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New England Patriots links 12/27/24 – Week 17 Pats vs Chargers: Matchups, Keys to Victory, More!

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New England Patriots v Tennessee Titans
DE Keion White | Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images

Daily news and links for Friday

TEAM TALK

LOCAL LINKS

  • Murph gives us his Monster Keys to victory over the Chargers. 1. Establish the run.
  • Mark Daniels gives us five things to watch when the Pats play the Chargers. 1. Turnovers.
  • Karen Guregian writes how all is not right in Keion White’s world, as the potential star DE questions his future. White ‘readily admits he’s part of the problem and needs to improve.’ /He has to set the edge, stop the run.
  • Darren Hartwell says Keion White’s cryptic comments come at a bad time for the Patriots. “Something’s gotta change. That’s the way I feel at this point.”
  • Alex Barth notes the Patriots didn’t rule out starting center Ben Brown on the injury report, leaving the door open for him to return from a concussion to play on Saturday.
  • Karen Guregian notes Cole Strange says he’s ready to go if the Patriots need him to start at center.
  • Lauren Campbell reports the Patriots ruled out dynamic CB Marcus Jones for Week 17.
  • Nick O’Malley explains how Western Mass is getting screwed by the NFL’s broadcast rules for Saturday’s game.
  • Andrew Callahan relays Alex Van Pelt defending his game-changing play-call in the Buffalo loss.
  • Darren Hartwell says the last five NFL Drafts indicate the Pats have a very good chance of hitting on a wide receiver in the first round. /NO! Do NOT draft a receiver in the first round!
  • Conor Ryan relays Bill Belichick on his favorite Tom Brady Patriots play: Brady’s first touchdown of Super Bowl XXXIX to David Givens to tie the Eagles at 7-7 with 1:13 left in the first half. “This comes down to fundamental execution that’s just so critical. … We gotta go to the third guy and make it a back-shoulder throw. That’s what great execution is under pressure in the most critical moments of the game. That’s how you win.”
  • Conor Ryan lists tie top Boston sports moments of 2024.
  • Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Daniel Wade (Locked On Chargers) dissect the Patriots and Chargers on both sides of the ball and preview Saturday’s matchup. (33 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

  • Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Chargers rule out Gus Edwards, list J.K. Dobbins as questionable.
  • Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) How much higher would Christmas ratings have been on traditional networks?
  • Diante Lee (The Ringer) The four big takeaways from the NFL’s Christmas Day games: The NFL’s unbridled quest to dominate the calendar took a massive step forward on Wednesday, with two games featuring four AFC contenders, approximately 400 analysts (give or take), questionable-looking cake footballs and giant red jackets … and Beyoncé.
  • Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Week 17 NFL picks. This is one of those long, cold trips for a West Coast team. But the Chargers will have been off for 10 days and they are the better team. The Patriots showed well in losing to the Bills, but Jim Harbaugh’s team needs this game. They get it with a good showing by the defense. Chargers win 24-17.
  • Ali Bhanpuri, et al (NFL.com) Week 17 NFL picks: Broncos or Bengals on Saturday? Will Packers snap Vikings’ winning streak? Five of five pick Chargers to win.

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