If last week’s win over the Bills was a window into the Patriots’ talent and potential, Sunday’s game figures to be a glimpse into their maturity.
For the last five days, New England has been celebrated not only for their signature victory but for their potential going forward.
The debates haven’t even been whether or not the win was a fluke, but whether the Patriots are now a likely playoff team and even challengers to the Bills in the AFC East.
Among pundits, Drake Maye’s performance moved him from a potential elite quarterback into the unofficial club of full-fledged franchise quarterbacks. ESPN had segments this week about whether Maye is the “most improved player in the NFL” and whether he could move himself into the MVP conversation.
That’s heady stuff.
Maye has been asked a lot of questions about his mindset and so far is saying the right things.
“I think it’s more about getting back at it. You can remember one game and whatever week that was, Week 5, and it doesn’t mean anything unless you keep building on it and make it an ongoing thing. So, that’s the big thing,” he said and later added: “I think it’s something you can build off, for sure. I think the guys – obviously, it builds confidence. That’s what Coach always preaches. Getting wins builds confidence, but you’ve got to flush it, keep going.”
The problem is that everyone knows the right things to say. Maye probably said something similar after throwing four touchdowns in North Carolina’s upset of a ranked Miami team in 2023. Everybody has had media training and seen other people answer similar questions.
And it’s not just Maye. It’s human nature to spend a little extra time looking in the mirror after everyone talked about how good you looked.
The Patriots should beat the Saints on Sunday. They should beat the Titans next week and the Browns on Oct. 26. But they’re not so good that those are guaranteed if they coast.
It’s been a long time since that’s even been a concern and it certainly beats the alternative.
Outtakes from a busy week…
Accidentally?
The NFL’s decision to fine Jerry Jones for giving Jets fans the finger shows just how out of touch the league is with everyday people. The same is true of Jones, who apologized for accidentally doing it.
For starters, nobody has ever accidentally given anyone else the finger. And there are exactly zero right-minded people who believe Jones “meant to give a thumbs up” as he claimed.
There’s no reason that he should apologize or the NFL should fine him. Everyone gives Jets fans the finger. A pretty hefty percentage of Jets fans give each other (and their own team) the finger. In the stands, in traffic, in church. There is nothing that unites billionaire owners and the common fan more than acting on their completely reasonable desire to flip Jets fans the bird.
Who are the ad wizards who came up with this one?
I’d like to see the minutes from the meeting where the LeBron James-Hennessey ad stunt was conceived.
If you missed it, after hyping big upcoming news, James announced: “This fall, I’m going to be taking my talent to Hennessy V.S.O.P.”
James is not hurting for money. But somehow the Hennessy folks convinced him to do an ad that reminds people of “The Decision,” James’ poorly received half-hour show where he announced his decision to join the Miami Heat.
There had to be 100 good ideas for ads they could have created with James.
“What does an iconic athlete — who can have anything he wants whenever he wants — drink when he wants to have a special evening?”
Instead, they went with The Decision, which is on the bad idea Mount Rushmore with New Coke, JarJar Binks and Let’s See if Matt Patricia can be an offensive coordinator.
Real Jeopardy! Clue
Sports clues from actual editions of America’s favorite quiz show. As always, mind the date
CATEGORY: STADIUM FOOD $1200
Date: Nov. 29, 2011
A few years back Wrigley Field introduced the Northside Twist, a 4-pound one of these with 3 dipping sauces
— Answer below
The Top 5
The Top 5 Boston 33s
In honor of the Bruins announcement that Zdeno Chara’s No. 33 will be retired later this season, this is a list of the best Boston athletes to wear 33, which is a pretty impressive list.
5 — Tony Collins/Jose Canseco
4 — Kevin Faulk
3 — Zdeno Chara
2 — Jason Varitek
1 — Larry Bird
Today in Boston Sports History
Oct. 10
1980 — Kevin McHale made his debut for the Celtics in a 130-103 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lightning round
If Mark Sanchez is looking for a silver lining, the “Butt Fumble” is no longer what he’s most known for.
After the Yankees’ elimination, the New York Post posted a countdown clock noting that on Tuesday, it will be 5,000 days since a New York team in one of the big four leagues won a championship. Including the Devils, that’s nine teams sharing that famine. for 13 years.
Yankee pitching allowed 11.3 runs per game against the Blue Jays after giving up just 2.0 runs per game against the Red Sox. If Boston ownership needs convincing that they need more offense to win, that’s a pretty good starting point.
There’s no advanced analytics backing this up, but the Yankees would have been more competitive with the Blue Jays if they didn’t play a stupid sound effect after every pitch.
The trade that sent Joe Flacco to Cincinnati means he could start his seventh career game with his third team against the Patriots later this year.
Nah, on second thought, it’ll probably still be the butt fumble.
Real Jeopardy! Question:
A Pretzel
Finally…
Happy National Walk to a Park Day to All Who Celebrate.