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Patriots Pregame Show 1/5: Bills Preview, Inactives Analysis and Keys to the Game

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Published Jan 5, 2025, 6:23 PM
Tune-in as we preview the Bills-Patriots with all the matchups to watch, keys to the game, inactives analysis and more. Former Patriots DB Duron Harmon joins the show before he serves as game day's Keeper of the Light. Plus, we go behind enemy lines to hear from WHAM TV's Sports Director Mike Catalana.

Patriots Unfiltered the world's original podcast. Patriots Unfiltered brings you inside you Llette Stadium for rousing conversations on everything New England, Patriots, and NFL. Join host Fred Kersh alongside Patriots dot COM's Paul Parillo, Mike Desso, Evan Lazar, Tamara Brown, and Alex Francisco as they bring you in depth coverage of the team.

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Good morning, everybody, and welcome to Week eighteen, The week the season finale of the regular season. Boy, does time fly when you're having fun? Does time fly when you're having fun? Who would have thunked that we'd be here in week eighteen? To my left, Paul Parolo, to my right, Tamara Brown and Mike Dusau And we are pleased, Boy, are we pleased to have a special guest today? Douce you call him the closer.

I know he's closing off the season.

So yeah, number thirty on your flip chart, but number one in our heart is Deron Harmon do good to see.

It, many, great to see you guys. Thanks for having me on.

Yeah, appreciate it. So we were talking a little bit before we started here Week eighteen and your fate is sealed? How many of those did you have in your career?

Duran?

Where there's quote unquote nothing to play for, which is a bunch of bs.

I had a few.

Thinking about even being in New England. It was from a different perspective. We had the playoffs already locked up a number one seed I think that was twenty fourteen when we played the Bills here.

But for me, I was a young guy. It was an opportunity when I got to play a lot of snaps. So I looked at it as a.

Great opportunity to go out and show the coaches not only for the playoffs, but for next season. Okay, this is a guy who can handle more snaps than what he has previously already played. But then when I think about when I was in Detroit, Atlanta and at the Raiders, completely different scenario. We were out of the playoffs. We were obviously not a team that was competitive.

Enough to get there.

But I was a little lader in my career, so I understood that these opportunities didn't come as frequently as they would earlier, so I knew I had to take the most of those games. I would say the Lions game was probably the hardest, just because that was my first year from New ENGLANDM used to win it over and over again. Maddy p was fired, Bible Quinn was fired. So I'm not gonna lie I was a little bit in a funk, but I made sure the next year when I played in Atlanta, similar situation. We just couldn't finish out the season the right way. I made sure I gave everything I had, and the same thing at the Raiders because I just knew I think I was year nine in Atlanta, year ten at the Raiders, and like I said, those opportunities I knew were far far, they were limited, so I wanted to make sure I made the most of it.

So to set the table here, the three and thirteen Patriots are taking on the thirteen and three Buffalo Bills AFC East matchup. It's a regular season finale, the Bills haven't clinched the number two seed, and we know that Josh Allen will play, but probably just to keep a streak contact and they're gonna get him out of there and out of arms way. Well, there's been a lot of talk this week Deron about how to Patriots approach the game. Do you put Drake May in harm's way? Christian Gonzalez, the other butting star on the team, has already been ruled out. I think people feel good about that that you know he's out of harm's way. But it's about professionalism, isn't it When people outside of these doors go, well, you got nothing to play for, there's nothing to play for. There's a lot to play for. Because people are watching tape of this game and saying, is she trying? Is he trying? Who's really giving it all and being a professional today.

For sure, that's one thing that the upper management will definitely take a look at because we talk about this is a beautiful game.

I love this game.

I've been able to play this game since I can remember, since I could walk, So anytime I had an opportunity to go out there and give my best, I.

Would do it.

And what you will see is you will see people go out there and squander the opportunity. And they will and then next year they'll be looking and they'll be on that you know that friends and making a team, And I'm telling you those same people will.

Be having the same conversation about this game today.

I can I kind of go throw back a little bit here to do. I love the defense. Everybody here makes fun of me for loving the defense so much.

Let's just make fun of you.

That's also true. Last spring we had our draft party. We had d Mac there, we had Pat Chung, we were missing one guy asked them about, you know what made the three.

Of you guys so special.

We've talked a lot about this defense this year, and I think we've seen the times guys struggling to communicate, struggling on the back end to get calls out. You guys played so well together. You're still kind of the standard. We still talk about, you know, how perfectly balanced it was having the three of you guys. How much was that experience important to you guys, And just what was it like getting to that point where the three of you could just effortlessly communicate, probably just with a look at a certain point.

For sure.

It was the continuity you think about it. I was here for seven years, and I played with Chung for six years because he was not here in my rookie year, but he already knew the system. He spent four years in the system before he left to go to the Eagles. Obviously, dev I played with him the entire time. So it was just doing the same thing over and over and over again, and we really balanced each other out. You know, Chung was more of a closer to the line of scrimmage. I was more back deep. And the thing about d Maat he could do it all, and that's what made him the player that he was, the leader that he was because you could put him at any any position.

I felt in the secondary, you know, he was all pro a corner. We had him covering tight ends.

We had him robbing, we had him doing a little bit of everything, and as I grew and got a little older, they allowed me to do a little bit more things as well. So we just we complimented each other. But also we were very close off the field too, and that matters. We were brothers, like you know, we at each other's weddings, our kids grew up with each other. We still all talked to this day, and we all still check on each other, and I think that goes a long way. I think, probably a lot longer than what people actually realize.

I was curious just about this situation still with the you know, the last game of the year, and I'm just wondering, as a as a veteran guy, if teams decided, you know, well this guy will play, that guy won't. Was there ever any sort of thought among you guys in the locker room they're like, well, why does he have to play? Or why do I have to play? Or why does he have to play? But she doesn't and he doesn't, like does that ever come into to play?

No, because I think at the end of the day, you have to be honest with yourself. And we got to realize there are different tier of players. You know, Tom Brady, the importance he was, how important he was to our team, Like, we can't get him hurt in a game where you know we have everything locked up. Okay, we can't get him out there just so he can get his time in a little bit. But you know what, let's get him out of here because we know.

Like he is a big part of our success right now.

You know, there are some other people that you know you're talking about, you know, at the roster, at the bottom roster forty eight, forty nine, fifty two, Like you know those guys you got to look at as not why am I playing? But man, this is an opportunity that I have to show, Like I'm ready. I'm ready to show you guys that, yeah, I maybe not have had these snaps throughout the whole year, but I've been I've been watching, I've been learning, I've been growing, and I'm showing you that I'm ready to take that next step and get a bigger opportunity for next year.

I like how you brought that up, because I'm talking to Alex Austin in the locker room about his opportunity to play this week, especially with Christian Gonzales not playing. He was like, you know, being out on injured reserve with my ankle injury, I've had very little time playing this year. So now he's looking at these last couple of games this season, including today, looking at okay, how can I show the coaches the staff that I'm really competitive, that I can play, that I can earn more time for twenty twenty five. So Austin is a guy that comes to mind when hearing you talk about how every play is part of your resume for sure.

And then even take you a step further.

Then it also gives you something to look forward to in the off season, because you know the game is not going to be perfect for anybody, So there's going to be probably some stuff that he'll want to get better at and then he'll be able to use that from today and Okay, I'm gonna focus on this in the off season.

So next year when this comes up in OTA's and you.

Know, training camp and preseason games, they'll see that I'm a player that can continue to grow and get better and not make the same mistakes.

So Tamara talks about Alex Austin and he's been able to play the last couple weeks and get some real meaningful snaps on tape. I want to ask you about a guy like Joe Milton, who's been the emergency quarterback all season long, hasn't seen a sniff to the entire season. He got first team practice reps this week. I think we all think that that's probably a harbinger of he's going to get in the game today. What's going through somebody's mind like him, who's been in all the meetings the entire year. It's been to every single practice, done everything that you have to do, and maybe this week is the one time he's going to be able to like this is I don't want to overreact a little bit. It's almost Super Bowl asque for him for his career to put something on tape where people go, he can play in the National Football League, isn't.

It for sure?

Because he hasn't played since the preseason, So not only is it an exciting opportunity for him, but the coaches want to see what have you learned that you know, we've been through eighteen weeks of football, and yes, you might not have been out there getting all the reps or any of the reps. But at the end of the day, you've been in those meeting rooms. You know, you've been able to see what Jacoby and Drake may have done. You've been able to be in that meeting room and continue to learn. So this is going to be an opportunity for him to show what he has to learned, if he has progressed from where he was in the preseason to where he is right now. Because that's the thing about being a young player in the NFL. You got to show him provement over and over and over again, because the moment you stop improving, that's when they're going to look to replace you.

Sure, dude, let's reminisce a little bit here, if you would. I'm giving you the credit for the nickname the Closer.

Don't well, I don't know if I take credit for it, but I call it out when I heard it was coming on.

So if we can explain to Patriot fans, tell me why you called Deron Harmon the closer.

Well, I think the the you know, a pension for a game ending interceptions. I think I guess what made the twenty fourteen.

About the baltimp.

I want to know what he thinks all right, I want what's the best What was the best punch out Mariano Rivera ending the game interception that you.

Had, oh versus stillers not even like, not even close like when we went up there, regular season, regular season games. So seventeen yeah, seventeen yeah by Eric Rowe, Jesse James. He reaches out, they say incompletion. You know that was That was probably one of.

The greatest, Yes, intense.

Bess, He's the football games that I've ever played in. But I just remember the ball literally popping up in the air. Everything slowed down a little bit, and I remember running.

I ran right down. It's still a silent. I remember, look Mike Tomlin right now, and I seen the disappointment in his face, and I was it was, man, that was a beautiful day.

Tell him you gotta say it, Tamara, my uncle, that's clouds class.

The script.

I was like shrinking.

That was not But he's a he's a heck of a coach man, and anytime we played them, I knew it was gonna be a good one and got an immense amount of respect from Mike tom.

True professional right there turned into Oh, I had tremendous respect from Mike.

Tomlin as I was looking in the face the Baltimore interception to seal that game.

That's the one I.

Thought that was. Yeah, that was I think that was the start of it, you know, and that was still obviously that was a big one.

That was.

Yeah, that was my second year. That was twenty fourteen.

It's funny because that was when I talked about showing that I could, you know, play and get opportunity. We played the Bills right before them, you know, and we had that bye week, so I remember my snaps went up. I think I got like anywhere between twenty to thirty snaps that week, so that you know, that show is about showing the coaches that, you know, not taking an opportunity for granted and when your numbers called, being able to perform.

But that was I would say, It's crazy.

I kind of not forgot, but I was talking about the Stealers interception yesterday, so it was just fresh on my mind, me and Dad and Jay Matt was actually talking about it because we were kind of we were talking about have we ever had a regular season game to end the season, like what is coming to night with the Vikings Allions, And I could say, the only game that I remember with all those playoff implications and the hype was.

Those games with the Stillers towards the end of the year, so it was fresh.

But do you get stuck in between any of that twin nonsense with just you're the voice of reasons that I make you choose sides? A.

Nah, they don't. They let me. I stick right in the middle.

Last one from me here, and you're bringing up twenty where we're all bringing up twenty fourteen. I don't want to lead the witness. Was that the best team that you played.

On twenty fourteen? It's either twenty fourteen or twenty seventeen. It's one of those two years twenty No, twenty sixteen, twenty sixteen when we only lost two games the whole year. I think we lost to the Bills in Jacoby yetting throw the ball, and then we lost last played the game to the Seahawks. So I think that team was just it was just to me, it was stacked, but it was stacked with a lot of really good players and a lot of good depth. Now, the twenty fourteen was different because we had we had a lot of star power. You know, you're talking about Dearrol Reeves. You're talking about Brandon Brown on the other side, and you got Devin mccordy, Kyle Arrington, and I'm just talking to secondary. I think that whole secondary, little kid by the name of Malcolm Butler. I think everybody you know play over like eight, nine, ten years or something like that.

So it was.

And then you look at Vince, Vince was there, obviously, Jones, Taylor, Jones, Nikovitz, you know, Jamie, Jamie Collins coming into his owner.

I'm not mistaken.

He was All Pro that year as well or on the in the you know, offense, gron Kowski, he was healthy, Tom Shane Marine twenty fourteen.

I mean the team was, it was. I would say between those two teams, you know.

Good discussions.

Yeah.

So Dern's got a lot of pressure today. Okay, not just for being on the pre game social fueled by Duncan, but he's got big pressure, big shoes to fill because he's the keeper of the light today. Any practice, did you get any reps in or anything to do it? Brady's done it, Kenny Chesney's done it, Scar's done it.

Yeah, it's a lot of pressure do Yeah, for sure, I'll tell you. It's a it's an unbelievable honor.

You know that the Patriots brought me back because you talk about those names that you just said, I mean, just a lot of legacy, just a lot of just great people, you know, and to say, you know, have my kids, my wife here, my family here, to be able to do that. I'm looking forward to it, you know, coming back home, being with the family, the fans, you know, you guys, I mean, today is a beautiful day.

It's great.

Do a great job. I'm sure you will get the crowd into it. Hope that everybody gets riled up. Let's see if they can finish the season off for the win. Sounds good, doron harmon, our guest, We'll be back with more of the Patriots pregame Social Fuel by Duncan right after this timeout.

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Now live from our studios, here is Matt Smith.

And welcome back to Week eighteen, the regular season finale. Here the Patriots season finale, where the three and thirteen Patriots will take on the Buffalo Bills, who have clinched the number two seed in the AFC playoff picture. Hopefully the Patriots or the can be spoilers today and play for a little pride and get a win. And as I say that, that's gonna help kick off the keys to the game.

You've waited all week for it.

The whole teams in the locker room right now just listening to this, waiting to hear what you're gonna say.

Here are the Patriots pregame socials keys to the game.

Easy to drink, Easier to enjoy. Bud lighte the official beer sponsor the England Patriots. I'm hoping I'm not gonna try to impulse people into drinking more bud Light with my idea that I do want to see the Patriots win because I think it's important to win. And I'll kick off the keys by saying, thread the needle, and I'm gonna steal that line from mister Paul Pirillo to my left, Thread the needle, go out, representative performance. Let Drake play a little bit, let other people play, go hard, try to win the game, and then by some miracle you lose, and then you still get the number one pick. That's what I mean by thread the needle.

That'd be a nice way to go out, if you ask me, I think that would be a nice needle to thread. Absolutely hard one to thread. I'd take it would be a better neededle thread. If you were to win the game but still end up within would make it even more difficult.

Would would would be better, be more difficult because then you got to worry about everybody else. Yeah, yeah, yeah, so Paul you can. You can then jump in.

Well. I certainly think that they spoke enough this week that Drake may will play today, So it's a pretty simple one for me. Just make sure you keep him healthy.

Do you like the fact that he's playing?

Yeah, I think it's I don't. This is a weird one for me because you know, Matt, I'm as argumentative as they come, and I normally have a side, and I don't really have one on this. I've listened to people like and many others talk really intelligently about, you know, do you really get anything out of beating the Bills jvs in the last game. It's not really a culture building win because no one's playing for anything on the other side. And at the same time, I don't really care all that much about the number one overall pick. I don't think there's that much of a differency one, two, three, whatever. I get that it's better to be at at the top and if you want to have the trade value, But to me, that's all secondary. If Drake may is gonna play, and I'm okay that he's playing, just make sure you get him out of this game. Healthy, it's I can break down the offensive line play if you want to tell me who's going to be playing on the defensive line. For one time. I have no idea who's going to play in this game. So rather than get into any x's and o's, to make it a simple one and get out of it, Healthy Tamara, Once again, you intrigue with your words.

I honestly thought you were gonna make me go first. No, and when I set my keyd you guys saying use mouthwash at first, when no one responded, I was like, Okay, maybe they think that I sent this in the group text by accident.

Oh no, this is my key.

Oh no, I've been paying attention to the last eleven weeks. I knew that was your key.

So my key is used mouthwash. Because after most of these games this season, the players in the locker room have been saying, Wow, this left a bad taste in our mouth. This was a hard pill to swallow because of how tough some of these games have been. This is no surprise to anyone that coming into this last game of the season that you want to end this game today having a better taste in your mouth than you've had the last seventeen weeks. So use mouthwash. I love mouthwash, specifically Listerene, because when you use it, when you use it no listerine. When you use it, it takes out any bad taste that is in your mouth. And I hope that, according to Gerald's drawn Mayo's message to this team, he wants to end on a high note, build some momentum going into the off season. So rinse your mouth out, leave the last seventeen weeks behind you, and just focus on today. One of my coaches at Virginia Tech, actually I have to bring this in here too. He talks about going one and oh every single week, as in every single week is kind of like its own season. Let that be the same thing today, Go one and O, have a fresh chase in your mouth and don't carry over anything from last week.

Dude. I hate to say this to you before you give us your key, but I think the winner of the key of the game for this week is over. I want to congratulate Tamaraw on that, but I'll let you add your key just to round it out now.

I appreciate it because I actually I had to tell my son to use with mouthwash yesterday. He didn't brush his teeth all day. I was like, did you brush your teeth anything?

Like?

I looked at swear used mouthwash. Probably brushed your teeth too.

H No, I you guys.

I came in last because I thought you guys had great keys.

You know.

I think Paul's is just that's paramount to me, like to just get out of the game without hurting.

Dre.

I think you're right, Matt. Thread in this needle. It's a really tough needle to thread, especially after this week. So my key is closed it out right, and I don't know exactly what that means. I don't know what closed it out right.

But I like it a lot of Yes.

Yeah, can we not have the look that we had last week?

Right?

Yeah?

Yeah? Yeah? You know I don't win or loss, I think again, can't get Drake may hurt, but uh, just to put a ribbon on this season for whatever it means, and I don't really know, to be honest, I'm expecting this is when the Patriots put it all together today. Guys, this is what I think is gonna happen. I think the Patriots are gonna play together, They're gonna play hard, and their backups are gonna, you know, perform well enough I think to get a win today. I don't know if that's closing it out right. It might be. We'll see how it looks. But I just think that this has been a really difficult season. It's continued into every week. I've said it a bunch of times this season. Every loss, everything gets a little harder. People get a little bit more angry, a little bit more snipey, you know, and you have to put on that good face every week of we're gonna go out there, We're gonna, you know, try to win one game. We're gonna So I'm not sure exactly what it looks like, but I'm very curious how this team kind of goes out there and performs today based on how they're managing all their personnel and young guys maybe gonna get some chances, but it out right, we'll see what right looks like in the postgame show.

So I'm gonna ask you to follow up with this. And I don't expect a roster you know, height, weight breakdown, but they made a lot of moves yesterday, which should be a tell as to what we expect to see. There's gonna be other people playing today that fans haven't seen a lot of so far during the regular season. I think that's fairly Is that pretty obvious, mikel I think so well.

I mean I would start with you know, that's where I've brought up Alex Austin. I think with Christian Zalez being ruled out, you know that they'll be Isaiah Bolden, Alex Austin gets some time. You know, Marcellus Dial maybe he's played a lot on special teams this year. Is the only rookie on the defensive side of the ball that was drafted. Maybe he gets a little bit of an opportunity. Ben Brown's out, so we'll see, you know, Cole Strange again, just some of the promotions though, I mean, you talked about Jack westover Miles Battle. You know some of these guys that Truman Jones they mentioned this week, a Harvard kid who after releasing Janig and Goakway last week, he might, you know, get a little bit of a chance. So I think you'll see some some young guys in some key spots. But really for me, I think the focus is Drake May. How much does he play? Does Joe Milton come in. Spoke to Joe Milton on Friday in the locker room. It seemed like he was hopeful for an opportunity, and it seems like he's been making the most of his opportunities behind the scenes. So great kid. Just really enjoy talking to him, and I'd love to see him get an opportunity today. I just feel fear for anyone who's up on that lighthouse. They'll look out. If Joe starts launching bombs up there, you might not be safe. You know, they're just a little largh up on the lighthouse. He might just I was gonna ask him that I was and be like, so it's like like you might just take right exactly. You think you might just take a snap and be like, Joe, just try to hit the lighthouse. We just you know, we're trying to give the people here something excited down the end. But no, I kud, but'd just be cool to see a young guy get an opportunity. He's putting so much hard work. All these guys have, but four months it's it's been a long grind for him. Be great to get an opportunity.

I like your key because I agree with you. You can't define it, and I don't know exactly what it is that I'm looking for. But I know what I'm not looking for, you know, And it's the constant penalties. It's just the overall sloppiness and you know, the miscommunication and blown assignments. I don't necessarily advocate like, well, can we just put it all together and play a great football game in Week eight?

Team?

No, I'm not.

That's not what I'm looking for. I'm looking for like a step forward in a sense of professionalism and pride, that's all. Like, just clean up some of the sloppiness. And you know, I thought I didn't watch all of the game yesterday between Baltimore and Cleveland, but I watched a good I watched the whole first half and a good chunk. I thought their defense played really hard in that game, and Cleveland's yes, with a lot of pride. Now they were completely totally overmatched. I mean you start off the game, you get the Ravens off the field, and then Bailey's appletes was a pick six. I mean, like it's just they they got no support. But they they followed that up by coming up with not one but two fourth down stops of arguably the most unstoppable offense in football. You know, they lost the game thirty five to ten. So, in other words, to Mike's point, like finish it right, close it out right, like I think Cleveland closed it out right. They didn't have any chance at all to win the game because they just weren't good enough to win the game. The Patriots probably will have a chance to win today given that they're not going to be playing a team that's that's motivated to win. But I just look at it as why not be able to go out and play to that level of intensity. They should be able to do that. Yeah, they should be able to do that.

I like Mike's key, all right, they were your keys to the games. I think it's time now, Matt Morrell to go behind enemy lines.

You know.

The view from New England. But what about the view from the other side?

And that's why you're a favorite pregame show guest. Yeah every year.

And know you tell everybody that I was on with you guys at twenty eighteenth Thursday Night Football.

Yeah, and I was voted out with the favorite game for the show.

No time now to go behind enemy lines.

My god, it's got a right And we're joined behind enemy lines this week by Mike Catalana. A little bit of an introduction here, if we can please for a little pause. Our next guest is in his thirty seventh year of covering the Buffalo Bills. He's covered them in all four of the team's Super Bowl appearances in the early nineties. He's seen the good, the bad Bills, and now the good again Bills.

It looks a lot better than you though.

This past fall he was elected to the New York State Broadcasting Hall of Fame. How about that. We got a Hall of Famer here, But Mike's real accomplishment. Yes, this is my college roommate. And the last time we shared a microphone, I kid you not forty plus years ago on that FM Superpower wic BFM in Ithaca, New York.

All time rocket it back then?

Was this for the Ithaca RPI homecoming?

Probably a basketball game or something like that.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, nice.

So Mike joins us. Now, Mike, thanks for being here, really appreciation of course.

This is fun.

So the whole talk this week is a bit about how the approach the game. They're in a little bit of a quandary. Do you rest May? Do you not rest May? I think we're of the belief that May's got to play, that he's still developing. The Bill is no such quandary, right, this is their opportunity with the seed clinched, you gotta rest, guys.

I know.

Allen's got a streak, so we'll play a series.

Yeah, I would say, Max, he's in there for the beginning. And you know, I've seen, you know how there's nonsensical national you know, debates on things about Josh coming out for just a short period of time and then leaving the field like that's not okay. If this game mattered to the Bills, he'd be playing the whole wist fully healthy. You're right, the Bills have earned the right to take a week off, so a lot of the main players are going to be sitting out some will play. You guys know, there's only so many guys who can sit in a game. But the guys who need the break mostly offensive line. I think some of the d linemen, some of the older players will sit for for this one.

Okay, so let's get right to it because this is what matters for the Buffalo Bills as we go behind enemy lines. I asked you this a couple weeks ago. Is it super Bowl or bust for the Bills? I don't know what bust is for them, that's not it is the season only a success by getting to the super Bowl.

Well, think about what that means.

That means you beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, right, does anybody expect them to lose their first playoff game?

I mean, we've seen who it's going to likely be.

But isn't there a couple like you talked about the national narrative, there's a couple of people out there, Oh, be careful about getting rushed, you know, they could really trip them up. I don't see that happening. But that's why they play the game.

Yeah, I mean, look, yes, I think without question, this team's goal now is to get to the super Bowl.

Right, because it's been their goal.

It's funny it's in a year where everybody thought they were taking a step back. Yep, and there's a reason to believe that because they lost so many players.

But look at what they've done this year.

If they score thirty again today, which I'd be surprised, if they score thirty, you'll be for the thirteenth time that they've scored thirty or more in a game.

I mean, Alan is.

Having an MVP season with Mac Collins having the most touchdown catches on the team. So this is a team that now it's funny to say Super Bowl er bust because of the way they started, but let's be honest. They have been a really good team all year long. It's only Kansas City that has been above them. They feel like they can win in Kansas City. They just got to earn it with a couple of playoff games before they even get to that one.

Along the lines with all the turnoorder that they had, and I think there were some questions almost you know, changing things midstream. What's impressed you most about what they've done this year and improved and been able to overcome, No.

Question, it's the way the offense has played because yes, it's digs. Sometimes people throw Gabe Davison. Gay Davis is a nice player and I really good get He's very replaceable on this team. I think it's just Mac Hollins has shown well you think about it, so what Mac has done for a much less money, certainly when what Jacksonville's paying him is a guy who contributes on special teams, make some catches, and again he has five touchdowns. They've developed the run game more with James Cook. I mean, when you say you know that, you know your guy here used to say it all the time.

Who do you throw to? Who's your favorite?

Whoever is open.

Josh Allen has embraced that this year.

I mean he's throwing to Shaki, he's throwing to the tight ends, he's throwing to the backs like he's done all that and it's working, like they are scoring points and they beat the Chiefs and the Lions this year, so it's not just beating up on the poor teams, no question. Joe Brady has developed that with Josh, and Josh buys into it so he can still be superstar Josh when he needs to be, and then the rest of the time he's just used what's been out there. Offensive line's been really good. It's been sacked thirteen times. Like I think it's hard to look at this team at the beginning of the year and think they're going to basically average thirty points a game.

To do that this season, I think is really impressive.

On the other side of the ball, defensively, they also lost, you know, a hndfull of mainstays that we've come to know. What you know, obviously, the safeties, yeah, and so on. Are they're good enough to make to make the run? I know that they have great numbers, Yeah, but it seems like when they play against quality offenses they struggle. Do you think they're good enough to make it?

Yeah, Look, their issue has been stopping the run and earning the right to rush the passers. What a lot of times you'll hear him say I worry about I never have worried about their secondary The main reason I worry about it now is some of these guys.

Have been out too. They haven't been together. They got lit up in LA.

That Detroit game was back and forth, but they've been they've been okay that way, Micah hides back.

You guys know yes, he.

Just isn't gonna play right, and he hasn't played in a regular season game. I don't think there's any plan for him to come back in the playoffs.

He's an insurance policy.

Yeah, deep insurance.

Like they didn't even get him out there for a game, so he hasn't played all year. I think their corners are really good. I mean that Christian Benford is somebody no one talks about. I think he should have. I know nobody cares about the Pro Bowl in that way, but he isn't even an alternate for the Pro Bowl.

And that kid is really good.

Douglas is good.

On the other side, I worry about their ability to rush the quarterback. Russeau's been okay Von Miller at times, but you guys know what it's like in a playoff game. It might be that one or two times you gotta get Lamar down. You got to get whether it's Mahomes or whoever down. That's the part I worry about in a moment. Can they get the stop? Can they keep a team from doing In the past, I've had more confidence in general in the defense. I think it's been the offense carrying the way this year.

Did I read correctly, Mike that von Miller's pretty incentivized today to try to get to the quarterback.

Yeah, I think he needs what one and.

A half today gets to get a million and a half.

Yeah, now, look could do that in the first series.

Right now when you're in sentive Brett farv job On.

I mean, look, Vaughn's made enough money.

He probably should have a million and a half in the couch cushions somewhere.

But it's still a million and a half, right, And.

We know these guys know about it.

They all know, you know.

Honestly, his teammates know too.

I mean not that I don't know what you can specifically do with the past rush, but they'd love to see von Miller. He's shown flashes, but if his name wasn't von Miller, and I don't think you'd be thinking it's von Miller out there. He has not been that guy for them. They're hoping again might be one snap, one moment that he does it. Last week against the Jets against the statue known as Aaron Rodgers, he knew, they knew he was comment he came great, play, big hit, all those things, but it's few and far between.

But maybe he gets his million and a half. We we can all hope.

Mike, what's the thoughts in Buffalo on Drake May? What are your first impressions from two weeks ago.

It's sort of that, Okay, Patriots aren't very good, but they may have found somebody.

I think when when we have seen him, and it was funny.

I was telling Mat before, like, it's so odd that the Patriots were kind of out of mind for Bill's fans because they didn't play each other the whole year, and you're sort of watching and I would watch May and go, I don't know what else is here that that kid looks like he's got something and you got to build around it. I think most people take a step back and go, look.

At this division.

Right, The Jets have nothing because that's a mess. The Dolphins, it sort of reached its point. They could sneak in the playoffs today, but it's only gone to that far and the Patriots have a ways to go. But as we all know, it's sure a lot easier if you got the guy. And I think there is every reason to believe on the Buffalo side that it may take you guys a while here, but that you might have found.

A guy along those lines. A lot of Patriots fans are looking at Josh Allen's first season and you know, maybe some comparisons to Drake may When you look back, what was what were some of the key elements that helped Josh Allen develop the way that he has now into an MVP candidate from you know, a little bit of a mistake prone brook.

Yeah, well, I think first of all, he made mistakes, and they sort of let him make mistakes.

They didn't love it. I mean, you know, day Bow was all over him at the time. But it's funny.

They started that first game when he was a rookie and he was the backup to Nate Peter. They played the Ravens, they were down like eighty to nothing at halftime, and they put him in and he's been the starter since. And then he got hurt a little bit that year, which actually, in an odd way, I think kind of helped him. Sat out for a few games, came back, showed all those flashes, had a big game against Miami, which was a precursor to things to come because he's just dominated the Dolphins. And then in nineteen if you watch, if you ever had a chance and watch highlights of the Bills Texans playoff game in nineteen.

You get that whole experience.

I know exactly the play's not talking about exactly.

Going backwards throwing the ball. He caught a touch whipt over in the end zone, craziness.

When you look back at it, you're like, Oh.

I wouldn't let him play today because I don't trust him he'll do something like that.

Well this year, you know, he started out the year in that first game he did a hurdle, he broke, hurt his hand, and it's been a thing. He's he's been smarter. That's why you're right, get him out of the game. But in terms of like development, like he did make some mistakes, and honestly, I thought da Bol was a great coordinator for him at the time. He pushed him, he yelled at him, he got on him, he credited him, like he was the right personality and the right kind of guy for him. And now Joe Brady has taken him in a different part of his career and taken that closer to totally finished product and made him even better. But he's an incredible teammate with these guys, and I think that plays so much into it. These players will do anything for Josh Allen.

They will.

They love them all right, So before we let you go, Mike, we're not going to ask you for a pick because it's kind of sense today's game. Right, So we have at least a vice president of the Lamar Jackson Fiend Club to my left.

Right.

Oh, but I have Josh Allen above that.

So who's the MVP. You're bias? Who's the MVP.

For me?

Yeah?

Look, I have thought Josh has been the MV and in part I watch him every week.

I love Lamar as a player.

I love watching him. I think he's a great talent.

He makes plays. If you voted for Lamar Jackson, it's not a wrong vote.

I just think with what Josh Allen's playing with this year, while these guys Khalil Shaki is a heck of a player, He's not a star. I mean, you know, he's got Derek Henry in the background, in the backfield, he's got nine Pro Bowl players. If you're gonna separate the two, you can mince stats all you want.

Josh came into this year.

I think the Bills were forty six percent to win a division they had won four straight times. I mean, people thought they were taking a step back. Heck, Brandon being told us it's a transition year didn't mean they didn't think they could win. I would vote for Josh Allen. I don't have any problem with anybody voting for Lamar. I just think it's Josh's turned out.

I mean, that's what I basically said to you off air. I would vote for Josh Allen too. I think Lamar has had a better year, but I think he has much more to work with, and that would be my deciding factor. Now, I do think that Allen's gonna win it for the wrong reasons. I think he's gonna win it because people want to vote for someone different, and I don't think that's the reason to do it. I don't have a vote, so it doesn't matter what I think, much like a lot of other things, doesn't matter what I think. But I mean, I think the world of both of those guys, and just the fact that the Patriots had a chance to pick Lamar Jackson at the end of that draft, the end of that first round still still bugs me.

If I can add one other thing, I don't like to make a point by tearing the other guy down.

I think it's silly.

I mean, you know it's people are talking about like Patrick Mahomes didn't make the Pro Bowl. Well, which one of those three guys are you taking out?

He made it right, but he's still Patrick Mahomes. Like what am I gonna say something bad about it?

I mean, he's a great player, Lamar's great. Burrows had an awesome year. Saquan has been unreal. Somebody's gonna win. And I'm I am biased in this way watching him every week, but he's been incredible for them, and I think he should win.

Mike not dead. I think you've improved. I think you've improved. I really do. Let's go. Took you a little while, but I think you've improved.

It's been a long time.

Thanks what anytime, anytime, We'll be back with more of the Patriots pregame social fueled by Duncan right after this.

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Now live from our studios, here is Matt Smith.

And we welcome you back on this Sunday morning for the Patriots pregame social fueled by Duncan. It's Witching hour eleven thirty. It means it's an active time and let's go out into the field that you let stadium where Tamara Brown joins us. Tamara who's a go and I think we've all anticipated that there would be a possibility to see Joe Milton. Has he been activated today?

Tamara Joe Milton upon a speculation this week, he is active today and actually over my shoulder. I don't know if you can see him, but he's been getting a lot of reps in during these pregame warm ups, which is a bit unusual. Every other week when I've been out here, it's only been Drake May that's been getting loose, maybe Jacoby Brissette, but today it's Drake May and Joe Milton. Iid it is going to be super exciting to see him today. I talked to him this week at his locker and asked him, if you had the opportunity to play today, what would this mean to you? He said, I've had this question looming all season long.

Can I really do this?

Because I haven't had any actual in game reps this season outside of the preseason. So if I could play today, I would finally have the answer to that question.

Okay, And as we see the inactive list here up there, now, there's just surprise. When I looked at it, a little bit or surprised me. And maybe I'm not falling it closely enough. The fifth name on the list, Tamara Hunter Henry is inactive today. Now, we noticed that there was a lot of people moved up yesterday under the roster, so maybe that's why we're doing it. Is he probably dinged?

Yeah, Matt Smith.

When I got outside to the pregame warm ups, actually noticed Jaheem Bell getting a lot of warm ups in with the wide receivers, and so that kind of gave me a hit. Are we gonna see a lot of jahem Bell today as a tight end? Because we heard a lot this week about getting the young guys in seeing what we have, and so when I saw Hunter Henry on that list, I wasn't really surprised. And more so, maybe it's a move to see what you have.

Out of your draft pick jaheem Bell.

I'm sign me up for that. I'd like to see some If this is what we're gonna treat this game as today, sign me up for jahem Bell with the perfect kind of guy, I mean, some cool Glad Kamara.

Yeah.

And I was gonna say one more thing that I noticed too when I got out here to pregame warm ups is Cole Strange and Caden Wallace both getting extra work in with offensive line coach Scott Peters. They're both getting one on one also. Cold Strange obviously getting snaps in with center. But I saw Kaden Wallace working on some fundamentals out here with him, and I talked to cold Strange this week and asked him, why are you working one on one with Scott Peters during warm ups? I see everyone else doing more of the high knees, getting warm, etc. He's like, that gets your body warm, but that doesn't really help me get ready for game day as an offensive lineman. So getting that one on one work in with Scott Peters is really helpful to Cold Strange and Katen Wallace considering they've missed so much time this season.

All Right, Tamara, the milk news is good, excellent job there. But as we see your hit, I see the scarf move a little bit, not constantly, but I see the scarf move. I see the hair blow a little bit. What are the conditions on the field as far as the wind in the cold here in Foxborough today?

Well, how of this game? The National Weather Service said that we could see up to twenty three mile per hour wins and you are seeing exactly that with my scarf moving, my hair moving, the goal post is swaying, the flags on top of the goal posts are moving. Even these little guardrails that are holding back in the pregame warm up area they're blowing around. I've never seen win like this so far this season, so that could affect the way Joey Slide kicks today. It makes me think of the game earlier this season against the Titans when the Patriots chose to kick into the wind and Gerden Male later admitted that wasn't the right move in overtime to be throwing and kicking against the wind. So I'd be looking forward to seeing what they do today with the koit TOAs great.

Job, Tamara, thank you very much. That's Jamara Brown on the field that you let standing with a good sense of you know, the weather and the excitement and anticipation to see some new people today.

Tamara. I don't know if you noticed a couple of Patriots players they're waving to the camera behind you, so they're hamming it up a little bit. So it seems like some good vibes down there.

Yeah, definitely good vibes out there. And one thing I noticed when I also got out to pregame warm ups where there were a lot more players warming up than usual. I would say, week after week, I would usually see the wide receivers getting warm Kendrick Bourne, Pop Douglas, Jayvon Baker, etc. Those are the usual guys I see out here today. It's the entire offense out here getting reps, which Rake May and Joel Milton the third. It seems like everybody wants to make sure they're warm, especially with these conditions. Making sure your body is good and.

Ready to Gojamara, thank you very much.

Uh so, thank you.

There we have it.

Yeah, I got give me a little prediction on where you see. How long does Drake play today? In your eyes, Mike, that's a good one.

I'm gonna say, like two series like quick.

I think you don't think he plays a half. I don't think so. I don't know. I wouldn't.

I wouldn't I play him.

Because you're pushing it.

Yeah, it's in your luck a little bit, A little bit. I just I mean, I want to get them the start. I want to get him the week to prep. I thought that was important, you know, as much as the game is important, I think just having another week to prep and getting ready for Buffalo's defense, and you know, I'm sure the preparation might even be more important than the actual game performance. Just going back into a defense you just saw a couple of weeks ago. Here's what they did, Here's how they might adjust, and I like that really smart, you know. Of course, then you get to this point and you know, we didn't show the bills and actives, but I mean there's a there's a lot of bills and actives that so you want to get it at Oliver, I pull them up real quick, you know, then you realize and then I mean, this is what is antisic.

Bills and actives are right, I mean here on the screen.

Yeah, there you go. Thanks guys. But a lot of a lot of starters. Of course, Dan Dawkins, they're left tackle at all of or key guy in the middle for them, Dai Kwon Jones to roll Bernard in the middle. So are there a lot of Amari Cooper. I mean, it's a lot of their their key pieces that they're going to rest up, which rightly so with you know, I mean, in any other season before the last couple of years, these guys would have been one of the top two bye week bye week teams. But yeah, I think it's I think the prep was good for Drake. I just I don't need to see him very long today. I don't need to see it.

I think you're right.

I'd say cap him out at a half. That would be the top to me. You know, maybe there's an argument we talk about in the preseason. Sometimes let's let him get in the locker room and make adjustments. But I think by that point in the game you just want to let Milton get out there and sling it.

Well. I do think there's an argument, and I think, and I'm not trying to straddle offense here, I really do see both sides on this one. I see the side do not play him. Sure, as our friend Mike Re said earlier this week, it would be catastrophic for something to happen to him if he goes down in an injury in a type of game like today's games going to be. But at the same time, and I'm leaning on this side, I will tell you this, what has Drake May done this year. He's given the team hope, given the region hope. Like our guests said earlier, maybe you might have found the guy, but he's not a finished product by any stretch of the imagination, Young Perillo over here tells me, which I you know, is easy to say, you have to throw for three hundred yards. You know, I'm not suggesting to have him played the entire time go wire to wire, But there's a lot of work that this guy needs to do. And if the coaching staff says this is the game we need to see him play, it's it's hard for me to make that argument. I don't think i'd let him go wire to wire, but I think there's some things that he can do to help his development.

Yeah.

Well, I mean I think fast forward to tomorrow when we get to the off season and we start talking about, okay, Drake hopefully hopefully he gets out of this game, okay, and then we're saying what does he need to work on? Like, what are the next steps that Drake may needs to take? And I mean, I think everything you're touching on is, you know, putting together a clean game, not turning the ball over. And you know, granted, I think he's been better than at that over the last few weeks. Some bad luck, some interceptions going off guys hands, things like that. But you know, you want to start checking those boxes if we get into next year, throwing for three hundred games, have three hundred yards, having a turnover free game, you know, having a comeback at the end of the game when you think you're kind of up against it. Those kind of little boxes that you check for these young quarterbacks, those will be the things that we're looking for. Hopefully he has a great offseason, puts in a lot of work. I'm sure he will first chance to these rookies to catch their breath after the whirlwind first season in the league where you're going from you know, tournaments to combines to the draft. Right in the rookie mini camp. I mean, it's relentless, so I'm sure all those guys are looking forward to get a break.

Okay, let's go to the phone lines and Pat joins us first on the Patriots pre game social field by Duncan. Pat, what do you want to see happen today? With Drake May and good.

Morning, Good morning guys. Yeah, I hate to kind of pairrot what you guys just said, but I would like to see him only play a couple of series, but I would like to see like two weeks ago when they played Buffalo for three weeks go whenever it was come out and score, you know, and I'm like a lot of other Patriots fans, I feel like I want to see, like I said this before the Dolphins game, like I want to see this team went down the stretch. I don't know what you get out of beating up on a Buffalo JB squad, But honestly, like I think, with with the enactives that you guys just went over and the probability of Joe Milton playing the majority of this game, I'm not so sure that we're going to beat the Buffalo JB squad because as as we've seen all year, I mean this, this roster is bad, guys, and we I mean I got a rant I was going to go on this morning. I might save it for the for the postgame show see how things turn out, but you know, I'm hoping for a win. I'd like to see Joe Milton, like probably everyone else that's going to be every Patriots game. Damn sorry, that's going to be at the game today, just chuck the ball across the yard and and you know, I'll hold your breath and see he makes some big plays for one team or the other. But I'm I'm hoping for Pats one, but I'm Mike all year like since THEOD bye, I'm not really expecting one. But that's all I got guys for this morning. Talk to you guys on the post game show. I will not be drunk because I have to work early tomorrow.

We'll await, We will await your Rent and Pat. Thank you very much.

Here.

I question another one for you here, Douce. Yeah, I think it's silly to suggest that those of us who haven't been in the meetings, we haven't gone to practice, we don't see the development. We heard what a VP said this week about Joe Milton. Today is a big day to see. Can Joe Milton play in the NFL? Can he be a quarterback, a backup quarterback in the National Football League. We'll see some signs of that today in spite of the fact that he's going up against a you know, not exactly their starting defense. Yeah.

I mean, I think it's also an opportunity to maybe give a little credit to Alex Van Pelt. I mean, if if Joe Milton goes out there and looks like he's made the kind of strides that even personally, I've seen from Drake May when we watched him in training camp when you know footwork and there were just times a lot of like double clutch and not seeing it right, and you've really seen Drake develop. I think Alex Van Pelk got a lot of credit this week for that development. If Joe Mailton goes out there, and you know, we saw plenty of Joe Milton too, which I would just say my impression a Joe Milton during the summer was, you know, when it was against Air, that was when there were like rumblings of like, oh this might be a quarterback competition. As soon as there started to be seven on seven, eleven on eleven, you saw Joe Milton had a little bit more trouble with the processing part. And granted Drake did too at a certain point. But I've seen Drake make incredible strides here into the season where you know, I didn't know if I would have expected him to be able to read a defense and get through his progression and you know, throw the ball on time as well as he has. So if Joe Milton comes out here and says, wow, this looks a lot better than we remember it, seeing back in August. I think that's another you know, example of hey, this this offensive coaching staff. They actually they did do some good good things this year too, you know, in a season where really the bad things have been getting highlighted a lot.

I just want to follow up one thing on the Hunter Henry inactive today, is that the team and Gerrod just trying to take care of a guy who's been a stalwart mister consistency this year and everything like that. Let's again let somebody else, Jeean Bell, get a shot. Let's see what he can do maybe with a heavier workload. Let's protect a guy who's been really good for us this year.

I really like this move. I didn't really see it come and didn't cross my mind until yesterday and when they made some of the elevations, and you know, they did elevate Mitchell Willcox and now he's inactive so he's practice squad. And they promoted Jack Westover, who's another rookie who I talked a little bit to tight Ends coach Bob mcnell this week actually about Jack and you know said he came here, you know, later in the season, but has shown some good development, made a lot of plays last year for Washington, and you know they were they were fans of him, so curious if he's going to get a chance today. I mean I would throw, you know, just to run down the list of some of these players that you might see today that you know are going to get opportunities. You know, Number fifty four, not Teddy Bruski, not Dante Hytower, It's gonna be Truman Jones though from Harvard. He might be out there getting some, you know, opportunities to rush the passer a little bit. Number thirty five, Miles Battle is a has been a practice squad cornerback for most of the season. He's another one who because Gonzalez is out, you're starting to bump guys up, So maybe just some special teams action for him. But another guy, I mean there's forty five Mandi Rice, ninety seven, Titus Leo, some of these young guys on defense. I think that are just you know, gonna get some opportunities for snaps today. Last point I'll make is, you know, I think with May starting, I understand I think a lot of people were saying, let's put Cayden Wallace out there at right tackle and just throw him in there, and I to Pau's point, if May is only gonna play a little bit, I'm okay with Trey Jacobs, who I know has been really up and down this season, but he's been the closest thing you can find to consistency. In the interest of protecting May, I'd be more interested in keeping him in there for these, you know, initial stats with May, and then if they want to put Wallace in there, I totally agree with getting him snaps, but I think keeping that top line out there with with May make sense.

Outstanding point, outstanding point eight, try five Pats five hundred is the number the TPX hootline. Let's go to Nolan in New York. Next, Nolan, You're next on the Patriots pregame social fueled by Duncan.

Good morning, Hey fellas, how' they're going?

Hey?

No, just calling in to wish you guys a happy New Year and a happy final Sunday of this god first saken season. I have been a fan of Patriots Unfiltered for probably about eight years now, and I haven't called in in probably about three or four. I'm usually not able to listen live, but I felt the urge to call in today on the pregame rooting for this team these last several years, has uh has beaten me down? Man, It's it's not been fun. And but these these last several weeks, I, especially since the bye, I've been watching and not getting angry. I've been numb to it all. Just oh, another false start, another holding, the other team picked up another first down. I just laughed, and I was happy that I wasn't getting angry anymore. And I was hoping to just slide into the off season with being numb and indifferent to the inevitable losing. But the players, players wouldn't let me do that this week, because three of them, specifically this week of all weeks, after they got their ass handed to them by the Chargers last Saturday, Tavi Wise and God Show decided that this was a good week to call out the fans. And what a brilliant idea that was. You have them calling us spoiled and entitled, which if you would have said that, you know, four or five years ago, I wouldn't have really had an argument against that. I would probably would have agreed. But these fans, these who've stuck around, who didn't go to Tampa after Brady left, who stuck around the camp year, who stuck around the Matt Patricia year, the four win team last year, and then this dog crap we're watching this year are anything butt spoiled and have every right to voice their displeasure, and I hope they do it a lot today. This team hasn't been hasn't won a playoff game in five years, and the one time that they did go to the playoffs that was a historic ass kicking. And for Tavai, you know, to come out and say, oh, fans need to know their place, that is laughable considering you know, we're the ones that go and spend all our hard, hard earned money week after week to watch this wretched product get put out and they can go out and make millions of dollars because of it. Well, maybe if Tavai knew his place on the football field, the Patriots wouldn't have one of the worst defenses in the league. And last point, thanks for letting me rant, by the way, But last point, I am so sick and tired of hearing this narrative that the Patriots, Oh, We're going to be the Lions or Mayo is going to be Dan Campbell. It makes me want to jump off a bridge. Every time I hear it, uh Tavy, I find it's hilarious that he's the one that said that, considering that the offseason that Dan Campbell was hired, they cut him if I got caught by the Lions, because as wretched as that defense was, they determined that he was not good enough to play there. So I guess maybe that's where we should start to.

You have.

Mao, you have.

Mayo calling out the coaches, you have players picking fights with the fans, and now you have that new interview that's that Elliott Wolf put out. I don't even know who it was with, but I saw clips on on Twitter where he's calling out the coaching staff. This whole staff has been a clown show. It needs to be blown up, Drake may Christian Gonzales and the TU crew, the rest of the organization to be blasted off into.

Space for all.

Thanks thanks for keeping using the phone call. That's quite a rant, was it?

Impassion rand by a fan who spoke like a fan who was offended? Yep at the players calling out the fans. And it's hard to argue with that.

Uh, I can't argue with it, And and I can argue with anything. No, And I mean just to put my own hat on for a minute like it was. It's it's a little depressing driving in here today. I saw more Bills fans walking down the street to the stadium today then I did Patriots fans, and not that that's unexpected, but at the same time, I remember, you know, coming to games here where there was playoff buzz and there was energy and there were you know, a lot of fans coming out to support this team. I don't know what the atmosphere is going to be like in there today. I don't know how the game is going to unfold and feed into that atmosphere. But I think everything that Nolan has a right to say, and I come from you guys know, I'm a blogger boy background from my mom's basement, and uh, you know, I still have a big, big love in my heart for the people that love this team. And you know, I know how much this team means to a lot of people, and how much that twenty years, you know, people weren't having good times in their life that helped them get through things. And it's it's hard right now to get through these days. And you know, I think we all do our jobs trying to you know, look, we don't enjoy it either. We don't enjoy watching this team lose. And you know, I think we're we're all hoping that this offseason they're able to get back on track and really, you know, start to lay a foundation. He did bring up that that I thought that that Elliot Wolf piece by Henry McKenna from Fox Sports was was a little interesting.

I don't know if you guys caught that yesterday, but.

I did not, So, I mean I I saw a little blurb or something.

Yeah, some some interesting quotes, and we haven't heard from Elliott since last year, so it was just the first you've you've heard. I mean, probably the piece that Nolan was talking about was just that stood out to me. Was you know, thinking that that Jalen Polk would be a plug and play kind of player. I saw that pointed a little bit at the at the development of the of the receivers.

Yeah. I would just all the things that you just said, Michael. Why I wouldn't necessarily argue with anything that no one said, because I do think he's he's speaking from a fans perspective. You know, the passion of a fan, and I thought that the one part that I that really resonated with me was, you know, if you had said four or five years ago that we were spoiled, I probably wouldn't argue with it. But we're the ones that didn't jump ship to go to Tampa Bay with Tom. We're the ones that sat through the Cam Newton here, We're the ones that sat through Matt Patricia. I think those are good points, like, there are a lot of people here that didn't jump ship when they could have. It could have been a bandwagon kind of fan base that said okay, because let's face it, the Patriots didn't really have that core of you know, Cowboys, packers, stealers. They didn't have that kind of a fan base until Tom Brady put the team on the top. Now we have it. Now they have Patriots Nation just like those other teams. So you kind of wondered would you keep it? They did, So don't say they're spoiled. They know what it's supposed to look like, and for five years it hasn't looked like that. Yeah, tone deaf comments from from some of the players and by in particular.

Yeah, not good. Today. We'll see how the fans react.

But yeah, and Paul, as you mentioned off the air, you know, you're doing a live radio show. Sometimes, you know, things get to the best of you and you might want to try to walk things back. They gave him an opportunity to walk it back, and he sort of doubled down.

I thought he did. I thought he kind of made it worse. Yeah, you know, and I don't know. I just talked about this on the other show too, Like, I don't know Tava all that well. Spoken to him a couple of times, but I'm not in the locker room every day like I once was. So you know, like Doron Harmon just came in here, and you know, I feel like, you know, I talk to him every day for a long time. I felt like I knew Douran a little bit. I don't have that connection really with any of the players left, maybe save for David Andrews. So I don't know if it was a bad day that Tavia had. You know, is that not necessarily indicative? Like I don't necessarily mean to say, Okay, we'll cross him off the list, Like I could take it as a one off that maybe he was emotional, he was a state frustration, you know, with everything else, but just not a good look, not a good thing.

I would just say, I mean, I I mean, I've seen a lot of his He would come and talk in the Rev's locker room a lot with media availability, and nobody's taken this season in terms of just how they project themselves than Tavai has. I mean, he just you can feel how frustrated and angry he's been every single time he's come into the locker room. So you know, not to excuse it, but there are other guys that you talk to that you wouldn't really realize it's been a terrible season, and he's definitely one that every time he's come in there, he wears his emotions on his sleeve and you can tell exactly how frustrating it's been for him, and certainly as a player who I think with Bentley going out and you know, they probably should have been better prepared for that, but it's still just the trickle down effect has really put a lot of pressure on too Vay to be the guy and it's not what he does well.

And I think I thought Nolan was spot on it with a lot of what he said. He kind of targeted ta Vai from an on the field standpoint, and that's where I would defend Tava. I think Tavia's been a pretty good soldier. Tava isn't Lawrence Taylor. Okay, Tava isn't Harry Carson. To Vai isn't you know, ray Lewis. Tavia in the right system and with the right kind of people around him, I think can play a little bit. I think he's got some things that can help you as a team. But if you're relying on him for sixty something snaps a game and to be that kind of guy, I just don't think that that's his role. And I think due to injuries, like you said, Mike, there's a lot of people on this team that were playing in roles that they probably weren't ready to play for in that particular point, and I think that's hurt this team across the board.

Yeah, I mean, just I would even you know, specific to him, you know, going from what he was doing, which was kind of what they call an adjuster playing on the line off the line, but you know, really on the weak side and being in space and not really having to deal with guards and stuff in his face. To have to go in the inside. Now you're wearing the green dot too, so you're also processing all the calls. You're trying to get everybody lined up. And now his job is not like run around in space and make plays. It's anticipate, defeat guards, get behind them, make and make tackles. And you know that's not his bread and butter, but he's the last guy left. He's got to be the one to do it. So you know, hey, look, it's it's if this happens. I just hope that they're better prepared in that spot next year to kind of weather some of these injuries.

Seems obvious to me, but maybe not obvious to all. But the fans pay the freight. That's who this is for. And with that said, Craig emails here and saying happy New Year, do the pregame show. I wanted to take a moment and throw some respect in Girod Mayo's direction. Well, I don't think he should be the head coach next season. I respect his comments defending the fans, the same fans calling for his job. Device says fans should quote know our place, since we aren't qualified to criticize the team. Device places a linebacker in the worst defense and team in football. His place isn't to spin on fans. We're forking over money in time to root for dumpster fire. Excuse me. If the fans want to boo because they care about the team, that is their prerogative. Thank you, Girrod for showing self awareness on this topic. And that's from Craig, an unqualified fan. And I thought Girod did do a good job of that Friday and trying to point that out, and that message needs to get to everybody on the team that this is why you play. They're paying you know you to do this.

Yeah?

Should you guys? You know, because I know we had Mike in here for behind enemy Lines and then I did the chin wag? Did you guys talk about the shifter?

We did that?

Okay?

Who should we do that later?

Or maybe?

Because I think this is a stark departure from the weekly Sunday National updates on Girodmeo's future. They've all been he'll be back unless he's not. This one is I'm leaning to out from Adam Schefter on the screen right here, leaning to out?

So what does that mean?

The leaning to out?

It's like all of a sudden, it's.

It's it's yeah, yeah, you're right, because it's no different than the last several weeks, except for it's thinking that the opposite's going to happen. Everybody's been leaning to end.

What was the word?

I keep forgetting the word calamity, calamity, I can't remember calamity, Jane lamity.

I do think that that's really interesting that that Adam Schefter who's tapped in. You know, Schefter and Rapaport, they're the ones that get all the national scoops on the on their respective outlets. I think it's it's interesting and I have no idea what's gonna happen?

While raising your hand, does this game matter? Well, that's I just want to I mean, I'm not saying like not to that.

I'm pter to.

The fans here, Mike. The email address is podcast at Patriots dot com. Yvonne from Toronto writes in if you beat the Bills backups what victory or good feeling it? She uses quotation marks, do you really get it? Won't change my feelings about the coaching staff. If Craft wants Mayo back, or if Craft doesn't want Mayo back, I don't think this game will move the needle. That's Yvonne from Toronto. That's a little precursor to what.

Yeah, well, and I mean I I generally agree, but I'm just like leaning, You're like, you know the Cheft reports leaning, So all right, so what's gonna tip the scale to? Officially like it has nothing to do with today? Then what else does it? We just have to have some tocussions about the season and then we'll figure out what we're doing. And I guess that's what it is.

I don't know.

I don't think that this game matters much, but I also just can't shake the feeling. And this is probably goes back to the fan call where I've flipped. I've flipped to the other side, remember back in the day, and I mean I remember when I got here and Paul, you know, says the nod and it always works out for the Patriots. I've kind of become it never works out for the Patriots guy this year, I mean absolutely, and it just seems like, so today, what's gonna happen is they're gonna win this game because they have a chance to get the first overall pick. And you know, that just seems like what this Patriots, Teem's gonna kind of do. And I say that as somebody who I don't really care that much about the first round pick. To be the first overall pick, I gotta be honest, it's almost less pressure to me if you're three or four and there isn't gonna be this like if you can't trade it, there's this is the first overall guy, and he's like got all the pressure on him, of like, and then they took him first overall, and I was like, well, they had no choice, they had, you know that all that kind of stuff. I would be totally okay. If we come in here and they play kind of hard and they play kind of clean, and Joe Milton like, wow, he looks a lot better than summer and they lose in there three or four, I'll be I'll be what if.

We're right and there's not a bounty to be had for the number one overall pick, it doesn't matter that it turned out that there wasn't a bounty to be had. What's gonna matter is daises and they even screwed up the number one pick. That's what it's gonna be, right, So I think there is a lot of pressure yeah.

Uh, and and if you would put that graphic back up again just to see what the draft order is again, Mike, you're the draft expert, or I dubbed you the draft expert on this. I believe they say that there are one right now. They can't dip lower than four.

Correct, Is that true? Yeah?

I believe that is true. I mean, technically, with Cleveland losing last night, their their second at the moment. But but if they do lose, they'll they'll ascend to the first overall pick, no questions asked. But I do think, yeah, they could get they could get as far down as four, and I honestly i'd I'd be okay with it.

I think I think I would be two, because it's just it's not that year, is it, Paul. It doesn't seem to be. I like Andrew lux not the number one prospect.

No, No, I don't think that it's that big of a deal unless there is a major trade to be had, and I don't believe there is one now. But that doesn't mean I'm right. As we've often seen over the years and over the weeks, Paul is wrong a lot, so maybe too.

Much the last few years.

Maybe there is a you know, blockbuster deal that can be had, and by falling to four you lose that. But I don't think that's going to be the case.

I don't either. And I think the other part of it too is now as the season ends, you start to really get the mainstream media on board with the draft, and you get a lot more how good is Shadur Sanders really? And I mean I've seen little bits and pieces of that coming out and that there are you know, draft knicks now that are like, I mean, he's not gonna be worth the first overall pick. I mean a lot of people are going to tell you that. So look, plenty of time to figure all this stuff out. The other other part I was just make is like having the first overall pick. I called it the scarlet letter. I mean, you're the worst team in the league. Like I'd like to avoid that a little bit, especially if you know, if there was a generational wide receiver or tackle or somebody. At first overall we were like, oh my god, this is a like sign me up. But this feels more like it's more pointing to just the fact you had the worst season and not like, oh, it's great, You're gonna get this amazing camp miss players. There's gonna be some questions.

And I get it from a fans perspective. I get why the fans are interested in that they look at the number one pick. It's a sign of hope and that that will help going forward with this roster. But it goes against everything that the football people believe in. We've heard Elliott Wolf talk about that from his comments back in the you know, it's not what you do in football. Gerd Mayo said the same thing. The only thing on his mind is the Buffalo Bills and doing what he can do to help peer that team to play against the Bills today. It's the only thing that they can do. So it's a tough nut here for the fans to try to see. This is still important for the team to go out and win.

Yeah, yeah, I mean, I know, we'll see. I mean it's I think some of the younger players playing maybe they bring a little extra juice to it. But yeah, you know, Paul, at the point, I just while you were were out, I was saying, interesting to see if you do get a glimpse at Milton just like because he developed behind the scenes, is it, you know, does How does it reflect on a VP and the coaching staff because I think we all agree gave him some some credit for what they've done with may maybe show something so you know, maybe show something with Milton too, and you know he's processing a little bit and and you know, looking comfortable in the offense.

Uh.

Eight pats five hundred is the number. Let's go to Johnny, Johnny and Atlanta's next in the pre game social fueled by Duncan Good Afternoon, Johnny.

Good Afternoons, Dons, Happy New Year, Happy same to you and Johnny. You got PAULI might remember me. This is Johnny. I just send the music to you guys.

Show.

Oh absolutely, absolutely, yes.

Yeah, I got guys.

I have a question and a comment.

Uh.

First of all, I haven't called in this year all year, but I listened to every show, pregame and post game. You guys keep up the good work. Uh rough season, I know, but hopefully next year will be better. My first question, Don is what's the chances you got to think David Andrews may come back next year? My thought in that is, I mean, I know he's a veteran and he you know, I would think that he may want to come back at least one more year because we see the potential in Drake. And I watched All Access last night which made me kind of think about that. Uh, and I saw the video of last game where Cole Strange was starting at center. So if Andrews comes back, is my question? You think he will, and maybe he slides Strange over to guard or when you at the other guard slot, and maybe we won't need as much work on the old line as we think we may in the draft or in the off season. And then have a comment as well.

Good question, Johnny. I like to hope good football top there. On David Andrews. I think David Andrews himself has said the reason why he had the surgery was to give himself a chance to play next year. Probably believe he's under contract right, yes, and so if he's under contract and he's had surgery to do that, you would think his intention is to try to give it a go.

Well, I think you said the give it a chance part stuck out to me, and that was I think how he turned it too, so that I'm not even sure he knows right now if he's gonna be able to go. I mean look, I love David Andrews. I think his leadership is very valuable. There's also a big part of me that wonders he's on the backside. Is it time to, you know, maybe give Cole Strange a real chance next year? If if Andrews isn't able to go, is there you know, an opportunity for Cold Strange to maybe be the center of the future for this for this team. I don't know, though, it's a great question. I mean, with the guys like Andrews, you just got to get to the offseason and.

See what he has to say.

But I would just say that either way, it's sort of irrelevant for the future because let's just say that that whole scenario transpires. Andrews is the center next year, so you can make Strange the guard. It's still a one year fixed, Like, Andrews is not going to be around much longer than next year, so then Cole Strange will have you know, my guess is they're not going to pick up the fifth Yaeter option. He'll be a pending free agent, so you like, you still need two tackles anyway, it would be better if that happens and you don't have to get four new starters next year if you decide that Strange can play and Andrews is coming back, you know, because I think it's very much a question mark Leydon Robinson. You know, I think he's starting, but I would not call him a starter, to use the old Andy Hart vernacular, there's a lot of question marks, a lot of questions. But city's so being inactive by the way.

Today last few games.

Yeah, so it's another healthy scratch.

Right in a game where you're sort of looking to get anybody playing time. He's a healthy scratch. So you can't feel great about that future either.

I think he said that You've got a great point about Leyden Robinson. It's that's he's the perfect kind of player. Where has he shown you enough to say that he is locked in as a starter next year. No, But you have so many other holes, and you just that he's like one of those players where you might just have to say, we're going to draft another guard to compete with him, But that might be one position where we can't, like, you know, we're we're gonna put that one to the background. We're going to really focus on the tackle spots.

And that's where Strange was a guard next year, you know, so now you have three yards, you know, which is what you need. You need three for the two, you know, like like the old days, Yeah, instead of the no for the two that they how much?

How much can we really evaluate Cold Strange over two games playing center in this situation? I mean last week, especially this this week, This week is really tough, and last week, you know, it just was not a great showing by the entire team. Is there enough to put on tape that you can make a determination that this guy has a future at this position and can help this team in the future at that position.

I think those are the hardest decisions that they're going to have to make this offseason. As I you know, I've said a couple times in the last couple of weeks, if they've got a lot of guys under roster. They're i think eighth in the NFL with forty three forty four guys under contract for next season, So you know, really, other than other than a couple of key spots, pretty much everybody comes back, you know, Dietrich Wise, Jonathan Jones, those are you know, guys that have contract questions. So it's really about what guys can play like which guys because not to say that a lot of these guys you can't just move on from. It's you know, not big deals. But at the same time, you've got a lot of these middle class You've almost got too big of a middle class. At this point, you need to really, you know, find out the guys that have potential to be starters and you know, the guys that you don't see elevating, like you know, maybe City So is a good, good comp to that you've got to replace in the draft, and you've got to start to you know, find some younger guys and that can that maybe do have the potential that these guys don't seem to have.

I like that point about of middle class because I don't know how great I would tell you that the middle class is, but it seems like the roster has middle class type of players.

Yeah, a lot of like lower middle class too, you know, I just it's I know that was the Belichick kind of philosophy of you know, the one to fifty three and all that. But you know, you get too many guys who should probably be in the forties and just don't move the needle, don't make plays that that's the problem.

Here's a question for the crowd. If your team runs in their fans, what do the fans run on when you kick off your day with Duncan, We're with you all the way to the end zone. Make a run to Duncan official coffee run of the New England Patriots. We're going back to the phone lines, and Andre from New York is next. Good afternoon, Andrew, You're next in the Patriots pre game social field by Duncan.

Good afternoon, fellas, and happy New Year.

Same to you, sir.

First first thing I want to say is hashtag got staying with Nolan As a Patier fan, I guess yeah what he's feeling. My question for you guys, I wanted to pick your brain on I know that the season is not overw but my thought is on the free agency and if the free agency player, like free agent players got to see Drake may do something. Do you think we'll be able to sign like better players and like people will actually want to come play for us? Or do you think that like players are going to see how bad you were this year and be like nah, I want no part of that.

Good question, Andre, it's a good question, and I think May is certainly a he'll help, he's a selling point, He's an asset, isn't he He'll help?

But is he enough to get the the bell, the ball? Is he enough to get t Higgins here? That I mean they think that's the question. Certainly there are some probably middle range kind of guys that will want to come here. But is that enough for the Patriots?

He's going to give you a check in the positive column to a guy who has options. Okay, so I can go to let's let's use like last year for an example, Calvin Ridley. I can go to Tennessee with no quarterback. I can go to New England with a good young quarterback. That might be the deciding factor. So maybe in a similar situation you can get them. I don't think, however, that Drake May's presence is enough to himself to get guys with options, you know what I mean? Like I'm talking about you know, I can t Higgins, I can re up with Cincinnati, I can go to Baltimore, I can go to somewhere you know, you know, chargers great one, chargers need a wide receive a great one. That's not going to be enough.

Yeah, I think that and that to me is you know, kind of an indictment on the fact that this team didn't show an identity, a spark at the end. Tough to play, you know, there's no sense of coming out of the season right now, like they're building something there, like I want to be part of what's going on there, and I think that's you know, one of the most depressing parts of it is now you're kind of looking at twenty twenty five for that to happen, like I mean, unless they catch lightning in a bottle and it all just seems to go great like this, They're going to try to have to find a spark next year, most likely, assuming you know, if Mayo's back, or you know, even if not. That's what the next step is. You got to prove that there's a spark here, that there's something going on, and I think that will attract players as well as on top of may Speed.

In Fresno, California is next to the Patriots pregame social fueled by Duncan. Good afternoon, speed or might be morning in your case, many New Years.

Oh yeah, b B B beef, jerkey time, well done, Pavlo's dog.

Yeah, put me add me to the team, Nolan, that was a a plus. Rant I loved having darn harm you guys having Darron Harmon on earlier. Also, he he, he's great. He made that reference to I can't remember if it was twenty sixteen or twenty seventeen that lost against the Seahawks coming out of the I wonder, Paul, do you remember what you refer.

To that game ahead of time?

What you called it ahead of time?

No, unlosable.

I said that I'm usually right.

Unlosable yep, ahead of time.

I like it's the dumb thing. And I remember that. I wanted to ask you guys about Covington because I think there's like a difference between what the crafts will do and what maybe any given person wants them to do. I think they're I think they're likely just going to run it back. But if I had my druthers, uh, Covington would probably be the one who's most likely on the on the chopping block. And I don't take pleasure in talking about people's jobs like that, but it's just that the defense has been so wretched. Even taking into consideration that both Belichick's and Judahn and Bentley and Barmore that they're gone. It's just it still seems worse than I would have even imagined if you told me all that ahead of time, but at hindsight.

But I wonder what you.

Guys think about that. If Covington of the Big three, Covington van Pelt may or if he is he, where's your rank order in terms of your sites of who do you think should be in the most trouble job wise?

Thank you for the phone call, Spie. I'm going to spin this a little bit towards my friend to the left here, who I think has provided some undernown it's not really a word, an underdeveloped theory about the two thousand and twenty four Patriots defense and that we all may have been a little bamboozled. I don't know if that's the right word, Paul, A little bamboozled based on the twenty twenty three results. I'd like you to repeat that, because I think it bears repeating.

Yeah, I mean, it's something that we talk about a lot on Patriots Unfiltered, so a lot of our listeners are aware, you know. I just of my feelings on this. I think that the Patriots defense over the last couple of years has benefited greatly from seeing an in ornamental out of backup quarterbacks. Last year twenty twenty three, they faced six backup quarterbacks, really seven, but I didn't count Brian Hoyer because he didn't start the game, and I tried to be fair, and I'm nothing if not fair. So in the six games against backup quarterbacks, they allowed fourteen points a game. In the other games they allowed twenty five points a game. That's an eleven point difference when they faced a starting caliber quarterback and a backup. And I think this year, to my knowledge, Mike, they faced one backup quarterback, Tyler Huntley, and they only allowed fifteen points in that game, which is very similar to what they allowed last year when they played backup quarterbacks fourteen. So I think that you can sit here and you can rant and ray of all you want that the defense regressed. I don't really think it did, Mike.

Do you agree that the six games sample size that Paul points to is enough of a sample size to I take something from that from a datas yam.

I just think the points the same. The defense stinks right now, yeah, And whether they were kind of sinky or not as thinky two years ago whatever they stink. Now they're the bottom five and just about every needed category. So in response to the question, though, I would say I think they might get a little help in that. I'm waiting to see who goes to UNC, because I think if a good chunk of those staff members go to UNC of their own volition, then it gives them the opportunity to maybe turn things over our defense a little bit, a little bit easier than having to like it is fire you know, Oh, we're not going to fire up Brian Bell, you know, like those guys. I just think there's a good chance those guys are gonna go Yeah.

Bridge Done is the official tire of the Knowing of Patriots and they're proud to partner with Sulimon Tire, New England's headquarters for quality. Bridge doone Tires visits alimentire dot com to find a location near you. Matt, it's time for the over Unders.

It's time for this week's edition of over Unders.

And the Patriots pregame show is brought to you by Draft Kings. Stay tuned because you there are more about Draft Kings and all it has to offer throughout the show. Draft Kings the crown is yours, Johnny Stats. Where do we stand today as we head into the regular season finales?

Well, if this were if the standings were posted on NFL dot com, Mike did be a little icon next to my name clinched. Clinched. Oh so that's despite a rare bad week for me. Mike wins last week at four and two. No Socks three and three, Paul two and four. But I am sixty one and thirty five.

A nice look at record, Paul.

Mike is fifty four and forty two and Matt is fifty three and forty three. So I have clinched because I have a seven game lead. You got the buy you can only beat me by six game. You're gonna rest starters today?

Is that?

What you're doing?

Is you know what I might do the the George Costanza just gonna do the opposite every instinct I have.

All right, Well, so then let's break myself in velvet. Let's let's let's do this. This should be well easy for me to say easy. I'm in the last place. Drake May's passing yards are too ten and a half two ten and a half for dree May's passing yards Paul's gonna go against the green and do everything different. What are you gonna pick?

Paul?

I have no like, I have no idea how much he's gonna play today. Does anyth there we see him on the screen as a quarterbacks are coming out. Does anybody have a clue? Oh, they're wearing the dirty pants again. Fans must have called for those blue silver Did we do we have any clue? How much he's gonna pud it?

Personal preference? What do you think, Paul?

What would you do?

I'm going to take the over because I don't think anybody for Buffalo is playing. I think they might be able to make some plays. I don't know. I don't know if he I mean, if he plays I guess, I don't know.

That's ridiculous, Michael, I'm going under.

I don't know.

I don't think he's gonna play that.

The last place Matt would have to say the same thing. I don't think he's going to play that. I think he's going to play.

You guys, what you thought you guys would have.

I'm killing you. I think I'm going to go under on that because I don't think he's going to play long enough to get that kind of yardage. Next up the shortest. Wow, Matt Morele, what a category. The shortest field goal made twenty six and a half. Ace weather person Tamarra Brown had a howling scarf earlier in the pregame social So, deuce, what do you think at twenty six and a half? Shortest?

Sure, I'll go I'll go under.

Why not?

I just feel like these teams just not a lot of like what are we gonna kick long field goals for?

Like, just go for it.

I'm going if there's a thirty yard field goal, you'd lose. Yeah, okay, so you're already under, Okay, I'll take the over. I think they'll be. There'll be the shortest field goal of the day will be longer than it makes you think, twenty six yards. Yes, that's why I want to make sure. I feel like Fred Toucher right, like I don't. I'm not sure I understand what I'm supposed to be predicted.

I don't think they're kiel.

If the shortest field goal that's kicked today is longer than twenty six yards, you win. You win with by taking the over, right. I'll take the over right.

I will go with the over as well, next, the first half spread another one.

I'm gonna need clarification.

First half spread?

Is it seventeen half by seventeen points at halftime?

Is that we're talking on that, Matt, I've got to put Buffalo Buffalo favored by seventeen and a half.

No, I'm sorry, I got the toll wrong. The total score of the first.

Half of total points, total points, I just typed it wrong. Seventeen and out total point.

Draft Kings might want to have a word with you, Matt after the show.

Just eye, I got the number from Draft Kings. I just typed it wrong.

Seventeen and a half total points in the first half?

Is it me?

I guess it is you total?

Okay, I am going to take the over on that. Seventeen and a half.

In the first half, hm, hm, And he's the standings leader by a decent margin.

I'm going under a lot of understand think you're going.

To follow Paul in the over on that one. Next, the longest, the longest field goal made at forty nine and a half.

Forty nine and a half, and you guys said the weather issue, it's windy.

I'm going under.

I'm going under my Understreet's wonder, Paul, I mean it doesn't look that bad.

Long.

We don't have the U the goal postwags.

I'm looking at players walking around.

You don't see things blowing on the field. Joe Melton's towels blown a little bit.

Yeah, I'm gonna take the under.

Also, I agree, I'm gonna go under on the on the field goal. I don't think they'll tumped long or short field goals today.

Michael Man, I'm an under on that one.

Okay, Next, total touchdowns, it's a low number, three and a half, three and a half total touchdowns. God, I'm gonna go Can I go over on that one?

Sure?

You can't do it.

That's what the segment is actually called over under, Mike.

I know, but I've been going all under.

I'm going over.

I'm going over as well. Me me me three the sweep, clean sweep. And the total score number by DraftKings is thirty six and a half.

Paul, I'm gonna take the over there too.

My picks are all over the place. I'm going under.

I don't know what.

I don't know what My picks are point into what kind of game? Probably a lot of weird, a lot of weird like guys coming in, guys going out. That's what I think that.

I'm gonna go under his well, deuce, I'm gonna go under as well. Okay, Paul, I don't think you were here for the Milton May discussion. As we're looking at uh Antonio Gibson playing a little catch with the fans like to see that. Where do you sit on whether May sits or how much does May sit versus Milton?

Yeah, I think I said earlier in the show that this is a rare Paul doesn't really have a strong Oh that's right. Sorry, No, I'm just saying like I think it's the story of the day, like it's the topic of the day, Like he should play, No, he shouldn't. Part of me sort of goes a little old school and says, well, why should a rookie quarterback not be playing in this game? And that's why I was I was kind of like getting at with Deron harm and is was there ever any resentment in the locker room in situations like this? And in reality, darn Harmon when he was at the Patriots didn't have any situations like this. I wasn't really asking about resting for the playoffs I was asking about playing out the string, which he said that he did a couple of times, I think in Atlanta and Detroit, But like, was there a question so the starting left tackle? Like, I don't know if you guys saw did you guys see the an actors from Buffalo? It's unbelievable. There's like eight eight Pro bowlers And I mean, I know they're not Pro Bowlers this year because Buffalo didn't have any Pro Bowlers this year, but you know, so Deon Dawkins isn't playing, is Spencer Brown like looking? So I just would wonder would there be any mentality in the Patriots locker room, like why is Drake may not? Why is he special? Why do we have to make sure that he stays hell healthy? Why is my health not of anybody's concern?

Right?

And I thought it's interesting that Harmon brought up that, you know, there's certainly different rules for different guys. Tom Brady, you're gonna get him out of there, because the team's success hinges on a healthy Tom Brady. I think we all understand that. I want to bring up one thing, Paul, that you talked about several weeks ago with regards to Drake May. Maybe both of you did. And that's seeing Drake May and quote unquote weather. Now, it's not snowing, there's no ice storm. I don't think it's not Gille force winds. But it's gonna be windy out there today. Does that I mean, does this a little flimsy?

It was beautiful, it was cold, but it was like for Buffalo and Descent, like does it?

Do you want to see a little of him in the winds today? Or is that a little too flimsy?

Can I just see what the wind is like? Is it wins that's going to prevent the passing game? Like it's a wind in Buffalo in twenty one?

No?

Then no, there are wind gusts.

Forecast in a game you hate.

You want to see him in a game.

Yes, a game where the weather is impacting the way the game is playing. I don't. I mean based on like to your thoughts, like when you told me, like, well, they're the pictures right there, Paul, Based on what I'm looking at, it doesn't look like the weather's going to impact this game.

You don't see things rolling down the field with the wind blowing, you know, Patriots Pro Bowler School scholar.

Yeah, it doesn't look like people look like overly cold on the sideline. I don't see a lot of gloves, even from like you know people you know, the Fonds or whoever the sponsors or whoever's team coming. It doesn't look like it's I mean, it's it's not pleasant to stand outside for three hours or anything like that. But it doesn't look to me visually like the weather's going to impact.

Their football players. They should be playing football today, right, I mean, like that's it. I mean, I think, but I did.

That was something that was important to me. We're seeing him playing bad weather, and you know, I don't really think we got to see them.

My guess, is there some strategy that the wind might be enough of a factor today where you're talking to the special team's coach if we win the toss, which way do we want to kick it? And things like that. Maybe you know, but I don't. It doesn't look like it's going to be a storyline.

And certainly definitely it's going to prevent itbody from throwing the ball in any direction.

It all clicked for me when I realized Paul wants to see May in a game that he hates like a game where it's like, we can't really tell anything from this game because it's weather.

Because Tom Brady played exactly the same in games that I hate as he did in every other game. The only ironically enough, the only weather that ever impacted him was intense heat that Miami, Miami. Yeah, well Miami Jacksonville one year they went down there early and he was not very good.

Yep, real quick.

You know what was funny though about Doe was when he was talking about his favorite teams and then he started and he said the twenty seventeen team, And I was like waiting for Paul to but no, no, no, that's not twenty wrong, that's not when.

Teams seventeen there their defense, they gave.

Up like five.

No.

But it's funny because I think this is twice now. I would say in recent times, might Matt and I have really sort of tried to lead the witness twenty fourteen, twenty fourteen for Rob Gronkowski and Doron Harmon today neither one of them, Yeah, answered twenty fourteen.

We shouldn't lead the witness. Huh, maybe I should not do that? Isn't it interesting? Email from James in North Carolina and the email addressed, by the way, is podcast at Patriots dot com. Love you guys, listen every week all year, every show. Is there a chance we select Hunter at number one and then flip him later in the draft for picks and players? In my thinking, we do this to take him off the board and entice general managers around the league. By the way, his subject line in the email was can we eli this first pick?

I you know, I appreciate providing us with another avenue of discussion over the next three months, because it's going to be very long between take Travis Hunter or trade down like that. It could be a very make for a very long time. So yeah, I mean, I like, I like the idea a little creative. I don't know if it would necessarily entice teams. I mean, would you pay less to trade for a player after he's been selected than you would to trade for the actual pick itself? Is there any value?

What if that deal wasn't present when you were picking.

And then they then they realize they miss out, another team misses out, and they say, geez, you know, maybe maybe we get back into this thing.

And what do you think of eli as a verb in this? Because in this situation.

Well, that Eli verb bothers me too much because I think of him beating the Patriots.

So interesting tweet here from Dan Roach, you know, bringing it back to football for a second.

Thank you.

One observation from watching warm ups, Joe Milton took a lot of snaps from Cole Strange. Drake May was working with Lacidas Smith. So is that an indication that maybe we'll be getting a cameo from Drake May today?

Maybe? I mean that's that would that does.

He mirror Josh Allen? If Josh Allen plays a series or two, does Drake May play a series or two? And then when Josh Allen goes, Drake May goes.

I could see it. I mean that that would be my preference of Just like I said, I thought, really the value of the week was preparing him getting them justly, you know, how to how to go against the team that you just saw a couple of weeks ago, and a lot of it's fantasy because you know at Oliver is gonna play. But at the same time, I think the preparation there was value in this week. And if he goes out there, takes a few snaps, get him out there again, it goes back to Paul's key. Just get that kid out of this game healthy, put the cap on this season and start thinking about the offseason and what.

He has to do.

Improved eight five five pats five hundred is the number. Johnny from South Beach is next on the pregame social Fueld by Duncan. Good afternoon, Johnny.

Out of everyone. First of all, I want to make a quick editorial note. I know everybody's clamoring to hear my feedback. I thought that interview with Toron Harmon was excellent. I'm sure it's not easy to book these guys and get the right kind of person, but my my feedback would be to do more of that next year. I have a quick take about the whole you know, fire drama Kudromo thinks. I obviously don't think Rod Mao has done much to cover himself in glory this year, you know, contradictory messaging like weird coaching decisions, confusion. But I think it'd be sort of unfair if he gets the boot and Elliott Wolf stays because honestly, like I think the conversation about Drod, I think the conversation about this team is really really different right now if you had the somewhat representative line play, somewhat some depths on defense at all. So I just, you know, just one point out that I thought it would be unfair. And finally, you know, I have sources at the Patriots right now telling me that, you know, unless something calamitous happens, we will be seeing a Matt Smith's return for next year. I was wondering if I could get that confirmed or what the what the what the situation?

Interesting kind of inside baseball question there. Johnny reviews are in March, and so that will be and botched me in curses file probably to go over. Probably not at the top of the folder, but I would think somewhere in the folder that decision will be made. There are a lot more important decisions to be made. That one will be buried somewhere around the block.

We did disagree, but many many more important decisions. That's a big job.

Thank you for the phone call I got.

I gotta say, though, Matt he did like a read today. He went right into it. I was like, WHOA, Like you didn't even realize he was doing a read.

And there was two different times, two different times I noticed it. I noticed it.

This guy eighteen most playing week eighteen.

Got to pass the ball. Got to pass the ball to the guys who can score. Guy could score on my left. Guy that can score my right. He doesn't have a good right hand though, that's the only thing that is fact.

Could not do any I could not make a right handed layup with a gun to my head.

You can't go right.

No.

But to Johnny south Peach's point, if Mayo was not the coach next year, I do not believe you're going to be seeing any of these guys back. I don't think they're going to keep you know, the personnel and then yeah, I don't think that will happen all or nothing.

I mean, do you ever see head coaches go and coordinators stay and then capacity Does that ever happen?

Not?

Not generally. There's times where a guy you know so like I'll just tell you back to when Bill Belichick came here in two thousand, he did keep a handful of guy he kept Dante Scarneccia.

Now you could position coaches, you could.

You know, split hairs and say, well, Paul he asked for about coordinators. Dante Scarnecia was as close to a coordinator without ever really being as you could get. Brad Seely was the special teams coach, so he kept him. You know, Ivan Fears is another guy who's stuck around. So I don't know specifically. Coordinator might answer your question, but it would be rare to me. The other one that everybody always talks about, what if? What if they made Gerard the defensive coordinator, you know, brought someone up. So it is except for when you look at like Denver right now has kind of that situation. It's just there was a little gap. There was a little gap in between advance Joseph having the time of his life and you know now he's back as the defensive coordinator for the Broncos.

David from Florida is next on the Patriots Pregame Social fueled by Duncan Good Afternoon, David.

David.

Hello David David. No, David, I'm gonna x that one off mister Marine Corps will go to New Jersey and check in with Eric. Who's next on the Patriots Pregame Social fueled by Duncan Good Afternoon, Eric, Hey.

How were doing fellas.

Good?

Good?

Uh?

I mean at the end of the day when it comes down to it. I mean, if you look at I know, the model that everybody tries to go after here is you know, the Detroit Lions. But the biggest part I mean of that process, I mean, even to take the coaching out, was just the ability of the front office to draft the right players and to bring in their the key signings that they had. They didn't have any huge blast signings. I mean, you could say David Montgomery last year, but nobody was really clamoring how to bring David Montgomery into the organization for the most part. But you know, it was the ability of that front office to identify players, bring them into the system. And obviously, you know, the coaching comes in, you know, to utilize your skill sets. But I mean, until we can get that front office correct and bring those proper players into this building, you know, get the proper personnel, I just don't see the future. I mean, I don't care if it's mal, I don't care if it's Verable, I don't care whatever the coach is, you know, fill in the blank. But until we can get the personnel right and we can get the right players in here, you know, then obviously if you look at just some of these past signings, I mean, Cal Duggart stuck with him, you know, some of these other guys that just haven't developed since, you know, since five years that he's been here, you know. I think that's just the biggest thing. And this team just has so many needs that it's hard to identify. So I think if we don't get this right, this uh, that front office correct and bringing those right guys in, I think, regardless of the coach is going to be issuing. I thank you, guys, appreciate a great devon thanks.

To call Eric, appreciated draft and develop. That's the words that are on everybody's mind, that that's.

It you do for I would just push back a little bit. Did you feel that way about Kyle Dugar the last four years? What do you feel about that like that about him?

Now?

I don't think that he was a guy that looked looked like he failed to develop last year.

No, I I think second round pick. He was your first pick whenever that draft was. I think Dougart was looked at by most, if not all, as a developing kind of a player, somebody that you wanted to invest in. They invested in him this year. I'm you know, not a doctor, not a trainer or anything like that. How much stock do we want to put in Kyle doug being banged up this year and affecting him. I thought it was interesting to hear the words of was it Mike Peblgrino a couple of weeks ago who was talking about, you know what Dougar has been going through that and you know how tough he's tried to be this year and trying to play through it. I'm gonna try to lean on that and say that there was something there with Dougar to convince them to keep him and to re sign him, and that maybe he tried to gut it out when maybe it wasn't the best thing for him.

I mean, tionally, I would just say I think my radar was up a little bit with him, and just it didn't feel like he was ascending. I mean it just it felt a little like he's stuck in neutral. He's a good, solid player.

Kept waiting for.

Him to kind of nip the mistakes in the bud, especially in coverage, and over the last couple of years, it felt like there'd be moments that he shined, but that'll also be moments that it was like air he is in coverage again, like that problem has always been kind of under the surface for me. I totally think the injury thing is apt, but I still think I'm a little bit disappointed and feel a little bit like he's stagnated in his development.

Yeah, but but that that could be true, and you know, that's how you felt about it. I think most people felt like he was an ascending player the last couple of years.

Now.

I don't think everybody was in agreement that they should resign him. I think some people felt like, you know, he's been a pretty good player for you, but you know, you lose them, that's okay, you know, And then they use the transition tag on him, and then they ended up giving him, you know, a lucrative contract. Again. This goes back to my whole theme for the off season. I don't necessarily point to any of these individual resignings and say that's a killer. That's a killer. I just didn't understand why they all had to get them. And I think that that's you're kind of looking at Barer's remorse as a whole. Now, My point only was that I don't think people looked at Kyle Dugger as a bust over the last four years. This year he hasn't played well. He's been a bus this year. He hasn't played well. If it's issur related, you have to hope it is underperformed, and that is a hope. I will go back to something that we that Mike.

That you discussed earlier in the show with our first guest, and to on Harmon and the way that those safeties played. There was a little bit, you know, you would have vary a variety of different players playing. There's why I thought they complimented each other so well. Harmon a little bit more of a free safety. Devin could do both, as he said Chung more of a kind of a guy closer to the line of scrimmage, could cover the tight end, could play in the run game. There's too many similarities between And this not from a football guy. But when I see Douger, I see Peppers, I see Mapu, they just kind of seem the same. And I don't see the variety maybe that that other safety group had that we talked about with Harmon earlier.

In the show. Yeah, And I just say the last few weeks, you've seen Buddha Baker you've seen Derwin James. Those are true impact, strong safeties that make plays. And you know that's just a level that Kyle Dugger hasn't really scratched the surface of it.

So you don't think that Dougo was more like that in the past, certainly not this year. Yeast the Raiders, that was a Dewin James type play. Now maybe you could say, well, Paul, you're cherry picking one play. Yeah, you're probably right, that's probably a fair.

I also remember a lot of times of like Dugger and coverage.

Again, Oh no, I.

Don't think he's I don't think he's great down the field. That's why he's been better at the line. I agree with Matt's thing about Peppers and duggar a better to me within five yards of the line of they.

Are picking up the fumble against was it Detroit? I think maybe here a couple of years ago. I mean's just you know, a couple of plays like he certainly made some plays.

But going forward, yeah, not backward yea. And I think the same with Peppers. Yeah, one more thing before we move on. The whole Detroit thing kind of bugs me, like, hey, that I think that they they've turned into a great, a great team. They have great personnel and you're seeing it now. They have twenty whatever guys on I are and they're still, you know, fighting for the top seed in the NFC. When Dan Campbell got there, they were already well ahead of where the Patriots are right now, right, Jared Goff, I'm Saint Brown. They had some veteran linemen. Rag now is guy? I think you talking about Matt? Yes, they drafted really well after Campbell got there is a bit of a foundation, but they had more of a foundation than they have now.

Good point, Good point, Matt. Let's hit the Sunday six pack. Please for the final time. This is the Sunday sixth pack.

So kick back and listen up position.

I'm getting to getting the back.

You better bring a big stack, get it mixed jack to win again.

This is the Sunday sixth.

Bad all right, So Paul Beer with me here for a second. Is this a captain obvious statement? The decisions made right now will determine who wins the Sunday six Pack.

Absolutely, It's up for grabs.

So these are very important.

Anybody's game, anybody's game are rare.

Good week for me, it comes down to a really really important pick. Why don't you go ahead and set up the stats Johnny Statt, Mike.

And Paul five and one last week. I don't know where that came from. Mike, We've been struggling all year with the six pack. No Socks, who had been leading is now was two and four. So yeah, it's it's it's the end of the season time. So Paul was first place in both forty nine and two for me, forty eight, forty six and two for Mike, and forty six, forty eight and two for Matt, so five hundred. But this can go any way.

It's anybody's ballgame.

Anybody can still win, all right, So we.

Set that up for the table. Mike, with that in mind, make your picks wisely, and we kick things off with the one o'clock game where the Washington Commanders, already clinched a playoff spot, are at the Dallas Cowboys, and the Commanders are seven point favorites in that game.

Trey Lance, quarterback, that's a Trey Lance.

That's a Trey Lance spread. Is that what you're telling me from the dead?

Yeah, I don't think it matters who, but I just thought it was interesting that Trey Lance's plan. Okay, Cooper Rush, do you know can Washington improve for all that their in their seating?

Not sure that off the top of my head, but I'm gonna pick as if they can't. Maybe I think they might be stuck in their spot. You know, I'm gonna just roll with Cowboys. Plus seven feels like a big spread in divisional game two teams, it's not really sure what's being played for give me the plus seven.

Yep, we moved to the four o'clock hour. Now we're the very Dallas. Oh sorry, sorry about that, Paul. Did you stay with the Cowboys soon as.

We gave him some compliments? You know, it all falls apart.

I cheated. I cheated.

I just stole your pick, Okay. In the four o'clock hour, the disappointing San Francisco forty nine ers are at the disappointing Arizona Cardinals six and ten nine ers against the seven to nine Cardinals with a Cardinals are a home four and a half point favorite.

Paul, I like Arizona in this game. I think San Francisco sort of emptied the proverbial bucket last Monday night against Detroit and try to put their best foot forward on national TV lost, I don't think you'll see a lot of frontline players. Buses are revenue probably for that game, right the tea times have been made. I'll take the Cardinals, Okay, Yeah, I'm with Paul.

Two Cardinals at home.

A bus revving up after they drop them off game, and I like the Cards in that one as well. This one is a game that is very important for one team, where the fifteen to one Kansas City Chiefs traveled to Denver and Mile High to take on the nine and seven Broncos. The Broncos are ten and a half point favorites in a game where if they win, they're in the playoffs.

Mike, winning, you're in. I think they're gonna do it. I'll take Denver to win, but I'm gonna take the points for Kansas City. I just have a hard time seeing Denver blow indoors right now. So I'll give me Casey plus ten and a half. But I do think Denver gets in.

Yeah, I'm still gonna take the points. I'm with Mike. I'm gonna take Kansas City with the points. I picked this as an outright win on Thursday. I no longer think that. Evidently, I'm still I'm not even sure I Kansas City is still in Denver. Yet they were on the ice problem. They were on the runway for like five or six hours yesterday. They were having a real hard time getting to Denver in a game that they didn't have to play. So I now think Denver will win the game. But I'll take the points. It's a lot of points.

I'll be with you, Denver does it really score? Do they? They play good defense, yeah, and Nicks has been decent, but they don't score a lot, do they.

They're not a high powered of defense.

Score too many points. Another one where a team is hoping to do something and then waiting for hope. And that's the eight to eight Miami Dolphins at the New York Football Jets, the four and twelve New York Football Jets, where the Dolphins are a road favored by a point and a half.

Paul, They're gonna take the Jets to win this one outright. I Miami having a hard time. I think without without two, I don't see them winning two in a row without two.

I kind of agree with Paul, But I'm gonna make this interesting since we're coming down the stretch here, and I'm a game back, so.

That's the way you should do it.

I'm gonna have some fun. I'll take I'll take Miami minus one point five.

Please.

Yeah, I still don't understand what I would need to do in order to win, So I'm just gonna go what I think was the right pick in this particular point. And I like what could be Aaron Rodgers' final game. I'll take Aaron Rodgers over is it Snoop Puntley?

Probly?

I think it's Snoopuntley? Right, Yeah, I like Rogers over Snoopuntley in that one Sunday Night football. I don't know if you guys noticed or not. This is a big game tonight, yeah, where the fourteen and two Vikings travel to the fourteen and two Lions. By the way, I saw something where the Vikings organization spent upwards of two million dollars on tickets to try to get them to sponsors, fans and everything like that. And so there is a lot of Minnesota Viking fans that are going to be positioned behind the Vikings bench to try to cheer on their Vikings at Detroit where the Lions are three point favorites in that game. Deuce. Yeah.

I think these are you know, two NFL feel good stories at twenty twenty four, right, I mean, the Lions ascending to really being dominant and the Minnesota Vikings just surprising everyone with with Donald and I think.

The good vibes go.

Am I relying a little bit too much on the video of Kevin O'Connell watching with Pride as Kevin.

They just played it as Donald.

Is raised up on the show, and like, I mean, it was just it was a really cool moment. Probably overreacting to that, but I just I think the Vikings have some really good vibes. They believe in themselves, and I think they got what it takes to get it done tonight. So I'll take the Vikings plus three to win and secure NFC home field of image.

I have been as skeptical of the Vikings as anybody all season long, but they're a legitimately good team, and I just think the Lions are two banged up on defense. You have to they can really only win one way right now, Detroit, and that is just you know, bludging in everybody to death and outscoring them. I think Brian Flores comes up with enough stops. Tonight Minnesota wins the game.

Both very intelligent picks. That's why I'm gonna go with Detroit at home, where uh each and kneecaps is gonna finish as a number one seed. I think I don't know that this is the week that Sam Darnold turns into a pumpkin. But it's coming literally late, a little late in the process to bring this up. But do you guys have any problem with the seeding process?

No, I do none, but the strength of schedule rather than directed.

Now in the division you deserve.

If you're fourteen and three, you shouldn't be going on the road to play you know.

Yeah, it's tough.

One pick left, one pick left, and that's the thirteen and three Buffalo Bills, who've already clinched Paul the number two seed, and they will have a home playoff game against the three and thirteen New England Patriots, Buffalo a three and a half point favorite. Douce.

You know, I gotta admit it seems like signs the point in May playing little, little little, maybe even a series or two, so that that affects me a little bit. But I'm still gonna go with just the general trends in the opposites, and I think the Patriots are gonna win this game.

I agree.

I'm gonna take Patriots plus three now, right with the three and a half, I'll say Patriots twenty to fourteen.

Paul, Yeah, I think Buffalo wins the game. I don't think the Patriots want to win it, and I have no idea how that's going to unfold. I'll say twenty. I'll say twenty four to twenty Buffalo.

It's the regular season finale, the last game of the year, Week eighteen, where the Patriots host the Buffalo Bills. We'll be here to wrap the whole thing up after the game for Paul Parrilla and Mike to show. I'm Matt Smith. Enjoy the game. Everybody you've been watching and listening to the Patriots pregame Social Fueled by Duncan.

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Patriots Postgame Show.

Join Matt Smith along with Patriots dot Com Paul Parrillo and Mike Desso as they offer instant analysis after every Patriots game. We bring you the good, the bad, and the injured from each game. Plus you'll hear press conferences, exclusive player interviews, and more on the Patriots Postgame Show. Search for Patriots Postgame anywhere you get your podcasts.

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  1. Patriots Pregame Social

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Patriots Pregame Social

Host Matt Smith is joined by Patriots.com's Paul Perillo, Mike Dussault and Tamara Brown to preview … 
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