissed, if it’s mentioned at all, and I tend to agree with that line of thinking. If I’m a GM for one of the other 31 and I’m willing to part with a 1st rounder and “something else” I’m coming after Jimmy Garoppolo, not the soon to be 40-year old Brady.
If Brissett plays well tonight - and I certainly hope he does - it mitigates the risk of trading Garoppolo but here’s the thing. Bill Belichick and the Patriots hold all the cards. They don’t need to do anything now. They don’t have to do anything this offseason. They don’t have to do anything next season. They can wait. Maybe someone makes them an offer they can’t refuse; something more than what the Vikings gave up for Sam Bradford. If that happens, we can be sure Bill Belichick will do what he always does; whatever he thinks is best for the team.
Did I mention we’re playing with house money tonight?
Almost game time. The enchiladas were delicious. Time to put the poppers in the oven and get out the chips and guacamole. I have no idea what’s going to happen tonight but I can hardly wait. The greatest coach in NFL history has put together a game plan for a rookie quarterback making his first start on a short week, playing a team that came to Foxborough to make a statement. Everyone in the NFL and every football fan in America is glad that this is the only game being played tonight because everyone, just like me, wants to see what’s going to happen.
Go Pats!
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