BSJ Daily Briefing 09.14.20: Lingering thoughts on the Patriots' opener, Tom Brady; Celtics-Heat series gets closer

Good afternoon!

Your daily rundown of what's going on with the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and Revolution, and what's about to happen, for BSJ members only  ...

• Will be watching back the game in a little bit so, as always, as real and further breakdown awaits, but some lingering thoughts to Week 1 in New England and beyond;


• Probably the weirdest part of Sunday was entering the stadium and walking to the press box through the luxury box area, and no one was around. It was like a scene in the Walking Dead ... oh, sorry, that's in Tampa.


• Once the game started, it was pretty normal for me. Press box is sealed so we don't usually hear much in any event. After the team was tougher. The workflow is much different.


• Never, ever read too much into Week 1. Yes, the fun was back for the Patriots offense on Sunday, but they could be miserable in Seattle on Sunday night.


• We'll see what the film says, but right now I'm not ready to gush over the defense or even Chase Winovich. The Dolphins' line had four new starters, including two rookies and one player (Ted Karras), we know isn't an NFL starter.


• Winovich went against a rookie LT in Austin Jackson. Winovich should dominate him.


• The Patriots should have held the Dolphins to 3.2 yards per rush.


• If they didn't do anything of those things, it would have been a huge red flag.


• That they didn't get more pressure on Fitzpatrick ... that's a worry.


• I worry about Julian Edelman making it through this season. Everything seems like it takes a lot of effort.


• Notice Isaiah Wynn and Jermaine Eluemunor on Sunday? Neither did I. Great opener.


• Damiere Byrd played 88 percent of the snaps and didn't have a touch. I thought Phillip Dorsett left?


• Belichick should open up a home for NFL veterans once he retires. He can't quit them. Could have gone with Josh Uche yesterday, but Belichick moved Brandon Copeland inside — he didn't play there at all in camp.


• Belichick didn't start one rookie on Sunday (Onwenu doesn't count as a 6th OL). When, conceivably, five could have: Devin Asiasi (where was he?), Uche, Anfernee Jennings, Kyle Dugger and Justin Rohrwasser.


• I'd say more about the good stuff we saw, but we told you all that was going to happen. This team will run through its physical offense. As long as the line continues to play well, other blockers, Cam and the backs, they're going to be tough to defend.


• Tom Brady's debut in Tampa was a disaster with 2 INTs, including a pick-six. Yes, it was one game. Yes, they will get better. But the biggest thing with them is ... will the coaching get better? Will Tampa become more disciplined? I don't know about that.


• Rob Gronkowski looked done. We tried to tell you.


• NFL offseason coverage gets more pathetic and pandering every year, and that goes for around here too. How many stories were published about how Brady is so happy and he looks great and all that other garbage? Funny how not many are writing about his debut today. I mean, Peter King, I love the guy, wrote this a month ago, and today he led with Mitch Trubisky (who gives a crap) and barely mentioned Brady ... when Brees and Brady — two of his favorites — faced off together (maybe he's writing that for today but it's just weird not to mention that; it was a huge NFL game that probably did a monster number ... who watched Bears-Lions?

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.@TomBrady's first completion with the @Buccaneers is 29 yards to Chris Godwin! #GoBucs

?: #TBvsNO on FOX
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/5o8cWoN1yf pic.twitter.com/C6lpaIOLJJ

— NFL (@NFL) September 13, 2020

TOM BRADY PICK-SIX'D BY JANORIS JENKINS ?

(via @nfl) pic.twitter.com/W11BIVh3l0

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 13, 2020