Daily news and links for Friday.
TEAM TALK
- Key dates on the 2025 NFL and Patriots calendar.
- Patriots-Bills updated Injury Report.
- Evan Lazar’s Patriots Gameplan: Previewing the plan at QB in Sunday’s season finale vs. the Bills.
- Mike Dussault’s 10 to Watch: Patriots wrap up 2024 season vs. Buffalo.
- Mike Dussault reports Brandon Schooler expresses gratitude on being selected to the 2025 Pro Bowl games.
- Press Conferences: DeMarcus Covington – Alex Van Pelt.
- Patriots Week 18 Preview: Key matchups and players to watch against the Bills. (6 min.)
- Side of Mayo: Most proud of moments from first season as head coach. (34 sec. video) /Did the guys really ‘respond’ and ‘pull in the same direction’?
- Player Interview: Brenden Schooler on what it means to make his first Pro Bowl. (30 sec. video)
- Patriots Unfiltered on TV: Chargers recap, Bills preview. (22 min. video)
- Patriots Catch-22: Alex Barth and Evan Lazar talk Chargers, Bills preview, NFL draft talk. (2 hours)
- Patriots Playbook with John Rooke: Chargers recap, Bills preview, NFL draft talk. (2 hours)
- Patriots Unfiltered: Bills preview, practice report, NFL Week 18 picks.
LOCAL LINKS
- Murph comes through with his Monster Keys to a Patriots victory in Week 18. How do the Patriots do that ? How do they win week 18 ? Just keep doing what you’ve been doing for the past 7 weeks. Lose. … ‘I’m scared to death the Pats start Joe Milton III on Sunday and throws for 380 and 4 TD , on 11 passes and they blow the first pick’.
- Andrew Callahan’s Friday Five: How Drake Maye can take another leap in 2025, stop the Dan Campbell comparisons, why the Patriots should keep Alex Van Pelt and more.
- Alex Barth’s 5 Things Friday: What to expect in the Patriots’ season finale against the Bills. With a loss the Patriots would clinch the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. A win would knock them as far down as the fourth pick, depending on what happens with the other three-win teams in the league; More.
- Chad Finn’s Unconventional Preview: The Patriots have one last job to do this terrible season. Please don’t screw it up by winning.
- Phil Perry suggests the Patriots could use Week 18 to showcase QB Joe Milton III: ‘I’ll be ready.’
- Mike Reiss writes about how Jerod Mayo experienced growing pains in his rookie 3-13 season, where it went wrong, and how he sees optimism for the future.
- Mark Daniels hears from the players on where it all went wrong for 2024 Patriots? Players point to talent.
- Doug Kyed highlights a frustrated LB Jahlani Tavai who said booing fans ‘gotta know their place.’
- Conor Ryan relays James White on why he thinks it’s a ‘stretch’ the Patriots fire Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf. “It’s hard. It’s tough. But just give it time.”
- Doug Kyed reports Alex Van Pelt wants to return as Patriots offensive coordinator in 2025.
- Karen Guregian thinks it would be an upset if Alex Van Pelt is retained.
- Zolak & Bertrand guest Albert Breer: Patriots have systematic issues that go beyond Jerod Mayo
- Doug Kyed’s Friday Patriots mailbag: Approach front office must take with offseason to avoid repeat mistakes.
- Matt Vautour thinks it’s obvious that the NFL needs to adopt a draft lottery.
- Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Joe Marino (Locked On Bills) talk Pats-Bills in this Week 18 Crossover Episode. (35 min.)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Alex Van Pelt: Drake Maye will start Sunday and we’re playing to win. /Woof.
- Myles Simmons (ProFooballTalk) Joe Milton has taken reps with Patriots first-team offense this week.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Josh Allen: Glad I get to start on Sunday, starting every game means a lot.
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Bailey Zappe to start at QB for Browns on Saturday.
- Staff (Field Level Media) NFL reveals dates on franchise tags, new league year.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Week 18 2024 NFL picks. Florio: Patriots win 20-13, Simms: Patriots win 20-17.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Thursday Night Football averages 14.23 million viewers for the season.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Public officials will review Super Bowl security.
VIEW FROM BUFFALO
- Maddy Glab (BuffaloBills) Top 3 storylines to follow for Bills at Patriots. 1. The plan for the starters.
- Nick Wojton (Bills Wire) Bills at Patriots: 5 things to watch for in Week 18.
- Sal Capaccio (WGR550 Sports Radio) Josh Allen will start Sunday, keep streak alive.
- Alec White (BuffaloBills) Bills plan to use ‘blend’ of both starters and backups at Patriots in Week 18.
- Dorian Alerte (BuffaloBills) How the Bills are preparing for their Week 18 game against the Patriots: ‘Making sure we’re as fresh as possible’.
- Staff (BuffaloBills) Josh Allen rewrote the NFL history books during MVP-worthy 2024 season