Daily news and links for Wednesday.
TEAM TALK
- Game Preview: Patriots at Bills. Series history, Scouting the matchups, Tale of the tape.
- Broadcast Info: How to watch/listen to Patriots at Bills.
- From the NFL – Schedule update: Patriots to host Chargers on Saturday, December 28 at 1 PM.
- Transaction: Patriots release guard Liam Fornadel from the practice squad.
- Mic’d Up: Christian Gonzalez 1-on-1 against Marvin Harrison Jr. (2.24 min. video)
- The Journey: Christian Barmore overcomes obstacles on his path to the Patriots. (8 min. video)
- Sights and Sounds: Week 15 vs. Arizona Cardinals. (2.15 min. video)
- Patriots Unfiltered: Cardinals recap, NFL draft talk, Offseason needs. (2 hours)
LOCAL LINKS
- Andrew Callahan spotlights seven Patriots stats that explain another down season in New England. 1. 30th. ‘Out of 32 teams, the Patriots offense and defense both rank 30th by the opponent-and-situation-adjusted metric, DVOA; meaning they are a bottom-3 team on both sides of the ball’; More.
- Khari Thompson relays Brian Hoyer who suggests a troubling reason the Patriots’ rookie receivers might not be playing: They haven’t yet earned their way onto the field.
- Bill Speros says the Krafts need to own it – the Dynasty in Foxboro is long over. “The House of Kraft turned out to be a House of Cards once Tom Brady and Bill Belichick weren’t around to kick anymore.”
- Karen Guregian talks about star CB Christian Gonzalez opening eyes across the NFL. “His performance Sunday vs Cardinals rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. cemented the answer. … Gonzalez is that guy. He’s an eraser. He’s well on his way to joining Stephon Gilmore, Darrelle Revis, Aqib Talib and Ty Law in the Patriots elite cornerback club.”
- Lauren Campbell highlights Devin McCourty explaining to Karen Guregian that after David Andrews and Ja’Whaun Bentley — two vocal leaders — were lost for the season, they were never replaced inside the locker room.
- Alex Barth’s Patriots Mailbag: Looking forward after the loss to the Cardinals.
- Alex Barth thumbnails 12 NFL Draft prospects to watch in the College Football Playoff.
- Khari Thompson finds Patriots players continuing to defend embattled coach Jerod Mayo amid struggles.
- Joe Murray sees Jonathan Kraft as the hope Pats fans are looking for. /Wut?!? He’s the power behind the throne.
- Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike and Murph discuss what New England’s biggest problem is: Coaching, Offense, Defense, Ownership – and if Jerod Mayo is on the “hot-seat.” (37 min.)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) 2024 NFL Week 16 QB Power Rankings. Drake Maye 21st. “The Patriots may or may not have the requisite leadership or skill-weapon personnel to make noise in the near future, but Maye has stood tall in the midst of the chaos, flashing his athleticism.” (+1)
- Steven Ruiz (The Ringer) Updated QB rankings. Drake Maye 18th. “There’s a fine line between Josh Allen and Sam Darnold—and he straddles it.”
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) With Michael Penix, Jr. promoted, five of the top six rookie quarterbacks are playing.
- Ali Bhanpuri (NFL.com) Next Gen Stats: Postseason probabilities entering Week 16 of 2024 season.
- Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) 2025 NFL playoffs: The Christmas miracle each team grasping for postseason needs to lock up elusive berth.
- Tom Dierberger (SI) Week 16 NFL clinching scenarios: How five teams can punch playoff ticket.
- Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) 2024 NFL Week 16 injury tracker.
- Gilberto Manzano (SI) NFL Fact or Fiction: Jets should bring back Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams; Plus, should NFC North teams worry about the Rams and the Buccaneers?
- Staff (NFL.com) Week 17 NFL schedule: Chargers-Patriots, Broncos-Bengals, Cardinals-Rams Saturday tripleheader on NFL Network, NFL+.
- Jonathan Jones (CBS Sports) Jets begin interviewing candidates for head coach and GM openings; team meets with ex-Titans exec Jon Robinson.
- Andy Nesbitt (SI) Michael Irvin thinks Travis Hunter should give NFL teams blunt message before draft.
- Mark Maske (Washington Post) Cam the NFL revive the ‘dead’ onside kick? What about fourth and 20 instead?