Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Playoff Chat with the Countess - Pats-Fins Aftermath, Patriots-Bills Early Thoughts — 1/12/21

Episode Date: January 14, 2022

The New England Patriots have a playoff date with the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. However, there are still many questions to be answered regarding their disappointing loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Joining host Mike D’Abate is Clare ‘ClazzyClare’ Cooper as the duo wrap-up Pats-Fins analysis and take an early look at the Buffalo Bills.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. 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. Patriots fans, all of us here in Pats Nation continue to sift through the rubble of the Patriots. 33-24 loss to the Miami Dolphins in the 2021 regular season finale. But that was then, this is now. And the Patriots have a formidable opponent on wildcard weekend, the two-time defending afc east champion buffalo bills

i still can't get used to saying that but in any case folks it is reality no matter how harsh it might be the patriots and the bills set to hook up for the third time in the last few weeks believe it or not and this is going to be a great matchup in Orchard Park on Saturday night. Here today to help me break it all down and also help us take our leave from the Patriots-Dolphins debacle is someone whose wit and wisdom are a staple here on this podcast. Hers is a voice, an accent, and a giggle that you know well, but I say it every week, folks. It is the wit and wisdom that bring her back each and every week. And it's made her a Wednesday regular here on Locked On Patriots. From West Midlands in the UK, a phenomenal Patriots writer for Pat's Propaganda, as well as full press coverage Patriots, where she hosts her very own podcast, A Claire Perspective.

Folks, if you haven't smashed that subscribe button to a claire perspective please do so claire continues to knock it out of the park a recent excellent episode with her and phil perry of nbc sports boston one of my favorite listens in the nation i guarantee you you'll love it as much as i do if you subscribe to it so please do that and of course she is the third voice of one patriots place alongside our good mutual friends, Thomas Murphy and Steve Balistrieri. Welcoming here today as a regular on Wednesday is the Baroness of Blockers, the Queen of T.E., the Empress of Tight Endage, the Countess of Clas, the new Lady of lockdown miss claire classy claire cooper joins me today claire thank you so much for joining me here on this wednesday pre-playoff episode of lockdown patriots oh you're very welcome thank you so much for having me as usual this seat gets

comfier and comfier every week it's yours that wednesday chair is yours. Don't sit in the chair that has the embroidery on the back that says Merv. That is his chair. And as long as no one disturbs that total poster on the wall in honor of Mark Schofield, we're all set here on the Lockdown Studios. And Claire, again, it's always a blast

when you come on here and we're able to talk ball. We're able to prognosticate on what the Patriots' future might be. And we're able to talk ball, we're able to prognosticate on what the Patriots future might be. And we're going to do that today because there is a formidable and strong game that the Patriots do have coming up here in their first playoff test of the 2021 season in the calendar year of 2022. But we're not quite done sifting through the rubble, as I previously said, of the Patriots' 33-24 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Claire, a lot went wrong for the Patriots getting down 17-0 early. Murph and I talked about this on Monday's episode. It's not a recipe for success. In fact, it's just the opposite. It's a recipe for failure. And the Patriots, despite making some plays later in the game that almost

put them back into contention for it, they just couldn't dig themselves out of that deficit. And in the end, it was just too much to overcome. When you look at this game and you look at the Patriots taking a loss like this, getting into the postseason Typically, Bill Belichick teams rebound very well from losses. They really they use it as a motivational factor. We can remember a few years ago, the Kansas City game where all the Patriots are not good anymore. Well, they went on a tear. And all of a sudden they're in the Super Bowl and then they end up winning it. So the Patriots have a history of being able to rebound, but this team is not that team. They're different players, there's different personnel, and it's a different culture in the NFL right now. But there's still a lot of optimism that the New England

Patriots could still turn this around. In your opinion, do you believe that this loss to the Dolphins could end up being a good thing in the long run? And how could the New England Patriots use this as a wake up call to get back into the mode of where they need to be to take on the Bills this weekend? Well, it's interesting you put it like that, Mike. Is it could it be, you know, is it the wake up call? Could it be the wake up call that the Patriots needed? And I really don't think it is the Colts and the Jags losses are something no sorry the Colts and the what am I saying the Colts and the Jags losses the Colts and the Bills losses sorry are something that should have poked the Patriots to turn it around and highlighted the weaknesses I mean to be honest with you they've had their weaknesses made visible for pretty much all of this season the inconsistency has shown up where the weak points are in the team so you know they went into the bye really confident I think it was

um I think it was on my recent ACP with Phil Perry but it might have been on Phil Perry's own podcast I know that Phil Perry said about the locker room and although you guys don't go into the locker rooms now the locker room of the Patriots going into the bye after after that kind of after that Bills win sorry they were so confident it was such a jubilation and and quite rightly and I mean then the Patriots were looking like the kind of team that you would think would have a shot in the playoffs at least some way into the playoffs and it was talked about that was the thing it was you know the Patriots are kind of going to make the playoffs and appreciate that they have um but the mini I don't know if the team that we're seeing we can expect to go much further than that one wild card game against the Bills I mean the loss

at Indy must have been maybe a bit of an identity crisis moment after such the win at Buffalo whether or not it hit them hard confidence wise I'd kind of imagine that that Bills game that loss at the Bills that came after um the Colts would should have been by then a wake-up call, if you like, if you want to sort of say that. I mean, I loved the Jags game. And I know that there's so much around it of, well, it was, you know, it was the hole. It was Jacksonville. You know, there are dumps to fire, this, that and the other.

But as a Patriots fan, it was not. We saw some beautifully played football, regardless of who the the competition was regardless that it was a mediocre team that kind of thing we got to see something that was so enjoyable and I think we need to appreciate that for the isolated situation that it is but it doesn't really give much vision to the picture that we're seeing of the Patriots for this season but like you said the Patriots of this season is being compared so much to previous Patriots yeah that's what we all do it's human nature but they're they're very much not those Patriots and although I know it's a very significant difference I'm not sure if people are kind of glazing over the fact

that the quarterback is a rookie quarterback you haven't got Tom Brady to you know pick up the slack or to save it that kind of thing and the fact that he's a rookie has been sort of in various stages kind of gone unnoticed in a way because he's he's he's so smart because he's confident because they started him so they obviously have some confidence in him to to utilize him you know straight away and the team the team have said how confident a guy is how how much of a leader he is so it's almost like it's easy to forget the fact that he isn't going to play this perfect game all the time regardless of you know if everything around him is perfect because he is a rookie because it's his first year in the NFL and I mean I don't know about you but I think in a in a job that's kind of what it is with with such extremes

that that is you can't be perfect in your first year I mean really come on it's he's he's just a guy sort of thing I mean to fully answer your question I I don't think that the the Finns game was a wake-up call I feel like it's too little too late if it's taken until that game for them to realize then maybe they aren't quite the system that we thought they were but I think it's just the Patriots have problems frustrating issues and inconsistency but that is. A lot of this is new to a lot of Patriots fans, not all obviously, but even those that suffered pre-Brady. The Brady era was so long. Tom Brady's a superbly talented player and that helps make those around him better in a way too, I think you could say. I don't think it's, you know, unusual to say that way too I think you could say I don't think it's you know unusual to say that do I think he's alone in that no not at all but obviously as of yet in in Mac we we don't have

that glaringly obvious but that is just football Brady was like a bolt of lightning molded by the perfect environment you know the perfect surrounding of of the coaching in all fairness in in Bill Belichick and that's what the Patriots nation is used to and maybe even the team and the inner sanctum is so used to all that if the Patriots were any other team I think that this season would just be classed as an inconsistent success I don't think it would be questioned in the way that maybe it's being questioned for the Patriots it's difficult when you're so molded by such a very significant past to kind of look past that and see you know actually see what we're really seeing and because they they had such a great winning streak

you know the the confidence was there things that had problems seemed to sort themselves out the the o-line was such a you know a situation of contention at the beginning of the season and stuff like this and with the with regards to them they're not bringing back Stefan Gilmore it was like can JC Jackson really step up and in all fairness to give the guy you know he's all due respect I you know my personal opinion I think he has I think it's amazing how concerned that some of us were about the the loss of of Gilmore when we had JC I for one was was definitely like I didn't think this kid could be kind of what we needed and in all fairness I think he has been so you know major kudos to him but it's sort of still showing glaringly

obvious kind of weaknesses that they don't have enough there and and and kind of that's a lot of what we're seeing is we're seeing the weaknesses kind of so under a microscope when they play a team that's unfortunately mediocre like the Dolphins are really so yeah I hope that's unfortunately mediocre like the dolphins are really so yeah i hope that's answered your question in a long-winded way i thought you made some great insight and i thought you gave some great opinion look bottom line i agree with you i don't think this is quote-unquote the wake-up call just like i didn't think that the jaguars game was quote unquote, the get right game for the new England Patriots. I mentioned more of maybe getting, maybe it was more of a get smart game than a get right game in terms of the

Jaguars performance. I think the Patriots started to return to what they did. Well, they ran into a very well coached team on Sunday and I still, for the life of me, do not understand why the dolphins chose to part ways with Brian Flores. That conversation for another day. I still, to this day of me, do not understand why the Dolphins chose to part ways with Brian Flores. That conversation for another day. I still, to this day, I won't understand it.

Maybe they have something in place that will help to solve all the problems, answer all the questions. But for right now, that's still a head scratcher to me. But I thought Brian had a great game plan for being able to take it to New England. Allow them, put them on their heels first, get aggressive, attack the areas of the field that they have difficulty defending. And we'll get to that in a minute, folks, because we are going to talk about the difficulties that the Patriots may face with the Bills this weekend. But I think you're absolutely right on the Dolphins game.

I had a great history teacher in high school that used to call out all of the students in the classroom that would make the sign of the cross whenever they had to take an exam or take a test. You know, all of a sudden, the religion in the school that I went to came out of a lot of these guys that were ready to take tests. And he would call it out and he'd say, not today, not now. The Holy Spirit ain't here. He ain't coming. And I think in a lot of ways that is implicable of what the Patriots are going through right now. You don't quote unquote, just get right heading into the playoffs. You have to be in a rhythm. You have to be playing well and look for a lot of people. They'll say that

bodes for disastrous outcome prediction for the New England Patriots this weekend, but not so fast, folks, because if you look at the game and the way the Patriots played it on Sunday, there were more positives coming away from that field than one may think initially. They did claw their way back. Max showed a little bit of poise in the second half. They started to play a little bit better. They started to defend a little better. That is stuff that they can build on, and I think they will continue to build on it, especially when it came to Mack maybe taking a few extra shots down the field. This is something that I think they can utilize to their advantage, but at the same time, New England right now is not going to take a magic pill that's going to allow them to be able to to

right all the wrongs uh there this team has shortcomings i think everybody has to respect that and understand it but their shortcomings are not so drastically different than anyone else in the afc right now that they can't contend or hang with any one of these teams so again claire spot on analysis i bet you did a great job of explaining that. And again, you gave me an opportunity to use one of my favorite analogies from high school. And always, anytime you can make me feel a little bit younger, like going back to that place,

it's always a good thing. One of the great reasons why we love having her here, folks. That's it. See, one of the great reasons why I love having her here. No, I'm kidding. Claire, as we take our leave from the miami dolphins we now turn our attention to the buffalo bills folks and in just a moment claire and i will talk about the buffalo bills and the game plans that the new england patriots may try to devise in order to keep the bills on their heels it's claire folks so you know we're going to be talking some tight endage,

but with a great reason, because that tandem of tight ends may be a very key reason why the Patriots could have success against the Bills on Saturday. We'll talk that and more when this Wednesday episode with the new lady of Locked On herself, Claire Classy, Claire Cooper, continues. Locked On listeners, it is the new year. So you know what that means. That's right, New Year's resolutions. If yours is about getting fit or eating healthier,

make sure that you include Bilt Bar into your plan. Bilt Bar is the protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Maybe even better than a candy bar. Folks, I can tell you from personal experience, they've replaced all the candy in my household. Bilt Bar makes it easy to stick to your New Year's resolutions because it tastes so good. You'll want to eat it. Unlike other protein bars, which can be chalky or waxy or taste like a chemical spill, Built Bar makes it enjoyable to eat healthy. Here's an idea for the new year. Since this is the new year and it's time for out with the old, in with the new,

go to all those secret treat stashes you've got laying around from the holidays, either at home, in the pantry, in the office, in the car, wherever. Throw out all the sugary calorie-filled treats and replace them with built bars. So when you're craving a snack or a treat, you can reach for something that's healthy and tastes incredible. And there's so many flavors to choose from. Coconut almond, peanut butter brownie, raspberry, cookies and cream, mint brownie, so many more. In fact, Built Bar is always coming out with new limited time flavors. So check out Built.com often to see what's new.

Go to Built.com, use the promo code and get 15% off your order. Use the promo code LOCKED15 for 15% off at Bilt.com. Hello again, Patriots fans. This is Mike DeBate with an incredible app everyone who buys gas needs to know about. GetUpside. My listeners are making up to 25 cents for every gallon of gas, every time they fill up. Just download the free GetUpside app in the App Store or Google Play right now. Use promo code TOUCHDOWN and get a bonus $0.25 per gallon on your first fill-up. That's up to $0.50 cash back. Don't pay full price at the pump anymore.

Get cash back using GetUpside. Just download the app for free, then use the promo code TOUCHDOWN to get up to 50 cents per gallon cash back on your first tank. Some people who drive a lot are making as much as $200 to $300 a month in cash back. And here's the best part, there's no catch. The cash back gets added right to your account. You can cash out at any time to your bank account, PayPal, or an e-gift card for Amazon and even other brands. So don't delay.

Do it today. Download the free GetUpside app and use promo code TOUCHDOWN to get up to 50 cents per gallon cash back on your first tank. Use the code TOUCHDOWN when you download GetUpside. Locked on, listeners. We're back and better than ever. All eyes are on the gridiron as teams are back to start another football season. As always, BetOnline is your number one spot for all the pro and college football action this season. With a new updated site and interface, even more odds, props, and contests, BetOnline.ag continues to be the number one source for everything

football. Head to the website or use your mobile device to sign up today to receive your 100% welcome bonus. That's double your initial deposit just for signing up. Don't forget to use the promo code NFL100. From football, basketball, boxing, right to your favorite Vegas casino games, don't wait to take advantage of all the amazing offers available for the 2021 season. Bet online, the fastest and easiest way to bet all of your favorite sports. Bet online, your online sportsbook experts.

Patriots fans, the empress of tight endage, the queen queen of TE the baroness of blockers the countess of class and the new lady of locked on here on locked on Patriots Claire Classey Claire Cooper joins me today and Claire we talked a little bit about the Dolphins game being a wake-up call for the New England Patriots and we're both in agreement that they don't need a wake-up call for the New England Patriots. And we're both in agreement that they don't need a wake-up call. The Patriots just need to play better in order to be able to win. And that sounds like a cop-out. That sounds very amateurish in terms of analysis, but really it's spot on. It's not scheme that's really doing in the New England Patriots. It's execution. It's poor performance. It's staying away from dumb penalties. Of course, it would help if the refs could get a couple of those right,

but I'm not going to get into that. Yeah, we don't have time. Exactly. That could be a whole week's worth of podcasts on the officiating all season long with all NFL teams. I don't mean to make it sound like all the Patriots are just that. The officiating, in my opinion, this year has been terrible across the board. But we'll get to that another time. There is any offseason, folks.

Exactly, folks. And we will have a five parter on the terrible officiating of one twenty one. Stay tuned. Free and available wherever you get your podcasts. No, just kidding. Just kidding, folks. The Patriots and the Bills are now going to be seeing each other for the third time this year. Really, the third time in just a matter of weeks, which is insane when you think about it. Tomorrow here on Locked on Patriots, Joe Marino is going to join me on the crossover episode, the playoff crossover.

And Joe and I love to be able to do podcasts together, but we're even starting to get sick of one another. I'm sure these two teams are as well. Sorry, Joe. You know that, you know, nothing but love, my friend. But bottom line, this is going to be a game between two teams that know each other very well. Momentum does always favor the latest team that happens to come out with a victory. And unfortunately, folks, that means the Buffalo Bills. They came into Gillette Stadium, really beat the Patriots in all three phases last time these two teams played. But the last time they did battle in Orchard Park, the Patriots were able to come out on top 14-10

with an unorthodox but effective game plan in running the football. You know, Claire, that regardless of the weather, the New England Patriots are not going to be able to get away with having Mac Jones throw only three passes. Buffalo forced him to make throws. They're going to dare him to do it again, and they're going to be throwing those side blitzes at him, trying to confuse him, shut off the run game, and try to force Mack into maybe taking shots down the field. This is something Brian Flores and the Miami Dolphins, I think, did an effective job of early on in Sunday's game, and it really had Mack looking very uncomfortable and even a

little bit lost at times. If the Patriots are going to be effective, it's been argued by me, the defense, as Vinny Gambini would say, that the Patriots are going to have to take some shots down the field. They're going to have to test Mac Jones's ability to do that. And in the second half of Sunday's game, Mac did a pretty good job with that. He completed five of eight passes, was very effective, 20 yards or more. So he can win those battles if he's given the opportunity to do so. One of the times where he won those battles was a beautiful 35-yard completion to Hunter Henry.

And again, Hunter continues to be, I think, the most effective and the most complete route runner on this team. That's not a surprise to me. I've seen him do it in Los Angeles, and I knew he could do that here. But we keep talking about breakout games for John Smith Angeles and I knew he could do that here but we keep talking about breakout games for John Smith and I'm not going to use that term but John can be an effective receiver down the field he's got speed to be able to beat guys down the field and then you've got Jacoby Myers Nelson Aguilar you know guys that can get open and make catches in the open field including Kendrick Bourne I want to throw him into that mix as well. But I think the balance of the Patriots offense on Saturday night could be dictated.

That tempo could be dictated by the two tight end sets that we've been wanting to see. I think this is the game where you bring that out. You love talking tight endage, Claire, and I don't want to steal your thunder. Am I off base or on base here and based on what your thoughts are why do you believe this is the game or this is not the game to unleash that two tight end set and really show off that 12 man person no see how you put it Mike is really interesting because that's really made me think now because to be honest with you when you first say said that with regard to the tight ends kind of like the key to the

success as such my initial thought is that i'm not sure that they can be simply because the success of buffalo previously was a strong run game now i, I know, obviously, that the weather had a lot to do with that, but it still was the key to the success. So but when saying that, when you when you talk tight ends, I often think of kind of like the red zone catches and the strong runs with defenders hanging off them, that kind of thing. And I mean, but Hunter and Smith can block can block again that's a key success in the run game so it depends really how you're talking about utilizing them you know are you looking specifically at sort of one section or just really talking about them overall I mean if you're looking generally overall Hunter Henry has been kind of a little bit of Matt Jones he's kind of they call him a little bit of he's blanky he's

kind of his go-to he's kind of security but when you're in a situation that you can't really air the ball out then you know you're not really making the connection as such I mean smith is a big bodied not slow athletic guy so i wouldn't be surprised if maybe they continue to utilize him with a couple of kind of either very short passes or you know or almost just carries even if that is just to ease the burden kind of on harris because of the ding duckness of him unfortunately obviously they have have Stevenson back now as far as I know when we're recording this I think he's back in the lineup um and I know that we mentioned kind of like last episode that that's very much the dynamic duo of of Harris and Stevenson I think the key in regards to tight endage is Hunter being open now he's a productive player but he's he's

been taking a lot of coverage and a lot of double coverage and quite Now, he's a productive player, but he's been taking a lot of coverage and a lot of double coverage. And quite rightly, because he's a dynamic player, it isn't great if Mac wants to air the ball out to him and cleanly as well. But he's definitely, as I said, a go-to guy for Mac. I mean, now that Aguilar, I believe, is back, maybe that he can pull some coverage which really

enables Mac to utilize Hunter more you know gives him the opportunity to get the ball to him because of the coverage isn't isn't as intensive it's just that teams cottoned on reasonably early in the season um well they should have done that that hunter is is quite that threat and there is a good connection with the quarterback kind of thing another factor obviously going in is the weather i've heard that it's not going to be great at the moment i know that obviously we're talking it's still a few days away and stuff like this so there might not be the opportunity to air out the ball if it's going to blow yards off target that kind of thing so in regards to that it's really going to come down to probably it's really going to come down to the weather as really lame as that sounds to how much they can utilize them pretty much sure that they're

going to continue with the sort of the blocking abilities that these two guys have been given and that's you know something that's been very key um in the success I think of what they've had this season I'm glad you kind of any sort of hinted at the whole Smith breakout game because I've got to say that's slowly becoming a bit of a bugbear for me because I know that I've said on this show a few times that I I don't think that's fair on him as a player that he doesn't need a breakout game I understand what people mean I get it because we haven't seen much production from him but as a player himself he doesn't need to give us a breakout game he's already had so much of a career

so far um ups and downs obviously I appreciate that and even Josh came out and said it was you know Josh McDaniels came out and said that it was kind of on him that the lack of utilization of smith and i think it's a bit i think he took the hit really for the team in off anything i know that's quite belichickian anyway but um the the it was mentioned in regards to the playbook and stuff like this and and the first year for a titan being quite developmental that kind of thing because an extensive playbook that's different we know that hunter dropped in because the structure was very similar to what he was used to as i know we've talked about extensively before so it was obvious why we were getting prediction from that guy and you know at the end of the day he's really good tight end so um yeah it was bound to happen.

But for some reason, Smith hasn't been clicking. And they sort of tried to cover, you know, not cover up, but explain why. And as I said, I do think that maybe we aren't seeing maybe the full picture. But as I've mentioned, not to keep repeating myself, but he's in and out with the team in regards to his injury, I think has impacted more significantly maybe than some people will give credit for believe or you know really see it hasn't give him that opportunity I think to to gel as much as as need be so I think if anything

if you want to use this breakout term for John O'Smith which I hate but if you want to use this breakout term for Johnnie Smith, which I hate, but if you want to use it, I think you need to be looking at next season when this guy's had a year in the system that, you know, maybe his wounds have healed a bit better. He's had the sort of, because I don't even think he was in spring practice, I think. I might be remembering wrong. I can't quite remember in all fairness. I don't have it kind of in front of me.

So I know that he didn't have a a boatload of time with with the team so I think all that has compounded into just not really seeing a lot sort of from him this season the the two guys the two Titans work well in tandem and we've seen that little bits here and there personally I was going to go back and after this long-winded spiel of mine um to answer your question um I don't think that we're going to see that as a key I don't think we're going to see a load of tight endage suddenly as a key to to doing this game I think that you know we've gone so far in the season with the winds to sort of see what they know works and and if that and the other sort of regardless of the opponent so I don the season with the wins to sort of see what they know works and if that and

the other sort of regardless of the opponent so I don't think it's going to be significant I think the key to this game is all the pieces of the team working well and I'm sorry I know that's a very obvious thing to say people I know it's not you know not a a massive educated you know comment everything but I just think the team needs to know they know that they're good at certain aspects and they know that they've got this so I think they just need to do it the way that they know is successful for them this year and being confident in that and and using you know using the ways that they know is the way that you know it's going to be mostly successful so unfortunately I don't think I'm going to be in this mass celebration on the weekend of look at all the tight endage Claire's so excited there's so much tight endage I unfortunately don't think that's

going to happen so yeah I just think it's going to be the strength, which is the run game. And the main thing that the Titans do with the run game mostly is blocking. So I just really think that that's where they're going to go down the road to. I kind of hope I'm wrong. And I hope that sort of what you said was right, the flip side of that. I'd love it. Squealing of his excitement at 3 a.m. in the morning or 2 a.m. in the morning. Because, yeah, wonderfully, it's a stupid crazy sunday early sunday morning game for me so yeah thanks for that guys you yeah awesome so but i i just i just genuinely my gut doesn't see that i see the strength in the running game

and that's why we're gonna go so i i see it as more of a har-Stevenson game than a Smith and Hunter. Yeah, I would agree with you. I think you're absolutely right. And I think you make some excellent points. Look, bottom line, there are a lot of factors working against the tight ends, having that quote-unquote breakout game here for the Patriots against the Buffalo Bills. Yes, Mac Jones would want to utilize strong route runners. And I do think he'll target Hunter Henry quite often on Saturday.

But I don't think it's going to be a situation where he's going to exclusively go to tight ends. First of all, you're looking at a Buffalo defense that has two stout safeties in Jordan Boyer and Micah Hyde. They do a great job of being able to contain tight ended. So they're going to try to take Hunter Henry out of the game. They did a very effective job of doing that in the last meeting between these two teams on December 26th. That's going to be, I think, a very difficult opportunity for Hunter to kind of continue to get the yardage that he's used to. I think Mack will target him. I think he'll do better than he did the last time. And that's not a knock on Hunter. That's just, you know, they had the bills had a game plan for being able to do it. John, who has the chance to be able to be effective as a carrier out of the backfield.

And I look for him and maybe even Kendrick Bourne to get some carries in that regard, because for all of the details and for all of the accolades, I should say a better choice of word there that the other bills defense will get for being able to rush the passer. I think they've been better against the run, but there's still suspect against the run. This is still a team that can be had when the Patriots run the football, they're allowing an average of 109.8 yards per game. They're 11th in the league with 42 with, excuse me, 4.2 yards per rush. So at this point, if the Patriots are going to try to be effective, you know, the bills want to try to shut down Damian Harris from Andre Stevenson. They're going to be key.

But if Stevenson and Harris have difficulty breaking from the line of scrimmage, and another thing to watch folks is the injury to Isaiah Wynn at left tackle. If he's out of the lineup, does that weaken the rest of the Patriots' offensive line and make it difficult for them to run block? Then you may have to get guys like Jonu Smith, Jakob Johnson, Michael Wainu lining up as the big jumbo tight end. You're going to need that blockage up front in order to be able to effectively run that team. If Isaiah is compromised, that's a potential big loss for the Patriots.

Keep a sharp eye on that one, folks. But I think there are a lot of factors working against it. And, you know, maybe we will be proven wrong. I hope so, because I would love to see both Smith and Henry have a great game at the same time. Really give the fan base a lot to look forward to heading into next season. And hopefully, if they have a big enough game game the season won't be over on saturday night and that leads me quite nicely into my final question for you today countess the new england patriots buffalo bills third time's the charm for new england or is buffalo just too good in all

three phases for the patriots to pull the victory on saturday night oh it's so nice they tried it thrice yeah I don't know about that one yeah not not I'm not exactly the biggest fan of having to watch a game that has the bills in it to be honest I detested them that much regardless of how good or bad they are um and I can say yes they are you know they are a very good team obviously that's why they're here but I just dislike them so much that turns to ash in my mouth anyway I predict a Patriots win just about I am going Patriots 17 Bills 14. I like it our fan base likes it an awful lot folks, from our lips to God's ears, hopefully the New England Patriots will be able to pull this one out. Because the chirping coming from Orchard Park, if they don't, is going to be unbearable all season long here in New England. But no, all kidding aside, more important than the Bills mafia, quote unquote, making life difficult for Patriots fans on social media. It's really all about advancing in the playoffs.

And after the New England Patriots proved that they can hang with a lot of these teams, probably would be a disappointment to see them go one and done in the, in the playoffs, but still a great season regardless of what folks, and we'll continue to break it all down for you here on locked on Patriots. Next week, Claire will be joining me.

We'll be live and on video. YouTube launches officially next week here on locked on Patriots next week. Claire will be joining me. We'll be live and on video. YouTube launches officially next week here on Lockdown Patriots. We could not be happier about that. But at the same time, there's still a game to be broken down. And hopefully this will be a victory for the New England Patriots. We all hope that here in Foxborough and in the neighboring counties and anywhere where you're cheering on your New England Patriots, much like my good friend, Dolly, who cheers them on from all the way across the pond. Claire, thank you for lending your wit, your wisdom, your wisdom and counsel here to Lockdown Patriots. Before I let you go today, please let all of our new listeners know where they can find you

and follow your great work as we now transition here into the playoffs for the New England Patriots. Sure. Well, as the regular season has now concluded, my game recaps obviously may cease. But please still head over to Pat's Propaganda, as you will still find my writing and the fabulous Tom Shulmellers as well. So go and check that out. FPC holds my podcast, A Clare Pers podcast declare perspective which is fullpresscoverage.com and as you mentioned my recent episode is with phil perry so that's episode 23 now we're on 23 episodes now so that's now live most places that you download your podcast and as you also mentioned

um i am the third voice of one patriot's place with ste Murph, which you can be found at E2G Sports. Absolutely. And again, whatever Claire does, whether it's putting pen to paper or voice to microphone, folks, please be sure to check it out. You will not be disappointed. Claire provides spot on analysis with a wit and a wisdom that is truly her own. And really, she's unlike anyone else that's doing this in this business right now. And I mean that as a compliment from the bottom of my heart. It's so rare to find someone that's able to find their own rhythm and their own style so quickly and really ingratiate herself into Patriots media.

And she's done that and she's done it seamlessly. She made it look easy, folks, but I assure you it's not. There's a lot of hard work that goes behind it. And I truly mean that. It's my honor to have her join me here on Locked on Patriots each and every week. And again, smash that subscribe button to A Clear Perspective, the podcast. Her episode with Phil Perry this week was phenomenal. Definite good wisdom and counsel to absorb before Saturday's game.

But check out a lot of the back episodes as well, including a holiday episode. If you want to relive some of the holiday joy, maybe after this weekend, we're all going to need a little holiday joy. You know, you definitely want to go ahead and do that. It is a phenomenal listen that I can't recommend highly enough. Claire, until next week, please stay safe, stay well.

And thank you for joining me here today on Lockdown Patriots. Oh, thank you so much for having me. And thanks everyone for listening. Take care. Go Pats.