Three Things to Watch This Week - Week 2

The New England Patriots play Zach Wilson and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday September 19th at 1:00 PM.

The Future is Now.

I blame that loss on the coaching staff. Game plan was too conservative. It felt like they could have been a little more aggressive with the play calling at times.

Damien Harris was having a monster game. He was set to be my Week 1 MVP... until he wasn't.

I don't have any stats on the issue, but potential fourth quarter game winning drives that end with fumbles in the red zone are tough to overcome. Can't be good for your win percentage.

If I was the coach, I would have simply called one fewer running plays at the end of the game.

Mac Jones looks like he belongs. That was good.

Norm Power Rankings:

1) Macdonald  

2) Peterson

3) -a Jeane Baker

4) Abram

5) social

Once a major source of strength in the Olden Times, the tight end position had fallen on hard times as of late. In 2020, all Patriots tight ends combined had a total of 18 catches. The TE corps was dramatically rebuilt in the offseason. Here are three tight ends I'm excited about watching this year.

1) Jonnu Smith - Smith had a solid debut last week with five catches for 42 yards. (And now he's hurt. Aw crap.)

2) Hunter Henry - Henry had 60 catches for over 600 yards last year with the Chargers. That's impressive!

3) Devin Asiasi - Asiasi is also a tight end on the Patriots roster. He has two career catches.

How good does Pat feel about this team making the playoffs this year?

Eh... let's say there's a 31.7% chance. 

They better take care of business against the Jets this week, or I'll be looking to dump all my shares in the 2021 Patriots season.

Cookie of the Week

Almond Butter, Dark Chocolate & Coconut Cookies

These are delicious with a nice crunchy / chewy texture. Definitely worth the effort.

British Jam of the Week

New Order - Ceremony. 

Nice crunchy guitars.

My prediction: Patriots 24, Jets 10

*****

Thursday Morning Third Down Back is proud to present Fantasy Corner with Harry Lime.

Q) Not that I had high expectations, but how bad is the Atlanta offense?  

What did you want me to do? Be reasonable. You didn't expect me to give myself up... 'It's a far, far better thing that I do.' The old limelight. The fall of the curtain. Oh, Holly, you and I aren't heroes. The world doesn't make any heroes outside of your stories.

Q) I've got Aaron Rodgers in a keeper league. Is it time to move on?

Nobody thinks in terms of human beings. Governments don't. Why should we? They talk about the people and the proletariat, I talk about the suckers and the mugs - it's the same thing. They have their five-year plans, so have I.

Q) Derrick Henry looked a little rough in week 1 and failed to find the endzone. How concerned should I be?

In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.