Patriots Pregame Show 9/28: Patriots vs. Panthers Preview

Tune-in as Kwani Lunis, Mike Dussault and Paul Perillo preview the Patriots Week 4 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. They open with the breaking news that CB Christian Gonzalez will be making his season debut, and what that means for the structure of the defense. They share their keys to the game that could secure a Patriots win, discuss the latest news on Terrell Williams and more.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is the Patriots Pregame Show fueled by Duncan.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
Just drawing your touchdown New England.

Speaker 1 (00:10):
The Patriots Pregame Show is your source for all the
news and information before every game.

Speaker 3 (00:15):
They touched it to the house.

Speaker 1 (00:18):
He Patriots, Thank Patriots Nation. Welcome to the Patriots Pregame
Show fueled by Duncan.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
Hello everyone, it's week four here on the Patriots Pregame
Show fueled by Duncan, Mike Deuth and of course Paul Parillo.

Speaker 4 (00:35):
I'm Quantiy Luniz.

Speaker 3 (00:37):
Of course, the Patriots looking to bounce back after that
twenty one to fourteen loss against the Steelers last week.
But we have some good news. We are gonna talk
about Christian Gozalees making his season debut and of course
against Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers. They're gonna need
him in the secondary. But we're gonna get into the keys.
That's gonna be very important. But I have a question
for you too. Do you know what is more important

(00:57):
to the Patriots than the keys to the game?

Speaker 5 (01:00):
Winning the game?

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Duncan? Actually that's important as well. Actually, but let's talk
about Duncan really quickly. You got a bacon eg and
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(01:24):
be conduct bined with any other offers. Exclusions and terms
do apply. Like I said, we are going to get
into the keys of the game, but last week we
talked about the fact that the offense had five turnovers.
Like we mentioned, Christian Gozale is the cornerback finally making
his season debut. They're going to need him tonight. So
before we get into the keys, what does him being
on the field mean for the Patriots today?

Speaker 2 (01:44):
It just makes their defense hole, right. We keep saying
all of these no, but like the first three weeks,
there's been so let's to put it kindly, some ups
and downs on defense, and we keep throwing out the caveat.
I'd like to see what it looks like when the
best player in the team, Christian Gonzalez, is back in there.
We don't have to say that anymore because he's back
in there now.

Speaker 6 (02:04):
It's a trickle down effect as much as it's getting
the talent of Christian Goan Zalez on the field, maybe
allows a little more freedom with Carlton Davis.

Speaker 5 (02:10):
And how does it affect Alex Austin.

Speaker 6 (02:12):
We saw him last week give up a couple penalties,
went out of the game, was substituted for Now that
he can go back into a role of kind of
being a third corner, does he get you back into
the mix during the season or I mean, Christian zalaz
is pretty much out the whole training camp, so you
saw a lot of Alex Austin as camp progressed. He
played pretty well. He got a little bit of time
in the slot as well. So that trickle down effect

(02:33):
I think will help Carolina. Don't have a ton of weapons,
but Tet McMillan is a really, really good player as
a rookie. He's tall, he's fast. But I think the
Patriots now have some options instead of feeling like we've
got to put Carlton Davis on him and then you know,
just kind of met mix and match the rest of
the way.

Speaker 5 (02:47):
Now you've got Christian Zalez to play with.

Speaker 6 (02:49):
I'm sure he's excited to get out there, and it's
just it's great to have him back.

Speaker 7 (02:52):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (02:52):
We got to see him warming up earlier in on
the field, so it looks like he's ready to go.

Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (02:56):
But like I said, let's just get into those keys.

Speaker 4 (03:00):
You waited all week for.

Speaker 6 (03:01):
The whole team's in the locker room right now, just
listening to this, waiting to hear what you're gonna say.

Speaker 4 (03:05):
Here are this week's keys to the game.

Speaker 3 (03:09):
All right, who wants to go first?

Speaker 5 (03:12):
There?

Speaker 2 (03:14):
Ready to go ahead?

Speaker 8 (03:15):
Go?

Speaker 6 (03:15):
I think Paul's got a good key as well. And
I mean I think that it does really start with
cleaning up the mistakes from last week. There's just everything
else is secondary too. Don't turn the ball over five times,
because you do that anytime will beat you. For me,
it's finish and specifically towards the offensive side of the ball.
Saw some finish out of the defense a couple of
weeks ago when they were in Miami. Defense didn't do

(03:35):
a ton during the game, but then they came down
to the end when it was winning time, clutch time,
mil Williams.

Speaker 5 (03:40):
Stepped up with a big sack.

Speaker 6 (03:41):
So I think today I just love to see finishing
and not just the sense of getting to the second
half and putting together maybe a drive or a score
to put the game away.

Speaker 5 (03:48):
It's just everything.

Speaker 6 (03:49):
It's that includes going into the turnovers, holding the ball,
holding onto the ball through the ground, finishing the plays.
We've heard Mike Rabele say this phrase a ton all spring,
all summer finish. Want to see the finish and especially
down the end. You have a chance to win this game.
To close it out on your terms, you got to
take it big step forward for Drake Man the offense
if they're able to do that today.

Speaker 2 (04:08):
Yeah, Mike and I are really on the same page
with this one. You know, we look at the game
last week and we don't really see anything that the
other team necessarily did that cost you a chance to win.
It was all kind of self inflicted. And again I'm
not taking all the credit away from Pittsburgh's defense for
forcing any of those turnovers, but they certainly didn't force
all of them. So just clean it up a little bit.

(04:29):
You know, they cut back on the penalties in the
second half last week. I think, Mike, you had that number.
They only had one of their seven penalties in the
second half, So maybe that's a sign of cleaning that
element of the game up, hold onto the ball and look,
this is a weird stat but something's got to give today, right,
Patriots a three and sixteen in their last nineteen home games,

(04:51):
Panther's two and seventeen in their last nineteen road games.

Speaker 4 (04:54):
It's the best of the worst Patriots.

Speaker 5 (04:56):
What is this like? What a movable force? It's something
completely resistible.

Speaker 9 (05:03):
Lot.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
Yes, the Patriots, I think you just clean it up
and get a win today in front of your home
crowd and would start a trend in the other direction
where this Jillette Stadium home crowd works for them again
and it becomes a tough place to play like it
was for all those years.

Speaker 6 (05:18):
Yeah, it's a huge part, Paul and I wrote early
in this season. I think during maybe even like March February,
I wrote in my notes of like be the best
of the bad teams. You're playing a schedule that's got
a lot of bad teams on it. I think we
can all agree that. You know, in Week one, you
maybe let one get away to what was was probably
not going to be a great game or a great
team in the Raiders. You know, we're seeing that the
Steelers have a little bit of success. But there's already

(05:38):
two games I felt like where you had a chance,
and these are teams that are similar to you. They're
going to be on the bubble maybe of the playoffs
or below. So this is the time the Patriots have
to start winning these games. And you don't want to
say that this is, you know, a critical turning point
in the season, but we've seen it enough in the
last few years kind of when you start to lose games,
it gets worse every time you lose, and it gets

(06:00):
harder to dig out of the hole. So right now
you're one and two. You have a chance to go
too and two win this whole serve at home. As
Paul said, You've got to start winning games at home.
It's absolutely critical to this program to start making this
a hard place to play again today, so huge game.
It feels weird to overstate it, but when you get
to this point of back to back four win seasons,
you realize early week four, week five, week six, this

(06:22):
is when your team should start to be coming together,
starting to, you know, play the way that Mike Rabel
wants them to play, eliminate the mistakes. Tackling can't be
as much as an excuse that, oh we didn't tackle all summer.

Speaker 5 (06:33):
All right, Well, you've got three games under your belt.

Speaker 6 (06:35):
Now, now's the time to start playing clean football, play
well at home, stop turning the ball over. I really
have high hopes that the Patriots can kind of put
it all together today and explode and not make the stupid,
stupid mistakes and win the game.

Speaker 3 (06:47):
That we've been seeing. And I love your point about
being the best of the worst teams. Obviously both teams
right now being one and two. But that's the reason
why my key is proble of the pocket, and I
have it on both on the ball specifically, because I
think they need to be intentional. When you look at Carolina,
the Pans have allowed five sacks in the last three games,
and when if for the Patriots specifically, if they're going
to capitalize on anything that they've done last week, make

(07:09):
sure that you're getting to Bryce Young as much as
you can, because that's the only way you're going to
obviously be able to stop him. But of course we
talked about the New England offensive line as well. They've
had some struggles this season along twelve sacks for forty
eight yards. Need to protect obviously, Drake may make sure
that he's able to be comfortable and proul himself in
the pocket. So looking both sides, all of the ball
for that one, just because it's very important for them

(07:30):
to get this one.

Speaker 5 (07:30):
Yeah, I think it's really interesting this week.

Speaker 6 (07:32):
This is the first time you've seen a Patriots defense
go against a really mobile quarterback. You know, the three
quarterbacks they face, Maybe they were mobile at one point
that right now, but not really anymore.

Speaker 5 (07:41):
Maybe a new challenge for that front four.

Speaker 6 (07:44):
Maybe trying to keep Bryce Young in the pocket, don't
let him get out, make some you know, a touchdown
run last week hasn't been overly effective with his legs,
but he can scoot of all the guys they get
I agree with they called him a jitterbug.

Speaker 2 (07:54):
You brought that up during the week, and you know,
not everybody on the panel agreed, but I did agree
with you. I think that if you keep him in
the pocket, I think he lacks the size to necessarily
navigate it on a consistent basis. So I think when
he's able to slide around, and I think he puts
some pressure on that second level to make sure he

(08:14):
doesn't take off and run. I think that's when he
becomes a little bit more effective as a passer. I
think Bryce Young certainly remains a work in progress. He
hasn't been able to consistently put it together, but he
has shown flashes of ability. So don't let him get
going today. Don't let him get hot and feel confident.
You know, they won thirty to nothing last week, so

(08:35):
they're going to come into this game looking at it
as an opportunity. Even themselves off after September, which is
a huge difference for these two young teams that are
sort of trying to establish themselves in the next level.
Two and two after September is like infinitely better than
one and three. It's really not even close.

Speaker 6 (08:51):
And even go back to their game two weeks ago
where they had a great fourth quarter.

Speaker 5 (08:55):
They made a furious comeback against the Cardinals.

Speaker 6 (08:57):
Yeah, what is this something like forty one to nothing? Right,
last time quarters they were often scored upon. They put
up a bunch of points at one point. I would
make those Jatavian Sanders is out today, and you know,
although he's not a prolific receiver, I think he was
a really good safety outlet.

Speaker 2 (09:10):
And too for the Panthers and I know he's been
a disappointment, but these are their guys. You know those
are there. You know they have the three guys with
Ted McMillan and you know the other two are gone.
So I think it'll be a big tube of Hubbard
game for for Caroline, they'll probably try to use him
both on the ground and as a receiver, and then
it's McMillan and I think we go back to Gonzales.

(09:34):
I want to see Gonzalez and McMillan today right off
the go. I want to see him sort of taken
the other team's best weapon and see how it goes.

Speaker 5 (09:41):
Yeah, we'll have.

Speaker 3 (09:42):
To say you two are very confident with giving those
game keys. Hopefully the Patriots are watching and they'll execute
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Sullivan Tire. So, like we mentioned, we were talking about
last week how the Patriots just need to protect the ball,
and Jake May was talking in the press pot conferences

(10:24):
this week talking about how when you realize you need
to protect the ball, over emphasizing those mistakes is what's
going to be important for executing this week. So what
are you hoping both of you to see from the
Patriots this week?

Speaker 6 (10:35):
Offensively, Yeah, I mean, good decision, so start there and
holding onto the ball. Of course, as we said that,
it's got to start with that. But I think to
maybe see an element of down the field a little bit.
It's something we haven't really seen yet. Maybe getting Kyle
Williams involved a little bit down the field. Those are
things next step for this offense. I think we've seen
plenty of reminder, Stevenson, Hunter, Henry. We know that Josh

(10:57):
is kind of running the offense through those guys right now,
but now's the time to start to grow and expand
and really round out the offense so you know, look
for some plays maybe trying to get down the field.
I think it'll be tough. I mean, Carolina plays a
lot of his own coverage. They play a lot of
Cover three, keeping three guys back, similar to what we
saw from the Raiders in Week one, so there weren't
a lot of downfield passes then either. But still, I

(11:17):
think Drake is too good. He's got too good of
an arm not to take some of these shots. Was
what I was most impressed about him last year. He
did not hesitate to chuck the ball down the field.
Look at that first touchdown he threw to Kishamboudi last
year against the Texans, where he launched it up perfect.
You know, I'd just like to see at least some
attempts to try to get down the field today.

Speaker 2 (11:32):
I couldn't agree more. I think they need to stretch
the field a little bit, and I think Kyle Williams
would make a lot of sense to sort of. I
think he's done what they've asked him to do so
far in a very limited role. Let's put a little
more on the rookie's plate. See if he handles that
a little bit better, and then you respond accordingly.

Speaker 5 (11:50):
If he does.

Speaker 2 (11:51):
Another interesting factor in this game. You know, Gonzales is
going to get a lot of the headlines. But during
the week, Mike the big store where he was the
running back situation and the fumbles with what you know
we keep talking about just got to hold onto the ball. Well,
how do we expect Mike Vrabel to handle the running
back workload today? He kind of indicated on Friday that

(12:13):
there would be no discipline, which I'm not overly surprised with,
but I would like to see sort of a change
in roles. That's my feeling. Is Gibson the lead guy.
Stevenson I want you can't stop fumbling if you don't
ever get the ball again, So you can't prove to
the coaches Kwannie that I've learned my lesson. I'm holding
onto the ball. If you're just sitting on the bencher,

(12:34):
you're inactive. Obviously he's not inactive today, so I don't
know if it's you know, ten or fifteen carries for
Stevenson normally switch that and give those carries to Gibson
today and give the five or six that Gibson would
normally get to Stevenson, and hopefully everybody's holding onto the
ball and then you can sort of respond, you know,

(12:54):
in the future accordingly. But I think that's another interesting
element in this game is what does Mike great Will
do with those carries?

Speaker 6 (13:01):
Yeah, and you know that in Carolina's locker room, they're
saying the same things that Pittsburgh said last week in theirs,
which came out.

Speaker 5 (13:06):
Absolutely, these guys are loose with the ball.

Speaker 6 (13:08):
So reminder, Stevens has to come into this game fully
expecting that there's going to be a swarm of panthers
around him every time trying to punch the ball out.
I know, I think Mike Rees had in his notes
today they bought a new I figure what the machine is,
some kind of fumble machine that they have to run through,
you know, they have all the different arms and stuff.
Maybe that makes a difference. But I agree with Paul.
I think you come out of this game feeling well,
maybe you do pull back on Stevenson a little bit,

(13:30):
but give him some carries, he holds onto the ball,
maybe you get a win, maybe he helps you ice
the game out and then you can start to build
his confidence back up.

Speaker 3 (13:37):
Well, we have Nick and San Diego, who to your
point about no discipline Paul. He actually just emailed asking
do you think the way that Vrabel and Josh Cattle
Steven said last week on the sideline only reinforces some
of those fumbling issues that he's having and with BB
those players would be in the doghouse for a few weeks.
Obviously different coaching mechanisms is what he's alluding to. But
he asked, Paul, has anyone told you, oh, this is unrelated,

(13:59):
how similar voices to Hardy? That's like, I never I
don't think I've heard that. I don't hear that.

Speaker 5 (14:04):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (14:05):
No speaker speakers a mark on his.

Speaker 5 (14:11):
We're talking about it.

Speaker 2 (14:12):
And now this Trevon Henderson with the UH and people
won't be happy.

Speaker 3 (14:16):
Mike.

Speaker 2 (14:16):
I don't know if you notice they all blues. I mean,
for some reason, this makes people lose their minds. No,
I never heard that party thing. I'm not a big
you know. So okay, so Bill Bill used to like
yell at them and they would go two weeks. How'd
that solve his problem? Because you know, two years later,
we're still having fumbling problems. So I don't have an

(14:39):
issue with dealing with now. I don't think he could
just go like like last week, he fumbled the second
time and he didn't get the ball again. I have
no that that to me is right. That's dealing with it.
That's handling. People say, well, there's no discipline, No, there
already was disciplined. Yeah, right, he didn't get the ball
again and the rest of the second half. I just
feel like if you're not like yelling and screaming and

(15:01):
making a like a public declaration and social media, then
you're not handling it properly. You're too soft on them.
Like I'm hearing a lot of this. They had a
soft camp stuff. We had it, I think last week
in the postgame show, and I heard that a little
bit this week with you know, Greg Baard saying I
didn't really sense it as being an ovally soft camp.
But you know, I'm not an NFL player, so I

(15:22):
wouldn't be able to tell you what was harder or easier.
They're dealing with this fumbling issue the best that they can.
I don't think that they're coddling him, but for the
coach to say we're going to need him, I feel
like he's one of the better offensive players. So you
have two choices. In my view, you can either release
them and get someone in to replace him. Well, you

(15:44):
got to give him the ball occasionally and see if
he can figure out how to get past this. Nine
fumbles in this last eighteen games, that's a lot. That's
not that small of sample size. That's a lot. So
he's got to get and only he can do it.
I loved his response. I think that was one of
the best pieces of audio we had on this show
in whatever the fifteen years that I've been doing this

(16:06):
postgame show. Was last week when him talking about that
they don't need me if I can't hold onto the ball. Yeah,
so that's accountability. Now, it's put up or shut up.
You got to give him the ball a little bit
and make sure that this is the thing in the past.

Speaker 3 (16:19):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (16:20):
Especially frustrating in contrast to two weeks ago when he
had a great game and it felt like Remandra is back.
This to me felt like his best game in maybe
two years, and then to follow it up with this,
it's just the highs and the lows.

Speaker 5 (16:31):
They've got to stop with him.

Speaker 6 (16:32):
He's got to find a way to just stabilize this
and stop putting the ball on the ground.

Speaker 3 (16:35):
Yeah, And it's also unfair to compare the coaching regimes
like belichicking Variabel. Obviously also Rabel having the playing experience
that player coach mentality is there. He still called the
team out when they need to be called out, so
give him time to figure out what his identity as
a coach is here in New England.

Speaker 5 (16:52):
Well, we talked about it all week.

Speaker 6 (16:53):
It's just an even Vrabel, I thought when we first
heard from him, you could feel kind of the it's
a really hard thing to deal with. There isn't a
magic button where you know, we you know, set ramondra
up in the town square and and shackle him and
be like all right, he's being punished now, and exactly,
you know, like it's not it's not an easy thing
where you just push a discipline button or a shoulder
to cry on button. You have to feel it out

(17:13):
and there's no set formula to it. And that's what
that's what always like really interests me about coaching. It's
so hard to get a group of people to play
the way you want together and this is a prime
example of it. Ramandra Stevens is a talented player. A
few coaches have tried to get him to just be
that talented player every game. It's been a real challenge
for not only to drop mayobil Belichick and now Mike're

(17:34):
able to well.

Speaker 3 (17:35):
We are getting your calls, we're getting your emails, and
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Speaker 3 (20:58):
Welcome back to the Patriots pregame Show fueled by Duncan.
And I was outside in the parking lot of July
Stadium earlier. There are a lot of fans tailgating right now,
and hopefully they're washing down those hot dogs with some
refreshing pepsi. Hey fans, by the way, you know game
day is here, so stock up, grab a refreshing pepsi
zero so sugar Bac twelve packs specifically now, because tailgating

(21:20):
deserves a pepsi. All right, we're back here talking about
the Patriots Week four facing off against the Carolina Panthers,
and one thing we've been talking about over the last
few weeks is their defense. But unfortunately we are going
to talk about the defensive coordinator, Orrell Williams. We know
that he'd been out for the last two three games
for coaching reasons, but you were there deuced in the

(21:42):
press conference.

Speaker 5 (21:43):
Yeah, what was the feeling, Well, it was tough.

Speaker 6 (21:45):
I mean, we came into the press conference on Friday
with Mike Rabel and you know, he started it off
with a tough announcement that unfortunately Treill Williams has been
diagnosed with prostate cancer. And you know, he had previously
been out all summer with a health issue, and now
to have this, I just you know, I think you
see the team now today shining lot of T shirts
that say T Strong Teams wearing those in support for Terrell.

(22:05):
You can tell how much everyone cares about Terrell Williams.

Speaker 5 (22:07):
Mike Rabel has been with him a long time.

Speaker 6 (22:09):
We've had more press conferences, I think than anybody would
care to have about him talking about you know what
Terrell Williams means to him because of the health issues
that Terrell's experience this year, and you know.

Speaker 5 (22:20):
Just your heart goes out to him.

Speaker 6 (22:21):
He's been a long time coaching this league, finally gets
his chance to be a defensive coordinator, and then it
seems like he gets a one to two punch here
in twenty twenty five. So you know, he's on the
minds of the team and certainly all the staff here
really care for that guy.

Speaker 5 (22:33):
And it'll be Zach Core continuing to call the defense.
And we just hope that, you know, Terrell Williams is
able to get healthy and get back soon, because it's
clear he's he's a big part of what Mike Rabel
wants to do here, and you can, like I said,
you can tell how much he means to not only
Vraybel but all the players.

Speaker 2 (22:49):
Yeah, it's obviously it's a miserable situation, you know, for everybody,
and Mike, you were in the you know, the press conference,
so I know you you know you've felt the Amokee
feel the way it sure, and you're right to mention
the fact that you know that they've been together for
a while, and not only that, but for a guy

(23:09):
like Williams who's been around the league a little bit
and you know, spend time in college as well, he's
a little bit older to be a first time play
caller on defense and really does it for one game
and now you know he's not going to be able
to do it. But you know, unfortunately, or you know,

(23:30):
I guess fortunately for the players themselves, but unfortunately in general,
they had some experience with this throughout the spring and
off season and into you know, mini camp because Zach
Korr was basically doing this while Williams was gone with
his previous medical situation. So at least the team has

(23:51):
some experience dealing you know, the defensive players have some
experience dealing with life without Williams. But I'm hoping obviously
you know, the thoughts and prayers with Tea for him
and his family and for the Patriots in general. I
know this is you know, something very close to them,
and you know, Mike mentioned the T shirts they're wearing
Tea Strong, So hopefully this is something that they can

(24:14):
he can overcome.

Speaker 6 (24:15):
Yeah, just real quick to put it in perspective. I mean,
Torell Williams started in nineteen eighty eight as a twenty
four year old coach at some are called Fort Scott
Community College.

Speaker 5 (24:23):
Oh the way back when the Fighting Scotts but then.

Speaker 6 (24:26):
You've got you know, stops at North Carolina A and T,
Youngstown State, Akron, Purdue, Texas A, and M. Then he
makes the jump to the Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee
Titans with Rabel there in twenty eighteen. So you just
see what a long road it's been since nineteen ninety
eight for Tourell Williams to get to hear and yeah,
just all all our thoughts and prayers with him, and
then hopefully we see him back out there this season.

Speaker 3 (24:46):
Absolutely, we're wishing a speedy recovery. For sure. We're getting
a lot of phone calls. So are you too, Okay,
let's do it.

Speaker 2 (24:53):
Let's jump in do it as we watch Drake may
slinging the rock. Yeah, with those all blues that drive
everybody insane.

Speaker 5 (25:00):
I think they look good.

Speaker 6 (25:01):
Now go as childhood team. He's got to light them on,
light them up today.

Speaker 3 (25:05):
All right, We're gonna get pat and I'll go on
up first.

Speaker 13 (25:08):
Patty A good afternoon everyone. Yeah, so just to piggyback
up what you guys said, you know, lots of uh
love and prayers are good blessings for for Terrell Williams,
you know, even if he's never able to like rape
the sideline again. Just for him and his sake and

(25:29):
his family, I hope he gets over this. And you
guys brought up something that I wanted to talk about,
which is Kyle Williams. Alex Barth had this idea of
pretty much playing step Digs in the slot, having Williams
as your as your Z and keeping Kasha on booty
at the X and just like, let's see if we
can test these guys deep, because at a certain point

(25:51):
before fans start calling for Efton Chisholm, we got to
see what we have in Kyle Williams first. I agree
with that. I want to see what you guys thought
of that. And uh, let's go, baby, I got the
past one in big today.

Speaker 2 (26:05):
All right, Patty Mike, I'm gonna let you handle the
Steph Diggs to the slot talk.

Speaker 6 (26:09):
So, does that mean we're pulling Steph Diggs off the
slot and on early downs we're just gonna put him
on On third down, He's only three receivers that guy.

Speaker 2 (26:14):
Now, everybody with Steph Diggs has lined up predominantly.

Speaker 6 (26:18):
Playing in the slot, like almost fifty percent of the time.
I think that's the perfect fit for him. This has
become a storyline this week that I don't know exactly
what it means one hundred percent, Like don't let him
play outside. I think that does a disservice to Steph
Diggs and what he's able to do. You want Steph
Diggs to be able to move around and take advantage
of matchup. Sometimes he'll be in the slot, sometimes he'll
be in the outside. I agree, I just don't understand,

(26:39):
you know how that has to be connected to keep
Steph Digs out there eventually every snap Like that's you know,
he's a movable piece.

Speaker 5 (26:47):
He should be Drake May's boo.

Speaker 14 (26:48):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (26:49):
So I think what we're really talking about big on
the boot talked just just talking about my boo. So,
I look, I know I'm not advocating for Chisholm yet,
but let's watch tomorrow Douglas today. Let's see how he
does against another zone heavy team. Is he got the
chemistry with Drake? Does he know where the holes in
the coverage are? If you want to talk to me
about maybe someday, If Douglas doesn't start to pick it up,

(27:09):
then you give Chisholm a chance as the fourth receiver,
the Danny Amadola in that kind of role. Sure, but
I don't know some of this steph digs to the
slot I don't really understand.

Speaker 2 (27:18):
And if they continue to have problems being productive well
targeting Douglas, then I would just advocate let's start targeting
some of the other guys more often. You know, I
think that Douglas in Hollins haven't been as effective when
they've been targeted as Digs and.

Speaker 5 (27:35):
Booty have consistently.

Speaker 2 (27:37):
So let's instead of you know, making wholesale changes to
the lineup, let's kind of flip flop that a little
bit and see if we can excentuate, accentuate Booty and
Digs a little bit more, because I think when those
guys have been targeted, generally the passes have been completed.

Speaker 15 (27:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (27:53):
Yeah, And you see some attempts to get Kyle Williams
out there. I think a couple of weeks ago, like
the first play, they're at like three tight ends and
just him and he's cooking down the field and they're
trying to take a shot to him.

Speaker 5 (28:03):
So he's still a rookie. This is a complicated system.

Speaker 6 (28:07):
I mean, we've spent many many years talking about rookies
trying to get in to Josh McDaniel's system. I think
it's a good sign that he's continuing to grow a
little bit.

Speaker 5 (28:15):
I mean, I think it was.

Speaker 6 (28:16):
Like five snaps and like eight snaps, like ten, you know,
so he's seeing a slight uptick. But look, there's no
question this got Kyle Williams, who, by the way, great personality,
hilarious dude, just can't get enough of him in the
locker room.

Speaker 5 (28:27):
He's hilarious. But I think it's pointing in the right direction.

Speaker 6 (28:31):
But Paul, you might remember, I mean I would see
him similar a little bit to Malcolm Mitchell in twenty sixteen,
who I don't know if he came out of the
gate guns blazing and you know, kind of worked his
way out.

Speaker 2 (28:40):
Was a little different, only because he was injured a lot.
But yeah, like it's he's an onzide receiver. That's similar,
and it's not like rare for a rookie to take
a little while to sort of get acclimated. It doesn't
mean that he's not necessarily on track, and like you said,
hasn't been a lot. But when they have looked at
Kyle Williams, he's been where he's supposed to be. He's

(29:02):
caught the ball when he's supposed to catch the ball.
It's been small, modest production, but when called upon, he's
done it.

Speaker 3 (29:08):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (29:08):
I mean, I've just say you're seeing the tight ends
come out right here with Hunter Henry, who you know
is look just moved into third place all time in
the Patriots tight end receiving behind Rob gon Krauski and
Ben Kates.

Speaker 5 (29:17):
I mean, what a group that is.

Speaker 6 (29:19):
I mean, I just feel so grateful for Hunter Henry
because there's been some downtime since twenty twenty one when
he arrived here, but he's been one consistent piece that
you know, no matter who he was playing with, he's
been productive. But as Paul aptly hit on this week,
you're not going to make it to week seventeen, Week
eight team with your whole offense going through Hunter Henry.

Speaker 5 (29:37):
He's going to get banged up, you know, Hunter Henry.
I'm sorry.

Speaker 6 (29:40):
Austin Hooper's been a good complimentary piece as well, but
they have to diversify this attack.

Speaker 5 (29:45):
It has to be about the receivers. We got to
get going other with.

Speaker 2 (29:47):
It, and I know that Hunter Henry's probably not feeling great,
but he got it his way. He practiced all three
days this week. He you know full, you know, the
full go in practice. Give him marks for being for
toughness because I know he's not feeling great with some
of those hits he took. The media have like eight
catches for ninety yards last week, so he took you know,
the vast majority of the offense last week went through him,

(30:11):
and you know good. I think that's a good sign
for him, you know, just not not missing a beat.
He's back out there this week and they needed They're
going to need him because Mike's right right now. It's
going through the running backs and the tight ends in
the passing game.

Speaker 6 (30:23):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (30:23):
One more significant piece too, I just probably think we
should bring up is Jare Wilson's inactive.

Speaker 6 (30:28):
So it seems like Ben Brown, who was in a
position battle all summer long for the center and left
guard spot, did a great job last year, came in
on short notice, step right in and play center for
for I believe he finished out the year after the
Patriots had center problems. So Ben Brown's gonna ge an
opportunity today at left guard. We'll see how that looks.
But you know, just a little bit of a change

(30:48):
there that I think we should should be aware of,
especially with you know, Derrek Brown on the on the Panthers,
who is an outstanding force and there's a lot of
you know holes. I think you can maybe attack with
this Panthers team, but he's won, you're gonna have to
be wary of and especially when you run into that line,
he's gonna be trying to get that ball.

Speaker 5 (31:04):
So watch out for Derek Brown.

Speaker 3 (31:05):
Absolutely. All right, DeShawn is in Virginia.

Speaker 8 (31:11):
But I got how you guys are doing.

Speaker 6 (31:15):
Good good.

Speaker 8 (31:16):
I think that one of the biggest things that people
undermining is when it comes to this offense, if they
don't really start doing their job, they can really play
uh this locker room because the defense I can see
the defense looking, you know, making a sign out of
the offense because honestly, like I said, I knew the
defense weren't coming to their own at some point, but
if the office is not doing their job, it can

(31:37):
really plague this whole new regime that they got going
off for the season for this season. Yeah, and then
I think it's really really important for them to actually
score points because when you look at look at throughout
the season. You can't overlook anybody because I believe this
office is cable of losing games by delth just like
today whatever. I believe that the parents can really do

(31:58):
some things.

Speaker 2 (31:58):
They have turnover, Yeah, I mean that absolutely can happen
on teams. They can be a fracture when one side
of the ball is playing.

Speaker 4 (32:09):
Right now, that ain't happening that.

Speaker 2 (32:13):
New England Patriots. This defense is basically played two pretty
good quarters of football. Yeah, I don't think that they've
anywhere near the situation where they're looking at the offense
side eyed wondering when you're going to hold up the
end of the barg and the offense has actually played
better than the defense over the span of the first
three weeks. Now, neither side I don't think has covered
itself in glory. And last week, yes, you turned the

(32:34):
ball over five times. It's a tie game with seven
minutes left and the other team has his ball in
their own what twenty five yard line? They went seventy
five yards to score. So this is such thing as
like points off turnovers, And then there's allowing the team
to drive the length of the field off of turnovers. Yes,
they allowed fourteen points off turnovers. Both touchdown drives were
long drives. It wasn't like they set up shop, but

(32:57):
like the Patriots took over on the eleven yard line
for one of their turnovers, and they unfortunately turned it
over right back. But I get what deshauns saying, and
that definitely happens when one side of the ball is
much stronger than the other. That hasn't been the case
so far. The Patriots defense is ranked down or near
the bottom in a lot of major categories. Defense defense

(33:19):
has been very good, and that's I think that's going
to be important today, Mike, because I think that's what Caroline,
especially with the receivers out there, you know that their
targets are out, so I think it's going to be
a lot of tuber Hubbard. I think it's hard to
at this like saying that generally, I put the e
R at the end of that. My Boston with out
Trooperba Tuba.

Speaker 5 (33:38):
It's been one of the surprising parts for me of
of this team.

Speaker 6 (33:41):
And great great gat right now with Tonga, who I
think is really everybody's been.

Speaker 5 (33:46):
Pretty impressed with him.

Speaker 6 (33:47):
Mike Krabele was asked about him this week, saying with
how much he enjoys him as a person, but also
just a little bit surprised with how well he moves
and gets upfields.

Speaker 2 (33:55):
I'm heralded free agents signed. He's been really, really.

Speaker 6 (33:58):
Gooditive you know, I'm curious to see how it get
going when they see one of these really devastating run games.
I mean, I don't think you've really seen that right
yet so far. But it's also a cautionary tale of
like three games down and you want to go into
all the stats and the rankings and say, well, they're
number one in this and they're thirty second in this,
and you know, I try to pump the brakes on
that stuff until you get four or five six games

(34:19):
under your belt.

Speaker 5 (34:19):
Then I think the.

Speaker 6 (34:20):
Stats start to tell the story. But like Paul said,
the defense has been so streaky. It's like last week,
it's all shut down except for the three drives where
they went right through you, and those were the ultimately
the drives that decided the game.

Speaker 5 (34:32):
So steps on for everyone to take on both sides
of them.

Speaker 3 (34:35):
Absolutely. And by the way, Brad in California, I'm so
sorry I hung up on you. I answered too early,
and you guys are still talking, so you can call
back if you'd like to. Sorry, Brad, but I'm gonnaein
to run in New York. Well, we wait for you
to call back.

Speaker 15 (34:47):
Good afternoon, guys, Thanks for taking the call. My call
is just you know what your feelings are on Cayden Wallace.
I mean him being inactive today with you know, his
position group Jared Wilson being down. And further adding to
that is they had a practice squad, great car run.

Speaker 3 (35:05):
You should have seen the eye contact they made in studio, and.

Speaker 2 (35:08):
Ron, you're gonna get the key to the game today
because that is, in all seriousness, that's next level of
fandom right there, and it's not one that's going to
catch a lot of headlines. Absolutely, mad give him, give
him as flowers as you kids like to say, give
him his flowers.

Speaker 5 (35:23):
So, Mike and I, just before the start you called
it out first ball. Yeah, I'll give himrong credit and
you credit because.

Speaker 2 (35:28):
But it was a combined effort because you also added
in that it was Heymus was elevated from the practice squad.
So Ron, I think you're you're right. It's a little
odd to me that they they had an opening at guard.
Ben Brown's going to start. Okay, he's going to start,
but Kayden Wallace can't be active, and you had to

(35:49):
elevate a guy that is really I think it's Brendan isms.
He's only been here about a.

Speaker 6 (35:55):
Month, true, but you know, and to add to the level,
he's played forty six career games in the NFL, so
I mean, he certainly has more experience than Kate Wallason.

Speaker 2 (36:02):
But an interesting development to me. You want to talk
about how do how do the Patriots? This is bigger
picture stuff. This is not very little to do with
today's game against the Panthers. This is lodger picture here.
How do you dig yourself out of this hole? How
do you sort of go from a full win team
back to you know, to a twelve or thirteen win
team consistently? How do you do it?

Speaker 8 (36:22):
Mike?

Speaker 2 (36:23):
You do it with good draft picks and good young players.
And it looks like that might be another one of
those draft picks that you're really not expecting to.

Speaker 5 (36:28):
Get much from him.

Speaker 2 (36:30):
So yeah, it's a it's yeah, it's definitely one that
is not going to catch a lot of headlines. But
it did when I saw the inactive list come out today.
It did catch my eye that he wasn't he wasn't
active today, all right, well, and by all accounts, everybody's
been saying like he's been much better suited to guard
and right, you know, during the summer we heard some

(36:50):
people talk about that.

Speaker 5 (36:52):
I think he was hurt too for a little while
and miss some time. No, we'll see, not great, No, see.

Speaker 6 (36:58):
Drake there getting I'm just curious that that is the
line we're expecting there in front of him, or if
there is any any minor juggling, but don't anticipate it.

Speaker 3 (37:07):
All right, Brad called back, Let's see, yes, I read
so sorry, it's.

Speaker 16 (37:12):
All right, how you guys go good?

Speaker 15 (37:15):
Good.

Speaker 16 (37:16):
So, first off, obviously thought some prayers got to Terrell Williams.
But I had a question from I believe I heard
Mike Brabil in a press conference the other day emphasize
the importance of continuity. I was wondering exactly how much
benefit would it be if maybe we gave if Terrell
Williams decided to maybe step aside to more of an

(37:41):
advisory role so he could focus more on his recovery,
and maybe gave Zach Core the opportunity to really in
name take over the defense because he he made some
really good adjustments last week in the game against the Steelers,
and I feel like there's been some really good flashes
from them. So I was just wondering, really, how important

(38:01):
is continuity in a defense like this? Might take the
answer off the air.

Speaker 5 (38:07):
Yeah, No, that's a it's a good call out.

Speaker 6 (38:09):
I mean, I would point to last week when it
was still some uncertainty around Terrell, and Mike said, just
for our purposes of staying consistent, we're going to continue
the path that we've been on with that core. So
it seemed like they made strides to that last week,
and now it's really just about giving Terrell Williams the
time and space he needs to get in. I don't
think he's going to be involved much, if at all,

(38:29):
And he pointed out Vinnie De Palma as well, who
was a holdover from last year's coaching staff at the
linebacker position. BC guy linebacker himself, who's probably taken a
little bit more workload over for for Corps as he's
been immersed now, and probably a little bit more coordinating
the defense, getting ready to call the plays, putting together the.

Speaker 5 (38:48):
Call sheet, all that stuff. H Actually one more thing, guys,
could I could I have one?

Speaker 6 (38:53):
I saw Mike Giardi front of the Front of the program,
correct pointed out that Mike Vrabel said on his hit
on ninety eighty five after Paul's hit the lesser of
the two, correct, thank you than too exciting hits, but
saying we need to force Carolina to kick some field goals.
Last week, the Patriots allowed three tds on three red
zone trips, and for the season, the Patriots defense is

(39:16):
thirty first in red zone percentage, so they've allowed overall
six touchdowns on five trips by other teams. So getting
some stops in the red zone I think will be
a really nice start for this team. Again, look, it's
only been six times that pit, so it's not a
huge sample size, but I think it's enough of a
sample size to say we got to start playing better
down there in the red zone where things get tighter,

(39:37):
it should be easier for the defense down there. So
something to watch if Carolina does get down into inside
the twenty.

Speaker 2 (39:43):
And he also talked about that kickoff thing too. You know,
v Abel talked a lot about it during the week.
You know, Ryan Fitzgerald, I guess has been really good
at those knuckleballs that land in the landing zone, and
guys have had a height. And right now, it's only
three games, kind of a small sample size, but the
average starting field position for Panthers opponents has been the

(40:03):
twenty one yard line so league while I'll bet that's
closer to the thirty or somewhere between the thirty and
the thirty five. Even so, that's a significant difference. And
you're talking about ten yards. Yep.

Speaker 3 (40:14):
All right, we're gonna get into our over unders. I know, Paul,
your favorite part of the show. But what is over
under on the landscaping that you have left with your
yard this season?

Speaker 5 (40:23):
Boy?

Speaker 3 (40:24):
That well, I have hope for you, thankfully. Nothing says
football season like firing up the grill in your backyard
and having a cookout. Of course, and the best cookouts
have the best looking lawns, the lawns that are cut
with air. Errands Mower, Aarons official lawnmower of the New
England Patriots, is proud to help Patriots fans get back
to football. You can visit www dot Errands dot com

(40:46):
to find your Errands. All right, it is time for
our favorite time of the show, the over unders, I
didn't pick these ahead of time today, I'm gonna go
with the flow like that. Yeah, I know, smart moves.

Speaker 2 (41:00):
She she needs to do it ahead of time because
she's winning. That's actually right.

Speaker 3 (41:04):
So get the score.

Speaker 2 (41:05):
Last week for Kwannie, Mike and I were three and three.
So for the season, it's eleven and seven for Kwannie,
Mike ten and eight, Paul eight and ten. So I
just continue to talk and everything.

Speaker 3 (41:15):
You're gonna get better. It's a game, a game basis.

Speaker 2 (41:19):
Just keep building, all right, let's get it stay.

Speaker 3 (41:21):
We're gonna start with Drake May his passing tds that
is right now at one and a half.

Speaker 6 (41:28):
I'll start us off at yeahing good about Drake today.
I think he's got two tuddies in him.

Speaker 5 (41:32):
I'm gonna go over all right.

Speaker 2 (41:35):
I'm gonna take the over as well because I'm a homer.

Speaker 3 (41:38):
And I'm really I'm gonna take the over because I
think that he should be able to play comfortably against
this Panthers defense. We'll see, we'll see, hopefully I don't
drink myself or him all right. Up next to we
have Bryce Young his passing yards that's at two hundred
and ten and a half.

Speaker 5 (41:55):
I think that's Paul, that is me, that is me.

Speaker 2 (41:58):
I'm gonna take the over. And this is not necessarily
because I think Bryce Young is gonna have a great
day today. I have a feeling that the Panthers are
gonna be behind, got a fall day and gonna meet him.

Speaker 3 (42:08):
Okay, that's a good one. I'm next, I'm gonna take
the under just for the plot.

Speaker 5 (42:14):
Yeah, now, I'm rationale. Honestly, I'm with you. I'm with you.

Speaker 6 (42:18):
I'm pulling on Hope for a real suffocating defensive performance today.

Speaker 5 (42:22):
I'm gonna I'm gonna take the under.

Speaker 3 (42:23):
Police giving Hope. All right. Up next we have Hunter Henry.
We're just raving about him, who is receiving yards forty
and a half.

Speaker 5 (42:30):
You're up first.

Speaker 3 (42:31):
I'm gonna take the over over one. Hunter.

Speaker 6 (42:34):
We believe in you. You know what, I'm gonna go under,
just playing the odds a little bit. I think he's
a little banged up, and I'd like to see them
try to get a little bit to the wide receivers,
maybe a little bit to Travon Henderson in space, get
him some get him some room.

Speaker 5 (42:48):
To work with.

Speaker 2 (42:49):
I like you I'm gonna take the over. I am
a little concerned about his health, but I think that
the one area that kind of concerns me for the
Panthers defensively is the secondary and rather not necessarily chase
after J. C. Horn and those guys. So let's go
to Hunter Henry status quo if you will.

Speaker 3 (43:10):
By the way, Jaylen Brown's sideline of this game here,
So bring that Celtics luck over to Julette Stadium. All right,
we have Andre borg Gallas kicking points at seven and
a half.

Speaker 5 (43:22):
That's at least two field goals and an extra point.

Speaker 6 (43:27):
Even answers to extra two extra points.

Speaker 5 (43:31):
Math is hard.

Speaker 2 (43:31):
Matth is hard. That's why I had a correction.

Speaker 5 (43:34):
I'm gonna have some fun. I'm gonna go over on
this one.

Speaker 2 (43:37):
Now I'm gonna take the under guysoy, on field goals,
we don't want any field goals. How about five extra points?

Speaker 3 (43:45):
I'm gonna go over, just believing in Borgallas. All right.
Next up, we have the total turnovers two and a half.

Speaker 2 (43:55):
That's you, Paul, But I mean I have to go
over on math is these two teams have tied for
second in the league and turn and turnovers, so I'm
gonna have to say that that's.

Speaker 3 (44:06):
I'm gonna go under, just just for it, just because
to make it interesting.

Speaker 5 (44:10):
I'm gonna go over to. But I don't like it.

Speaker 3 (44:13):
That answer was definitely not rational on my part. But
it's okay. Or finally we have the total score being
at forty two and a half point, that's you. I'm
gonna take the Oh, let's see if I said turnovers
and then now I'm doing math, I'm gonna take the over.
Oh my god, over just going over over over.

Speaker 5 (44:36):
Yeah, I got it. I'm gonna go under on this one.

Speaker 2 (44:40):
Yeah, I'm gonna go under too. I don't think that
the Panthers they have.

Speaker 3 (44:49):
Answers that way. Whatever, we'll see. This is just for
the fun, for the people.

Speaker 2 (44:53):
For the fun, all right.

Speaker 5 (44:54):
You guys know it gets very serious down the stretch.

Speaker 3 (44:57):
It does. I'm stressed out.

Speaker 2 (44:59):
They don't to get serious when I'm doing well and
I'm not chaunting us every time.

Speaker 3 (45:04):
Before we actually listen to one of my favorite opens.
As I've already established on this show, I have to
tell you guys about one of my favorite chips. You
know it. Freedo's football fans, we always know we talk
about it. Traditions matter, So turning moments together with your
family into truly something epic there will inspire us to
make our masa and tostitos the traditional way, starting with
whole corn kernels, no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, all

(45:28):
to give you that perfect crunch. You can just discover
your next tradition this football season by heading to the
store and grabbing your Totito's team bag and to getting
that code for a chance to score an epic experience
with the Patriots tostitos. Traditions matter, And of course, now
we get into our Sunday six back.

Speaker 5 (45:48):
This is the Sunday six packs.

Speaker 3 (45:50):
So kick back and listen.

Speaker 5 (45:51):
In my position, I'm getting to get the pits back.

Speaker 6 (45:54):
You've had to bring a big sack, get it mixed, Jack,
I can't win it yet.

Speaker 5 (45:57):
This is the Sunday sixth bad.

Speaker 3 (46:00):
Sunday six Back. We're gonna start with the one o'clock games.
First up, we have New Orleans the Saints. They're in Buffalo,
of course, Buffalo being three and oh right now top
of the AFC. So, yeah, what do you to say?

Speaker 5 (46:15):
This feels like what I mean? That's the question.

Speaker 6 (46:18):
Do you feel like doors do they get this interested
in not quite blow doors. I'm gonna try to be
consistent with my picks from the week.

Speaker 5 (46:25):
I will say Buffalo blows doors. I'll take Buffalo lay
the points.

Speaker 3 (46:28):
I think that's a good idea. And I'm taking Buffalo
as well.

Speaker 2 (46:31):
Yeah, I will. I just I don't want to lay
more than two touchdowns in an NFL game. I'll take
the Saints, although they stink.

Speaker 3 (46:39):
Pot See.

Speaker 5 (46:40):
These are the next two teams the Patriots face, by
the way.

Speaker 2 (46:42):
So that's truely an interesting factory Cliffe cleven. These are
the next two opponents for the Patriots.

Speaker 3 (46:49):
It's very interesting observation there, all right. Up next, we
have the Chargers at the New York Giants, and I'll
tell you, guys, off the top, i am not taking
the Giants in this.

Speaker 4 (46:57):
I am taking a charge chargers.

Speaker 2 (47:00):
Give them to chargers. Oh, yes, by the way, road
favorite there.

Speaker 3 (47:04):
Mike forgot to mention the spread on Buffalo by the way,
fourteen and a half. My bad.

Speaker 5 (47:07):
Yeah, I'll take I'll take the charges too.

Speaker 6 (47:10):
But there's a feels like a little missed opportunity of
not having Jackson Dart here in New England.

Speaker 3 (47:14):
Just die.

Speaker 4 (47:15):
Yeah, it'll be a great name. Pocket Dots.

Speaker 2 (47:20):
I'm gonna you're gonna have a.

Speaker 5 (47:23):
I went yesterday.

Speaker 2 (47:26):
Yeah, I'm gonna. I'm going to take the Giants. I
actually think the Giants might win this.

Speaker 4 (47:29):
Game, right, wow, out right right believes. I don't believe
necessarily Patriots.

Speaker 3 (47:37):
Okay, I'm beating all the allegations today. Up next we
have the Eagles eight three and o as well against
the Buccaneers also three and oh Philly with a three
and a half.

Speaker 2 (47:48):
Good game.

Speaker 4 (47:48):
Yeah, that will be a really good game game, is
it me?

Speaker 2 (47:52):
I will take Tampa Tampa, Tampa Bay. I'm a little
worried about Mayfield's health. It's taking a lot of big hits.
I know he was kind of questionable all week. He
is going to play, but I'm going to take it.

Speaker 5 (48:03):
Is he gonna ba bus that's the question.

Speaker 2 (48:05):
Let baker, babe.

Speaker 3 (48:05):
Let I just I don't know why that.

Speaker 2 (48:07):
Let baker because it's nonsense. You are right to laugh
about a quane because it makes no sense. It's as Baker,
much like everything Fred says, it makes.

Speaker 3 (48:17):
Sense gets in the field. We are. I was baking
when I went on the field earlier.

Speaker 5 (48:23):
So good it's warm.

Speaker 2 (48:25):
I was actually asked in my pregame chin Wag on
the Sports Hub if I thought that the weather might
play because it's so. I was like, yes, what are
we doing? You never think of it that way?

Speaker 12 (48:36):
Right?

Speaker 2 (48:37):
The sun was beating Foxborough unless it's like inclement weather.
Why would the weather be a factor? Who knows?

Speaker 15 (48:43):
He never.

Speaker 13 (48:46):
Man.

Speaker 4 (48:47):
So I'm on Tampa for Mike, Philly for quantity.

Speaker 3 (48:54):
I forgot to.

Speaker 2 (48:55):
By the way, say last week Kwanye went three and
three in the six pack, Paul and Mike in two
and four. The season standings are ten and eight for Kwanti,
eight and ten for Mike, seven and eleven for Paul.
So those those standings are updated off of the sheets
that you have.

Speaker 3 (49:10):
I'm the best of the worst.

Speaker 2 (49:11):
Real I only need to know is Paul is in
last place in every possible metric there is out there,
whether it's p F F or a w S. The
season long standings on PU on Thursdays, with the spread
overall six pack Overking, that's last. Paul doesn't tank anything.

Speaker 4 (49:32):
Okay, not taking all right?

Speaker 3 (49:33):
Well maybe that we can get them luck all right,
let's look at the four PM.

Speaker 6 (49:38):
Maybe this week for you little guy hanging there.

Speaker 3 (49:42):
We have the Colts at the Rams Rams with three
and a half.

Speaker 5 (49:48):
A good game, Mike, another great game.

Speaker 6 (49:50):
Yeah, I don't know if it's back to I guess
it's back to me.

Speaker 5 (49:53):
I'm going to take the Rams at home. But I
think the Colts have been a great story. Daniel Jones.
I love when this kind of stuff happens.

Speaker 6 (50:01):
It's just chaos for the league and all these people
think they're like done with their quarterback and now gives
you like positive look.

Speaker 5 (50:08):
We'll see if you can keep it up. But I
got the Rams at home. I think they knocked the
Colts off. Today's a good one.

Speaker 3 (50:13):
I'm going to go with the Colts.

Speaker 2 (50:15):
Okay, I'm going to take the Rams too. I like
the ROMs as you know do. It's my my adopted
and cool. He's a player, and I guess Devanta Adams
is going to play.

Speaker 5 (50:25):
Yeah, Daniel was going to fight.

Speaker 2 (50:28):
I knew where he was going.

Speaker 4 (50:29):
You guys are in sync, So I'm going to take
the ROMs.

Speaker 3 (50:34):
Next, we have the Jaguars at the forty nine Ers
San Francisco with three and a half.

Speaker 2 (50:42):
Yeah, Brock party back in the uh in the saddle,
Mike I'm going to take the Niners at home to
get that one done.

Speaker 3 (50:49):
I'm with you on that.

Speaker 5 (50:51):
Yeah, I'm going to do that as well. It just
you can't better guess brock Purty, Well you can.

Speaker 3 (50:57):
But you just might be wrong, right all right, Last,
but not LEAs, of course, the Carolina Panthers and the
New England Patriots both one and two, but New England
five and a half advantage.

Speaker 6 (51:07):
Yeah, yeah, I'm going Patriots in this one. I feel
like you got to win this one. You gotta get
on track. It's just this is too important of a
game right here, and this is a winnable game, and
this is where you define your season.

Speaker 5 (51:19):
Are you going to be the best of the bat
or are you going to be an up.

Speaker 6 (51:21):
And down against the bad teams. We're at that point,
I said at the top. We've been practicing, We've been
doing it for a while.

Speaker 9 (51:27):
You know.

Speaker 6 (51:28):
Bill Belichick always used to say, like week five, week
six is when you start We're getting to that point.
This is when you start to know what you have
and you have to start playing like the team you're
going to become. So I like the Patriots today. I
don't think it's a you know, completely blowdoors. But I'm
going back to my original score score POL twenty seven
to thirteen Patriots.

Speaker 2 (51:46):
I like it, and that is my score that Mike
stole from me.

Speaker 5 (51:48):
No, Mike, actually and I gave him seventeen. He said
seventeen on the show.

Speaker 2 (51:53):
He said it early and when we were taping on
Monday for a puat was my initial Patriots on siltered
on TV. What really catching on?

Speaker 4 (52:04):
I believe it's like fetch the kids are saying.

Speaker 2 (52:07):
So I had the same score twenty seven to thirteen.
I think the Patriots forced a couple of turnovers. I
think they run the ball effectively against a weak Panthers
run defense. It's averaging almost six yards of carry aloud,
hold onto the ball, knock on wood. And I think
the Patriots get a big home win that they have
to have.

Speaker 3 (52:25):
Absolutely, I'm taking the Patriots as well. Like we said
in our Keys, just capitalize on the mistakes of the
Panthers and you guys can win this one. I think
I believe in them.

Speaker 6 (52:33):
Yeah, you know, I just got to say, like it's
gotta be for me more than just well we didn't
completely blow it, like you know, one of those kind
of wins like I'd like to see, Hey, it feels
like it's starting to come together like that, and it
doesn't have to be perfect.

Speaker 5 (52:48):
And I put twenty seven points.

Speaker 2 (52:50):
And I get it. They need to win the game,
and bottom liners needed to win the game. But I'm
with Mike, like, if you come in and it's like
a thirteen to ten win and you know, you turn
the ball over three times and the Panthers turn it
over four times and you just got the last one
or something like that, Yeah, right right now, they need
to clean They need to play a clean game.

Speaker 3 (53:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (53:10):
I'd love to be sitting here in a couple or a
few hours and be saying, I mean, they got to
go to Buffalo, but if they play like this, it's.

Speaker 5 (53:16):
At least gonna be interesting.

Speaker 6 (53:17):
You know, like they're gonna give them, They're gonna give
them something to think about, you know that. That's what
I'd like to see, because look, Buffalo's waiting next week,
no question, I think the Patriots have played better there
in recent years, played better against Josh Allen than a
stretch where Josh Allen was just doing whatever he wanted
every single time. I mean, for the most part, it
hasn't still kind of been like that. But you know,
I think at the end of that, then you have

(53:39):
New Orleans, you have Tennessee, you have winnable games. So
you lose this one or you drop it, or you
don't play great, and then you don't really have any
confidence going into Buffalo, and then maybe Buffalo hammers, and
now you're like, well, we got to save our season
against the Saints in New Orleans, which, even at the
Saints stink, New Orleans is a tough place to play generally,
trip you'd never just pencil in a win on the

(54:00):
out against any NFL team.

Speaker 2 (54:01):
So Wolans, I'm penciling in that. Yeah, I would agree.
This are like we could talk about all this stuff.
These are like toss up games. Might keep saying something
that I think makes a lot of sense, like, can
you separate yourself as being a little bit better. We're
in the lower tier of the league until otherwise proven, right,

(54:23):
can you separate yourself that, you know, Carolina, Cleveland, New
Orleans right now, the Jets in Miami. Can you separate
yourself from some of those teams and say, Okay, we're
not great, We're not a playoff team yet, but we're
not that, and today is one of those games, Like
I think Carolina is trying to prove that they're not
one of those teams either, So prove that you're better.

Speaker 6 (54:45):
Yeah, and then it's gonna stay interesting into November and December.
And you know, I don't need them to be in
the you know, in the playoff hunt necessarily, but it'd
be nice to feel like it's at least a possibility
and that you're you know, playing meaningful games when you
get into November. And because to me, the biggest point
and go back to what I've said up before, and
it's the biggest thing I've learned from the last two seasons.

(55:06):
Every loss makes it worse. Every single loss makes it worse.
So you have to stop the bleeding. Now, get a
win in September here the last days of September you
can feel good about. Build some confidence and some belief
in this team. That was what we were talking about
after that Miami win. The buy in from the team.
Let's see a Mike Vrabel Patriots win out there. What
he wants it to look like, tough after the ball,

(55:27):
finish every play.

Speaker 3 (55:28):
I like that, all right, Marcella called in before the end.
But you know what, we have a little bit of time,
so we'll let you marciall Brooklyn, Yeah, close it out
for us. Marcel and Brooklyn.

Speaker 7 (55:37):
Hey, good afternoon, paxt nation. I want to go with
the New York Giants Jason Hart and Walson Wilson looking
to turn things around this afternoon against the Chargers. So
I got to go with a big Blues So I
have to say, after those losses against Dallas, Washington and

(55:58):
Kansas City, the Giants are looking things forward to turn
the things around. Your thoughts on this, I think.

Speaker 3 (56:08):
You called it was like, wait a minute, what is
that Giants game show?

Speaker 5 (56:17):
In the case though with someone like you call the
Giants for.

Speaker 3 (56:20):
Your show, Wait a minute, am I missing something? I
did not say that my promise, Well, that was not
the way we wanted.

Speaker 5 (56:28):
To call that, even drop Jackson, Dot, that's true.

Speaker 3 (56:32):
Accent over there.

Speaker 6 (56:33):
Throw it to Navis and you know, the Giants had
a lot of New England fans back in the damn
so there's still.

Speaker 3 (56:39):
Some old time or you want to come to the
fandom for sure.

Speaker 2 (56:42):
So in his Giants Country, technically we want to tip
it out.

Speaker 5 (56:48):
Just drafted Kata. We got dot.

Speaker 3 (56:50):
You have a good accent. I'm working on having one.
I don't know. All right, well, we have so much
to look forward to. Any final words, Christian Cazale is
making a season debut. I'm excited. Good web is beautiful.

Speaker 5 (57:02):
Yeah, it's a great day.

Speaker 6 (57:03):
And that's why, you know, you want it to all
come together because it's great to get Christian Zalez back.

Speaker 5 (57:08):
You feel like the team.

Speaker 6 (57:10):
You see them all out there in their T shirts
supporting Terrell Williams, and you know, you never want that
to happen. You never want to have to say, oh,
let's rally for Terrell Williams or anything like that. But
I do think that there's a sense of, you know,
in a locker room, hey, this is our guy, and
let's go put a performance out there that would make
him proud. And you know, I'm sure Zach Corer getting
an opportunity now to really jump start his career. And
we spend so much time talking about coaches leaving and going, well,

(57:32):
you know, Zach Cort's getting.

Speaker 5 (57:33):
A lot of really good experience right now.

Speaker 6 (57:35):
And he's another one of those trusted Mike Rabel confidants
that you know we'll see. I mean, I think there's
been some growing pains for him too, with calling some
of the defenses and that. I mean, you've seen some
adjustments that he's made that have really worked.

Speaker 5 (57:46):
Well. Let's see how they come out of the gate today.

Speaker 6 (57:48):
Do they come out, get a stop, really come out
and know what they want to do and execute right
out of the gate. I think that'd be a really
positive sign for the defense after last week.

Speaker 2 (57:56):
Yeah, and I'd like to see Drake may like kind
of put it together. Two weeks ago, he played a
really good game, but he wasn't asked to do a
whole lot, only throwing twenty three passes. Last week, I
thought there were long stretches where he played really really well,
but then he had a couple of turnovers. So I
like to see him put it all together and have
really a clean game that he's more involved in. I'm
not necessarily expecting that because, like I said a little

(58:19):
while ago, I think they're going to run the ball
a lot today. But Mike's point about separating from the
pack is the one that I want to be talking
about in the post game show, and it took a
step forward. Yeah, this is going to be the fourth
game to me that was kind of a toss up
that they're playing. Yep. So I always say what happens
when you have toss up games, So they generally go either.

Speaker 6 (58:39):
Way, right, unless you're not unless you're one of the
lower ranked teams, and then maybe they go one out of.

Speaker 2 (58:43):
So you go two and two in toss up games,
and that's not the worst scenario.

Speaker 12 (58:48):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (58:48):
I think it's like we're obviously not expecting perfection out
of the Patriots right now, just progress from last week
and continuing to clean up. They're act on both sides of.

Speaker 5 (58:55):
The ball, Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 6 (58:56):
And I mean to point out the you know, the
penalty thing, because you know, two weeks ago we were
talking a lot about Will Campbell getting multiple false.

Speaker 5 (59:02):
Start penalties and you know, some of the.

Speaker 6 (59:05):
Tackles looking like they were trying to get a jump,
and you know, you only had one offensive penalty last week.
You had Michael on when you coing downfield, which is
you know, one of those timing kind of things. It
wasn't a you know, total mental brain fart like some
of the other penalties have been in the past. And again,
the one penalty on the defense in the second half
was that Carlton Davis PI which was marginal, So maybe
that was a sign of hey, you know, we're cleaning

(59:26):
it up in crunch time, and that's that's a big
first step to take. The turnovers still persist though in
crunch time, they got to clean those up, all right.

Speaker 3 (59:33):
Well, before we go, you know, we have the pair
of bills. So Patriots Pregame Show. You know, we talk
about it being president fueled by Duncan, but it's also
sponsored by the Massachusetts two and fifty campaign. They're commemorating
a history of possibility. You can plan your revolutionary weekend
at Massachusetts two fifty dot org. That does it for
our Patriots Pregame Show. We're gonna go ahead and watch

(59:55):
the game as you are as well. Thank you for
tuning in, and we will be here right back after
the game with all the re captain analysis. Thank you.

Speaker 2 (01:00:03):
Hey, this is Evan. Thanks for tuning in to the show.

Speaker 14 (01:00:05):
If you really want to help us, make sure to
like us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get
your podcasts. Also make sure to follow on the New
England Patriots YouTube channel see this show and everything else
we do here at the Patriots. Thanks a lot,