Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Locked On Patriots - September 25, 2019: Crossover with Locked On Bills

Episode Date: September 25, 2019

In this Crossover Wednesday edition of Locked On Patriots, host Mike D’Abate is joined by Joe Marino of Locked On Bills, as the duo preview Sunday’s Battle of the Unbeaten between the New England ...Patriots and the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Hello to all you Foxborough faithful and welcome to our crossover Wednesday edition of Locked On Patriots, your daily home for news, notes, analysis, and the occasional opinion on your six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. Locked On Patriots, as always, is a part of the Locked On Podcast Network. I am your host, Mike DeBate. I cover the Patriots for FullPressCoverage.com, which is where you can always find my written work. You can also reach out to me on Twitter at MDABATEFPC, and be sure to follow Locked On Patriots on Twitter at LO underscore Patriots.
Starting point is 00:00:37 Wednesday is always a big day for all of us across the Locked On Podcast network, especially for the NFL shows. And as the Patriots prepare to travel north to take on the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at 1 p.m., it's my pleasure to share the stage today with Joe Marino of Locked On Bills. Joe puts on an amazing show, and this will be a fun one, folks. We will discuss the matchup from a Bills perspective and a Pats perspective, and hopefully we'll give both fan bases something to watch for in this one. However, before I proceed with that, I just wanted to take a moment to address all of you guys out there. And ladies, you will appreciate this too.
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Starting point is 00:02:49 They opened the season by defeating the Jets in a tight game and have scored victories over the New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals. Some may point to the competition or lack thereof for both teams, but these two teams will meet this Sunday, and it should be a big test for both of them. So Joe and I are about to break it all down, and we will enter the crossover zone in just one moment. But first, let me take a moment to let you know about my secret weapon for learning new things and getting ahead. It's hard to find the time to sit down to read and learn more. When you don't have free time, you can't read or work on
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Starting point is 00:04:45 Try it free for seven days and save 25% off your new subscription. That's Blinkist spelled B-L-I-N-K-I-S-T. Blinkist.com slash locked on to start your free seven day trial. And you'll also save 25% off, but only when you sign up at Blinkist.com. Bill Marino, the host of Lockdown Bills, joined now by Michael DeBate, host of the Lockdown Patriots podcast. Pleased to be on here with you, Michael. I'm anxious to get your take on this football game, a couple of 3-0 teams, with first place in the AFC East on the line.
Starting point is 00:05:19 I know it's early in the year, but this Patriots team, it's always an elite football team. That's what we know about the Patriots but is there anything different this year have have we ever seen this team peak this early in the season or do you think it's more about who they play well you know Joe it's uh it's also it's great to be here with you as well and uh I think it's probably a little bit of both to be honest uh the pats on the latter half of the Brady-Belichick era typically have been slow starters. In fact, a lot of the media tends to call it a September swoon up here as they've really, they've struggled and sometimes against lesser opponents. In terms of what they've
Starting point is 00:05:55 done this year, the Steelers were not considered a slam dunk in the opener by any chance. They were, however, very disorganized when they came in here on offense and on defense up to Foxborough. The Patriots definitely took advantage of that on offense. Tom Brady picked apart the Steelers' coverage. They really employed, I think, a little more zone than I thought they would have. But the defense really contained James Conner, Juju Smith-Schuster. And by doing that, Ben Roethlisberger simply had nowhere to go. As for Miami, Miami's in shambles right now.
Starting point is 00:06:25 I mean, it's just it's obvious and you can't really sugarcoat it any more than that. The Patriots ran roughshod over them. And New York has really just been decimated by injury. But you can only play who's on your schedule. And the Patriots really shouldn't be penalized for that, in my opinion. They do look impressive. Defensively, they've held their opponents to zero offensive touchdowns. And that's something to be proud of.
Starting point is 00:06:46 Don't forget. These are NFL teams. They're shutting out. So a great showing so far for the defense. No question about it on offense. Tom Brady's look solid. They've got great production out of Philip Dorsett and Julian Edelman and receiver,
Starting point is 00:06:58 but I don't believe the pats are really close to peaking yet. I think there's still some questions on the running game, especially some questions on the offensive line. So in my opinion, Sunday in Buffalo is going to be their biggest test, and that's going to tell us a lot about the team that the Patriots will employ in 2019. Yeah, similar feeling in Buffalo
Starting point is 00:07:16 in terms of this being their biggest test. And at least they played the Jets with Sam Darnold, but obviously the Giants, two touchdown win there, and then the game against the Bengals. The difference between the Patriots and Bills is the Patriots are blowing out the teams they're playing, and the Bills are finding ways to win, but still winning. So it's going to be a good test for both teams. When you look specifically at this matchup, you're looking at the Bills. What advantages or opportunities do you think maybe Buffalo has to create some problems for
Starting point is 00:07:45 the Patriots well and in a way I kind of alluded to this moments ago and I'm glad that you asked the question it's a good question and I think the Bills have a chance to keep New England off balance by stacking the defensive front to stuff the run Patriots running game right now is not exactly lighting the world up the Patriots have struggled to run the ball despite a 3-0 start they ranked 21st in the NFL with 91 rushing yards per game and 28th run the ball despite a 3-0 start. They rank 21st in the NFL with 91 rushing yards per game and 28th in the NFL with a 3.2 yard average per rush. If you take away the rush as an option, that may free up the edge rushers like Trent Murphy and Jerry Davis to challenge the Patriots offensive line. And there's a ton of new parts on that offensive
Starting point is 00:08:21 line for the Patriots. That's an area where the Pats might struggle this Sunday. So Buffalo could exploit that. They do have the best defensive line by far that the Patriots have faced this year by a long margin. The key for Buffalo is to keep the Patriots offense off the field, keep the score low. If they can do that, they have a decent chance in this game, probably a little bit more than the national pundits might tell you. This could be an area where
Starting point is 00:08:46 the Patriots might have some struggles. So if I'm Buffalo, that's what I'm looking at this week. Definitely contain the run, even though the Patriots have had problems with it. You want to shut that off and then match up with the Patriots passing game. I'm kind of surprised by the lack of run game production. I thought watching this team in preseason, it was going to be a dynamic rush offense. Obviously, the left tackle and center not being available certainly plays into that, but certainly hasn't been productive, as you said there. This next question I have for you, Mike, I don't know if you had the real answer to this, you'd be an NFL defensive coordinator, probably head coach in the AFC East.
Starting point is 00:09:22 But I would like to know, what are the keys to shutting down Tom Brady? When you see him struggle, which I'm sure you've watched as much of Tom Brady as anybody, when you've seen him not play up to Tom Brady standards, what's usually the formula? Well, that is the question, right? No question about it. Look, it sounds simplistic, but they have to get to him. Or Tom's going to do what he's been doing for 18 years, and he's going to pick his opponents apart,
Starting point is 00:09:47 whether that be the Bills or any other team. It's simply what Tom Brady does. And theoretically, on Sunday, that should happen. Even though Buffalo's got an outstanding secondary, New England does such a great job with its route concepts that someone always seems to get open. And usually it's because Brady gets the time he needs to let things develop. But that may be a little bit of a challenge on Sunday
Starting point is 00:10:08 because of the Patriots' makeshift offensive line. I think a key for the Bills here is that the Patriots won't do a lot of max protecting the way the Bengals did last week because, like having their skill guys out in pattern, the Patriots like to do that. So, again, the edge rushers have to win the battles, I think, against the offensive line and keep Tom uncomfortable in the pocket.
Starting point is 00:10:28 If they do that, the Bills, I think, have the defensive talent in the secondary to keep the matchups with the Patriots skill players pretty close. So basically, you have to throw Brady off his time and you have to get your hand in his face and you have to knock him off his game. I want to ask you a question about the defense here in a minute, but I want to stick offensively. You mentioned the makeshift offensive line. I've alluded to it as well, just not necessarily the preferred five guys. David Andrews' injury was a significant one just before the season. You saw them even make a trade for Russell Bodine, who's since been cut. What do you make of this offensive line here? What do
Starting point is 00:11:03 you expect this unit to look like on Sunday? Well, to me, the offensive line is really the only thing that could hold the Patriots back in this game and really going forward. Left tackle Isaiah Wynn was placed on IR with turf toe. Right tackle Marcus Cannon is still working through a shoulder injury. He was active on Sunday against the Jets, but he looks like he's still a little bit hampered by that. So it's going to be Marshall Newhouse, who the Bills fans know, and also Corey Cunningham at tackle. So it's going to be a little bit of a different look than what was projected when the Patriots set the 53-man roster. There's a possibility they could move Joe Tooney to tackle and then fill in another new body at
Starting point is 00:11:39 the guard position. Jermaine Illuminor is someone that could come in and be a transition guard. He's yet to play on this offensive line yet, but perhaps we see him on Sunday. You mentioned David Andrews, definitely a big loss, but I do want to give some props to Ted Karras, who has really come in, played well in the absence of Andrews. Andrews is a team captain on this team, very well respected, very dialed into what this team does on the offensive line. So I really think that Karras has done an admirable job of trying to fill those shoes. But there is no question that Dante Skarnecchia, who is the Pats offensive line coach, he's
Starting point is 00:12:10 going to have these boys working overtime this week. This is something that they definitely have to get right in order to beat the Bills on Sunday. Looking over to the defensive side of the ball here, it looks like Jamie Collins is having a great year. Kyle Vannoy, those guys are both playing lights out. How is this defense evolving and what type of plan do you think they'll deploy against Buffalo, who has a dual threat quarterback in Josh Allen, some speed at receiver and an
Starting point is 00:12:36 offensive line that is run blocking pretty well right now? Yeah, they definitely are. Buffalo is coming in, clicking on all cylinders and playing very well. And the Patriots defense is definitely shaping up as one of the best in the league. You mentioned Collins and Van Noy. That's a big reason why. The Patriots have shut out their opponents in the first half in five straight games, counting the 2018 playoffs. And they haven't a lot of touchdown this season. They've only given up three points.
Starting point is 00:13:00 They're number one in the NFL in fewest rushing yards, passing yards and total yards allowed. They lead the league with a 52.8 completion percentage against, uh, and they're tied for the league league with 13 sacks. So I know that sounds like a rundown of a lot of statistics, but just to put things in perspective of how good this defense has been, uh, they really, really have been. And that is where guys like Collins and Van Noy have been invaluable with the combination of the completion percentage and the sacks because the front line and the secondary have been so effective. That's really freed up the linebacking court to both rush the passer and drop back into coverage. And I think you're going to see them try to do that a lot on Sunday, especially with a mobile quarterback like Josh Allen. Collins has been having a monster
Starting point is 00:13:43 year. Van Noy has really emerged as a true force in that linebacking unit. That also includes Juwan Bentley, Dante Hightower. These guys have all played well. And Landon Roberts is someone that I also want to give a little bit of credit to as well. He had a really impressive year so far in coverage. He was considered a roster bubble candidate, and now he's been one of their most consistent defenders. So you know the secondary is going to show up to play. Stephon Gilmore is someone Bills fans know very well. He's been playing lockdown.
Starting point is 00:14:11 You might see the safeties get challenged a little bit. But I look for the linebackers to really be the force in this game because I think they're going to be able to dictate exactly what type of game Josh Allen's going to be able to play, whether it's going to be more of a passing game or whether he's going to have to extend drives with his legs. Deep, talented, and well-coached is the theme there with the Patriots defense. It'll be a big test for the Bills offense and Josh Allen. Last one I have for you here is obviously this is a gronkless football team. And what does it look like what is what have you noticed about how the offense has evolved uh without him being in the mix well first they've moved away from the trademark tight end
Starting point is 00:14:52 sets with gronkowski gone uh matt lacoste and ryan iso are the tight ends on the roster right now benjamin watson is scheduled to come back in week five uh but right now it's lacoste and it's iso and they can catch passes but they're not going to be a focal point of the offense so the Patriots have gotten away from that and focused more on the receiver position they've gotten bigger at receiver with Josh Gordon coming back into the fold and they've gotten a little bit faster with Philip Dorsett emerging as really a true threat in this offense he's been probably their most consistent receiver through the first three games so the running game really I don't think has truly emerged yet.
Starting point is 00:15:26 I think they're looking for that to be what the tight end position gave you in terms of productivity, not necessarily the same game plan, but in terms of the yards and the points that they're able to put up, I think they're looking for more out of that. They do have three backs. Rex Burkhead and James White are well known to be pass catchers out of the backfield. But Sonny Michel worked a lot with the Patriots offensive coaching staff this summer to try to get used to catching the ball out of the backfield. So that way, if he lines up with Rex Burkhead or with James White, for example, usually people would know, well, then White or Burkhead are going to be a receiving option. And Michel is more of a decoy.
Starting point is 00:16:05 With him getting the opportunity to catch more passes out of the backfield, it makes the defensive strategy kind of be second-guessed at that point. You know, when all is said and done, Julian Edelman is always Tom's most reliable target. So when in doubt, when he gets in trouble, he will look for Julian. But there are some questions to whether or not he will play with a chest injury. So definitely that's something that the Patriots might need to use that next man up mentality. But again, Tom Brady just adapts to what he's given and he seems to get production from all of the players on his roster, no matter the personnel, but it's really been a transition away from the tight end sets with Gronkowski. And even with Benjamin Watson coming back into the full,
Starting point is 00:16:44 I don't see that coming I think the Patriots are relying more much more on wide receiver and running back play now and the tight end position has gone back to being an occasional pass threat but mostly a blocking position it's been the thing with Brady he always adapts the pieces around him always been different for 20 years now and Brady overcomes it and this is just the next example of that at the end of a hard week it's great to sit down take some time off and watch some football game-winning touchdowns two-minute drives running backs racing down the sidelines there's nothing like the NFL and there's no better way to make games even more exciting than to bet on them so
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Starting point is 00:18:09 We're talking about this game from the Bills side of things right after this. Once again, it's NFL Crossover Wednesday here on the Locked On Podcast Network. And again, I'm Mike DeBate of Locked On Patriots, and I am here with Joe Marino of Locked On Bills. And we've been chatting about the brewing of the battle of the unbeaten in Buffalo this Sunday. And we've been talking about this from the Patriots' perspective a little bit. But now let's take a look at things from the Bills' perspective. And Joe, the Bills might be a surprise 3-0 team to a lot of national analysts and maybe even some local people here in New England, maybe even some people in Buffalo.
Starting point is 00:18:44 But this is a team that I thought had the potential of being a factor in the AFC even before the season began. I like the way this roster is put together, both on the offensive side and the defensive side. In your opinion, what has been really the keys to Buffalo's emergence after what was really considered a disappointing 2018? Yeah, Bills are 6-10 last year, and it was a calculated 6-10 because it was all about getting the team through some really bad roster management and some bad salaries, and they had over $50 million in dead cap space. So they were significantly undermanned last year, and then obviously, you know, working in Josh Allen into the lineup, the Bills played four
Starting point is 00:19:22 different quarterbacks, four different starting quarterbacks last year. So it was a rebuilding year for sure. And they did that. They spent this offseason really investing in this roster. We're very aggressive in free agency, had a very productive draft. And obviously the big thing is Josh Allen's evolution as a football player. You know, last year it was all about chucking the ball deep. And if it wasn't there, he would take off with his legs. Now he's a really different player this year. He's really doing a good job of challenging the short to intermediate areas of the field. They brought in Cole Beasley. They brought in John Brown. They revamped the offensive line. They have a new backfield.
Starting point is 00:19:55 And all of that has improved the spacing for Josh Allen. He's become a more complete quarterback in terms of the areas of the field he will test. Now, the challenging thing is that the more timing, the more consistency has led to some decrease in production down the field. Josh Allen hasn't really got the deep passing game going so far. So there's been some trade-off there, but this team has really put together a lot of very significant drives. I think they have seven touchdown drives of over 70 yards so far in three games. I mean, they are finding ways to keep the offense on schedule. Now, they have some low lights usually in the third quarter
Starting point is 00:20:32 that's made some of these games a little closer than they should be, games the Bills were in control of, and some lapses coming out of the half have been a problem. So the Bills will be looking to play a complete game for the first time on Sunday against the Patriots. But then you think defensively, this team's identity has been its defense, right? problem so the bills be looking to play a complete game for the first time on sunday against uh against the patriots but then you think defensively this this team's identity has been its defense right last year was one of the best in the league and it's trending to be another top unit again this year led by some really talented players that have been in the system now for three years
Starting point is 00:20:58 you know sean mcdermott leslie frazier the defensive coordinator have had the nucleus of players around long enough and there's been some young talent added to that in Tremaine Edmonds and Matt Milano and that Oliver to really take this thing to the next level. And you're seeing you're seeing the benefits of having talent within a scheme over a period of time. And it's evolving and playing, playing really well. So things are coming together in Buffalo and everyone's excited about the three and oh start uh they're also concerned that they haven't yet played a complete game that's that's definitely a factor but the optimism is that maybe that complete game happens on sunday at home and what's going to be the biggest game of the year yeah without question and it actually is going to be probably the biggest challenge that the patriots have had to date so far. This is a Bills team that is really clicking on all cylinders, and I'm looking forward to the game without question, and I know Bills and Patriots fans both are.
Starting point is 00:21:53 You did mention Josh Allen, and I want to keep it on that for just one second. Josh has continued to be up and down, completing 66 of 103 passes for 550 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions. So he's played pretty well, but there are some inconsistencies in the numbers. The Patriots secondary is led by someone Bills fans know very well in Stephon Gilmore. He's been locked down through three games so far. How do you see the Bills pass catchers being able to attack the Pats defensive backfield? And is that more dependent on how Allen plays or is that going to be dependent on his weapons around him being able to get open and create plays after the catch?
Starting point is 00:22:30 Yeah, it's going to be an all-of-the-buff thing, Mike. I really think so. I mean, I think the Bills for this game are really going to have to find their vertical passing game and hit some stuff down the field to potentially loosen up this secondary, which we know that that's pretty multiple. But, you know, Stephon Gilmore is a really good press quarterback. And if he's going to be all up in the face of the receivers and really jamming things at the line of scrimmage and throwing off route timing,
Starting point is 00:22:53 it's going to be really difficult for Josh Allen. And how do you get them out of that? Well, you get a guy like John Brown, who has four, three speed to get behind Stefan Gilmore, or, you know, guys like Robert Foster, who was a successful deep threat for the team last year, Dawson Knox, an athletic tight end. I think the Bills are going to have to hit some stuff down the field. And when it's not available, Josh Allen's going to have to be smart when he extends plays. That's going to be kind of the X factor is if Josh Allen can get outside of structure and potentially get some breakdowns in the Patriots' coverage and just kind of get that scramble drill going. And you have guys working between zones and him making smart decisions
Starting point is 00:23:29 and throwing the ball accurately. So I don't think that they're going to be able to just play their base sets and run the offense because the Patriots' defense is going to be a real challenge for that. It's going to be about what they can do to make dynamic things happen. I think you have to take advantage of Josh Allen's arm strength. I think you have to get outside of structure and hope that he can make some plays outside the pocket. Yeah, I think the dynamic ability that Josh Allen brings to the table in terms of being able to be versatile, both extending plays with his legs and also with his arm, is something that the New England Patriots defense hasn't really had a whole lot of this year. Fitzpatrick's game is pretty much pocket-based. Roethlisberger's game is pretty
Starting point is 00:24:08 much pocket-based. Luke Falk last week was a rookie, basically. I mean, for all intents and purposes, I know it's not officially his rookie season, but he's getting his first start. He's coming into the game, you know, thrust into action in Foxborough against the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick, who eats rookie quarterbacks alive. So it's definitely a difficult situation. Josh Allen comes in being the toughest test, and I think it's going to be a good one for the Patriots secondary and their skill positions as well. Just staying on the offensive side of the ball for another moment, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Frank Gore, who really, I think, has been great to open the season. He's really given a boost to that Bills rushing attack. What can he bring to the table against the Pats
Starting point is 00:24:49 defensive line, particularly the front seven? Because the Patriots have been pretty good at stuffing the run, especially Danny Shelton. Lawrence Guy has been really good up front with that defensive line. So how can you see Gore and the Bills running backs being able to attack that Patriots front seven? Yeah, it's going to be big boy football, right? Frank Gore at this point in his career, he's a downhill guy between the tackles. He's going to challenge you with pad level and physicality. And the Bills have some good size up front. They have some powerful dudes up front.
Starting point is 00:25:18 But I know the Patriots front seven is pretty stacked with powerful physical dudes as well. And so it's going to be about guys that are willing to get low and make things happen. And so I think you'll see some throwback moments there in terms of how this Bill's rushing offense gets downhill and attacks the Patriots, you know, really physical stout front seven. Now, the interesting piece of this is if Devin Singletary can play, he's the rookie third round take out of Florida Atlantic, and he's the more elusive, shifty guy. And if he's available, the Bills have had a lot of success pulling offensive
Starting point is 00:25:49 linemen and getting off tackle and allowing Devin Singletary to use his vision. And the Bills have had players like Dawson Knox and Lee Smith really block well on the perimeter and bringing around guys like Mitch Morse to center on longer poles, and it's been successful for them. So if you can get some of those physical guys and challenge them to work laterally, and you combine that with a really elusive runner in Devin Singletary, that's kind of an X factor as well. So I think if Singletary can go, you're going to see some of that. But if it's the Frank Gore show, which it's kind of been this year,
Starting point is 00:26:18 it's going to be downhill smash-mouth football, and it's going to be mano-a-mano, and whichever team wants it more is going to find the success yeah i think so i think there's a definitely a good um a good balance that we're in store for on sunday when it comes to uh to the running game of the buffalo bills and the uh the prolificness of what the patriots are going to be able to bring to the table defensively um we've spent a little bit of time now on the offense, and I do want to switch gears and go with a little bit toward the defensive side of the ball. And the Bills come in boasting a very, very formidable defense. In my opinion, one of the most talented secondaries in the league, Trey Davias White, Levi Wallace, guys that can definitely play this game
Starting point is 00:27:00 without question. But every year is different. And Tom Brady has had success against the Bills throughout his career. There's no question about that. This is 2019. And the Bills have the defensive stars, I think, to get pressure on Brady, especially the edge rushers. Are you optimistic that the Bills can do that, especially with the makeshift offensive line that the Patriots are going to be employing? And if so, is that going to give the Bills secondary an opportunity to maybe get a couple of turnovers or maybe make things very difficult on Brady's pass catchers? Well, I mean, if you look at the last time the Bills and Patriots played in Foxborough towards the end of the year, I thought the Bills did a pretty good job against
Starting point is 00:27:43 Brady. I think he only passed for about, what, 117 yards. The Patriots turned the ball over three times. And they seem to have something working there with how effective they are at really masking coverage and disguising things pre-snap, and it looks differently post-snap. And even Tom Brady's commented on that. And so I think the Bills have to continue to do that at a high level and just not give Tom Brady those opportunities to really understand where the leverage is going to be and get those
Starting point is 00:28:11 timing routes down with Julian Edelman and all those receivers that he tends to always have if you can make him think a little bit post-snap and potentially take advantage of a makeshift offensive line it gets some pressure you know that's really where it's going to matter so as much as the pass rush is going to matter, it could be about that secondary given that pass rush, just a little bit more time to get home to Brady and really build on some of the success Buffalo had in week 16 of the 2018 season. And, you know, those safeties, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, they're so versatile and they do such a good job of really rotating and getting to spots on the field that the quarterback didn't think they were going to be at when they
Starting point is 00:28:50 initially read the defense. So it's a big test and shutting down Brady is something no one's been able to do consistently for 20 years, it feels like. And if the Bills can kind of go back to that tape and build off of some of that stuff with potentially a more cohesive unit overall, that's kind of the optimism in my mind when I think about the Bills defense going up against Brady. Yeah, and I'm glad that you mentioned Poyer and Hyde. I think really one of the great secondaries, one of the great safety tandems in the NFL, and they have typically been able to play Brady well. you did give a good indication, especially last year's game. I think they, they really have figured this out. And don't forget, these guys have played Tom Brady multiple times. You do pick up on things when you're
Starting point is 00:29:34 an interdivisional rival, all of a sudden these games take on a whole new meaning. And there's a great deal of familiarity there. So I, for one, I'm looking forward to this. It sounds like you are as well. This is going to be a great game up in Orchard Park. It always seems like early fall football up in Buffalo is something that these two teams have had a great tradition on. There've been some blowouts here and there. There've been some really, really close games. I know when Rob Gronkowski was employed by the Patriots, this was always a big game for him coming from the Buffalo area. So I'm looking forward to it.
Starting point is 00:30:07 Pat's fans, Bill's fans, definitely looking forward to it. Patriots nation, Bill's mafia, both are going to be out in full force Patriots travel well. So there will be a Pat's fans up in Buffalo, but the Buffalo,
Starting point is 00:30:17 the Bill's mafia is to me, one of the most stark raving fan bases in all of football, definitely dedicated. And there are a lot of fun. And one thing I did want to mention was obviously the passing of, of Pancho Bia, somebody that everybody I think in Patriots nation really warmed to and was very endeared to. You always looked at his fandom as someone that always kept it positive. He always was so passionate about his, his team and his franchise. and I know he's going
Starting point is 00:30:45 to be definitely missed this weekend by Patriots fans. We always look forward to the battles that we had, respectively. So on behalf of Patriots Nation, I know there's a lot of condolences still to be extended there, and it's going to be a happening in Buffalo, no question about it. Looking forward to it, Michael, uh this is a good conversation and uh someone's not going to be three at all on sunday we'll we'll find out and i certainly enjoyed this conversation and uh we get to do this twice a year so we'll talk again in a few weeks oh we definitely will we're looking forward to it and the next time you guys come down here to foxborough we'll definitely host you you guys have the wings ready we'll have the clam chowder ready
Starting point is 00:31:23 and uh we'll be eating well and tailgating, my friend, I assure you. But we do hope that you have enjoyed this crossover Wednesday here with Locked On Patriots and Locked On Bills. As always, please join us each and every day on the Locked On Podcast Network via your preferred podcast provider. For Joe Marino of Locked On Bills, I am Mike DeBate of Locked On Patriots. Thank you for listening and have a great day, everybody.

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