Bedard Columns

NFL Notebook: Tom Brady’s views on young WRs fits with his late-career Brady-centric arc, will it factor into his end with NE?

POSTED: 10:09 PM October 5, 2019

We’ll get into the possibility that Ben Watson’s return to the Patriots could be over before it really started, how the NFL should ban Raiders LB Vontaze Burfict and our...

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Bedard: What’s fact and fiction about the Patriots’ offensive line/blocking so far

POSTED: 7:33 PM October 2, 2019

Through four games this season — and just about any week in any season — there are no shortage of opinions on the Patriots. We can all agree the defense has...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Not to excuse his performance, but Tom Brady might have his own agenda in target selection vs. Bills

POSTED: 10:51 AM October 1, 2019

it was poor. And it started with Tom Brady. From very early in the game, in fact on three of his first throws, Brady showed some questionable decision-making that was...

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Bedard: It’s OK just to say the Bills’ D played well, and Tom Brady and the offense didn’t

POSTED: 10:53 PM September 29, 2019

This should be said first and foremost: The Patriots’ defense and special teams won them the game, 16-10, against the Bills in Buffalo. That makes it a great and satisfying...

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NFL Notebook: Danny Shelton an early surprise for Patriots and will be a key vs. the Bills, & more

POSTED: 12:52 PM September 29, 2019

Some goal-line plunges on this Sunday morning as we get ready for the latest Bills fast start that will fade into oblivion (sorry for the late start today, but there are...

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Bedard: How the Patriots boosted the run game (273 yards) vs. Bills last year, and why a repeat might be tough

POSTED: 11:30 PM September 27, 2019

at Gillette Stadium

It was the biggest rushing day for the Patriots since they racked up 277 yards at Oakland in 2008, and it still stands as the second-largest rushing performance for the...

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Bedard: 3 things you need to know about the Bills – It will all come down to Josh Allen

POSTED: 1:34 PM September 26, 2019

After watching some Bills (3-0) film, here are the three things you need to know, a few video clips and our pick for the game. 1. The Bills will sink...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Patriots’ offense is sluggish right now, but the reasons can be worked through

POSTED: 9:23 PM September 24, 2019

It didn’t take a football genius to recognize that the Patriots’ offense wasn’t exactly dominating in the 30-14 win over the Jets. Take away a few coverage busts by the...

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Bedard: The day Josh Gordon became a Patriot, perhaps, for good

POSTED: 10:13 PM September 22, 2019

at Gillette Stadium

Before Sunday's game against the Jets, Josh Gordon was certainly a member of the Patriots, but he was a bit of an enigma to even his teammates. Probably still is....

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NFL Notebook: How do the Chiefs stack up in the early going as they eye Patriots?

POSTED: 9:40 PM September 21, 2019

The Ravens and, possibly, the Chargers, Colts, Texans and Browns might have something to say about this before the end of the season, it almost feels like a fait accompli...

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Bedard: One play showed how perfect opponents have to be against this Patriots secondary

POSTED: 8:12 AM September 20, 2019

The talent is one thing. Stephon Gilmore is about as physically gifted as they come among big corners in the league. Jason McCourty still has remarkable makeup speed for a 32-year-old...

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Bedard: Patriots lacking physicality, polish as run game lags behind to start season

POSTED: 10:21 PM September 18, 2019

So what's going on with the rush offense? There are several factors why the Patriots are sluggish on the ground to this point, and the first quarter against the Dolphins...

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Bedard: Isaiah Wynn goes on IR, what now for the Patriots offensive line? Trent Williams?

POSTED: 7:19 PM September 17, 2019

The Patriots have placed starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn on injured reserve with turf toe according to the NFL’s transaction wire and isn’t expected to return until Week 10 at...

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Bedard: The good, bad and promising from Antonio Brown’s Patriots debut, and what his usage says about his future playing time

POSTED: 8:36 AM September 16, 2019

As debuts go, Antonio Brown's first game action with the Flying Elvis on his helmet ranked somewhere between the first glimpses we received of Randy Moss (nine catches, 183 yards,...

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NFL Notebook: Patriots don’t have many on-field problems, but the red zone is one (until kickoff)

POSTED: 1:03 AM September 15, 2019

If Belichick was looking for fodder this week, he could just start and end with the Patriots' red zone offense against the Steelers. It was, in a word, putrid. The...

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Bedard: Will Antonio Brown have trouble meshing with Tom Brady on the field?

POSTED: 8:23 AM September 12, 2019

Obviously Antonio Brown has some off-field concerns that could make all of this moot if the Patriots release him or he’s placed on the commissioner’s exempt list. But he practiced...

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Bedard: Don’t expect much change in Antonio Brown’s status, unless…

POSTED: 4:16 AM September 11, 2019

Busy afternoon/evening for the Patriots as Demaryius Thomas was traded to the Jets for a sixth-round pick, and Antonio Brown was accused of three sexual assaults by the same woman...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: A few defensive wrinkles stood out in Patriots’ decimation of Steelers

POSTED: 7:45 AM September 10, 2019

The Patriots’ title defense largely started the way the last season finished: with the offense searching for offensive consistency and an identity (despite the 33-3 final — you can thank...

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Bedard: Go ahead, starting dreaming of … you-know-what, with these Patriots