FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Identifying key pieces: There was a noticeable turn from coach Bill Belichick in his Q&As with reporters this past week. The Patriots are out of the playoffs, and they have their season finale Sunday against the visiting Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS), but Belichick already seemed to be in 2021 mode in terms of his thinking.
He said of 2020 second-round draft pick Josh Uche, the linebacker from Michigan: We ll be able to define his role much better next year, so I m looking forward to that. He s definitely going to be an asset for us.
Matchup rating: 23.1 |
: WSH -1.5 (43.5)
What to watch for: The Eagles set a record with 13 different offensive line combinations over their first 14 games, and further changes could be coming if left tackle Jordan Mailata isn t cleared from concussion protocol. Regardless, Philadelphia has its hands full against a Washington defense that ranks fifth in sacks with 44. Tim McManus
Bold prediction: Regardless of starting quarterback, it ll be the defense and run game that flourish for Washington. Running back Antonio Gibson will run for 75 yards and a touchdown, and defensive end Chase Young will record two sacks. But maybe this is the boldest prediction: Washington will score on its opening possession for the first time all year.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. A look at what s happening around the New York Jets:
1. (Search) party of one: The Jets worst season in nearly a quarter-century will end around 4 p.m. ET Sunday, and then the real work begins. In perhaps his last big move as the Jets acting owner, CEO Christopher Johnson is expected to fire coach Adam Gase. At that point, Johnson should take one for the team and announce he will yield to general manager Joe Douglas as the lead in the search for Gase s replacement.
No search firms. No consultants. No tag-team efforts. Douglas is the top football man in the organization, and he should be the one to decide who works at his side. Enough of the arranged marriages; let the GM pick the coach. There s no guarantee Douglas will get it right he never has done this before but no track record is better than a bad track record.
Quarterback Andy Dalton threw for 377 yards and had touchdown passes of 21 and 7 yards to Michael Gallup and 52 yards to CeeDee Lamb as the Cowboys took advantage of a poor Eagles secondary and a pass rush that was missing defensive tackle Fletcher Cox for most of the game.
As for winning the division, the Cowboys (6-9) still need help and it needs to come from the team they just beat. In Week 17, Philadelphia needs to beat the Washington Football Team and the Cowboys need to beat the New York Giants.
Since the Cowboys were swept by Washington, they lose a tiebreaker, requiring the Eagles to do them another favor.