Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your Friday. Grab your coffee and let’s get to it.
--Next Thursday, the Patriots and Colts are going to have to work extra hard to try and improve on last night's Rams-Vikings game. That game was a ton of fun. (Has "Thursday Night Football" become ... entertaining?)
--Brandin Cooks has looked awfully good over the first four games of the season. I get the attraction of getting a first-round pick in return at the time. But seeing him do what he's done over the first four games has to have been a little painful for Patriots' fans, given New England's woes at wide receiver. Cooks has 452 receiving yards through four games. Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett and Cordarrelle Patterson have 230 receiving yards combined through the first three weeks. Not ideal.
--Oh, and those Rams' throwbacks? So sweet.
--Sounds like Sunday is going to be a perfect day for football with highs in the 60s, clear, and with little chance of rain. It'll be interesting to see how the Patriots respond, especially in the early going. New England hasn't led since the end of the season opener against the Texans, and it's scored just seven first-quarter points through three games. A large chunk of the Patriots' success on Sunday will be wrapped up in whether or not they can get out to a quick start against a Miami team that has outscored opponents 34-13 in the first half this year.
Friday’s schedule
11:15 a.m.: Bill Belichick press availability (media workroom)
12 p.m.: Media availability at practice (Lower Grass Field)
1:45 p.m.: Approximate time for player availability (locker room) and Tom Brady media availability (media workroom)
Now, let's get to the links...
1. Spent some quality time with an NFC scout on Thursday, and we talked about the Patriots and what they need to do to snap out of their two-game skid. In short? Get really physical with the Dolphins, an undefeated team that faces its first real test of the season.
2. Here are our Week 4 picks. Warning: It appears I'm not good at ... how should I put this ... "predicting football games" right now. So take my choices with an FDA-approved grain of salt.
3. Video: We talked to new guy John Simon, an edge defender, about what it's been like to join the Patriots.
4. Video: We also got some practice video of defensive linemen working on shedding blocks.
5. Our notebook from Thursday looks at Eric Rowe as the only guy on the roster not present for practice. Doesn't bode well for his chances for Sunday.
6. Phil Perry says that if they're healthy, the return of Trey Flowers and Pat Chung will go a long way toward providing a boost for the Patriots this weekend.
7. The NFL and NFLPA ruled jointly on Thursday that concussion protocol was not violated when it came to Chung's situation earlier this month in Jacksonville.
8. Matt Light was fitted for his Patriots Hall of Fame jacket on Friday. His induction ceremony is Saturday at 4 p.m., and it's free and open to the public.
9. Via Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post, here are three areas where the Dolphins probably don't feel so good about coming into Sunday's game.
10. Regardless of the records, the Dolphins know earning the first franchise win in Foxborough since 2008 will be a sizable challenge.
Extra Point:
Creating explosive plays and not giving them up are major keys to victory! ?#FightForEachOther #GoBucs #BroncosCountry #LARams #Texans #TitanUp #BeRedSeeRed pic.twitter.com/TclnKyxsWz
— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) September 27, 2018