{"id":142297,"date":"2024-12-20T09:00:51","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T14:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=142297"},"modified":"2024-12-19T16:52:37","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T21:52:37","slug":"how-the-patriots-can-possibly-maybe-stun-the-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=142297","title":{"rendered":"How the Patriots Can Possibly Maybe Stun the Bills"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Patriots hit the road again this weekend to take on the Bills, whose 48-42 win in Detroit cemented another playoff berth for the kings of the AFC East.<\/p>\n

Following the team’s latest ugly loss<\/a>, Jerod Mayo’s job security continues to dominate headlines<\/a>. Though many are calling for change<\/a>, the head coach is set to return in 2025<\/a>, and the locker room continues to support him despite a difficult rookie campaign.<\/p>\n

“Yeah, it’s his first year,” said fellow first-year Drake Maye. “His first year coaching, being a head coach, it’s a tough challenge… It’s a lot of responsibility. He’s figuring it out, and I think our players, we’re behind him. We’re backing him. We trust the plan he’s got for us, and we trust what he says in the team meeting rooms and all those little sayings that he has. We believe in it, and we’re bought into it. I just think the results are coming.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Captain Deatrich Wise offered similar support, even comparing Mayo to current Coach of the Year candidate Dan Campbell, whose first season ended with a 3-13-1 record.<\/p>\n

“I<\/span> feel<\/span> like<\/span> there’s<\/span> a<\/span> lot<\/span> of<\/span> coaches<\/span> [whose] first<\/span> year<\/span> isn’t<\/span> that<\/span> good,<\/span> and<\/span> they<\/span> go<\/span> on to<\/span>\u00a0do<\/span> great<\/span> things,” Wise told reporters.<\/span> “Just<\/span> to<\/span> give<\/span> an<\/span> example,<\/span> the<\/span> guy<\/span> from<\/span> the<\/span> Lions,<\/span> his<\/span> first<\/span> year<\/span> wasn’t<\/span> that<\/span> good<\/span> and<\/span> look<\/span> where<\/span> he<\/span> is<\/span> now… <\/span>He’s<\/span> doing<\/span> a<\/span> great<\/span> job.<\/span> Always<\/span> brings<\/span> high<\/span> energy.<\/span> Always<\/span> does<\/span> a<\/span> good<\/span> job<\/span> of<\/span> coaching<\/span> guys<\/span> while<\/span> critiquing<\/span> them<\/span> and<\/span> motivating<\/span> them<\/span> at<\/span> the<\/span> same,<\/span> same<\/span> time… <\/span>I<\/span> think<\/span> he’s<\/span> doing<\/span> a<\/span> solid<\/span> job.<\/span> Yes,<\/span> we<\/span> want<\/span> to<\/span> have<\/span> more<\/span> wins.<\/span> That’s<\/span> obvious.<\/span> But<\/span> at<\/span> the<\/span> same,<\/span> what<\/span> he<\/span> is<\/span> doing,<\/span> I<\/span> think<\/span> will<\/span> work<\/span> out<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> future.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Mayo declined to comment when asked about his future, but he had this to say when asked about his coaching style:<\/p>\n

“It is different. I think those guys, they go out there and they play hard every day. I’m not trying to offer a consolation prize because it comes down to wins and losses, which we haven’t won many games this year. That’s no secret. I do think the guys go out every single day and practice hard and try to squeeze as much as we can out of those guys to go out there and perform on Sunday.”<\/p>\n

That practice effort hasn’t translated to the field since Week 9 in Chicago, but that must change to prevent another embarrassing defeat. The Bills are one of two teams averaging 30 points per game this season, thanks largely to MVP frontrunner Josh Allen. And while head coach Sean McDermott’s defense has given up over 40 points two weeks straight, they rank fifth in takeaways.<\/p>\n

The odds may not be in New England’s favor this weekend, but it wouldn’t be the craziest upset<\/a> the team has pulled off in the past couple of years. So for those who still believe in miracles, here are my keys to the Patriots stunning the Bills in Orchard Park.<\/p>\n

(TRY TO) CONTAIN JOSH ALLEN<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Patriots’ defense hasn’t improved much this season, but their rush lane integrity is one of the rare exceptions. After getting gashed early on scrambles by pocket passers, New England has done a solid job on extended plays in recent weeks.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/tkyles39\/status\/1869520744813879328\/video\/1<\/p>\n

The group will face its third dual threat in as many games on Sunday, but as Mayo told reporters this week, Allen is a different beast.<\/p>\n

“Talking about the Bills, it starts with the quarterback,” Mayo explained. “He’s playing at an unbelievable level right now. He’s doing a good job seeing the field, has always been dangerous with both his legs and his arm. I would say, just from watching him, the way he’s seeing the field and going through his reads, and the ability to extend plays and turn to street ball is definitely a problem. It’s going to take all of us on the field to try to slow him down first and foremost.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Players and coaches have praised Allen’s decision-making this week. The gunslinger’s willingness to take checkdowns and avoid bad windows has turned him into an elite pocket passer, making the only hope of slowing him down a consistent marriage of rush and coverage. But all that will be for naught if the defense can’t keep Allen contained.<\/p>\n

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Jerod Mayo said he was happy with how the #Patriots<\/a> kept Kyler Murray in the pocket last week, but noted that he and Josh Allen are "two different beasts"<\/p>\n

Allen's a bigger, more physical runner, but he's also the NFL's most dangerous thrower on extended plays\/outside the pocket pic.twitter.com\/ZBrtdubRey<\/a><\/p>\n

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) December 18, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n