Grading the Patriots

Grading the 2020 Patriots: Offense slipped but not nearly as much as the defense, which also needs plenty of help

POSTED: 6:00 AM January 15, 2021

Before an NFL team turns the page on the previous season and moves forward to the next, they put the team and their players under a microscope to see what...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: With more run in the season finale, an update on where Patriots youngsters stand for 2021

POSTED: 2:05 PM January 5, 2021

Enough of the pleasantries. The Patriots beat the Jets 28-14 in a game that utterly meaningless to both sides, so the motivation was personal and it was no surprise that...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Bills’ rout shines light on season’s biggest disappointment – lack of individual improvement

POSTED: 10:42 AM December 31, 2020

There were a lot of things you could count on from Bill Belichick’s Patriots teams over the past two decades to the point you could set your clock by them....

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Bedard’s Breakdown: With defensive decisions the past 2 games, are Patriots just trying to avoid getting blown out?

POSTED: 10:12 PM December 22, 2020

Why did the Patriots never adjust? Why were they content — even inviting — Miami to run over them despite there being a rookie QB with no weapons on the...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: ‘Playing the kids’ may have caused issues for Patriots defense early vs. Rams

POSTED: 6:14 AM December 13, 2020

Note: Due to the Patriots’ Thursday night game and compressed timetable, we won’t have the regular NFL Notebook. Instead, we’ll incorporate Sunday’s games into our notes and have them by Monday morning....

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Despite blowout win, Cam Newton’s passing still a major concern for Patriots offense

POSTED: 2:09 PM December 8, 2020

Cam Newton really struggled throwing the ball in the second half vs. Chargers.

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4 plays to a Patriots W: Eluemunor lends a hand; Borrowing from the Chargers & Stidham’s stint

POSTED: 9:51 PM December 7, 2020

Taking a closer look at four-plus key Patriots plays from Sunday's win over the Chargers (after we went heavy on defense in the column), that include:

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Patriots are still good enough to accept a gift from an opponent

POSTED: 10:40 PM December 1, 2020

If there's anything to be taken away from Sunday's 20-17 victory over the Cardinals — who may be in the midst of a freefall since they stand just a Hail...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Patriots’ flaccid defensive plan vs. Texans put the players in no-win situation

POSTED: 2:47 PM November 24, 2020

Apparently, Belichick gave the defensive coaches the week off after the Ravens game because the exact opposite happened: instead of throwing a curveball at Deshaun Watson and the Texans, the...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Chase Winovich states his case with monster game, but will Bill Belichick ever really trust him?

POSTED: 1:45 PM November 17, 2020

I'm still not sure Chase Winovich has earned Bill Belichick's full trust, and you're not getting a consistent, major role unless that happens. And I'm not sure he ever will,...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Patriots have serious issues on defense, and they don’t have much to do with the CBs

POSTED: 5:29 PM November 11, 2020

People tuning into the Patriots' eventual 30-27 victory over the Jets watched with horror as the Corpse of Joe Flacco lit up the Patriots for three touchdowns and a 128.7...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Cam Newton, Patriots’ offense got their groove back in 2nd half vs. Bills (updated)

POSTED: 2:14 PM November 3, 2020

To about 75 percent of the Patriots’ fanbase, you could probably file this under “useless information.” When all you’ve known for 20 years is winning — especially in the AFC...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Why the Patriots’ defense was the bigger concern in 49ers debacle

POSTED: 2:03 PM October 27, 2020

Bill Belichick's favored sons were completely exposed by Kyle Shanahan to the point that other teams should be expected to follow the plan that finally pummeled New England's biggest weakness

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Cam Newton by far the biggest issue with Patriots offense for his second-straight start

POSTED: 7:59 AM October 20, 2020

The main issue Cam Newton had against the Broncos — not seeing the field and open receivers well enough — was the same in his last start against the Raiders.

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Bedard’s Breakdown: How did the Patriots corral Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and can it be repeated?

POSTED: 8:16 AM October 7, 2020

If the Patriots got adequate quarterback play against the Chiefs — and, really, if Brian Hoyer didn't just lose his head on three plays (the two sacks and the interception...

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Cam Newton struggled mightily vs. Raiders, but why?

POSTED: 2:35 PM September 29, 2020

The Patriots beat the Raiders 36-20 on Sunday at Gillette, but this was a far different game. The Patriots basically got no help from Newton and had to use a...

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Three Plays to a W: Derek Carr’s inability to make a play, Jermaine Eluemunor’s double block set Patriots to a victory

POSTED: 1:41 PM September 28, 2020

The Patriot's 36-20 victory over the Raiders was actually a very tight affair until the middle of the third quarter, and then the Patriots put the Raiders away. Vegas actually...

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Grading Brady: They got a win and a touchdown, but Brady and Mike Evans not on same page

POSTED: 8:11 PM September 23, 2020

Everything's great in Buccaneerland now that Tampa got their first win of the season on Sunday against the Panthers, right? Not exactly.

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Bedard’s Breakdown: Cam Newton’s touch, timing (and Kyle Dugger) stand out in loss to Seahawks