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Good morning, everyone, Welcome to the Patriots Pregame Show fueled by Duncan.

Your usual crew is here, Pop Parrello, Mike do So and myself Quannie Lunas.

We're excited.

It's week ten.

Who would have thought of NFL season and the Patriots looking to keep the wins rolling as they head already are in Tampa Bay right now.

So what are you two expecting from this game?

Well?

I think an interesting challenge this week.

No remondros Stevenson for second week in a row, and now you have Keishan Bouti out as well, so some challenges around Drake May.

Like to see him, you know, kind of regain the stride that he had in the first half last week against the Falcons.

Someone felt like he got off kilter a little bit there and struggled to get back on track.

So you know, I think the Patriots.

Need him, and of course on the midst of an incredible season, hopefully he can get back on track.

But tough challenge today, good Bucks defense, a lot of experience there, but that's what I'm watching today.

Let's get Drake back and rolling.

Yeah, and the protection specifically, and I know a lot of people have talked about how many of these sacks have been on Drake May.

Drake May himself has sort of taking responsibility, which I think is another really positive sign of your quarterback being the leader that.

He needs to be.

He's trying to deflect any attention off that offensive line and put it on himself, which I think is a good thing.

But what I'm really interested in is, I think so much of this success offensively guys.

It's been a result of Drake May being able to hold the ball and extend some of these plays and make off platform throws.

There's a fine line there.

I know Josh McDaniels is searching for it.

I know Drake May searching for it.

I hope that the offense doesn't take a hit as a result of trying to drop the number of sacks a little bit.

So, you know, I think it comes with experience.

I think Drake we'll learn it, and so far every test that he's needed to pass along the way this season, he's been able to do.

So I'd be curious to see if he can do that again today.

Yeah, a little bit of a longline with what Josh McDaniels said this week of you you don't want to restrict him.

You want him to make plays and to be comfortable, you know, doing the magic that makes Drake special.

But at the same time, I think when we really saw him at his absolute peak of you know, over the last few weeks, it's been staying in the pocket, making a subtle move, delivering the ball to was second, third option, and as we talked about this week on Patriots Unfiltered, I think last week he got a little bit sped up, a little bit away from that more.

No, it's not there, I'm going to tuck and run.

So you know, it's just it's a great check challenge because not only are the Bucks defense experienced and you know, throw a lot at you, there's not a lot of keys to key off of with this defense.

He's also got to do it without Booty, who has been, you know, not a high volume receiver but has come through with some really big catches that have changed the complexion of games.

And you know, we talked about it so much, Paul over the last few weeks.

Of big part of this win streak is the big plays, the plays down the field that offset some of the mistakes.

Are they still going to have the.

Setting the sacks?

Do you know what I mean?

So everybody looks in this six and I'm not suggest that this is ideal to be sacked six times, but if you're taking a couple of sacks here and there, but you're able to also hold the ball a little longer and get a forty yard completion of Tamario Douglas because on the one time that you held it.

They didn't get this to the sack.

That's been a big part I think of their success offensively, and I think that that is something that I don't want to lose from the offense.

I don't know how much they can just sort of line up and play traditionally.

You know, they've had some plays, you know, like the thirty nine yard touchdown of Booty against Cleveland in the second half was beautiful pocket right, you know, just gets on his back foot, throw us up, bang touchdown.

So I'm not suggesting they haven't had any conventional offense this year.

They've had plenty of it, but a lot of those explosive plays come when Drake may is moving around buying time, extending plays and the receivers are adjusting accordingly downfield.

I don't want to lose that element of the offense.

I think that's been a big part of the success.

Just a piggyback on that.

You know, been talking all season about Kyle Williams, been waiting in the wings, seeing going back I think till week one where people go back and look at his five snaps and be like there's.

Some separation in there.

You know, you get them under the microscope, trying to like find if there's something there, and I do think that he has that burst, but you've been seeing some of the missing chemistry between him and Drake May, which I don't think is uncommon.

I mean, this is a younger guy who's not getting the volume of reps that any of the other receivers have gotten.

But you might look at this game today without caseh Booty is an opportunity for Kyle Winn is playing on the outside a little bit.

You know, Paul said it no numerous times that there's been various times you've seen Drake look his way doesn't quite look right.

It seems like, hey, he wanted you to stop, or he wanted you to go.

Ball's going this way, the receiver's going the other way.

So I think Kyle WiM's definitely a guy to keep an eye on today.

Yeah, to your point, we mentioned Booty being out with that hamstring that's still aggravating him.

But on the run in the run game, who do you first see as the number one target today?

Well?

I think I like the way you put it number one target because look, and Patriots are not the Detroit Lions for sure.

But we saw little.

Something with Traveon Henderson last week over the last few weeks, we've seen a little bit from treveon getting in space, attacking the edges of a defense.

And you know, when you look at that game against Detroit, they really had a good time with Jamiir Gibbs getting him in space.

I don't know if the Patriots are able to reproduce that, but it's hard to say, let's run right up the middle at Vita Villa, who's just an absolute monster in the middle of that defense.

So I think it's one of those weeks where you don't have Mondra Stevenson.

You got to figure out how to piece it together without him.

But getting Trevian Henderson out in space screen game, you know, using him more as a receiver to attack the perimeter of this defense, I think that could be a successful way to go about it.

And even if you're going to run the ball, that's how you want to run because you don't want to test him inside.

You don't want to go at Vea.

So this might be one of those deals.

Yeah, it's not ideal to be missing Rimondre Stevenson, but this game really doesn't line up for his strengths anyway.

I think your point, Mike about getting Henderson off the edges the way they did against say, Cleveland a couple.

Of weeks ago, might be the better way to go about things.

Yeah sure, all right, Well, no, no need to wait.

There's so many things that they're going to need to do to win this game.

So let's get into the keys.

Of the game.

You waited all week for.

The whole team's in the locker room right now, just listening to this, waiting to hear what you're going to say.

Here are this week's keys to the game.

Already use a first.

Start us off, So my mind's little bit defensive focused, and I don't want to you a defensive guy defens.

I also try to balance the keys out so we're not all saying the same thing, because I think a lot of times we have you know, especially Paul and I, we talk all week about this and sometimes you know, we have the same he.

Does, so I like to round it out.

But this week, I'd like.

To see a little bit more man defense from the Patriots defense.

I think that's what we all thought it was going to be when Carlton Davis signed here.

You know, you have Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, hey se defensive player of the Month that you know in November.

So, uh, the Patriots have to figure out a way to challenge some of these quick throws.

I think quarterbacks are completing a lot of passes on them.

You know, you look at the overall stats that I like to keep track of pressure rate, all that kind of stuff, and you know, the Patriots defense looked pretty good, but I think that there is some room in the margins for them to improve and put a little bit more pressure on on offenses, especially Baker Mayfield, who's such a difficult player, especially you know on third down.

He makes plays on the run.

You know, he can throw it late in the down.

So I think the patriotsould love to see them just really lean into their cornerback coverage with those top three corners that they have.

Tampa Bay is very banged up at wide receiver.

You have to respect at BUCA at the top of that list, But overall, I think the Patriots have the horses this week to really play a heavy dough and man defense, which they really haven't done over the past few weeks.

Might be fed into playing a lot of young quarterbacks.

This isn't a young quarterback, this is Baker Mayfield.

He knows how to win, So I'd like to see more aggressive in the coverage this week.

Man defense up.

So I think that's a great one.

And I think we talked a little bit when I did my pregame hit on the Sports Hub about Abuca and Christian Gonzales.

You know, possibly you know, lining up and matching up today.

That would lend itself to what you're saying, Mike is maybe get a little more aggressive with your courage and go man.

And and I do worry a little bit about Baker Mayfield, you know, doing that because that I think that you know, he's not a great runner, he's a great sort.

Of gamer grambler.

Yeah, he's a good.

Scrambler or he's not a great athlete, but he maximizes his ability in those situations and he has success in them.

But I like Mike's key for me, this is going to come on the other side of the ball again.

Mike and I talk.

Yeah, So it's I think this is an opportunity for Drake to you know, as I said earlier, you know usually this season when there's been something that's been an issue, maybe he's you know, first game of the year.

Well, it didn't seem like he was running with conviction.

You know, he wasn't making decisions.

He was kind of tentative.

The next week, that's all gone against Miami, you know, and then it's like, well, you know, I'd like to see him maybe, you know, stay in the pocket a little bit longer.

And we've seen every step along the way he's been able to adjust and address quote unquote the issues.

This is another opportunity.

You've been sacked six times each of the last two games, by all accounts, including his own, some of them have been on him.

So I assume he's gonna he's gonna correct some of that stuff.

Had a tough second half against that Atlanta.

I expect him to bounce back and I'll play Mayfield, That's what you know, just like Drake needs to bake.

Yeah, you know, he needs to be better than Baker Mayfield today.

This isn't, I think, an opportunity for him to show that progress that he's done every step of the way continue that today.

This is going to come down to protection.

In past protection, he needs to help out his offensive line a little bit.

Tampa is getting after the passer, all passers, all rushes have been getting after Drake May as of late.

So that's to me going to be the key to the game is how well they're able to protect him.

And I think it comes down to May himself.

Yeah, and how does May.

I mean, we've watched the last few weeks.

Last week, Atlanta very hungry to get to Drake in the pocket.

But what do you two think he needs to do in order to just like really avoid getting blitzed so much?

Yeah, well, I mean I think he's It's tough because we I mean we had this like philosophical conversation like what is the blitz really because Atlanta only rushed four or five guys last week, so it wasn't like, you know, these six and seven man blitz is that he's reading.

It's you know, it's only the difference of one guy.

So uh, for him, it's again it goes to me, just subtle steps in the pocket, you know, by knowing you have that extra time.

What we saw this summer was a Drake that was a little bit more like we saw in the second half last week, where it was you know, as Evan likes to say, Evan Lazar one and run and you know he can't do that there are guys open, and I think that if he has the confidence in his offensive line, you know, sometimes it.

Just feels like he gets sped up a little bit.

I think that happens to a lot of young quarterbacks, so I don't think it's you know, entirely out of the norm.

I'd like to see the return this week to Paul's point of the cool, calm, collected drake in the pocket, who can take a subtle step to his right, get to his second read and hit the open receivers.

I just like to see him throw the ball away a little bit.

I you know, I did, you know the whole time I didn't.

Take it sacks right, like, just get down.

Sometimes the numbers are you know, unbelievable, you know, in terms of completion percentage.

I'd be more than happy if it turned out to be, you know, sixty five percent instead of seventy five percent.

Only instead of six sacks, it's two sacks.

Just throw those balls away and live to fight another down.

And I know that a lot of those sacks haven't been for big yardage, but I do think the cumulative effect of the hits eventually is gonna have an impact for sure.

So yeah, I'd just like to see some of that go down a little bit.

But that's my biggest concern.

It's just the cumulative effective hits and how sustainable is this.

But you know, it's the kind of thing where last week you saw the strip sack and it's a fine line.

You walk with a quarterback like this who's big and athletic and has confidence in his legs and that he you know, we've seen him plenty of times get away from would be tacklers this year.

But you also have to know on that edge when it's time to, hey, get down, you're in risk of a turnover here, and this is the point in the game where it's still in the balance and we really don't need a turnover.

So look, the kid is still young man.

He's twenty two starts right now, so you know, it's part of the process.

But a little bit of a dip last week.

Like to see it back on the up and up this week.

Absolutely, so my key to the game.

It's funny because technically this one should have been against Atlanta because crime Mob is from Atlanta, so it's knuck if you buck, mainly playing off the Buccaneers, but really the song if you know it.

It's really based off of like that gritty like square up if you're ready to fight.

And I think this is going to be a fight for the Patriots this week, obviously on both sides of the ball.

But we talk about they're running a six game wins shape right now.

They've proven that they can be a confident, physical team under the coaching of Mike Vrabel.

But this is gonna be a battle of the trenches, I think.

And we talk about the defense led by Veya and David.

They've been stingy against the run.

We talk about getting offensively started early, allowing just under ninety five rushing yards per game, So offensively, what can you do to avoid that?

But then also on the other end of the ball, just understanding what breaker Mayfield brings to the team and how their offense has been running smoothly as well.

Both sides of the ball.

Is gonna be a.

Gritty fight, So not if you buck.

The Patriots need to really come out and be ready to fight this one.

Yeah.

I like to fight, I mean I do.

I feel like this game is going to come down to a couple mistakes in the second half by one of the teams that is probably going to be what causes it.

You know, just love to see the Patriots not turn the ball over today, I think on the road it's such a big key.

I think they have the pieces on defense to match up with what Mayfield has left offensively, but it's still just a great chance.

This is a good team.

This is a tough place to play.

You know, they're maybe not the pinnacle of the league right now, but they are a very solid team with a veteran quarterback, which is different than what we've seen, you know what, the last month, it's been all kind.

Of first year starters, rookie quarterbacks, that kind of thing.

So get to see the Patriots defense.

Go up with a quarterback with a little bit of savvy, admittedly missing a good chunk of his very good weapons.

You know, Bucky Irving's a guy we.

Should mention too, who you know, without him, they're going to lean into Rashad White.

Patriots run defense has been really good.

So signs to me are pointing it's going to be a lot on Baker Mayfield and can they force him into some mistakes?

Yeah, Mike and I kind of are envisioning more of a lower scoring game, a lot of people have talked about this being a shootout.

I'd be surprised if if they.

Got, say, both teams got over twenty five, which to me represents shootout stata.

You know, once you start getting to the thirties, that that's a high scoring game.

But I'm looking twenty four to twenty, you know, twenty one seventeen, something like that, you know, And I agree with Mike.

I think it's going to come down to a couple of plays late.

This game could go either way.

So what exactly do the Patriots need to do to win this one?

We're going to talk a little bit more about that after the break.

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Now back to the Patriots Pregame Show fueled by Duncan.

Welcome back into the Patriots Pregame Show fueled by Duncan.

Before the break, we asked the question what exactly do the Patriots need to do to win?

So I pose it to you both, but all so in the same vein what matchups are you looking forward to in this one?

Yeah, I'd start with Trevian Henderson and what kind of life they're able to get in the run game.

I mean, I think Paul made a good point of it can't all be the Drake Show a little bit, it needs to be.

They need to round things out a little bit, and it's not easy when you're missing arguably you know, your two best weapons this season.

So I'd like to see what they're able to get going in that run game.

Are they you know, do they test the middle of the field with Terrell Jennings try to get some movement inside, or do they you know, do what they did last week and have kind of a game plan specific approach.

So you know, for me, it starts with the with that and just trying to take some of the pressure off of Drake.

I just you know, you love that he's like an MVP candidate, but at the same time, MVP candidates are the ones doing it all themselves without the extra parts to really help them along the way.

So, you know, I don't have high expectations that they're going to find like a second gear in this particular game.

But if they somehow were able to find that and not have to lean on Drake, it's not going to come down we all right, Drake, it's all on you today.

I think that'd be a great sign for this yah.

You know, the inactives that were you know, most of the meaningful actives were already announced on Friday, so you know, you know about the Patriots, but there's an important one on the Bucks side that hasn't really been talked about.

That's a Son Reddick And you know all those sacks that the Bucks have been racking up fifteen in the last three games.

That's their best pass rusher and he's he's not part of this equation.

I do think that's the key matchup that I that I would have my eye on is the ability for that Patriots offensive line to give Drake enough time.

But I think that's a that's an issue.

You know, when you give up six sacks and consecutive games.

The other team that you plays got fifteen sacks in the last three, no.

Fewer than four in any of those three games.

So it's not like they had, you know, ten in one game and it excus the numbers.

It was like six, four and five or something like that.

That's going to be a key.

If the Patriots, you know, get sacked constantly in this game, it's going to be hard to maintain any kind of offensive continuity.

Yeah.

Absolutely, So we're getting calls, We're going to emails as usual, but before we do that, we do want to remind you that there are a lot of sponsors that keep this show running, and one of them is Pepsi's Game Day is here, So sock up now, grab a refreshing Pepsi zero sugar twelve pack now because tailgating deserves better.

And that being said, let's get into our favorite caller, well most consistent.

Caller, Patty and Agawam, how are you?

We don't pick favorites, nobody, No, that's.

For sure, Patty, I don't have favorite.

I just wanted to go for a couple of things for me, like the biggest, The biggest matchup has to be Stefan Diggs against the Buck secondary because, like much like the last big game that we played this year, I think if you want to have any sort of downfield game, it has to go through Digs.

Just because he's our he's our best receiver, he's our most probably our most consistent, and our most experienced guy.

To ask Williams to have a big you know, have a big game downfield, I think is asking a little bit too much for a rookie.

Spotlight is probably like getting the most snaps that he's going to have in a game this season.

Paul, you talked about spots during the week and to me, I think this is I think this is a good spot for the past because you look at the injury report, the Bucks are super banged up, and I think a sneaky, low key thing that's flying under the radar is Baker with his oblique injury and the last game that we saw him play.

Yeah, he's not even on the injury report anymore.

Though I don't think that's a factor.

That's an injury that he had before the bye, and I think he might come out and play a terrible game today, I don't think it's going to be because of any injuries.

He's had two weeks to rest.

I agree with you, Patty, that there's been a lot of focus and right we saw.

I mean, we focus on our local team, the Patriots, and they have three guys, you know, three starters that are out, but there's been very little focus on the amount of Bucks injuries.

But I feel like they've they've dealt with that all year.

They've had a lot of injuries all season.

They haven't really been healthy for most of the year.

The difference being the Patriots are just starting to deal with that.

And Jonathan Taylor looks like you just took one about eighty yards to put the Colts I had with about six minutes left, and as a great high school announcer one said, and there ain't no flags eighty three yards to be exact.

My last thing is I love Mike's key to the game.

We can't just be great at stopping the run.

At some point, like the Buffebo game, we have to see the marriage of the past rush and the secondary, like you know, kind of congeal and and work is won because it's it hasn't been great.

It hasn't been consistent so far this year.

And I think, like even with this banged up Bucks offensive crew, you know, I think if the Bucks were fully healthy, I would definitely pick them to win.

But with all the guys being out, I just I just think we're catching the Bucks at the right time.

And Paul, it always works out for the path.

Yeah, I love.

I love your point there, Patty.

The coverage in the in the rush, I think that's something that's been lacking.

I think Rabe's sort of alluded to it.

They haven't.

They've had times where they've rushed it reasonably well, and they've had times where they've covered it reasonably well, and they haven't seemed to been able to do that together.

I think that is a good, good key to the game.

Yeah, it's one of those things where the stats point one direction, but when you watch the games and you have a feel for the games, it just feels like quarterbacks are not.

Uncomfortable with this defense when they throw the ball.

You know, running backs are uncomfortable, but the quarterbacks are not.

Quarterbacks just seem even when there's solid pressure rate and all that kind of you know, stat mumbo jumbo, it's just it never feels like they're not you know, forcing a lot of takeaways.

It just seems like the young quarterbacks and maybe that's a function of they're more content over the last month to play zone against these guys and sit back and challenge them to execute consistently without mistakes.

But what we've seen is that they have been able to execute consistently in the games have maybe been a little bit you know.

More close than you would think.

So love to see that.

I also just like to you know, you mentioned Diggs and you know Jamal deanis is really having a great season to somebody who you know, three interceptions in the last five games to force fumbles in the last five games.

He's a really active cornerback, so you know, keep an eye out for him on Stefan.

So I want to ask the key question that I can't believe Mike hasn't even brought up yet.

As we get our look at the warm ups, you're all blue, mic change.

Out the road.

Yeah, okay, are you all right against Buffalo on the war broad You will win, so I like, you know when they win, You like any any uniform works for me when they're winning.

Exactly.

Yeah, we have a live look right now Drake May on the field.

Josh McDaniel's just had a little chat with him ahead of this one.

We got an email from Kakar and Jackson the car with Booty al what's more likely?

We talked about this a little bit already.

Pop Douglas has his best game as a Patriot again, which was last week obviously, Or Kyle Williams has an average wide receiver game.

Average game is not objected, but you know it when you see it.

Yeah, that's what you said.

Kyle Willams having an average game picking up a couple of catches.

You know, I would say Pop Douglas having another uh breakout, another big game, would be more likely.

Which one of those two things is more likely?

I would say Douglas.

Yeah, absolutely.

All right, up next, we have another email related Kyle Williams breakout from Steven and Fort Drum, New York.

So I'm calling it now, Kyle Williams will catch a thirty plus pass game for a TD.

He's overdue with booty out.

Now is his day to get started with no complicated go route.

So it seems like the consensus.

Yeah, no, he's sure.

You know he'll get an opportunity today and break out those and that's what you hope for these This is you know.

Players talk about it all the time.

I remember Tom Brady talking about when I got my chance, I wasn't gonna let go of it.

So that's how the NFL works.

You get an opportunity to get out there and show what you can do, and you know, maybe it is Kyle Williams today.

He gets out there and you know the chemistry is better with him and Drake May and you know, you start to get excited about you know what's next you're going to hold for Kyle Williams.

What what kind of role can he continue to grow into by it?

You know, I just I love his speed and I think it's something that they really need, and I'd love to just, you know, not so.

Much the deep pass.

I'd love to just see him catch a little a little slant and then just take off.

You know.

That's something that I think is missing a little bit from this Patriots offense is the run after catchability.

Not gonna lie see Kendrick Bourne a couple of times this year, and I'm like, you know, you know, there's a couple of plays here and there where You're like, man, Kendrick Bourne is pretty good with the ball in his hands.

Like to see a little bit more.

But you're right that Kyle Williams will get some opportunities today and I wouldn't be surprised if he came away with a few catches.

I mean, it's just not big expectations.

But yeah, I'm not telling you he's gonna you know, catch eight for for a buck fifty and three touchdowns, but I think he's I think he's going to have an opportunity to make some plays today.

And the way that Drake has been sort of spreading it around, you never know.

Yeah, I mean I would be shocked if he didn't at least get a couple of opportunities chouts.

Our camera crew in Tampa Bay, they every time we mentioned someone, they find them on the screen.

Kyle Williams.

Yeah, just doing some drills to the other receivers.

All right, let's get back to the calls.

Nate is in Connecticut.

Hi, Nate, you can get here.

Well, yes, it sound good.

So, uh, my opinion or my thought for the game is a big key that's gonna help us a lot.

I think is us being very aggressive, you know, considering Tampa they're a really good team, and considering you know, we're we're a good team.

It's just we're a couple levels below Tampa.

In my opinion, I believe I read yeah, well I'm being honest here, okay, And I think we're probably gonna.

Have to rely.

I wouldn't say rely, but I think we're gonna probably have to ask Mike Rabel or Josh McDaniels to know, draw something up, or you know, be more aggressive out there.

You know, take a couple more deep shots, go forward on fourth, fourth down more often.

Not that not saying that we haven't gone for it a lot, just you know, this is this is a good game that No, I got to do a lot to come out.

With the win.

But that's what I think.

Yeah, thanks Neat.

So it's a good team.

I'm excited for the game today.

Yeah.

This is not like Buffalo, Like they went to Buffalo and they were like clearly underdogs.

This is kind of a toss up game.

Yeah, you know, and maybe that's maybe Patty's right, Maybe that's because of all the guys that Tampa is missing in the personnel.

Maybe at full strength, you know, we wouldn't be looking at it the same way.

But I don't look at Tampa as being a significant step up from the Patriots.

I don't know, it's a big difference if it was Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and Bucket and that's you know, three pieces.

Yeah, of course, I mean Evans is out for the year after the big injury a couple weeks ago.

But yeah, I mean you just wonder what I mean that somehow they are always finding receivers down there.

I mean, we didn't talk about like Jayleen McMillan, like waiting, you know, he's hurt too.

I mean, they they just they seem to really pay attention to always making sure that position group is stocked, even though they've been leading on Evans and Godwin for the past like what six seven years?

So Chad, and it has the same sentiment.

He says, part of me is tempering my expectations, thinking things are too good to be true this season and preparing for a loss today.

However, there's another part of me that sees the Bucks are not one hundred percent healthy, and that's gassing me up to be as obnoxious as possible after.

This easy win.

But like he asked, should we temper expectations or is this real?

Well?

No, enjoy it as long as you can.

Yeah, exactly take a week to we know, I'll say something.

I mean, look, I know each year is its own year, and we've had a couple of different coaches here over the last couple of years.

But you know, one characteristic of this team really going back since they took the year after they won the Super Bowl is a team that kind of fades down the stretch.

So, you know, I don't think that that's crazy to say.

You look at some of the matchups they've had earlier in this season, that it's going to be a harder grind here in November and December and these last eight games.

You're really kind of at the halfway point right now, But would love to see a Patriots team start to really play their best football at the end of the year.

It hasn't happened the last few year.

I mean, you know, really again going back to twenty nineteen, when after that Baltimore loss, it felt like really kind of lost their mojo.

So it'd be great to see them not I don't want to come out of the season and felt like, yeah, it was great when you know that October and you know, end of September stretch where they were racking up wins against young quarterbacks, and then that and then when when you got to have to face Mayfield and Josh.

Allen again and Lamar and then and then it didn't look quite so good.

So I just I hope that this.

Team is continuing to build and we're gonna we haven't seen the best yet, what I'm hoping.

And we're looking at Diggs right now.

We talked about, you know, like.

We're looking at mac hollins ripped abs.

But with Diggs specifically, what are you two looking forward?

We talk about every week about whether or not they should settle the expectation for him or get him more reps.

But what are you hoping in this one?

Well, I think, you know, Paul's had some good points this week of you know, there is I think an element of managing him a little bit.

And you know, without Booty you do look a little bit more toward Diggs in the key moments, but you don't want to over rely on him and let teams key on him.

So I don't know.

I'd love to see like another big Digs game, And you know, I think he's at his best one.

He's brilliantvolved.

I think it's another one of the points that Patty made when he called, and I could see it they might need to lean on him a little more, Like you said, without Booty, it could be anybody.

They've shown the ability to have a different guy sort of lead the way.

You know, Hollins did it a couple of weeks ago, Douglas did it last week.

I think in a bigger game on the road, the guy that I would have the most confidence and would be Stefan Diggs.

Sure, he's been their most reliable guy now lately it's been you know, smaller doses, three catches.

I think in four of the last five games three catches each in those games.

I think today they might need him a little more than that.

Yeah, definitely in the third you know, the third down, the got to have it moments.

Those are the plays.

If I was any opponent of the Patriots, I would be saying.

Third down, we gotta know where Diggs is, and you know, maybe they put somebody like Jamal Deane on him.

I feel the last week he's hungry as well for that energies in this one.

All right, well, no Falcons have moved into the red zone in case anybody's well, of course you're gonna have a first and ten at the nineteen down by five because the Colts missed their second extra point of the day.

I mean, it is funny now because you know, in the past couple of years it's not only the Patriots aren't really winning games, but it's also you don't really care as much about the other games, and now, well you're a little more invested in this.

Is potentially I mean, I don't really care, like how how the seeding you know, unfolds when you have you know, eight games to play.

But you know, the Colts right now have the number one seed in the AFC in danger of losing, which is a game that if you look on paper, they have no right being in danger of losing with four hundred and forty yards of total offense, and they suddenly find themselves with the other team with the ball with two minutes left, you know, needing a touchdown to take the lead, all because of sloppiness and bad kicking by the Colts.

But you have a chance to be the number one seed or you know, the worst, if you can win the game, you're going to stay tied at the top with Nver because Denver won their game already, you know, and tie breakers are different, you know, depending on what happens around the league, strength to victory and all that kind of stuff.

But uh yeah, and now the now the Falcons are inside the ten, They're going to have first and goal from about the eight.

You know, plenty of time.

If I were the Colts, I'd let him score, to be honest with you, Yeah, and just have the ball have a chance to go down and either get a tying field goal if Atlanta gets the two, or winning field goal if they missed the two.

Because they're going to go for two.

They ask you're gonna go for two if you're if you're Atlanta.

Yeah, I mean that's it would be twenty three twenty two, you go for two to try to make it three.

So I know we joke a lot about you watching red Zone during these games, but I think this was and no, of course, but.

I think this is actually pretty relevant.

You talk about if India is able to win, they get that number one seed in the AFC, but also the Patriots right behind them right now at this point in the standing.

So what do you two make of not only the back of the Pats are so high up in the rankings, but like you said, we have to actually keep our eyes on these other games too.

A little bit.

I don't make of it yet.

I mean, it's it's fun to at least feel still invested and involved, but so much is gonna happen and over and like we're literally I know, there's seventeen games now, but I used to like it when it was eight and eight and sixteen, and you know, so eight.

Games left to go.

Patriots are gonna have two games in the next what four days here, so you know they're they're certainly gonna make some some We're gonna learn a lot more about this team over in the next week or so.

But it's just fun to be in the mix.

That to me right now is what it's all about.

And being able to still look at the scoreboard and care and look at division battles and you know, be interested to see how Buffalo does and you know the rest of the AFC.

But you know, Patriots have a great, a great opportunity over the next four or five days to mean, geeze, to think you could get two wins and get to nine and you've got a winning season already, so you know, I don't want to get ahead of yourselves.

But it's just it's just makes it more fun.

It's more fun when you're interested to watch the Patriots go against another team.

It's interesting to watch the results of the other AFC teams as it comes down here to the nitty gritty for the for the Colts.

So yeah, that's where I'm at, and you know, check in about fifteen then we'll really start walking in on you know, playoff seating and what they possibly be because right now, look, there's so much parody in the league.

You know, it's it's it's not like you know, maybe past.

Years where the Colts are the Chiefs were undefeated at the top, and et cetera, et cetera.

Any men's game.

All right, I'm looking at the call lines, and one location I did not expect to see is Haiti.

So we're gonna take it from Ralph, who's in Haiti right now.

Wow, Hey, Ralph, Hi Ralph.

Hey guys, you guys don't know the proms.

I had the grease to get them connections and to get to you guys.

I'm sure thanks for calling in.

You listen, man, listen, I got the hottest take that you guys haven't heard.

Okay, do you know the more the more.

Things change, the more they stayed the same.

The last time a team was had a losing record and then went on a run like this with a similar fashion where they were and two and two at the first four weeks of the season was the two thousand and one Patriots and then we went straight to the Super Bowl.

I'm seeing a lot of similarities right now.

Know the strip of schedule helps us a lot, but I like the dream.

There you go.

Well, thanks for calling in, Ralph.

Thanks Ralph.

I appreciate you.

I prayed for my country because we're going through it right now.

Absolutely, I went to you.

My parents were born in Haiti as well, so that I was like, no, I don't know, Ralph.

That's what I calls from California, the Haitian Patriots fans.

But now we have a lot.

That's amazing sensation, Ralph.

All right, Brian's in Phoenix.

Let's see what he has to say.

And there it is, and they get the two.

So now you can miss the field goal that.

Oh yes, yes, this is Brian Phoenix.

I'm disappointed far as Farster Patriots fans saying that if Tampa Bay was fully loaded, we wouldn't have a chance.

It said the same thing about Buffalo Any went into their home and beat them.

So I'm kind of disappointed in there.

But I think the keys for the game.

Let's just make Baker think, make him where he's not comfortable.

We definitely need a defense to step up, as far as Drake may.

Just do what you do, don't force anything, see what the defense is giving you and take it.

And I think we can win this game.

Of course they can win the game.

It's a toss up.

The two and a half points spread.

Yeah, I mean even with those guys.

I don't know, I necessarily give them no chance to play, but well.

I'd have to see it.

But they haven't had that, Like those guys haven't played, you know, like if they were playing and Tampa was rolling, then I might think about this game differently.

Tampa has it.

I know, Tampa six and two.

They're not rolling like the last two weeks, not all year, like they needed like a game winning drive and in the last thirty seconds like four times in the first four wins.

Like, they're not rolling.

But I haven't seen them fully loaded.

I haven't seen them with all their players.

Godwin hasn't hardly played at all them.

Jalen McMillan has been on the uh wow Colts pick kick return forty nine yard kick return for the Colts, which is gonna, you know, sort of almost set them the shop, almost already in field goal range, but they'll need the field goal only ties it because Atlanta did get the two point conversion.

So yeah, I mean, I don't think the Patriots have no chance to win a game over Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay is still Tampa Bay.

They're not one of these They're not one of the elite teams in the League.

They're a good team.

Tampa's a good team, They're not a great team.

I don't look at the Patriots as not being able to line up and play with the Bucks.

I mean, maybe I'm being obnoxiously arrogant with that.

I don't.

I don't feel like Tampa is that kind of team.

No, I feel yeah, Miles is Atlanta.

What do you think, Miles Mouse?

Hey, guys, how you doing.

We're good.

I just wanted to say I love your show.

I'm a Patriots phantom from Providence, Rhode Island.

I wanted to mention Paul Parillo when I was When I was in my first year in college at the University of Rhode Island, I did an interview with you.

You were you were one of the first people I ever interviewed as a journalism student, and I just wanted to stay hi and thank you again for that.

Thanks great, Thanks, Miles, I actually did.

I did a college interview with the young lady from North Dakota State just this week.

So yeah, I mean, wow, I'm hoping things are going better for you than me in the business, Miles, but I appreciate you giving me a shout out of it.

Jane Sane Donaldson, one of my U ri I professors connected.

Me with you professors Shane Shane O Mack.

One of the all time greats.

Shane used to work here Kwannie with the Patriots and he was part of all these show.

Is most famous in two thousand and one at the Super Bowl for falling asleep on the air and hitting his head on the microphone.

Very impressive.

Yes, and that's a professor molding and shaping the young minds of journalists today.

Miles, thanks so much for the call.

Yeah, And I was gonna say, this is a game I really I just really want to see the defense step up, you know, the mistackles.

I want to see them get to the quarterback and get some turnovers and really pick over the game.

Absolutely, Yeah, good opportunity for them.

Good.

You know, it's just it's going against the quarterback.

We haven't really seen it, what since Aaron Rodgers.

Was that the last time we've actually seen a quarterback with you know, some experience?

Josh Allen Josh, but those two really are mean Gino Smith and there in that mix two.

But you know, it's just a good chance to see where this defense is at.

And I agree, like we've been talking about.

There's just something missing for me.

I don't know.

I'm like, well, the real defense, please stand up.

I don't know, I don't know.

Maybe they are really good.

I definitely believe in their past in their run to run defense.

You know that they've made a believer out of me on the run defense, no question.

But I think, as we'll all agree, the passing game that you need to shut down, you need to get sacks.

I mean, they've talked about them only having twenty sacks this year, which isn't terrible, but you know, just the lack of finish some of the key moments they've had that finish.

But I'd like to see it a little bit more CONSISTENTLY'D love to just see them again get quarterbacks out of their comfort zone.

All right, let's get to one more before we get to our favorite part of the show.

Lenox in Springfield.

Hello, Yes, Hello.

I believe it's going to be a very pass heavy type of game.

We're definitely gonna need Milton Williams Tonga, those big boys are definitely going to need to get the bagger otherwise he's just going to be letting that ball fly all over the field.

Both teams aren't really great at running the ball, but our run defense holds up.

Not really worried about their Bucky Irvin or anything like that.

But overall it's probably going to be a very.

Pass tippy way, meaning today.

May Drake May maybe two fifty to sixty, maybe two seven, who knows.

I think his yards are probably going to be up there.

But yeah, it's gonna be an exciting one, but I think we're gonna be able to pull it out.

They got too many injuries for us not to be able to really you know, take over over there in Tampa Bay.

So Gopats love the show.

Thanks Lennox, Thanks nice to sixty.

I might need to change our over unders here.

We get into there and thought, I mean, I think he's going to have to throw because I don't think the Patriots are gonna have a great day running the ball.

You could see some Henderson you know, edge stuff, but I can't imagine they're going to be able to pile up a lot of yard.

You know, I don't know what Drake May is going to run for.

I'm talking about running backyard.

It feels like one of those maybe one of those games where it's like the short passing game is the run game.

It's some of that kind of stuff.

It's not just drop back, handed off and run into the wall.

But yeah, we'll see.

I mean, you're shorthanded without the Mondrie Stevenson.

So these are the games you worried about, talked about early in the season.

They don't have a lot of running back death.

Gibson goes out.

Now Stevenson's out.

Can you survive another game with just Trayvon Henderson?

And you know Terrell Jennings who's been primarily a practice squad player first first year and a half in the league.

Exactly?

All right, Well, this over unders are, I say, our favorite segment, my favorite segment at.

Least Patriots fans.

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Now.

I know last week everybody went four and two, right, so the standings don't really move very much.

Kwannie thirty four and twenty Mike thirty two and twenty two, Paul, twenty four.

Sound for you.

Wah wah whah.

So Kwannie maintains early, Mike, Yeah, it's time for you to do something about it.

Eliminated so I really can't do anything about.

It, all right, So first of this week, of course, we have Drake may passing yards right now, the line that two hundred and forty seven and a half yards, but again we could change it to too sixty.

If I like that number, I'm gonna go I'm gonna go over on that one.

But I think that's a good number.

I think I'm going over as well.

Yeah, I'm going to take the over this week because of the uh, I think the lack of the running game.

I think it's going to have to be on Drake May.

And so on the opposite end of the ball for the Patriots, Baker Mayfield passing yards two hundred and forty three and a half?

Can this defense stifle Baker to.

The question, I'm gonna say no, I'm gonna say he throws for two hundred and forty three.

Uh, well, so I'm gonna take the over.

I think I'm gonna take the over as well.

It looks like both of these I think these two quarterbacks are.

Yeah, I'm with you, guys.

I think there'll be a lot of passing yards today.

I'm gonna my same theory applies to Tampa.

I don't think they're gonna be able to run the ball against the Patriots, so it's going to be on Baker Mayfield.

Okay, up next, we have Hunter Henry receiving yards thirty six and a half.

This is a good one.

Yeah, last week we had some action.

Let's see.

I'm gonna go with the Oh my god, this is I'm gonna go with the under on this one.

I don't know if Henry is going to get that.

Much's It's tough this because with this team, I feel like you're always just kind of rolling the dice because each you know, it could be a Hooper game.

But I just I think Hunter Henry is too consistent I'm gonna go over with.

Yea, yeah, I'm going to take the over on that as well.

I like, yeah, I mean, I just Henry has been a reliable guy.

You're missing Booty someone you know.

We mentioned Diggs.

I think Henry also some of the old reliables and the Colts, by the way, tied the game with twenty five seconds to go.

We'll see how it ends, all right, up next, shortest field goal made twenty seven and a half YEARK to.

Me, that's a that's a weird one short.

So I don't really understand.

I guess the.

Shortest field goal is going to be longer.

I'm going to go over on this one.

I'm going to say the shortest field goal is longer than twenty seven point five years.

Okay, so that's how we do it.

No fields are made.

Does that mean it's zero.

Shortest field goal?

I'm going to say over.

Yeah, I'm going to say over as well.

I feel like, all you you're getting crazy on these.

He had his hands in the air.

The longest short field goal.

In the middle of the field.

All right, total New England points twenty three and DraftKings.

It's a thing.

It was the thing I just didn't understand it.

It's a complicated proposal and I really didn't understand it.

Shoot, all right, I guess that's all.

You're up on the total point, I'm going to take the under New England under.

I'm going to take the New England that's doing this is.

Just the New England points.

Yeah, I took the under.

I'm gonna take the over.

If it was the total score at twenty three and a half, I think it would have taken over on that.

Fair enough, I'll take I'll take the over on that one.

I'm taking over.

Finally, total score forty eight and a half.

Dang.

If I took the over on that, then it has to be I'm gonna have to take the over on this as well for the sake of New England.

Yeah, I'm on the over on this one too, and I will take the under on that as well.

I do not think this is going to be a shootout.

We'll see.

This is the defining moment.

I'm saying.

You can see me at the bottom of the standings everywhere, or you.

Might jump to the top based off of the No not that up.

Okay, next up before we close the show.

The Sunday six pack.

This is the Sunday six pack, So kick back and listen.

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All right, Paul, how did we do last week in this one?

Oh, let's let's let's go.

Let's go to that page.

We also the last week, we were all the same.

Everybody was two and four.

So it's not a good week for the six pack.

Everybody finished two and four.

That means Kwannie is twenty eight and twenty two, Mike is twenty four and twenty six, and poopy Pants is twenty one and twenty nine, twenty one and twenty nine.

I stink.

It's okay, it's tough.

It's not easy to be great.

So first up, giants at the Chicago Bears.

Chicago with four and a half.

Yeah, that's uh, that sounds like a good number.

I know Chicago has been a little inconsistent, but I think they're they're playing better lately.

I am going to take the Bears, Paul.

I am going to take Chicago as well.

I think that they are.

I don't think they're quite there as I mean, they're five and three, looks like they're a good team.

I don't think they're quite there yet.

But at home against the Giants, I think that they have enough.

I think Caleb Williams is starting to sort of buy in a little bit to the Ben Johnson stuff.

I'm going to take Chicago.

I'm going to take Chicago.

No, you know what, I'm going to take the Giants.

Just sorry.

I'm gonna take the Giants for the sake.

Of your fandom, giving them something.

No at the fandom.

I don't even know if it really for Jackson, for the Jackson start.

I up.

Next, we have the Cleveland b at the New York Jets.

Cleveland with one and a half.

Falls, game of the week right here.

Yeah, this is as bad as it gets in the NFL this year.

I'm gonna take Cleveland.

No real reason why, just someone's got.

To win, you said, Cleveland.

Yeah, I'm a little worried about the the new coach adjacent bump.

When you lose all your good players, you send them all out in the trade deadline.

It's kind of like, you know, firing your coach.

Maybe they get a But I'm gonna take Cleveland.

That's fair.

Is there any science behind that one?

No, none, whatsoever.

Shoot, I'm gonna go I'm gonna go Cleveland too.

I just yeah, I think it's three.

Yeah, we're on the same page.

Yeah, all three of us.

All right.

I'm next Buffalo at Miami Buffalo with nine and a half.

I think this kind of might be a common sense when I'm gonna take Buffalo.

Yeah, I'm with you on Buffalo.

I think Miami not looking good offloading guys.

Yeah, Buffalo.

Yeah, Yeah, I'm going to take I'm gonna take Buffalo too.

But this is a lot of points in a division game, Road Division, Miami Road Division game.

But I'm gonna take Buffalo.

Thanks fair.

All right?

Up next, Baltimore Ravens at the Minnesota Vikings.

Baltimore with three and a half.

That's a been on.

Oh, I'll take the Vikings at home.

Vikings at home.

JJ McCarthy, I am going to take Baltimore.

I think they.

They're in the process of climbing out of that grave that they built for themselves early on.

And I think this is a big one for them on the road against Minnesota come Vikings coming off a huge win last week.

This is a big game for the Ravens.

I'm going to take the Ravens.

Yeah, I'm with Paul Ife.

It feels like an inevitability that Lamar Jackson is gonna round in form.

They're gonna start playing better, their defense has been playing better.

I'm gonna take the Ravens over JJ.

Here we go, alrighty La the Rams at San Francisco, the Rams five and a.

Half, Mac Jones, Mac Jones time, Matt and Roland.

It's a big spread again on the road in the division game.

And we always talk about the NFC West stuff.

Mike Shanahan owns McVeigh.

However, I'm still going.

However, I'm still going to take the ROMs.

I'm gonna get crazy.

I'm going forty nine ers underdogs at home.

Uh, just dump it off.

Give it a Christian McCaffrey, you make magic happen.

I don't think Ma's that good.

Well that way, Fred.

Oh Man, this is a good one.

I'm gonna take forty nine ers.

At home as well.

This is how I end up in the base.

We'll see might be right, climb out of it.

Never happens that way, Mike.

You can change if you like.

Finally, best for last New England Patriots out of Tampa Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay two and a half.

I guess I'll go lead us out.

I'm gonna go with the Patriots on this one.

I think it's gonna be really close game, though.

I just I think, like Paul said, coin flip game mistake down at the end.

Who's gonna make it that kind of game?

But I'm gonna have the Patriots and gona stick with what I said earlier this week.

Patriots another one point win, twenty eight, twenty seven.

Yeah, I could see this game going either way.

I do think that the spot, you know, Patty and I differ a little bit.

I think Bucks coming off a bye week, had a chance to rest a little bit, and they're at home.

Patriots sort of in a long stretch here, you know that.

I think they shortened some practice times a little bit this week.

I think they're starting to feel a little the wear and tear.

I think this is a tough spot for the pair.

I'm not saying the Patriots can't win, because I would not even bat an eye if the Patriots went down there and won.

I don't think Tampa's all that good.

I think they're good, not great, very similar teams.

I'm gonna take Tampa twenty four to twenty.

There we go, all right, So we do have to close.

Out who are you taking?

Oh sorry, I thought it was how you get in first place.

You know, it's funny.

I think I'm New England all until they prove otherwise.

Every week I've been picking them, so I just assume that my inter was locked in.

I just real quick to a bit of news.

Thank you.

Tag Liaboo passed away a long time NFL commissioner.

I've seen if you're watching on video years old.

Of course when I grew up, all the footballs that I bought, when I bought the End of the day had the Paul tag Lao pignature written on it.

So obviously it was a huge part of the NFL, and you know, making the NFL into what it became after his tenure and then into Roger Goodell's But that's you know, that's definitely a pro football titan, right there, Paul Tagliaboo.

Absolutely seventeen years as a league commissioner.

But also to the point that you just made.

The cause of death was heart failure complicated by Parkinson's, as we can see Adam Schefter reported earlier today.

So, yeah, did you know he was an important commissioner at the time of a lot of labor life.

I'm sort of you know, hushering in the free agency era.

I think he was, you know, he was more of a lawyer background than a football background.

I think he was instrumental in helping in that regard.

But yeah, that's you know, pretty pretty important guy in in NFL history.

All thoughts with his family.

Yeah, before we close out or we're gonna close out, it's in the show.

So thank you.

Oh okay, sorry.

We got calls.

We're gonna take some calls before we go.

So we're gonna go down to North Carolina where Eldred.

Is, Hey, well's how you doing to hey?

All right?

So b hey, two things is only two things were okay?

And then if I see that in the first part of half the game, I'd be okay.

Out line in our backs against they blitzed and our linebackers in our safeties because you know they're gonna target in the middle of the field.

You know they're gonna do that, right, Both.

Of those things are concerns.

You know.

Kate Attin is the guy we haven't really mentioned in the show.

I think that he would be a concern against those linebackers and safeties across the middle of the field.

And that's a guy that Baker Mayfield leans on.

Yeah.

Yeah, and if we can get we can get Henderson on outside half backs in the flat or whatever, because then they have problem with But I tied you across the middle days and they still good, uh linebackers, And I take it up there and I have a good one and go pack.

Thanks, thank you.

All right, let's go to Lewis in Florida.

Hey, ladies and gents, thank you for having me most time listener, appropiately everything you guys do every season.

So just the question and your thoughts on who has a bigger point to prove for just kind of put putting the league on unnoticed.

Is it the offense or the defense?

Given that there's a lot of there's a lot of more right that new England's back, New England's back who has a bigger point of uh proof?

And I'll take it offline.

Thanks, God's go Pats.

That's an interesting question.

I mean, I I mean, I lean the defense.

I would say the defense.

I just said, you know, I I think you know that Drake may is pretty good.

I don't know a lot else about the offense, and I don't know how much more you really can learn about the offense this year.

But I just I have questions about the defense, especially against you know, good quarterback like Baker Mayfield.

And you know, I just like I said, stats tell one story.

I tell you a little bit of a different story.

But this is an opportunity today to you know, show that you may be a little bit better than something like the DVOA ranking might tell you what they are.

Yeah, I mean I don't really, I don't know.

I don't really get the question like who has more?

I mean, yeah, it.

Doesn't feel like a it doesn't feel like a stakes game to you.

No, Yeah, I mean to me, it's just the next game on the schedule.

I don't really, I mean, I don't know offense defense.

I think they just want to this is gonna sound lame, like I'm taking Mike Rabel.

This is what I got accused of on the Sports Hub this week.

I'm just taking like Mike Rabel's messages and I'm trying to like it's just the next game, like you're just trying to stack days and improve, keep getting better, keep improving.

I think that's what they should be focused on right now, is just trying to get better.

And it's another opportunity.

Yeah, it's it's a bigger I mean, it's a tougher opponent than what you've seen the last month.

You know, it's not Cleveland, it's not Tennessee, it's not Atlanta, but it ain't Buffalo either, and it ain't Baltimore that you're going to be seeing in a few weeks.

So you know, just keep playing well, keep stacking days, keep improving.

Yeah, I don't know the league both sides of the ball.

Absolutely, the league generally preaches the you know, excuse mentality.

But one thing I did want to pose before we go last week.

The Bucks did get there bye week.

The Patriots on the other end preparing for a very short week against the Jets on Thursday.

So what role do you foresee that if any playing in this matchup, play.

Suck it up, just suck it up over the next five days.

And nobody loves the Thursday night game.

As an NFL player, it's hard on you.

But you know you will get a little bit of a break next weekend, and then you know, the schedule gets a little weird with Monday night football, so it you know, they've been kind of stuck in this grind.

I think we feel it to the one pm games over and over again.

Whatever call Sunday at one grind Mike, Well, I mean, you know what I mean, it's intended game.

Say you know, you're just you're on the treadmill right now, and it's gonna it's gonna break up a little bit coming up.

So if they can just suck it up and again somehow find a way to squeeze out two more wins and get the nine wins before you know, before the break, that's that's pretty impressive.

But you know it's uh, you just wonder, are the Patriots tired?

Are the Bucks rusty?

You know, you never know what the storyline is for teams coming out of the buy or teams that haven't had to buy yet.

I definitely feel that way.

Then, I think that that's the way that Mike has sort of been talking to the team is it's you've got to fight through it.

We are on that tread mill right now, and the buy's not really close.

Still another you know, still another three or four weeks away.

Yeah, so this is this is time you gotta I think that's why he shortened practices a little bit this week.

I think you tried to lighten a load a little bit.

Yeah, they're fighting through.

It and they will keep doing that.

We're going to see how they do in Tampa Bay.

We'll be right back here after the game to give you all the recap and analysis and of course postgame locker room sound as well, so for Paul Rilo and Mike du So, I'm planning Lynnis.

Thank you for tuning in to the Patriots Pregame Show fueled by Duncan.

Hey, this is Alex.

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