March 2016 - New England Patriots Wiretap

Team With Better Defense 10-7 In Brady-Manning Games

Jan 26, 2016 1:16 PM

The team with the better defense is 10-7 in the 17 Brady-Manning games.

The better defense is the one defined as being better by Football Outsiders.

Tom Brady had the better defense 10 times in his head-to-head meetings compared to seven for Manning.

Brady has won seven times with the better defense and four times with the worse defense, while Manning has won three times with the better defense and three times with the worse defense.

The Patriots won the first six Brady-Manning matchups and had the better defense in all of them.

Michael David Smith/Pro Football Talk

Tags: Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots

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Tom Brady Hit 20 Times In AFC Title Game, Most Of Any QB This Season

Jan 25, 2016 1:58 PM

The Kansas City Chiefs touched Tom Brady just once in the Divisional Round and the Denver Broncos watched the tape and knew they had to get to him.

“We talked about it all week. We knew it was going to be one of those quick passing games,” DeMarcus Ware said. “We said the defensive line, we have to be able to get pressure on them in all situations. It might not be a sack, but we have to let them know that our presence is there.”

Brady was sacked four times and hit a total of 20 times, which was the most hits taken by any quarterback in any game this season.

Brady took 99 hits in his previous 17 games, an average of 5.8 per game.

“They’ve got some great pass rushers,” Brady said. “They have interior pass rushers, they’ve got some outside rushers. I think you complement that with great coverage. It was just tough for us to ever get into a rhythm.”

 

Ben Volin/Boston Globe

Tags: New England Patriots

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Pats Considered Trying To Lure Jim Harbaugh Out Of Retirement In 2001

Jan 22, 2016 12:15 PM

When Drew Bledsoe first was injured during the 2001 season, the New England Patriots considered trying to lure Jim Harbaugh out of retirement with Tom Brady set to start.

The Patriots had selected Brady with a sixth round pick in the 2000 draft and expectations were moderate.

They also scouted Eric Zeier, Billy Joe Tolliver and Bert Emanuel.

“I don’t think we’re talking about John Elway here,” said Bill Belichick before Brady's first start.

Kent Babb/Washington Post

Tags: New England Patriots

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2015 Championship Game Matchups (DVOA Infographics)

Jan 20, 2016 4:17 PM

The following infographics show the percentile rankings for all four 2015 NFL playoff teams in the NFC and AFC Championship Games in the categories of DVOA for offense, defense, pass offense, rush offense, pass defense and rush defense. 

The infographics show the strengths and weaknesses of every team.

New England Patriots at Denver Broncos

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, IQ, Stats

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Panthers, Cardinals Were Two Of Five Teams In Top-10 Off., Def. DVOA

Jan 19, 2016 6:21 PM

The NFL final four is set this season with the Arizona Cardinals playing at the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship and the New England Patriots playing at the Denver Broncos.

Both the Cardinals and Panthers finished the regular season ranked in the top-10 in both offensive and defensive DVOA.

The Broncos were a top-10 defensive team, ranking first, while the Patriots were a top-10 team on offense at fifth. The Broncos ranked 25th defensively, while the Patriots were 12th on offense.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots

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NFL Final Four Matchups Since 2005 (Infographic)

Jan 18, 2016 9:11 PM

The New England Patriots are in the AFC Championship Game for the fifth straight season and for the 10th time during the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era.

The NFC Championship features the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers, who last were one win away from the Super Bowl in 2008 and 2005 respectively.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots

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2015 Divisional Round Playoff Matchups (DVOA Infographics)

Jan 17, 2016 2:44 AM

The following infographics show the percentile rankings for all eight 2015 NFL playoff teams in the Divisional Round in the categories of DVOA for offense, defense, pass offense, rush offense, pass defense and rush defense. 

The infographics show the strengths and weaknesses of every team as the second round begins.

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals

Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, IQ

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Rob Gronkowski Receives Injection In Knee At Hospital

Jan 14, 2016 8:16 PM

Rob Gronkowski received treatment on his right knee at the hospital on Thursday.

The treatment included an injection.

The New England Patriots still believe Gronkowski will play in Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

On the official Patriots practice report Thursday night, Gronkowski was listed with knee and back injuries.

Mike Reiss, Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tags: New England Patriots, Injury

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Chandler Jones' Reportedly Hospitalization By Synthetic Marijuana

Jan 13, 2016 5:02 PM

According to Christopher Gasper of the Boston Globe, Chandler Jones’ “confused” reaction which required hospitalization was triggered by synthetic marijuana.

Jones wandered into a police station and was hospitalized overnight after an apparent overdose, though he returned to the practice field Monday.

Jones could land in the NFL's league substance abuse program.

Darin Gantt/Pro Football Talk

Tags: New England Patriots, Injury

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Chandler Jones Overdosed On Pills At Gronkowski's House

Jan 12, 2016 9:05 PM

Chandler Jones reportedly overdosed on pills at the home of Rob Gronkowski on Saturday.

Jones was taken to the hospital with the incident.

The pills taken by Jones are not yet known.

Mike Florio/Pro Football Talk

Tags: New England Patriots

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Wild Card Playoff Matchups (DVOA Infographics)
The infographics show the percentile rankings for all 12 2015 NFL playoff teams in the categories of DVOA for offense, defense, pass offense, rush offense, pass defense and rush defense.

RealGM Staff Report

Bob Quinn Hired By Lions As General Manager
Dan Quinn was most recently the Patriots' director of pro scouting.

Ian Rapoport/NFL.com

Cardinals Given Best Super Bowl Chance At 29 Percent
The Panthers rank second at 20 percent with the Patriots third at 18 percent.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Tom Brady's Sprained Right Ankle 'Feeling Better'
Tom Brady walked without a noticeable limp.

Mike Reiss/ESPN

Seahawks Lead NFL In DVOA For 4th Straight Season (Infographic)
The Seahawks, Bengals, Cardinals, Panthers and Chiefs finished the 2015 regular season in the top-10 in both Offensive and Defensive DVOA.

RealGM Staff Report

Tom Brady's Diet Mostly Plant-Based, Excludes Nightshade Foods
Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen primarily eat vegetables.

Hilary Sargent/Boston Globe

Tom Brady Has Sprained Right Ankle, Not Likely To Miss Time
The MRI on Tom Brady didn't reveal any breaks or fracture.

Adam Schefter/ESPN

Dolphins Requests Interviews With Patriots' McDaniels, Matt Patricia
Josh McDaniels spent parts of two seasons as the head coach with the Denver Broncos before being fired with a 3-9 record in 2010.

Adam Schefter/ESPN (via PFT)

Full NFL Playoff Schedule With Times, TV Listings
The NFL has announced its television schedule for the 2015 playoffs.

Andrew Siciliano/NFL.com