Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Crossover Thursday - Patriots vs. Bills - 10/29/2020

Episode Date: October 29, 2020

It’s Crossover Thursday on the Locked On Podcast Network. Join hosts Mike D’Abate of Locked On Patriots and Joe Marino of Locked On Bills as they preview this AFC East showdown between the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills from Bills Stadium in Orchard Park, NY on Sunday, November 1.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order.MyBookieINVEST IN YOUR INTUITION. USE PROMO CODE LOCKEDON AND DOUBLE YOUR FIRST DEPOSIT. NEW PLAYERS GET UP TO $1,000 IN FREE PLAY - DESIGNED TO ADD MORE EXCITEMENT TO THE SPORTS YOU LOVE AND THE GAMES YOU BET. YOUR WINNING SEASON BEGINS TODAY...ONLY AT MYBOOKIE!BuiltGoVisit BuiltGO.com and use promo code “LOCKED,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful. You are now locked into the Locked On Patriots podcast, and it is Crossover Thursday here on your daily home for news notes and analysis infused with the occasional opinion on your six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. Locked On Patriots is presented today by Pepsi, made for football watching.

This football season will be different, and Pepsi is here to get you ready for game day, no matter how you watch this season. Pepsi is the refreshment you need to power through game day and become a member of the League of Football Watchers. Because Pepsi isn't made for those who play the game, it's made for those who watch it. Pepsi, made for football watching. Greetings and salutations, Pats Nation. My name is Mike DeBate, your host of the Locked On Patriots podcast,

which, of course, is a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And folks, because it's your team every day, that means your questions, comments, and feedback are always welcomed and greatly appreciated. Feel free to share that feedback anytime by reaching out to me and following me on Twitter at MDABATEFPC.

And while you're out there doing some Thursday traveling through the Twitterverse, please be sure to follow the Locked On Patriots account as well at LO underscore Patriots. Pets Nation, it's that time again. It's time to cross the streams here on Crossover Thursday. And with the AFC East Division leading Buffalo Bills next up on the Patriots schedule, that means my good friend Joe Marino, host of the Locked on Bills podcast.

Of course, you also know Joe's great work from the draftnetwork.com, will be joining me here today on the hot seat. And as we always do on Cross the Streams Thursday here throughout the network, we will be breaking down this matchup from an offensive standpoint and a defensive standpoint.

Joe will provide some valuable insight on that impressive Buffalo Bills offense. Also, a defense that has underwhelmed a little bit, but there's still plenty of playmakers for that team on both sides of the ball, and we will get into that. Of course, in true crossover fashion, we'll flip the script and Joe will put me on the hot seat. We'll discuss the Patriots and what we can expect from this Cam Newton-led offense this week. Who can we expect to be significant playmakers on defense?

Joe will even ask me what my biggest surprises of the 2020 season have been thus far. Folks, it's always a blast when I get to share the microphone with Joe Marino. Because of the division rivalry and the fact that the Pats and the Bills play each other not just once, but twice each season, I always enjoy the opportunity to cross the streams a little bit. And as is the norm on Locked On Crossover Thursdays, we have a fun and informative show on tap for you today. So settle in as Joe Marino, host of Locked On Bills, will join me here on the hot seat in just a moment.

But first, we start with a little breaking news here on Locked On Patriots, and it's no secret that the Patriots' core of wide receivers has been taking some heat here for the past few days, but now it appears they'll be without one of its most prolific assets for at least a short period of time. Nikhil Harry already on the shelf due to a concussion, and as reported by The Athletic's Jeff Howe on Thursday afternoon, Julian Edelman underwent a precautionary standard knee procedure and as a result he will be missing some games for the Patriots. And this was reported shortly after Edelman was not present during the portion of the

Patriots' practice open to the media on Thursday. According to Jeff's report, Edelman's surgery is not expected to be season-ending, but it is going to sideline him for at least a period of time, including Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. And this news is definitely disappointing, maybe even a little surprising, but it shouldn't be shocking to anyone. Julian's been consistently listed on the Patriots injury report throughout the season with that knee injury. He was limited in his participation on Wednesday's practice,

and he missed Thursday's session completely. Now on Wednesday evening, it was interesting that Couch Guy Sports' Small States Big Takes podcast had tweeted that Edelman might miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. More details to come. Now, that original tweet didn't gain a whole lot of traction on Wednesday evening, but it popped up fairly often on Thursday afternoon when Howe indeed confirmed the report. In any case, this is definitely tough news for the Patriots and tough

news for Julian Edelman. Some will say, well, Julian wasn't that productive this year. They're really not missing much anyway. That's absolute rubbish, folks. Having Julian Edelman on the field makes you a better football team. Whether he's making receptions and putting up the stats or simply out there running routes, taking the attention away from other defenders, he is definitely one of the heart and soul players of this offense, and he will be missed on the field. A lot of people might not realize, but Julian is your leader in receptions on the field for the Patriots this year with 21.

He's been targeted 39 times, and he has 315 receiving yards on the year so far. Keep in mind that it's also a strong possibility that the Patriots will be without Nikhil Harry's services on Monday. He's still in concussion protocol, hasn't officially been ruled out yet, but it's hard to believe that Harry's going to be able to give it a go in this one. Demir Bird, Jacoby Myers, and who made that man a gunner, Ryszelski, are right now the Patriots' only three healthy options at wide receiver. Matthew Slater is technically a wide receiver on the depth chart, folks, but he would

only be available in emergency and kneel-down situations. I can't imagine him taking any snaps or running any routes. Isaiah Zuber, Mason Kinsey, Christian Wilkerson, three names to watch. They're all practice squatters, with Edelman most likely headed to injured reserve. I would expect Zuber to be elevated to the 53-man roster, and either Kinsey or Wilkerson be activated for this Sunday's game if the Patriots don't make a move in the interim. I think it's unlikely at this point, folks, but you definitely can't rule it out. So I join all of you out there in Patriots Nation wishing the very best to Julian Edelman, hopefully a speedy and complete recovery. You know this is a guy that does not like to miss time. Julian is truly one of the toughest players I've ever covered in any sport.

I watched him go through a season last year fighting a shoulder injury, a knee injury, and a rib injury. Any one of those injuries would have been enough to sideline another player. Julian at one point was playing through all three. The guy is as tough as they come. You know he's going to be working hard to get back on on the field and make sure that that day is sooner rather than later. Pats fans, I will continue to bring you the very latest on Julian Edelman's injury and

any subsequent Patriots roster news as a result of it. Also, I wanted to take a brief moment to enlighten you on an exciting new show here we have on the Locked On Podcast Network, and that's called Locked On Presents. This weekend, on Saturday, pay a close attention to the Locked On Patriots podcast feed. Our colleague here at the Locked On Podcast Network, Cole Weinstein, host of Locked On Presents, will be presenting an in-depth look at Patriots defensive back Kyle Duggar. Cole followed Kyle throughout the draft process and up until draft night. And I, for one, cannot wait to check out this chronicle from Kyle's days at Division

2 Lenore Rhine right up until becoming the Patriots' top draft choice and a defensive back in a Bill Belichick defense. So again, keep a sharp eye on the Locked On Patriots podcast feed Saturday, October 31st, and check out Cole's report on Kyle Duggar. But even with the disappointing news on Julian Edelman's injury, folks, there is still some stream- stream crossing to be done. After all, today is Crossover Thursday, and these two AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills,

will be represented by Joe Marino, host of Locked On Bills, and yours truly, the host of Locked On Patriots. Week 8 in the 2020 NFL season is upon us. Locked On Patriots, Locked On Bills, crossing the streams Ghostbusters style when the Locked on Patriots podcast continues. But first, the autumn season is upon us, and that means it's time to winterize your ride. Make sure that your vehicle is ready for the potentially harsh upcoming months by visiting my good friends at rockauto.com and make sure that you have everything you need to keep

your vehicle looking and running at its absolute best. Rockauto.com is a family business serving auto parts customers online for nearly 20 years. Go to rockauto.com to shop for auto and body parts from hundreds of manufacturers. They have everything from engine control modules and brake parts to tail lamps, motor oil, even new carpet. Whether it's for your classic or your daily driver, get everything you need in a few easy clicks delivered directly to your door. The RockAuto.com catalog is unique and remarkably easy to navigate. Quickly see all the parts available for your vehicle and then choose the brands, the specifications, and here's the best part folks, the prices you prefer. RockAuto.com's prices are always reliably low,

and they're the same for professionals and do-it-yourselfers just like you and me. Why spend up to twice as much for the same parts? Go to RockAuto.com right now and see all the parts available for your car or truck. Make sure to put Locked On in their How Did You Hear About Us box so they know we sent you. Amazing selection, reliably low prices, all the parts your car will ever need. rockauto.com. Joe Marino of Lockdown Bills joined now by Mike DeBate, the host of the Lockdown Patriots podcast to help us get ready for this AFC East Divisional Showdown on Sunday between the Bills and Patriots. And Mike, I want to start by asking you a question about this Patriots offense under the direction of Cam Newton.

What's working, what's not working, and what does this thing look like, obviously, without 12 there playing quarterback anymore? Well, it's been an interesting transition, Joe, without any question. I mean, anyone that thought that this was going to be a like-for-like plug-and-play and that Cam was going to come in and be able to essentially run the Brady offense and only add a dimension of having RPOs incorporated and zone reads incorporated probably are disappointed right now and I think that's why you're seeing a whole lot of Patriots nation confused as to what this offense is looking like look bottom line if you want to see what this offense is capable of looking like under Cam Newton, you need to go back to week one against the Miami Dolphins. They were very effective in incorporating zone reads, very effective in incorporating some RPO, utilizing play action to open up the running game, and utilizing the arm to throw the ball down the field. game in week two, Patriots offense looked very effective and Cam actually might have been even better with his arm in that game than he was with his legs.

You can make the argument that he made plays downfield that allowed the Patriots to nearly steal a win in that situation. For the last couple of weeks, the offense has looked out of sorts. There's no question about it. This is an offense, Joe, that really is so predicated on a couple of things when it comes to the New England Patriots. It's really all about timing. Timing is such an important part of what the Patriots do from an offensive side of the ball. It's also quickness as well. Quickness both of the receivers getting open and the quarterback getting rid of the ball. That has not been the case for Cam the last couple of weeks against Denver and again against the 49ers. Cam seems to be healthy. He's saying all the right things. He said that he will.

And from the footage that I've been looking at and dissecting these two games, his mechanics are a little bit off. It's not necessarily that his fundamental mechanics are off, but he's holding onto the ball a little bit too much. He's not incorporating some of those reads that we saw early on. And the Patriots essentially have been trying to run the offense that they ran under Tom Brady with Cam Newton. And it simply just doesn't work that way. What the Patriots, in my opinion, will need to do in order to right this ship is to take a look at what Cam does well. Take a look at his strengths and utilize those. You're going to have to get his wide receivers and even his running backs catching the ball out of the backfield on the same page. It looks like the timing issue right now is a little bit off. Some of these guys

are still anticipating where Tom would have thrown the ball as opposed to where Cam does. So it's about getting that synergy between receiver and quarterback. If they can do that, this can still be a very effective offense. They can make plays and get the ball down the field, but they're going to need to work on fundamentals first. And it sounds like from what Josh McDaniels, Jed Fish, the quarterback's coach for the Patriots, and Bill Belichick have said so far this week week they seem to be focusing and going back to basics. So it may look a little more basic for the Patriots this week, but I think it will look more efficient in the long run.

You know, the Patriots sit at two and four, third place in the AFC East. They've lost three in a row. That's the first time that's happened for the Patriots since 2002. It's obviously a different time there in Foxborough. What is the messaging like from the players and coaches, and how is the fan base kind of processing some of these struggles that didn't exist really for a very long time? Well, I think the fan base is struggling simply because it's uncharted territory for a lot of them. I mean, you look back at the New England Patriots' success for the last two decades, they haven't dealt with three-game losing streaks. They haven't dealt with being in third place this

late in the season. No one is going to shed any tears without any question. And when the Patriots fan base has had it very good for the last, you know, 20 years or so. So there are some growing pains, but I think the fans that really, you know, eat, sleep, and drink this team understand the growing pains that they're going through right now. So yeah, there's going to be fan-based members that are going to jump off the bandwagon, you know, I mean, that's just, that's the nature of the way things are going. But at the same time, I think if you take a look and you dissect what this team can do, both on offense and on defense, you'll see there's still a team that's capable of being in contention. The message from the coaches and the players has been consistently positive. They have

a lot of great leadership on this team. Guys that I've had a chance to cover for a good number of years like Devin McCourty, Matthew Slater. These guys really know how to hearken that type of heart that you need in order to pull you through some of the more difficult times. And I think that's exactly what you're going to continue to see from the Patriots. You're going to see growth. You're going to see players that are going to be capable of being leaders on the field for all intents and purposes. Cam Newton has done a very good job in that department.

He's been very accountable. He's been very accessible to the media. He's, you know, put a lot on his shoulders, and he's showing an awful lot of leadership as well in that locker room for someone that is new to the locker room, but he's in such a high profile position, Joe, that he needs to be the leader. He needs to be a guy that everyone in that locker room can look up to. And so far, that's what you're seeing. So yeah, some negativity from the fan base, but ultimately positivity coming from the locker room. And I think in the long run, that's really what matters and may be the key

to the Patriots refinding some of that success. Mike, let's talk about this Patriots defense. What have you learned about this unit so far in 2020? What are the strengths? What are the weaknesses? I did some work on them yesterday, and I noticed that some of the characteristics that are always true about Bell Belichick defenses are true about this one whether it's forcing turnovers getting pressure on the quarterback limiting points so what's what's maybe different and what can you tell us about this Patriots defense in 2020? Yeah the Patriots defense is still continuing that same blueprint they have a very strong secondary defensive line that definitely tries to match up physicality with an offensive line and also linebackers that can be versatile. The problem that the Patriots have had this year defensively, Joe, is they simply don't have the personnel that they did a year ago.

Gone are guys like Jamie Collins, Kyle Vannoy, Landon Roberts. They're all vacated by a free agency. Dante Hightower opts out. Then Patrick Chung opts out. You're talking about two of the greatest communicators in that locker room and on that field no longer being around. They still have strong leadership

when it comes to the McCourty twins, both Devin and Jason. Stefan Gilmore, obviously a name your fan base knows very well. A lot surrounding him right now that I'm sure we'll get into at a later date, but he's still in that locker surrounding him right now that I'm sure we'll get into at a later date, but he's still in that locker room for right now. And I honestly expect him to be for the remainder of the year, but that's just my opinion.

But he provides a lot of stability when it comes to the way that secondary can play. And they have a lot of complimentary good pieces. Look, the struggles that the Patriots have had right now when it comes to execution has really been a lot to do with personnel. Their defensive line has been devastated by some injuries. Their true nose tackle, Bo Allen, that they signed in the offseason has yet to suit up in an NFL game for them this year.

That changes the complexity of the way the Patriots can defend the run. Lawrence Guy and Adam Butler have been very good, but Butler's been slowed a little bit by some injuries as well. The linebacker position has been hit hard. Juwan Bentley has been phenomenal in filling in for the vacated now Dante Hightower. um dietrich wise jr uh john simon shalikway calhoun these linebackers slash defensive edge uh edge defensive and edge rushers have been called upon to do a lot more the last couple of weeks i've been noticing that these players have been overplaying it and that allows them to get bashed pretty badly um on the edge and that's something they're going to have to shore up a little bit chase winovich is one of their more explosive pass rushers, and he hasn't been a focal point in their defense for the last couple of weeks.

I would look for that to change if I'm the Patriots, because I think it adds that unstoppable motor and that physicality that the Patriots seem to be lacking right now. So all in all, it's a different-looking defense. It's the same concept, but personnel has limited them a little bit. So there are plays to be had, but when this team is clicking on all cylinders, it can still shut down some of the best offenses in the league. And we saw that a couple of weeks ago against Kansas City.

Last thing I had for you, Mike, is I want to know a couple of different things from you. First of all, when you think about this season so far in its totality, what has surprised you the most about the Patriots in general? And then can you tell us maybe about some of the bright spots with this Patriots team that maybe we are not familiar with that are new names that are emerging for New England? The thing that surprises me, I guess, most about this team is the next man up concept. And I mean that in a positive way. Look, bottom line, the Patriots have lost an awful lot. I mean, they've lost their heart and soul for the last 20 years. Tom Brady was the face of the New England Patriots franchise.

In a lot of ways, Joe, he's always going to be. To lose a player like that would normally devastate a franchise. And some may argue that, yeah, they're two and four, not playing well right now and has devastated them. I don't think they're going to continue on this trend. I think there's a little too much talent on this team to simply just roll over and tank for whoever the fan base seems to want at the quarterback position at the moment.

But in a lot of ways, I think what we're seeing is a concept and a system that is designed for long-term success. They may struggle with personnel at times, but they're going to continue to ride that. And I think that's what continues to surprise me about this team is even though they lose a phenomenal amount of players, even though they continue to be decimated by injury, they were hit, arguably you can say they may have been hit the hardest by COVID opt-outs and COVID situations. They continue to feel the team that is still competitive on the field,

and I think they'll remain as such. In terms of bright spots, there have been a couple of guys that have stood out to me. On offense, Damian Harris has looked phenomenal. I really love the way this kid runs. He runs hard. He runs with a purpose. He's been able to get open. He can break for big runs, but he's also very adept at being able to catch the ball out of the back

field. If I'm Josh McDaniels and the Patriots offensive brain trust, a lot of the offensive changes that they're trying to incorporate to make players feel more comfortable. I'm utilizing him and I'm trying to utilize him as best as possible on the defensive side of the ball. a big surprise for me has been the play of Adrian Phillips, who I had the good fortune of covering when I covered the Los Angeles Chargers. I knew that this guy was going to come in and be a special teams warrior. I expected him to contribute and play well on defense, but he has really been a hybrid

linebacker that leads the team in tackles, and he always seems to be right in the thick of big plays. So his leadership has really helped to lessen Patrick Chung, the loss of Patrick Chung, I should say, and he's been great. But the brightest spot for me has been the rookie on the offensive line, Michael Onwaino. He's been phenomenal. He's been able to play everywhere they needed him to play. His massive wingspan has allowed him to be very difficult to be beat by any type of edge defender or linebacker. He provides great protection on the offensive line.

He's slimmed down a little bit. That's very odd to say, considering the size of Onwainu. If you see him, he's a pretty big guy, but he has lost a little bit that's allowed him to be more agile. And I think that's translated to him being such a great addition to this offensive line. So he's been my brightest spot this year. But Harris and Phillips are guys that have caught my eye as well. Patriots fans, this crossover Thursday between Locked On Patriots and Locked On Bills will

continue in just a moment. But first, we all know that this football season has been different and will continue to be different. But Pepsi is here to get you ready for game day, no matter how you watch this season. I know you might miss the camaraderie of the tailgate or the roar of the crowd, but it doesn't mean that you still can't have the best seat in the house. That comfortable seat right in your own living room.

Maybe it's a comfortable easy chair, comfortable sofa, smack dab in front of your high-res television, your favorite snacks right at your side, and of course, Pepsi, which is the refreshment you need to power through game day and become a member of the League of Football Watchers. These passionate fans are the real generational talent that Pepsi fuels. Because Pepsi isn't made for those who play the game, it's made for those who watch it. Go to madeforfootballwatching.com to check out the latest football watching content from Pepsi, made for football watching.

Patriots fans and Buffalo Bills fans, it is crossover Thursday here on the Locked On Podcast Network. And as always, I am thrilled to be joined by my good friend and host of the Locked On Bills podcast, Joe Marino. I'm Mike DeBate, host of Locked On Patriots. And Joe, Buffalo's offense has played some impressive football this season. I continue to be a fan of the way this team does things, both on offense and on defense, their coaching style. To me, this is probably a team that I still believe is underrated when it

comes to the amount of press and the amount of accolades that they get. But that's been mainly because of Josh Allen's growth as a quarterback and his connection with his newest weapon, a wide receiver I coveted for the New England Patriots for a good number of years, and that is Stephon Diggs. He leads the Bills with 48 receptions, 603 yards, three touchdowns. He's far from the only talented player on the offense, though, with the other receivers running back, you know, in terms of Devin Singletary, who's playing very well. They contribute all on a regular basis. Before we gush a little bit about Josh Allen, tell us a little about what this Bills offense has looked like to you so far this year, and what are some of their strengths, what are some of their weaknesses,

what can we expect to see on the field for the Buffalo Bills for the remainder of the season? Well, Mike, the best thing that the Bills offense does is throw the football, and it's been a big part of what they do. They're one of the most pass-heavy offenses in the NFL. They throw it in neutral game scripts. It's just what they do. In fact, you kind of hear some of the Bills fans rumbling and asking for more of the run game. But quite honestly, it's not been the most effective thing, and Brian Dable has stayed with passing the football a good bit. And what's been interesting is the personnel groupings. You're seeing obviously a ton of 11 personnel, three wide receiver sets, but the Bills are not shy about going with four wide receivers, 10 personnel. They're the most 10 personnel heavy team in the NFL. And what that really does is it creates situations where opposing defenses are putting a lot of defensive backs on the field and creating really nice spacing and opportunities for Josh Allen to work the football in. And he's

taken another step. I think you saw a big step last year. I think you're seeing another one this year in terms of his consistency, his mental approach to the game, his decision-making, working the football down the field. You're seeing Josh take another step, and him being able to use all these weapons at his disposal for him to continue growing with Brian Dable and creating more of a volume of what they like to do and knowing each other even better. You've seen a lot of good scheme evolution when it comes to the Bills' offense.

Now, we're all kind of looking for the offense to get on track this week. Started off, I mean, really unbelievably well in the first four games of the season. And then over the last three, you've seen a step back. And I think John Brown not being healthy for that stretch has really hurt the Bills offense. I mean, obviously, Stefan Diggs is the talk of the receiver core, but let's not forget John brown was a 1 000 yard receiver for this team last year and uh his his injuries have taken away something i think and and um he's supposed to be back and healthy this week which will be a big boost for the bills offense uh and then you know you think about josh allen in that raiders game uh late in the contest he took a a hit and it hurt his non-throwing shoulder. And I think from

that moment, he's not quite been the same player, the MVP level type player we saw in the first few weeks of the season. So as he gets further removed from that, it seems like he's gaining more comfort. We liked the way he looked against the Jets last week. But as we process this game from a Bills perspective, it's all about how Josh Allen does and his next opportunity to match up against the New England Patriots in Bill Belichick's defense, a defense that has been problematic for him. We saw him play much better in the second game against New England last year as compared to the first one when he turned over the ball so many times and really forced some plays. So can he take another step from the Josh Allen we saw against New England

late in the season last year when, you know, it was a tight game and Josh had a fairly efficient game? Yeah, without any question, I'm so glad that you mentioned Allen because that leads me quite nicely into my next question for you. And Allen was off to a terrific start this year. Over the first four games, completed 71% of his passes, 1,326 yards, 12 touchdowns, only one pick. Those are MVP caliber numbers, and he was mentioned in that conversation. Since then, his numbers have gone down.

He's been successful only 63.1% of his throws, 692 yards, four touchdowns, and three picks. And you mentioned about Josh Allen kind of being one way in the first game that New England Patriots played and then later in the season evolved and played much better. Is this a case of a tale of two Josh Allens, or do you believe that the way that the Patriots defense stacks up against him will determine the Josh Allen that we'll see on the field this coming Sunday. Well, you certainly did a good job of sharing the differences in performance over the first four weeks versus the last three. I certainly point to the injury of John Brown and even Josh Allen to an extent to describe some of

that, but there's no question that the offense has not been as effective. Josh hasn't been as effective. Some of the dynamics surrounding the Tennessee game and the Kansas City game were very challenging with Tennessee amid a COVID outbreak and scheduling uncertainty there, and I think Tennessee handled that situation a lot better than the Bills did, and Josh threw a couple of interceptions in that game, and I think on the first drive of the game, actually, it happened. And I thought that set the performance behind. And then John Brown got hurt. And then against Kansas City, it was a situation where the Chiefs handled that better than

the Bills, where there was some wet conditions and didn't seem to affect Pat Mahomes. But it did Josh Allen. And I thought he pressed a little bit in that game, but we saw him get on track a bit more against the Jets last week, over 300 yards and near 70% of his passes were completed. There's been a stylistic difference in the way defenses are playing Josh Allen so far this year. Last year we saw teams come at him with man coverage and a lot of even zero,

no high safety and heavy blitz packages. And they go out and get Stephon Diggs, and Josh Allen has been able to beat man coverage very consistently this year. So now you're seeing the opposite. As Josh Allen's become a better thrower down the field and more consistency with his accuracy down the field, you're seeing teams may play a lot more soft zone coverage against Josh and forcing him to be patient and take those profits and make some throws with anticipation between zones. And that's been the next step of Josh Allen as teams have gone away from that man

heavy philosophy against him and go into this zone philosophy. It's been another opportunity for Josh to grow and develop and prove that he can beat this next challenge that is the new trend for how to play Josh Allen. So what's exciting about facing New England and Bill Belichick coach defense is that you know Bill Belichick is going to figure out the best thing that you do, and he's going to figure out how to stop it, and you have to try to win in other ways and so I look forward to this game as as a measuring stick in a lot of ways to see how Josh has evolved not just from an execution perspective but from his mental approach to how Bill Belichick is going to face him so you know we've seen a really hot start we've seen him sizzle a little bit but

this is going to be a really good measuring stick I think to really understand where understand where Josh Allen is at. He should be healthy. And of course, John Brown's back this week, which should be a big boost to the offense. Absolutely. And I'm so glad that you pointed out the prowess and the importance of John Brown to this offense as well, because it is a big factor and injuries do always affect how the quarterback, how the offense can click on all cylinders. Things can change in the blink of an eye, and we've seen that with some of the difficulties that the Patriots have had offensively as of late.

But, Joe, flipping over to the opposite side of the ball for just a moment, and Buffalo's defense, which had been among the top in the league at one point, was ranked at the top of the league in 2019, is currently at a level that not a lot of people expected. Ranked 18th in scoring, 21st in DVOA, 25th in EPA, and last in success rate. But this unit still features some very talented players across the board. I've always been a fan of the way this team is constituted, from the defensive front to the linebacker core to the secondary. Ed Oliver,

Tremaine Edmonds, Trey Davias-White, some of my favorite defenders in the league. And I think when this unit is clicking on all cylinders, it has that big play ability written all over it. Maybe it's yet to put it all together this season, but this unit is certainly capable of leading the Bills to victory, even if their offense is sputtering a bit. Considering some of the difficulty that you see in the Patriots offense right now, do the Buffalo Bills defense smell blood in the water a little bit with this matchup coming up on Sunday? You know, I don't think anyone's surprised that the Bills are 5-2. They've been 5-2 three of the last four seasons. I think we're very surprised at how the Bills got to 5-2,

riding the arm of Josh Allen, not really running the football very well and playing poor defense. There's no question about it. They certainly played very well against the Jets last week, limiting them to just four yards in the second half of the game, 190 total yards, six sacks, multiple interceptions. So that was a bit of a get-right-moment there for the defense, but we know what this Jets team is, and certainly that's not a great gauge for where you're at,

although you like to see them play well and gain some confidence because that has not been the case in the five games before that so far this season. When I look at this Bills defense, it's very confusing to me why they're not playing better because you're looking at the same coaching staff that coached a top three defense in 2018 and 2019. You're looking at basically the exact same players, except for some additions that they made in the defensive line where they let Shaq Lawson and Jordan Phillips go. And they chose to bring in Mario Addison and Vernon Butler and Quentin Jefferson and draft AJ Epinesa.

So you kind of looked at that as a net upgrade, and so you're looking at the same coaches, the same defensive personnel, and potentially an upgrade on the defensive line, and you're seeing much, much poor – much, you know, a big dip in the results, as you outlined there already, Mike. I want to blame a lot of this on injuries. You look at the cornerback situation for the Bills. They've all been hurt. Tredavious White has been limited with a back injury. He's missed games this year so far.

Josh Norman has been injured. Levi Wallace is injured. Matt Milano has been injured. He's not played much this year. Tremaine Edmonds has been battling a shoulder injury. And so it could be that simple of an explanation, Mike, is that these key players that have been so critical to the defensive success in recent years are just banged up, and they're not performing at their highest level. But at the same time, to see this much of a decline is kind of tough to process based on the precedent that has been set in Buffalo. Now, we know the Patriots are going to want to run the football. We know it. They're going to get all

three of those backs involved. They're going to get Cam Newton involved in the run game. They're going to wham block, sift block. They're going to create extra gaps, and they are going to attack downhill. We know that's going to be what the Patriots are going to do. And so you're looking back at the Bills games against the Titans and the Raiders where you saw really premier rushing attacks and Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs. The Bills did a good job of bottling those guys up. Now, with that said, it's a different type of rushing attack here. And so it'll be a great test for the Bills and their ability to maintain their gap integrity,

stay in their run fits, play with leverage, play downhill, tackle, all those types of things. So when you say they're out for blood potentially against a fluttering offense, you know, this is a unique challenge because they've not seen a quarterback that is involved as much in the run game like Cam Newton. And this style of rushing attack will be certainly a different test. And so that'll be key to the Patriots on Sunday is getting that run game going and open up some chances to throw it. And it'll be a good, good I think a measuring stick here for an offense that's trying to get on track against a defense that's trying to get on track on Sunday absolutely and so Patriots fans four down and one to go in your work week as we all continue to prepare for this upcoming week gate matchup with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in Orchard Park, New York.

As you can probably tell, today's crossover between Joe Marino and myself was recorded prior to the news breaking that Julian Edelman would in fact be out with a knee injury. But here tomorrow on the pod, we will continue to bring you the very latest on Edelman's injury, what it means for the Patriots on the field, and how they may prepare both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball to take on a very potent Buffalo Bills team. Joining me here on the pod tomorrow to break it all down is my good friend and predecessor Mark Schofield. Mark's going to be in the house.

You know we're going to be talking quarterbacks. Will we see a rejuvenated Cam Newton? Which Josh Allen will be showing up for Buffalo? And how will Julian Edelman's absence impact what the Patriots want to do on the field offensively? Last but certainly not least, I will be opening up my game notes and analysis, and provide my prediction on the outcome of Sunday's game. So to ensure that you do not miss a single second of the action, download Locked on Patriots wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow us and subscribe to us on platforms such as Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. Just make sure that you're staying locked in to Locked On Patriots. Once again, I'm Mike DeBate. I thank my colleague Joe Marino for his time, his insight, and his appearance on this Crossover Thursday episode. But most of all, I thank you so much for listening and for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. Until tomorrow, folks, stay safe, stay well, continue to be the change you wish to see in the world.

Have a great day, everyone.