Thursday Morning Third Down Back

The Patriots play their second playoff game of the season at Gillette against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday January 22, 2012 at 3:00 PM January 20, 2013 at 6:30 PM. Same matchup as last year.  It's deja vu all over again. I think this year's Pats are better than last year's. Defense = improved.  It's not a stretch to say this year's defense is better than last year's historically bad D. Offense = Hot damn!  A running game! I'm not saying we're going to win.  But I like our chances. I'm hoping the fatigue from the extra playoff game AND two overtimes last week catches up to Baltimore.  Their defense is old .  They lost 4 of their last 5 regular season. Time to unleash the Speed Crush offense. Nice catch. Brandon Power Rankings: 1) Spikes 2) Lloyd 3) Deaderick 4) Bolden (We had 4 Brandons play in the game last week.  That's gotta be some kind of record, right?  The Patriots lead the league in Brandons.) ...

The Patriots play their first playoff game of the season at Gillette against the Houston Texans on Sunday January 13th at 4:30 PM. You excited?  I'm excited. It's supposed to be upper 40s mid-50s here on Sunday.  So much for our outdoor home field advantage in January against a southern team.  On other hand... Fire up the grill! ***fart noise*** Fictional Dad Power Rankings: 1) Frank Costanza, "Seinfeld" 2) Randy Marsh, "South Park" 3) Kirk Van Houten, "The Simpsons" 4) Professor Henry Jones, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" 5) Royal Tenenbaum, "The Royal Tenenbaums" Here's five things I'll be watching for this week: 1) Stevan Ridley - Please hang on to the football... Please hang on to the football... Please hang on to the football... 2) Vince Wilfork - Just had one of his best seasons ever.  I love the Big Man. 3) Rob Gronkowski - Don't forget the Patriots beat the Texans last...

The Patriots play their fifteenth regular season game at EverBank Field against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, December 23rd at 1:00 PM. The Patriots play their sixteenth regular season game at Gillette Stadium against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, December 30th at 1:00 PM. Hoomanawanui! I don't feel good about the way my team played last week.  Plus we lost our best chance for a playoff bye.  But... I know Bills fans who would stab somebody for a chance at the playoffs (honestly, most Bills fans I know would be happy to stab somebody for you anyway...). So instead of moping...  Let's make fun of the Jets! Epic Buttfumble vs. Season Ending Botched Snap .  Discuss. Obviously, Epic Buttfumble will never be topped.  But Season Ending Botched Snap has its merits, too (especially if it ends up resulting in mass firings).  The Jets have a way of snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory. I'm worried that things with the Jets are SO BAD...

The Patriots play their thirteenth regular season game at Gillette Stadium against the Houston Texans on Monday, December 10th at 8:30 PM. Woo Hoo!  AFC East Champs! Not the most complete game they've played all season, but I'll take it.  The best thing about the Dolphins game was the 7 minute drive to close out the game.  We haven't had one of those in a while. So close! Christmas Special Power Rankings: 1) A Charlie Brown Christmas 2) The Spirit of Christmas 3) Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas 4) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 5) Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special Here's five guys coming back this week that I'll be keeping an eye on: 1) Chandler Jones - Ankle injuries have to be rough when you're 260 pounds.  'Cause every time you take a step...  You know...  That's 260 pounds landing on your bad ankle.  Ouch. 2) Logan Mankins - The offensive line has been pretty good this year, even the weeks he's been out.  Bu...

The Patriots play their twelfth regular season game at at Joe Robbie Stadium Pro Player Park Pro Player Stadium  Dolphins Stadium Land Shark Stadium Sun Life Stadium against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, December 2nd at 1:00 PM. Holy crap... It's already December.  The season is 75% over.  Noooooo! Savor every last bite. Was there any way I wasn't going to go with this image?  No. Before we start with the Dolphins, let's take a moment to look back and reflect on the Thanksgiving Massacre in North Jersey.  So much Jets schadenfreude!  (Rex-enfreude?) Remember - That game was 0 - 0 at the end of the first quarter.  Then 7 minutes of game time later and it was 35 - 0 and pretty much over.  Whoa. That game had everything you could want. Passing touchdowns?  Check Rushing touchdowns?  Check Defensive touchdowns?  Check. Special teams touchdowns?  Check. LOL-Sanchez moments?  Check. I've been ...

The Patriots play their eleventh regular season game at MetLife Stadium against the New York Jets on Thursday, November 22nd at 8:20 PM. Is anything better than Thanksgiving?  (Answer: no). Excellent win last week.  Fifty nine points on the board.  Solid all around. Good times, right?  Unfortunately, the biggest story coming out of that game was Rob Gronkowski's injury.  He'll be out 4 to 6 weeks after surgery to repair a broken arm (I wonder if he can appear to Goodell and get it reduced to 2?). This also means it'll be a while longer until we finally see the Five Tight End Voltron Offense on the field.  Boo. It'll be a while before we see this again. Ryan Power Rankings: 1) Nolan 2) Gosling 3) Jack 4) Private 5) Rob 6) Jeri 7) Bob 8) Matt 9) Fitzpatrick 10) Rex Here's five things I'll be watching for this week: 1) Julian Edelman - Edelman gets a game ball for his performance last week.  VERY GOOD, JULIAN. ...

The Patriots play their tenth regular season game at Gillette against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday November 18th at 4:25 PM. Apparently the Colts have... a new quarterback?... or something?  I don't know... I wasn't able to find anything out about him for you guys.  Sorry. The 4:25 PM games are not good for me personally.  The five year-old has a very limited attention span.  A three hour football game doesn't offer him too much. "Is football over yet?" "I want to watch a mooooovieeeee!" "Why does Dad get to watch TV during dinner?" In between downs I have to play ball and wrestle and do general parenting activites.  It makes watching the games rather hectic. I'm contemplating Tivo'ing the game and watching it after the Small People have gone to bed.  Not good times. ...or it might be time to get the kid hooked on gambling.  Either one. Belichick showing a better arm than either Sanchez or  Tebow . Branch P...