The New England Patriots’ week took an unexpected turn in the last 24 hours when criminal charges were brought against wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive tackle Christian Barmore.
We discussed the Diggs situation Tuesday night on Early Edition, but with both legal situations still ongoing, we’re focusing this week’s Mailbag on your football-related questions — and there were plenty.
Let’s dive in:
Do you believe the Patriots will play their starters for the entire game Sunday? Related to that, do we see Milton Williams and Will Campbell activated and playing some “warmup reps” ahead of the playoffs? – @LosTalksPats
Mike Vrabel has made it pretty clear that the players who are healthy enough to play are going to be playing against Miami in the regular-season finale. He hasn’t said how long they’ll play, but they’ll play.
I think there are a handful of elements at play that Vrabel will have to consider.
First, is the No. 1 seed actually available to them? The Chargers are sitting Justin Herbert, meaning Trey Lance is getting the start against the Broncos. Odds are, the Chargers will lose that game and the Broncos will secure the No. 1 seed… But you never know.
Denver did recently have a tough time taking down Kansas City’s third-string quarterback. That game and the game between Miami and New England are happening at the same time (4:25 p.m. ET), so if the Denver result is in doubt, go ahead and pursue the win against the Dolphins as though it has real meaning.
Second, I think it would be wise for the Patriots to go after the win against the Dolphins as though it has real meaning even if the Broncos are blowing out the Chargers. The reason? That No. 2 seed could be important. If the Patriots were to get all the way to the conference title game, it would guarantee the Patriots a home game if the Broncos were to slip up in the Divisional Round. It also could help from a matchup standpoint.
If the Chargers lose to the Broncos and the Bills beat the Jets, Los Angeles would be the No. 7 seed. With their offensive line banged up, they may be the cushiest matchup for New England.
If the Patriots were to lose to Miami, and if the Jaguars were to beat the Titans, then New England would end up as the No. 3 seed and potentially in line to play the Bills. They can beat Buffalo, of course. They’ve proven it. But they also might prefer to avoid Josh Allen and James Cook if given the option.
I would understand the Patriots wanting to manage players who have been banged up. Milton Williams and Will Campbell — if they play — may not need to play a full complement of snaps in order to beat the Dolphins. But attacking this game as meaningful — because the No. 2 seed would be meaningful — makes the most sense to me.
What has been the difference from now to prior years in the Josh McDaniels system as far as rookies being able to be impact players in the offense? Rookies like TreVeyon Henderson and Kyle Williams have been able to make an immediate impact, while past rookies have failed. – @tellemteach12
My understanding is that the system hasn’t changed all that much in terms of what it asks of its players. There are new wrinkles — like the bootleg passes — that are probably on the simpler end of the learning scale, which could help younger players assimilate quickly. (Efton Chism’s first career touchdown, for example, came on that type of concept.)
But I think the bigger difference is the approach of the quarterback.
Tom Brady was the greatest to ever play his position. He was also incredibly demanding, and if you struggled to pick things up as a young player, he wasn’t all that warm to the idea of continuing to give you opportunities.
Drake Maye, on the other hand, is still young. He’s still open to the idea of throwing to the open receiver — seemingly regardless of who it is.
I think Kyle Williams is a great example of Maye’s approach in that it didn’t always go well for their connection early. But Maye didn’t shut out the rookie wideout. He gave Williams chances, and Williams has answered late in the season.
Going back to your unit rankings on the team preseason, do you think the WR room or the offensive line room has been the bigger surprise this year? Or, do both look so good simply because of an MVP QB surprise? – @Patsfan19838268
For me, the bigger surprise would be the receivers. I didn’t see this kind of year coming from Mack Hollins or Kayshon Boutte. I saw Stefon Diggs being productive, but I didn’t see him being a 1,000-yard type of player.
Both units have been elevated by Maye, in my estimation, but I give the receiver room a lot of credit — especially for what they’ve done in contested situations — to be able to help Maye.
Offseason question: What’s your feeling on what the Patriots plan to do at right tackle in 2026? Run it back with Morgan Moses? Draft one high? Dip into free agency? Moses has been solid and steady all year, I just wonder how much tread is left on the tires. – @ColtonDCarp
Fair question, Colton. The way I see it? Bring Morgan Moses back. He’s played well, he’s played through injury. I think he’s been a culture add for those linemen. And he’s under contract for a guaranteed sum of $4.5 million next year.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t continue to add at that position. Could be in free agency, but I’d say the more prudent way to do it would be in the draft.
Anyone you nab in free agency who’s worthy of paying will be looking to play. And with Moses here already — if they bring him back — it’d make more sense to grab a young player who can develop and later fill in when necessary.
What has contributed to the resurgence of Rhamondre Stevenson? He’s been awesome the last (small) handful of games. – @JamieRWhite
You’re right, Jamie. Rhamondre Stevenson has been one of their best players since returning from a foot injury that kept him out.
To me, he looks like a more confident player. He’s catching the ball smoothly out of the backfield. He’s breaking tackles. And he’s taking runs where they need to go in order for him to have an opportunity to do real damage with the ball in his hands — which sometimes means taking the ball where the play was not designed.
That’s exactly what happened, it sounds like, on his game-winning touchdown against the Ravens in Week 16. He knew there would be space away from the design of the play, took it there, and created an explosive run.
When he was dealing with turnovers early in the season, he didn’t look or sound like a player playing with the utmost confidence. It seems as though that has changed, and for the better for the Patriots, in the last month or so.
I’m interested to see where everyone in Boston and beyond Sports Land thought the Patriots would be at this point in the season. – @JenGNBC
I thought they were a nine-win team, Jennifer. That was not an unpopular take before the year began. But it was obviously, um, dead wrong.
It is without a doubt one of the most stunning seasons any team has put together in my 15 years covering pro football.