1. While the Patriots have had much better records at this point in the season many times in the past, it seems like this is one of Bill Belichick’s favorite teams during his time with New England. Just look at how he was inside the locker room following Sunday’s win in Los Angeles — very giddy and even gave away two game balls to the former Chargers players, Adrian Phillips and Hunter Henry. Yes, he’s given away game balls in the past, but he was very excited for those two players when doing so. And even the way he’s spoken to the media in recent weeks has indicated he’s been in good moods, which part of that seems to be the way he feels about coaching this team on a daily basis. The group has seemed to buy in to how he and the rest of the coaching staff wants to do things, especially in recent weeks when the work during the week has turned into wins. The team has also improved each and every week. There also seems to be an element of having fun, which helps when there are a bunch of good personalties in the locker room. “I think we have a group of players that are dedicated,” Belichick said Friday. “They work hard. Football is important, but they also have a side to them, collectively, in different ways that they enjoy each other. When you’re having fun, it doesn’t feel like work, and there’s an element of that, but, certainly, there’s a work element and a performance element that’s critical to all of us. That’s why we’re here, but there’s a way to work hard and have fun at the same time to a point. I think that’s a good thing when it happens.”
2. There’s been a lot of chatter the last few days relating to Odell Beckham Jr. and the Patriots. It would have made more sense with Tom Brady at quarterback, but not Mac Jones. The rookie already has enough pressure being a starter in his first season in the NFL. He doesn’t need a player like Beckham Jr. on the roster demanding the ball each week. That isn’t even factoring in the money part of it, as the Patriots have less than $3 million in cap space to work with. If he clears waivers, sure the Patriots will likely consider it, but in the end it should be a hard pass.
3. In going through some numbers for the season, besides Damien Harris the Patriots do not have a single player who has more than 100 yards rushing. This is a little bit surprising given how the depth of the position was praised going into the season. Sure, Sony Michel was traded and James White is on injured reserve, but there’s still promising rookie Rhamondre Stevenson, J.J. Taylor and Brandon Bolden. Stevenson is the closest with 74 rushing yards. Harris cannot be the sole player relied on in the running game. More is needed from the other three moving forward.
4. It was interesting to hear Josh McDaniels admit he didn’t have the best sequence of play-calling last week near the goal-line against the Chargers when he called three passing plays inside the 5-yard line against the NFL’s worst run defense. It was a case of over thinking things, which isn’t just an issue with McDaniels — it’s a lot of NFL coordinators. Sometimes running what you do best, even if the defense knows it’s coming isn’t a bad thing.
5. Rookie defensive lineman Christian Barmore is having a solid rookie season that hasn’t been recognized as much as it should. According to Pro Football Focus, Matthew Judon leads the Patriots with 39 pressures and Barmore is second with 20. The next closest is Josh Uche with 12. The Alabama product is doing a great job getting into the backfield, even with drawing double teams on a number of plays.
6. As a few players noted this week, at 4-4 the entire season is ahead of the Patriots, especially considering how bunched the AFC is with no real dominant team. If New England wins the games it is supposed to over the remaining nine of the season, it should be enough to make the postseason. Even the AFC East isn’t completely out of reach with two games remaining against the Bills.
7. The Patriots will take on the Browns next Sunday at Gillette Stadium and like the Panthers this week, they may be catching them at the right time. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is dealing with a shoulder injury and then they will still be going through the Beckham Jr. fallout, which has certainly become a distraction. It will be a big game in the standings, as every game the rest of the way against AFC opponents will have extra importance.
