Bedard Columns

POSTED: 8:00 PM January 12, 2019

One of two storylines will emerge at the end of this game. Either the Chargers will continue to show an undeniable toughness and make the Patriots look old and slow...

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Bedard: Chargers are a disaster at linebacker – can Patriots ride that to victory?

POSTED: 12:35 PM January 10, 2019

A lot has been made, rightfully so, of the Chargers’ decision to play with seven defensive backs in their victory over the Ravens. It surprised Baltimore, and they never really...

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2018 AFC Playoffs

Bedard: Facing Ravens twice will likely help Chargers against Patriots’ pressure package

POSTED: 1:23 PM January 8, 2019

One of the keys to the Patriots’ resurgence defensively since the bye week — when they’ve gone from 15th in scoring to seventh, and 25th in passing yards to 12th...

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2018 AFC Playoffs

Bedard: Tom Brady, Patriots offense will need to answer long-lingering questions to navigate Chargers

POSTED: 11:46 AM January 7, 2019

Taking a break from watching film on the Chargers to give you some thoughts on factors that will shape Sunday’s AFC divisional game between New England and L.A. Let’s start...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: As regular season concludes, Tom Brady still not near his MVP level

POSTED: 5:10 PM January 2, 2019

But a dive into coaches' film led me in another direction. While Tom Brady certainly had his moments where he flashed his usual high level of play, there were just...

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Bedard: What we know about these Patriots after the regular season, and what could be coming

POSTED: 8:44 PM December 30, 2018

at Gillette Stadium

Obviously, no one knows how this season will end. Things can change quickly due to injury (like Rob Gronkowski in 2011) or even the bounce of the ball. But with...

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Bedard: One personnel move the Patriots nailed? Trent Brown over Nate Solder

POSTED: 1:46 PM December 29, 2018

But there's little doubt they completely knocked one deal out of the park: trading a third-round pick to the 49ers for left tackle Trent Brown and a fifth-round pick. And...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Brady remains top topic, but Patterson becoming a real force

POSTED: 9:14 AM December 25, 2018

As of this moment — and we'll have to see how he emerges from the left leg injury that knocked him out of the game early in the third quarter...

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Bedard: Could Bill Belichick be facing his toughest challenge as Patriots coach?

POSTED: 12:18 AM December 23, 2018

When you’ve been an NFL head coach for 24 years — 18 in one, highly successful place — there isn’t a lot that you haven’t seen, endured or overcome. Bill...

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Bedard: With Josh Gordon in rearview mirror, time for Patriots’ offense to pick up pace

POSTED: 5:52 PM December 20, 2018

A couple of things to get out of the way when it comes to the news about Josh Gordon‘s indefinite suspension: As with anyone dealing with substance abuse issues, we...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: For this time of year, Patriots’ plethora of mistakes are mind-boggling

POSTED: 2:02 PM December 19, 2018

Put aside talent, health and all that other stuff you can't quantify: these Patriots have struggled for a large portion of this season because their execution has been nowhere near...

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Bedard: Steelers kept gift-wrapping this game but these Patriots couldn’t even get that right

POSTED: 11:58 PM December 16, 2018

at Heinz Field

PITTSBURGH — In a season full of disappointments for these Patriots, this had to be the most disheartening aspect of Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Steelers: Pittsburgh tried time and...

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Bedard: It’s time for that great quarterback to show up to stay, Tom

POSTED: 10:48 AM December 16, 2018

in Pittsburgh

“This team needs a great quarterback and, you know, hopefully, I can go out and be that.” — Tom Brady, Aug. 14. ___________________ PITTSBURGH — That curious statement was said...

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Bedard: What Steelers fans should know about these Patriots

POSTED: 10:13 AM December 15, 2018

This is a column I wrote for DKPittsburghSports.com in the spirit of cooperation with our sister site. Nothing you guys haven’t heard or read from me up to now, but...

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Completed Q&A: Bedard on Patriots-Steelers 12.15.18

POSTED: 9:07 AM December 14, 2018

The Miami Miracle, Chiefs losing to the Chargers … Big Ben, AB, JuJu, Tomlin … there’s a lot going on in the Patriots’ part of the NFL. Let’s talk about it....

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Sunday showed us Patriots’ fortunes are tied to Brady’s tenuous health

POSTED: 11:47 PM December 12, 2018

First off, if Tom Brady is unable to play because of injury for any reason, the 2018 Patriots are finished. We all know this. Up until this season — heck,...

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Bedard: Yes, the Patriots blew this one … but don’t overreact

POSTED: 8:45 PM December 9, 2018

Unless you're into cosmic forces and what this might portend for New England this season — and at 3-4 on the road this season, the Patriots have never advanced to...

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Bedard: Time for the Patriots to put up or shut up with two-game road swing

POSTED: 1:14 AM December 9, 2018

According to their own franchise history, the Patriots have to sweep this two-game set. Why? No Belichick Patriots team has advanced to a Super Bowl without going at least 5-3...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Are the Patriots going old school in their new offensive/defensive approach?