INSTANT REACTION: Patriots prove they’re ‘SUPER BOWL CONTENDERS’ with huge win vs. the Buccaneers 😤

INSTANT REACTION: Patriots prove they’re ‘SUPER BOWL CONTENDERS’ with huge win vs. the Buccaneers 😤

The Patriots for the seventh game in a row are victorious. They went to Tampa. They beat the Buccaneers 28 to 23. The Patriots have not lost on the road yet this year. Two big plays. I won two big explosive plays by Trayvon Henderson. Putting the punctuation on this one. We are here. Plenty to talk about tonight before we get to Celtics basketball. We’ve got Phil Perry, Tommy Curran, three-time Super Bowl champion Ted Johnson. I’m Michael Holly. We’re going to go around the table, get some thoughts on this win. Phil, start with you. Well, I said before the game, this is a movement kind of game for them. And if they win this game convincingly, that for me, they suddenly ratchet themselves up into being in the contender conversation. That is Super Bowl contender conversation. This to me represents a convincing win. This game was never out of hand. It was in their control all the way through, Tom. Even though they slowed down in the second half, it was still theirs to lose. And so this team is far better than any of us thought they would be before the season. I think this game is representative of just how good they are right now and they should be considered at the top of the conference. And one of the main reasons for that is how complimentary they are. You look at this team and what the way the defense performed, especially some of the edge pressure that we saw late in the game that helped seal it. Tremendous. And guys like Elijah Ponder making plays. Caleb Chaom with another good game. The secondary played well. And I look at that pick by Drake May in the end zone and I say to myself, you know, you just take the field goal there and you’re up eight and then Tampa’s got its back against the wall. But you know what? He has earned the right to make a gaff like that. And I know that it’s knee buckling on the face of it. But he’s gotten you where you are. Live and learn. You survived because the defense picked you up, Teddy. But to me, I look at it that pick and I said, he’s done so much for you. Let somebody else pick him up. Absolutely. and the defense uh certainly did pick them up. I mean, this it’s a great win for for the Patriots. I mean, you heard Tony Romo there at the end of the uh the broadcast basically say uh if you didn’t think the New England Patriots were for real, pay attention. So, this was kind of a statement game. This was going to be a statement game. We all knew it going into it. You’re going up against an MVP caliber quarterback in in Baker Mayfield on the road. You people are wondering, is Trayvon Henderson with Roman Stevenson out? When is he going to break out? Well, he finally broke uh broke out, ladies and gentlemen. And it was it was something to behold. Drake May just taking shot after shot after shot and still delivering the ball downfield is incredible. That that third down and 14 hit to M. Collins who led all receivers today with over 100 yards reception was such a gutsy throw. Uh he just it was incredible performance from the quarterback. Just a collective effort that was very special to go down there when they let’s face it, Baker Mayfield four come from behind wins. You thought maybe it would happen today, but the the defense shut it down. Guys were getting hurt. Guys were stepping up. You saw performances from guys that we all were hoping to get. They got the offensive line. Oh, what are they going to do? They’ve given up 12 sacks the last two games. Only gave up one sack today. Just a tremendous effort all around the team effort from this team. And uh and and now people aren’t going to be uh you know, Patriots aren’t going to be surprising anybody, Michael. They’re not sneaking up on anybody at this point. Well, let let me take you guys back to the last time the Patriots lost the game way back in September. They were coming off a five turnover game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. They were one and two. I remember Tommy Curran writing a column saying there’s a good football team in there. If you dig in there, there’s a good football team, but they got to get rid of the stupid stuff. And they’ve gotten rid of the stupid stuff. So, I asked him, start with you, Tom, since you wrote that way back when. They’ve won seven games in a row since. Does this victory change the way that you think about them? You thought they were a good football team. Could we be talking about the difference between good and great? Do you look at them that way? Are they a contender? They’re 2025 great. They absolutely are. I think that there are times that a a team like one of the best in the NFC, Tampa Bay represents that right now. I think they, you know, in years gone by, the best of the NFC could have overcome the Patriots today. Um, but this is the only season you have. This is the only season you got. They’re eight and two and people want to quibble with their schedule. They’ve gone to Buffalo and one. They’ve gone to Tampa and won. And in both games, Phil, they controlled the game. So to me, you you kind of have to believe your eyes at this point. Maybe Drake May, I mean, today’s around 50% passing. Holy crap, that you’ll swap the world. But that’s what you should see. And I just think even right down as Ted was talking about the complimentary soup to nuts kind of performance. Even that securing of the onside kick by Stefon Diggs, a guy who people had their fingers and toes crossed, it was going to work out. That’s a sacrificial play right there by him and it’s one of your best players and most veteran players out there saying, “Yep, drill me into the turf. I want to win this game.” Great game by Diggs. That’s the kind of player you need to win a game like that. So, it wasn’t just the last play, but how about that fourth down touchdown catch where he’s picking it off the top shelf to go into halftime with a lead. So, I look at plays like that and I look at plays like the one he made to M. Collins deep down the field right before the pick. It’s plays like that where you’re getting drilled and just seconds earlier getting drilled in the chest by Vea on an incomplete pass down the hill. For him to be able to step up and make that kind of throw. Those types of plays are why you’re able to survive some of this stupid stuff that still hasn’t fully escaped your system, right? He throws a pick, but he’s able to make enough plays over the course of the game, Michael, where they can still win it. They can still score damn near 30 points against one of the best defenses in football because all the other stuff is so good. So, they’ve got margin for error, which is something Ted’s told us for weeks now that they haven’t had in years, and it’s due in large part to the quarterback. Ted, does it change the way you describe the Patriots? Yes, I think so. I mean, absolutely. You know, it’s a it’s a it’s a well-rounded football team. The defense, uh, you know, they they they they didn’t give up a lot of big plays. Uh, I mean, for the most part, they had Ibuka, uh, for the most part, other than that blown coverage there, they had him contained. Uh it’s it’s a smart football team, you know, like I was a little wonder a little it was a little shaky there right before halftime and what they were doing on that first play from scrimmage first and goal. Uh for them to get in that give that touchdown in. You were a little bit uh nervous about that. But I don’t I think they had how many penalties? Only uh five five for 49. They’ve cut way back on the penalties. Uh so just there’s example after example of really smart football. Um I thought the execution on that fourth down and three that was a gutsy call. They they did I felt like a casino blitz. At least it was an overload blitz. Um and they got home and and it doesn’t go down as a sack, but it looked like it was a sack there. So, just gutsy calls, gutsy performances. It seems like it’s a smarter team and the quarterback, I’m sorry, at the end of the day. Phil’s right, Tom’s right. Uh you know, the mistake, you know, I we can we can quibble over that, but it’s all the other stuff. He can make up for it with so many great plays. And I just thought it was a gutsy performance. That’s not an easy place to play on the road in that heat. Um, and they really uh did a fantastic job. This team, look, this this should validate all the work that they’ve done up to this point with a win like this. They’re in the catbird seat for the number one seed in the AFC right now. Who would have thought? Yeah. And when you look at the landscape, and I’m sure we’re going to do that as the show goes along, but Buffalo loses. They’re two games behind now in the East with a game at home against the Patriots. So, the Patriots are, you know, probably a high high probability to win their division. Pittsburgh leads the other division, the uh the North, five and three, and they’re no daunt not a daunting team. Indianapolis lost last week, had to do everything they could to escape against Atlanta today. And then you have uh Denver and LA are are leading the West and Kansas City still out of the playoff picture. So in the AFC, the team that continues to play the best and have the best quarterback play, I don’t care if it’s Josh Allen, I don’t care if it’s Patrick Mahomes, we’re not talking resume, we’re talking 2025. The best quarterback play is here. Surprisingly, stunningly, jaw-droppingly, the Patriots have the best quarterback in the AFC if you go by performance over the first 10 games. The best quarterback play has been from Drake May. The best running back play today at least was from Trevon Henderson. I remember when Mike Vrabel was lamenting the lack of X plays. This is very early in the season. Explosive plays minus 20 plus yards and more. I’m like, what’s he talking about? How are you going to get explosive plays? you don’t have explosive players on your roster. Yes, they do. Uh Ted, tell me what you saw today from young Trevon Henderson who gets a a big time touchdown early in the game and then comes back to clinch it with another one which pet peeve of mine. He’s looking around saying, “Should I score? Damn it. Score. So tired. I’m so tired of oh so selfish. You know, you got to go down and live the fight.” No, no, no. Score. Score. Score. Score. Score as many points as you can. But what did you think of Henderson uh getting two long touchdowns? I mean, are you kidding me? That this is kind of why what we were hoping for. This is what he did at Ohio State. Michael, you know better than anybody. He’s a big play running back. I mean, the X plays can come from Trayvon Henderson and we no, you know, nobody in this room gave up hope that he was going to figure it out and he absolutely did. I mean, this this play was off uh, you know, in the perimeter. He he seems to have more success on the perimeter. You know, Josh McDaniel schemes a lot of plays to get him outside. I think that’s where he does his best work. But that first touchdown, guys, was was off the the right side, the right guard. So, he did get a touchdown where he was uh going between the tackles. So, and you’ve told us also, Michael, right there. Boom. Right between the tackles. Explodes right through there. There wasn’t any real back. Look at that. There was no hesitation. There was no stutter step. He saw the hole and he went boom right through there. Uh you know what? Hopefully this is the type of game you guys that he gets a a ton of uh just confidence from and that you will see more and more of these types of plays from him the rest of the way. Boy, explosive, explosive, explosive. You get the two explosive touchdowns from Trayvon Henderson. You got another one from Kyle Williams. You have two rookies who have that kind of athleticism to be able to turn the game on its head in a blink. Now, does that mean Travian Henderson should be your workhorse back? He should be getting 20-ish carries per game because he’s that kind of player. I still would say no. It was about 12 carries for about 23 yards if my math is right outside of those two touchdowns. And I I hate that conversation generally speaking outside of this great play or that great play. But they couldn’t really run the ball for the vast majority of this game, Tom. And they were just trying to kill Clark at the end there with Kyus Tonga on the field. I just look at it and say, boy, what are they going to do at that position moving forward? They I think they really do need Reandre Stevenson back. Yeah, this was a good example today of the people who lamented, you know, had this game turned differently. the lack of activity at the trade deadline. Of course, they wanted to win. So, the people are like, well, they clearly don’t believe in this team are dead wrong and remain that way. But they could have added some running back depth by hook or by crook by parting with some of those picks. So, they will continue to have to look at that position as this short week before they play the Jets who won today comes up against Thursday because I I’m stunned that Trayvon Henderson’s able to finish the game, much less run at that speed for a touchdown because it looked like his leg was twisted. Terrell Jennings also injured. So it’s right now I don’t know Dis Johnson might be the only guy who doesn’t end up on the injury report. But one last thing I’ll say regarding Fravon Henderson and you mentioned Kyle Williams, Will Campbell, Drake May, Kahan Booty still a young player. Um Jared Wilson, you know, up against VA all day. I’m not saying he won the matchup in hands down fashion, but he didn’t ruin the game. There was one sack. They’ve just done a really good job in getting young players who seem to be able to contribute quickly and that’s coaching and that’s the players. I think it’s a nice mesh of the two. I’d add Craig Woodson there. How about Craig Woodson? Big hit at the end of the game on third down to help forth force a fourth down which uh the Patriots are able to stop him on. So rookies across the board, both sides of the ball contributing. Presented by Gem Plumbing and Heating. For an instant reaction to your heating, cooling, electrical, and plumbing needs, visit ask.com.

Phil Perry, Tom E. Curran and Ted Johnson join Michael Holley to offer instant reaction and analysis following the New England Patriots’ 28-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New England, which remains undefeated at 5-0 on the road and improves to 8-2 overall this season, proves they’re a team that needs to be taken seriously as one of the best teams in the AFC and a true Super Bowl contender heading into the stretch run of the regular season.

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