Well, that was certainly an interesting nine games for the Patriots.
The Patriots, thanks to a stunning home loss to the Bears, underachieved at 5-4 through nine games. There were injuries to the first two QBs on the depth chart, and rookie Bailey Zappe making things interesting after watching the first three games of the season in street clothes.
Yet, thanks to the AFC not reaching preseason expectations (looking at you, AFC West), the Patriots remain in the thick of the playoff race one game out of the playoff picture and have a 4-2 conference record.
Bad news: Patriots were 5-4 against the 22nd-ranked schedule, according to FootballOutsiders.com. Their future schedule, starting against the Jets, ranks 4th (good news: the Bengals, who are also 5-4, have the league's hardest remaining schedule).
There should be plenty of drama in the final eight games. But with a little breather here so we can all rest up and recuperate, let's reflect on the first nine games with some Patriots and NFL awards and superlatives:
Most Valuable Player
Patriots: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB
Ok, hear me out on this. Yes, Matthew Judon has been the best player — and definitely could be argued as the most valuable player. But considering the QB situation, shaky offense, injury to Damien Harris, no receiving back ... Stevenson is the most valuable. If they didn't have him, this offense ... I shudder to think of where it would be. He's the one thing that works somewhat consistently.
NFL: Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins.
I'm an anti-QB with this award anyway, but Hill has over 1,000 yards receiving already and has completely changed that offense with the attention he receives. Oh, and the Chiefs really miss him.
Least Valuable Player
Patriots: Shaun Wade, CB.
He hasn't played much so I know this is unfair, plus he's a decent player when given a chance, but he's been inactive six times, did not play in two of his active games, and wasn't good when he did appear. Plus, the Patriots traded for him a year ago and he's been lapped by two rookies.
NFL: Matt Pryor, G, Colts.
Just going off of the worst players I've seen on film this year and, actually, PFF backs this up. Pryor is tied for second-most pressures allowed this season (30; Ed Ingram of the Vikings leads at 31). Patriots worked him early and he got benched.
Offensive player of the year
Patriots: David Andrews, C.
Taking Stevenson out, I'm giving Andrews the edge over Mike Onwenu and Jakobi Meyers because Andrews, with this two-game absence, has proven to be the most valuable piece on the offense.
NFL: Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles
Don't love this because Philly has played the 29th-hardest schedule (and its future schedule is also 29th), but they are undefeated and beat a good Dallas good defense.
Worst Offensive Player
Patriots: Isaiah Wynn, G/T.
He's the same pressure (21.5) as Cole Strange in less games. And he's now on his third position in less than half a season.
NFL: Brett Rypien, QB, Denver.
Had a chance to beat the Jets at home in his one start and he was abysmal.
Defensive player of the year
Patriots: Matthew Judon
Duh. Has accounted for 32 percent of the pressures, and 42 percent of sacks (I give partial credit for assisted sacks).
NFL: Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas.
He's the closest thing I've seen to Lawrence Taylor in some time. Already has 39 pressures and two forced fumbles ... as a linebacker. You can line him up anywhere he might just wreck the game.
Worst Defensive Player
Patriots: Joshuah Bledsoe, S, Patriots.
Again, not fair due to lack of playing time, but game up two touchdowns in his big chance against the Jets.
NFL: Jalen Pitre, S, Texans
Leads the league with 19 missed tackles.
(Getty Images)
Offensive rookie of the year
Patriots: Tyquan Thornton, WR.
Thought this was going to be a run away by Strange, but he has fallen off a cliff without Andrews and gotten benched twice, and Thornton is starting to look dangerous.
NFL: Chris Olave, WR, Saints.
Already among the league best in yards per routes run despite QB issues, and he's become invaluable for New Orleans with Michael Thomas injured ... again.
Defensive rookie of the year
Patriots: Jack Jones, CB.
He'll get tested a lot more down the stretch, but he's shown he can cover and get jumps on passes in the flat (ask Aaron Rodgers).
NFL: Sauce Gardner, CB Jets.
My guy Tariq Woolen in Seattle has four interceptions, but Sauce leads the league with 13 passes defended. You can't go wrong with either.
Comeback player of the year
Patriots: Jabrill Peppers, S.
He's come back just from where he was in training camp — where he didn't look to have a spot — forget about the ACL. He's related to TE2 duty, but he could factor in large against the Bills.
NFL: Geno Smith, QB, Seahawks.
What a remarkable season he and they are having.
(Getty Images)
Coach of the year
Patriots: Mike Pellegrino, cornerbacks.
Two rookies in his island of misfit toys and, at least to this point, they are working.
NFL: Mike Vrabel, Titans.
He's the best coach in the league, period. No one does more with less.
Worst coach of the year
Patriots: Bill Belichick/Matt Patricia
Belchick said to blame him if it doesn't work on offense, well ... Not only did he put Patricia in change of the offense, which is hard enough, he also gave him the offensive line. It was a no-win situation and unfair. Even one job would have been stretching it.
NFL: Kliff Kingsbury, Cardinals.
The wheels are coming off that thing, rapidly.
Executive of the year
Patriots: Camren Williams, college scouting director
Impossible to tell who's in charge of what with the Patriots in terms of areas, but the Patriots have received some impact from four of their first five picks. Pretty good.
NFL: John Schneider, Seahawks.
Knocked this draft out of the park with starters at both tackle spots, edge, RB and two CB spots (hmmm, must be nice). He could have the OROY (RB Kenneth Walker) and DROY (Woolen) when all is said and done.
(Adam Richins for BSJ)
Best offseason move
Patriots: Drafting Jack Jones.
Some moves have yet to pan out, but Jones looks like a keeper in the middle rounds and could be a big player down the stretch.
NFL: Dolphins trading for Tyreek Hill.
That move by itself may have vaulted the Dolphins past the Patriots. Only rival for Buffalo this season.
Worst offseason move
Patriots: Not getting an experienced OC, QB coach or line coach.
One or two you could live with. All three? Yeah, about that...
NFL: Broncos trading for Russell Wilson.
Russ is cooked. Raiders signing Chandler Jones to big money is pretty close.
Patriots' Biggest Surprise (offense)
Stevenson playing like a 3-down back. That's a big man doing a lot of cool stuff.
Patriots' Biggest Disappointment (offense)
The disappearance of Hunter Henry in the offense, especially the red zone. This should be a no-brainer. It has not been.
Patriots' Biggest Surprise (defense)
The cornerbacks' ability to cover after JC Jackson left in free agency, specifically Jonathan Jones going from slot to No. 1 cornerback.
Biggest Disappointment (defense)
Christian Barmore having no impact before getting hurt. Still time for the Big Fella to make an impact after the bye, however.
Bedard Was Right
About the offense, all of it. Coaching matters. Not wasting your entire training camp on an offensive system no one on staff knows how to coach or teach.
Bedard Was Wrong
Deatrich Wise ... to this point. We'll see how impactful he is against better defenses and lines, but I never saw him playing this much, or this impactful on this defense. Hope he doesn't run out of gas.
(Getty Images)
NICKEL PACKAGE
1. A really good bye week scouting opportunity for us coach coordinators with the following games: 1 p.m. — Vikings at Bills; Browns at Dolphins; 4 p.m. — Colts at Raiders, Cardinals at Rams. All except the Rams will be/have been Patriots opponents so time to compare and contrast.
2. Pretty important game for Josh McDaniels against the new-look Colts with Jeff Saturday as interim coach. Vegas has been decimated by injuries on both sides of the ball (TE Darren Waller, WR Hunter Renfrow, CB Nate Hobbs, LB Divine Deablo), but this is a game the Raiders need badly. Vegas has had big trouble finishing games, especially at QB with Derek Carr leaving several plays on the field against the Jaguars. And the defense is now 32nd in DVOA. Chandler Jones has to make a play ... at some point.
3. It seems like everyone just assumes the Patriots will be better coming off the bye ... are we sure about that?
2021: Lost to Colts and Bills.
2020: Lost to Broncos, 49ers and Bills.
2019: Beat Eagles 17-10, but trailed 10-0.
2018: Beat Jets 27-13, but trailed 7-0 and were tied 10-10 at halftime.
Also, the Jets are coming off a bye week as well. Can they find a straitjacket for Zach Wilson?
4. Is Devin McCourty preparing to hang them up after this season? Interesting that he will be appearing on CBS NFL coverage on Sunday: He’ll first appear on “The Other Pregame Show” on CBS Sports Network, which airs at 9 a.m. He'll appear on “The NFL Today” on CBS around noon. Sounds like an audition to me.
5. The NFLPA is just ... disappointing. They called for an immediate ban on slit-film turf, and there's been a lot of chatter against playing on turf. Look, you guys could have had a say in a lot of this stuff, but you gave that up years ago in CBA negotiations. You don't get to cry about it now. If you want to have a say in player safety and make demands — which they should — they have to band together and do it properly at the negotiating table.
