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.
Josh Gordon is excited to be a part of meaningful football. He has another name for it, however.
“This part of the season is 'Patriots football,'” Gordon said Thursday after practice. “It’s what they’re known for. We’ve got to our foot to the gas and get it going.”
Gordon is feeling it right now, excited for the chance to be a part of late-season games that really mean something. He said that in his experience, the offense is ready, and starting to click at the right time.
“I think being in rhythm, being in sync, everybody going as fast as they can and just reacting allows you to play a lot more free,” Gordon said. “And we’re in good rhythm together.
“We build on plays made, plays missed and things that we think we need to perfect or just get better on,” Gordon said. “We always feel motivated, but it is some momentum -- I think -- coming off of last week’s road win. This game, we’re back at home in front of our fans and it’s a big game. And I think we’re going to step up to the plate and attack it.”
Friday’s Schedule
11 a.m.: Bill Belichick press availability (media workroom)
11:40 a.m.: Media availability at practice
1:25-2:10 p.m.: Approximate time for player availability (locker room) and Tom Brady media availability (media workroom)
Now, on with the links...
1. I took a closer look at Trent Brown, who has adroitly made the switch from right tackle to left this season and had success in his first year with the Patriots. “He’s settled in nicely over there on the left side, and embraced everything we’ve asked him to do since he’s been here,” said offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
2. The notebook has a look at the Patriots' health at this point in the season, as well as the fact Rob Gronkowski was among the limited (back/ankle) at Thursday's practice.
3. Greg and I made our Week 13 picks -- I like the Rams as my best bet, and believe the Patriots are going to cover this weekend. Meanwhile, Greg has the Chiefs as his best bet, and he feels the same way I do about New England-Minnesota.
4. I was one of a few reporters who spent some quality time with Rex Burkhead for the first time since he came off IR. The veteran running back said he learned a little something about himself when he was on the shelf. “I think when you sit back and you watch the game, whether that’s on the sideline or up in the booth or at your home, you start to pick out things you might not normally see,” he acknowledged. “I don’t want to get into those details, but there were certain things that I definitely saw where I was like, ‘Man, if I did that,’ or did something that way or made an adjustment here, I think things could go a lot smoother.”
5. Tom Brady talked to his buddy Jim Gray at halftime of Thursday night's game, and addressed a few different things, including the state of his knee. “I’m doing good,” he said. “You know, every NFL player deals with some bumps and bruises this time of year. We’ve been at football for quite a long time, but I’m feeling really good, I’m feeling really excited about this week and we got a big game against the Vikings.”
6. Video - Patriots DB's got some work defending against a bootlegging quarterback at practice on Thursday.
7. Phil Perry saw the same thing we did in the video above, and wonders if the New England defensive backs are going to get a chance to bring the heat against the Vikings.
8. Stefon Diggs didn't practice for the Vikings on Thursday. If he doesn't play, that changes the complexion of the game for both teams.
9. In Minnesota, they see this game as an excellent test for the Vikings' run defense. “I think they’re going to try to run the ball on us,” Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said Thursday of the Patriots.
10. The Patriots have struggled to defend pass-catching tight ends this year. And because timing is everything, it appears they're getting Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph at a bad time -- the two-time Pro Bowler is coming off one of his best games of the year, and hopes to get a bounce off his performance last week.
Extra Point:
11/13/94, Vikings at Patriots. New England wins 26-20 in OT after trailing 20-0. @DrewBledsoe throws for 426 yards and completes an unbelievable 45 passes on 70 attempts -- both are still NFL records. Warren Moon "only" had 349 yards passing in the losing effort. pic.twitter.com/Jf2uhxXvgR
— Ƒunhouse (@BackAftaThis) November 29, 2018