NFL Notebook: Once again, Patriots and Steelers stand atop AFC

Taking a weekend spin around the NFL with a focus on the Patriots...


1. When it comes to being the Patriots’ chief rival, the Steelers have come full circle. They were the one consistently legitimate counterpoint to New England in the early days of the Patriots’ dynasty (2001-2007), and while there were a few seasons where they might have been replaced at the top of the list by the likes of the Colts or Broncos, it appears that once again, we have returned to a point where Pittsburgh is the best antagonist for the Patriots when it comes to the chase for AFC supremacy. Even though New England has a distinct advantage when it comes to wins and losses, it seems like every time these two teams meet, the stakes are high (like home-field advantage this weekend) and it always produces memorable moments.

“It's an awesome thing to be a part of,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of the rivalry with the Patriots this week. “Not something that I or we take for granted. To be in significant games is just part of chasing what it is that we're chasing and to have a routine dance partner, (it) just speaks to their commitment and achievements in similar ways. We're excited to be a part of it. We don't take it for granted. We realize that these type games are just part of what we desire to be.”

With that in mind — and looking only at traditional rivals — here’s our pick for the rest of the Patriots’ current top 4.

A) Ravens: Even now, the team that most people are interested in when it comes various playoff scenarios is Baltimore. Nowhere near the team it used to be, but historically, they still have a rare quality of being able to push the Patriots in New England in January.

B) Giants: Certainly not a common opponent, but there’s still a lot of residual ill will after the two Super Bowl defeats.

C) Broncos: The fact that the Patriots fundamentally ended their season in Denver the last two years brings much joy in New England. Those wins have started to erase the narrative of past struggles on the road against the Broncos.

2. As someone who is around the team on a daily basis, I remain impressed with the level of professionalism displayed by both Mike Gillislee and Dwayne Allen this season. Neither one has had the sort of year they probably first envisioned when they joined the Patriots this offseason, but both have remained positive and upbeat, both publicly and privately. I’ve talked to teammates on and off the record, and they have all said that both players remain dedicated and hardworking, and their contributions haven’t necessarily been measured in their overall production. Gillislee, who has taken multiple healthy scratches since a positive start to the season, addressed his situation with reporters on Friday, saying that it had been disappointing, but all he could do was stay ready and prepared for when his number is called (For what it’s worth, I firmly believe Gillislee will have a moment between now and the end of the season when he’s called upon to deliver). As for Allen, he struggled when it came to the passing game earlier this year, but remains a very good blocker, and will be asked to do more of that going forward now that right tackle Marcus Cannon has been placed on the shelf the rest of the way. Regardless, the two have made the best of a situation that’s been less than ideal at times, and both should be acknowledged for their attitude.

3. Nice note from Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman this week, who included Julian Edelman on his list of the most underrated wide receivers he’s faced, part of a group that includes Minnesota’s Stefon Diggs, Detroit’s Golden Tate and Marvin Jones and New York’s Jermaine Kearse. Of Edelman, Sherman writes: “He’s not the biggest, strongest or fastest guy, but he plays hard and he plays the game the right way. He does the dirty work. He’s blue collar, and he’s tough as nails. … Whenever you talk about the Patriots, people talk about the system. They had Wes Welker there before, and now with Edelman out, they’re using Chris Hogan and Danny Amendola pretty effectively in that slot role. I think that’s why Edelman is usually left out of the discussion of best receivers in the game — because of the system. But I think he’s more than just a system guy. You just don’t see a lot of wide receivers bring that kind of toughness to their game, especially at his size. And as a defensive player, that’s something that I definitely respect.”

4. Interesting to see this nugget from the legendary Rick Gosselin this week: Tony Corrente and his crew, which will work Sunday’s Patriots-Steelers game, have assessed 203 penalties this season, tops in the NFL. Corrente’s group has officiated three of the four highest-penalized games of the 2017 season. Look for a tightly-called game Sunday at Heinz Field.



5. Matthew Slater has been on and off the field this year, as the veteran has dealt with a nagging hamstring issue that’s kept him sidelined for the majority of the first 13 games of the season. But the 32-year-old special teams captain acknowledged this week that the time on the sidelines has allowed him to view the game from a slightly different angle.

“I think every opportunity is an opportunity to learn,” said Slater, who has missed just seven games over the last six years prior to the 2017 season. “I wish I didn’t have everything I have this year, but like I’ve said, this has kind of been the way it’s gone. So yes, you do try to step back and analyze yourself and your teammates a little bit differently when you’re not out there on the football field. And I think I’ve picked some things up certainly. But I’m certainly tired of learning from the sidelines.”

As for a team-wide perspective, few in the locker room are blessed with the ability to sum up the state of the franchise as it nears the postseason.

“We’ve put ourselves in good position to be competitive down the stretch, but I think from here in it’ll be about our preparation and execution,” he said. “Nothing is guaranteed this time of year, and the margin for error grows smaller and smaller every week. Hopefully, we can continue to improve week by week and go out and put our best foot forward on game day. And I think that’s what everybody is hoping to achieve here — we’re hoping we can be at our best on game day.”

6. This year, Atlanta is looking to buck the Curse of the Super Bowl Loser. If the postseason started Saturday, the 8-5 Falcons would be in the tournament as the sixth seed. Granted, it would be a long way from where they were at this time last year, but the fact that they’d be in the postseason would certainly go against popular wisdom. Of the 51 Super Bowl losers, 16 failed to make the playoffs the following year, and 34 of them didn’t win a playoff game (The last Super Bowl loser to return to the Super Bowl the next year was the 1992 Bills. And only the 1970 Cowboys and the 1971 Dolphins — have gone from Super Bowl losers to Super Bowl winners the next season). Atlanta has a long road between now and the postseason, but even though they’re third in the NFC South, the Falcons gave games against the two teams who are a game ahead of them (the Saints and Panthers). If they want to be remembered as one of those unique Super Bowl losers that went against the grain, they’ll have their chance over the next few weeks.

7. Here are a handful of key dates — both on and off the field — to remember down the road. (From a New England perspective, if Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia do get interviews, they’d likely have to make sure their LinkedIn profiles were up-to-date by Jan 7.)

Jan. 6-7: Wild Card Playoffs
Jan. 7: Assistant coaches under contract to playoff clubs that have byes in the Wild Card weekend may be interviewed for head coaching positions through the conclusion of the Wild Card games
Jan. 13-14: Divisional Playoffs
Jan. 14: Assistant coaches under contract to playoff clubs that won their Wild Card games may be interviewed for head coaching positions through the conclusion of Divisional Playoff games.
Jan. 20: East-West Shrine Game, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Jan. 21: AFC and NFC Championship Games
Jan. 27: Senior Bowl, Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
Jan. 28: Pro Bowl
Jan. 28: An assistant coach, whose team is participating in the Super Bowl, who has previously interviewed for another club's head coaching job may have a second interview with such club no later than the Sunday preceding the Super Bowl.
Feb. 4: Super Bowl LII, Minneapolis, Minn.
Feb. 20: First day for clubs to designate franchise or transition players.
Feb. 27-March 5: NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
March 6: Prior to 4 p.m. deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players
March 12-14: Legal tampering period. Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents.
March 14: The 2018 League Year and Free Agency period begin at 4 p.m.

8. Last week against Miami, the Patriots racked up nine penalties for 78 yards, not including the calls that were declined or offset. New England is 14th in the league with 87 penalties and also 14th with 772 penalty yards. When it comes to the Patriots, here’s a look at the players who have played at least 850 snaps this season and have committed the fewest penalties.

Zero penalties
S Devin McCourty — 854 defensive snaps

One penalty
G Shaq Mason — 860 offensive snaps
QB Tom Brady — 849 offensive snaps

Most penalized by position
Offensive Line: 20 penalties for 180 yards
Special teams: 18 penalties for 147 yards
Cornerback: 12 penalties for 187 yards
Tight end: 10 penalties for 71 yards
Defensive Line: 9 penalties for 55 yards
Wide receiver: 8 penalties for 72 yards

Most frequently called penalties
Offensive Holding: 15
False Start: 14
Offensive Pass Interference: 8 (most in the NFL)
Illegal Block Above the Waist: 6
Defensive Holding: 6
Defensive Pass Interference: 6
Illegal Use of Hands, Defensive Offsides: 3

9. Last week, I was 6-10, my worst record of the week. It dropped me to 136-70. No excuse. I have to pick better. This week, we’ve got the Colts, Lions, Chiefs, Bills, Panthers, Ravens, Jaguars, Vikings, Saints, Eagles, Redskins, Rams, Patriots, Niners, Raiders and Falcons.

10. It’ll be another interesting week for the Patriots, as once the Steelers game is done, they’ll turn their collective focus to a rematch with the Bills on Christmas Eve at Gillette Stadium. There will be plenty of Rob Gronkowski-Tre’Davious White talk, which will add another layer of intrigue to the week. Buffalo needs to keep winning — including this weekend’s home clash with the Dolphins — if it wants to stay in the playoff chase.