The Patriots regular last-minute heroics were on schedule last Sunday after Deatrich Wise Jr sacked Cam Newton to create fourth and long with 2:00 remaining, when a flag for a bonehead play by Stephon Gilmore wiped out the sack and ultimately led to the Patriots demise. We find it very difficult to reconcile Gilmore’s actions this season with Belichick’s thoroughness. Looking at his penalty history, he has already accumulated more penalty yards this season than in all but one of his previous seasons.
What happened on Sunday was inexcusable. Having already gotten a penalty for it, he smacks Funchess in the head again right in front of the official to cost the Patriots the win. He really let his teammates down, then compounded it by inferring that it was the official who was in the wrong. This sort of thing does not just happen in a vacuum. I do not doubt that Officials have scrutinized the Bills less than the Patriots of late, since most of their games when Gilmore was there were of no consequence.
We wonder if the behavior was always there? Did he just get away with it in Buffalo? If not, what has changed? Listening to him deny what was blatant on the cameras makes me think that he is struggling with outside issues or injury. Whatever the issue, the Patriots have to keep him off the field until it is resolved favorably. I am sure Revis, who knows the Defence, is in game shape and would ride in and save the day for the right inducement.
Thursday Night Football
2/5 New England Patriots @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2/1
Brady hasn’t been perfect, and going on the road on a short week won’t be getting easier with age. New England’s potent Offence continues to evolve, with Amendola, Cooks, Hogan, Dorsett and Gronkowski presenting a coverage nightmare to opposing Defences when Brady is “on”. With Eric Rowe re-aggravating his groin, we wonder if David Jones will be promoted from the Practice Squad to play the “Tall Cornerback” role, which has been misplayed so far this season.
Despite New England’s woes on Defence, it remains unlikely that Tampa Bay will be able to outscore New England in a shootout. The Bucs best hope is most probably to try and keep the game tight and win at the end. The problem with that is that even at 40-years-old, Brady can still take over an entire game and run off five [5] straight scoring drives. Betting the Patriots at 2/5 is at a shorter than optimal price, and we are not sure that now is the time to double-down on them.
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