Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your Monday. Grab your coffee and let’s get to it.
--With the bye now behind them, the Patriots head back to work on Monday. Expect lots of talk over the next few days about turning the page and getting ready for the last six regular-season games -- the stretch drive starts Sunday in North Jersey against the Jets. It'll come at the end of an odd week, as the Thanksgiving holiday will force them to shift their schedule a bit. (They'll have availability on Tuesday this week, which is usually a day off.)
--It'll also be interesting to see how Rob Gronkowski's work schedule looks over the next few days. Adam Schefter said this weekend the team expects him to be back in the lineup for the Jets' game. We'll see how it all comes together the next few days.
--Even though there was no Patriots' game this weekend, we'll still hold our weekly Q&A at noon Monday. Get your questions in now, because it's going to be epic.
--Stat of the Week (that may interest only me): Teams are 3-7 the week after they play the Patriots this year. There are obviously a lot of different factors in play (health, opponent, venue, weather, etc.), but it does at least partially illustrate the challenge of facing New England this year.
Monday Schedule
11 a.m.: Conference Call with Bill Belichick
11:15 a.m.: Conference Call with Josh McDaniels
11:30 a.m.: Conference Call with Brian Flores
3:30 p.m.: Approximate time for player availability (locker room)
Now, on with the links...
1. Greg had an exclusive interview with Tom Brady, where the quarterback talked about a bunch of stuff, including the offensive struggles, the confidence in Chris Hogan, and the challenge that lies ahead. "Offensive football is about 11 guys being on the same page and I’m confident in what we’re doing … and executing well with emotion and energy and effort and building on those (factors) week after week," he told Greg. "There’s a lot of things that we talk about as a team and we’re going to have to keep making progress in all that we’re doing.”
2. The Patriots didn't play this weekend, but there were several games that impacted New England's situation, including Jaguars-Steelers and Titans-Colts. It also looks like Lane Johnson is going to get his wish of having fun and winning just one Super Bowl.
3. After hearing Max Kellerman run his mouth about Brady's arm strength -- "wet noodle" was the phrase I believe he used -- I took that quote to a couple of Patriots' pass catchers. Needless to say, they didn't share Kellerman's opinion. “We play with him every day. Velocity and arm strength aren’t an issue,” said Phillip Dorsett. “I’ve been here for a little over a year, and there’s no difference from last year to this year. I mean, he won MVP last year. The results speak for themselves. There’s no difference from last year to this year. I don’t see any difference.”
4. Coach Cory Bailey offers a bye-week self-scout for the Patriots. "In general, the recurring theme that I’ve found with this team is of inconsistencies," Bailey said of the 2018 Patriots. "They have played very well at times, but also have played very poorly. They have yet to put together four quarters of their best football. The question is, what team is going to show up for these last six games?"
5. My weekly NFL Notebook offers some praise for James Develin and Dorsett, some fresh stats, the story behind Matthew Slater's approach to the coin toss, and why real momentum can be tough to discern when it comes to the post-Thanksgiving stretch drive.
6. Greg spent some quality time over the weekend with Chris Gasper and Jim Murray of 98.5.
7. Greg also had a Friday afternoon Q&A. Check out the transcript here.
8. In his weekly notebook, our pal Mike Reiss looks at how the release of Kenjon Barner is one of the things that is setting the stage for the looming return of Rex Burkhead.
9. Tom E. Curran says the key for the Patriots the rest of the way will be Sony Michel's legs. "Brady needs a running game that demands a measure of respect from defensive coordinators," writes Curran. "And that’s not just because he’s 41. He needs a running game because of the domino effect it will have on down-and-distance and the way it impacts second-level defenders who will have to think twice on play-action."
10. Daniel Rymer of Pro Football Focus says if nothing changes when it comes to his contract, Trey Flowers is set to head into the offseason as one of the league's top defensive free agents. "Flowers couldn’t have picked a better time to blossom, as he’s only 25 years old and has consistently increased his overall grade from year-to-year," writes Rymer.
Extra Point:
@PhilHecken The last play in the Steelers/Jags game not only damaged the Jags pride but also Myles Jack’s helmet communication. @UniWatch pic.twitter.com/5G3u1it5uH
— Curtis Galvin (@CurtisGalvin) November 18, 2018