FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Patriots have been at their best on offense this season when they’ve established the run and avoided facing a significant number of third downs. Achieving success in both areas could be difficult on Sunday against a Vikings team that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is expecting to offer “as big a challenge […]
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Gronk, Michel returning to form at right time for Patriots
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Entering their bye last week, the repeated refrain coming out of the Patriots’ locker room was a need for more balance and consistency on offense. New England struggled with both over a four-game stretch in late October and early November as tight end Rob Gronkowski and rookie running back Sony Michel […]
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Column: Patriots not quite at Super Bowl level
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — When Patriots players looked around the locker room Sunday, they saw a generally healthy squad. That’s scary for the rest of the NFL. Or maybe not. Unless New England makes some key improvements over the next month — and can anyone doubt the Patriots will, given their track record? — a third […]
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Tom Brady sits out practice Friday, questionable vs. Jets
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady did not participate in the team’s last practice before Sunday’s game against the New York Jets and was listed as questionable to play. The 41-year-old three-time NFL MVP hurt his knee when he slipped after receiving a pass in last week’s game against Tennessee. He […]
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Struggling Tom Brady says self-assessment on tap during Patriots’ bye week
BOSTON — If his 19th NFL season has been at all more taxing than any of the previous 18, Tom Brady isn’t willing to say so. Even if his play on the field through the Patriots’ first 10 games this season might suggest otherwise. Last season, at age 40 Brady became the oldest player in […]
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Patriots face growing list of issues heading into bye week
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Patriots have been adept at masking most of their issues this season. After a 1-2 start by New England that seemed to offer at least a sliver of opportunity for someone to end its streak of nine straight AFC East titles, it hushed those rumblings by running off six straight […]
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Mike Vrabel gets first crack coaching against Bill Belichick, Patriots
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mike Vrabel won three Super Bowl rings over eight seasons with the New England Patriots. He even caught eight passes — all for touchdowns and all thrown by Tom Brady. Then Bill Belichick traded the linebacker away to Kansas City in 2009. “We didn’t talk for a couple months, maybe a year,” […]
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NFL Week 10 preview: Here comes Who Dey vs. Who Dat. Say what?
Here comes Who Dey vs. Who Dat. Say what? The Who Dat folks from New Orleans go head-on with the Who Dey fans in Cincinnati on Sunday. And don’t ask which group first came up with its catchy phrase and odd rendering of the English language. “Who Dey? I don’t understand. I’m baffled,” says Saints […]
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Win streak, yes, but Tom Brady says Patriots’ can still do more
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Historically, Tom Brady has been hesitant to express satisfaction when it comes to the Patriots’ offense. His approach has remained unchanged this season about a group that only recently has started to find consistency after a 1-2 start. The passing attack particularly has suffered during that time because of his lack of […]
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Titans now face Patriots on short week after snapping skid
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s three-game skid is over, and the Titans are back to .500 after a big road victory. But before they can catch their breath, the Titans have a short week before they host the surging New England Patriots in what will be Tennessee’s lone home game in November. Coach Mike Vrabel understands […]