MTP Boston: Pats Back on Track? Competence is King

Are The Patriots Back For Real

Michael Marcangelo 0:16

Welcome everybody to MTP Boston. I am Michael Marcangelo, joined by my best man and yours, Zachary Gray. Zach, how are we feeling today? Feeling great. Feeling the best I can. That's great. I'm really glad the pleasantry is out of the way. We are so fucking back, baby. Two weeks ago, we were all wondering what the hell happened to Drake May and whether the Patriots were headed for a Super Bowl hangover. Now they've beaten Buffalo on the road. They dropped 45 on a what we all agreed was a competent Raiders team. And Drake looks like an MVP candidate again. So are the Patriots officially back, or are we just getting carried away after beating a bad Raiders defense act?

SPEAKER_02 1:01

I think we're getting a little carried away. Uh I'm not to take a step back, I'm not downplaying the win against Buffalo. But allow me to downplay it. But allow me to downplay it because we saw it last year. We saw the same thing last year, which they did. Which again, it's I think whenever you win on the road, especially against a division opponent, it is impressive. It's always tough, no matter what division you're in, even if it's the crappy ones, it's division opponents are always tough games, and doing it on the road is impressive. Just because the only thing that makes me hesitate is because we saw the exact same thing last year in terms of going to Buffalo early in the season and beating them on the road. Um, again, it doesn't take away from anything. It was a great win, obviously playing short-handed. Um, in a way, I kind of feel as if this was a little more impressive, as crazy as that sounds. Um, just because of all the injuries they had. They had so many guys missing on defense. Uh, Will Campbell went out with a knee injury, they lost Treyvon Henderson. Um, they're they're able to overcome these injuries and not just win, but just dominate. Uh dominating win, 45 points from the Patriots is fantastic. Five total touchdowns from Drake May, fantastic. The over-under in this game was um 45 and a half, and the Patriots just did it themselves. So uh, so I I it's kind of apples oranges to compare last week's Bills game to this Raiders game. Uh, but again, I I was slightly more impressed

Raiders Blowout And Defensive Surprises

SPEAKER_02 2:40

from this showing from the team than I was last week.

Michael Marcangelo 2:43

Yeah, I think the most impressive part of this uh is if you couple it with the fact over the last couple of weeks, everyone, including us here on this network, this show, have said, like, are the Raiders good? And we all kind of said, I don't know about good, but they're competent. Their offense was humming, they had a pretty good defensive line, they were competitive with the Chiefs in their loss. And you couple that with the fact that our top four corners were not available to play, and we held again a competent offense to just 17 points, by the way, with Marcus Jones covering Brock Bowers one-on-one for the majority of that game. Now, in the the first drive, when I saw that, I'm like, oh boy, this is not good, this is not the thing to do. Like, but I think they just figured it out, you know, like our offense in this game was was too potent to stop. We talked a little bit about this last week when we did the the power rankings, um, and DK passive uh aggressively touted uh Caleb Williams' uh uh completion percentage being better than Drake's this year, although after this game it's not anymore. We're 0.1 ahead of him. But what I think is most important is that in the last two weeks, Drake has his completion percentage has been 68%, 643 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception. Some would say that's good. I would say that's good. Some would say it was very good. His against the Raiders, he was oh almost 77% completion. Which is just absurd. It's it's so stupid to think that listen, our overreaction to this should uh match our overreaction to the one and two start. However, I think this one and two start, if we just look back on last year, should be different because the first four weeks of this year, statistically, was the hardest schedule, hardest opening four. And we split. Even as bad as we looked, we split. And now we're in a position where we're three and two, we're coming up against the Jets. That is the division rival, like you said, anything can happen in the division, they don't look they don't look too incompetent. Uh, so I don't want them to overlook this, and we'll talk a little bit about that uh coming up. But I think gun to head after Jacksonville, if I said you can walk into week six, three and two, you probably would have taken that, right?

SPEAKER_02 5:15

Yeah, for sure. And if you'd also told me that they're gonna have all the injuries they have on not just the defense, but of the offense, especially too, uh, three and two would have been a miracle in my eyes, really. Um again, I mean I mean, yeah, Marcus Jones on Brock Bowers. I mean, we kind of shaking her head on that one, but it it worked. Look, if if Brock Barrow is gonna go off for some catches in that game, fine. I I said it last week in the power power ranking show. Like watching that guy play football is awesome. That guy is so good. And he did exactly what I expected him to do, which was make some big catches, make some big plays, score a touchdown. He he did Brock Barr things. Uh, and if you allow him to do that and only give up 17 points in the process, then so be it. That's fine. That's you can get away with that. Um, you know, the rest of the offense for the it's competent. I think that is putting it nicely. Um, but I do think this year has kind of shown how older quarterbacks that we think are washed up can at least maintain an offense because they're just so much smarter than today's quarterbacks, whether it is Kirk Cousins or Case Keenum in Chicago, uh, these guys can just read defenses better than the quarterbacks can. The defenses just don't know how to play against a quarterback that knows what the hell they're doing. Um but again, 17 points is pretty good, pretty good defensive showing with all the injuries. And for Drake May to play as well as he did with again no AJ Brown, Matt Collins out of this game, too. Uh and uh let's not forget uh uh oh my gosh, Kyle Williams. I couldn't remember his name because he's been freaking absent for four weeks. Shows up. It's amazing what you do for a fast guy, and you just tell him to run straight. Uh Bethel Johnson 2.0. It's great.

Michael Marcangelo 7:10

Um, so let's not let's not let's let's not put that on on Kyle William Williams just yet. But I think do you think putting that on was a good thing or a bad thing? It's a bad thing. I think he's far more talented than Bethel Johnson. I mean, he's not as fast, I I don't think, but he's got better hands, and we've already seen him make better catches in two seasons than we saw Bethel Johnson make in seven. Uh but coming into this game, uh the the biggest area on the defense when we have you know both of our starting corners has been the run game. People just gash us. Uh so I think what we need to do in the whole strategy coming into the the season with AJ Brown was score as many points as you possibly can fast so that they cannot run, they have to throw. That being said, the Raiders average 2.1 yards per carry against not an unstoppable defense. So what do you think through five games, does Josh McDaniels deserve more credit for turning it around offensively? Or does the defensive coordinator deserve more credit for holding up and again keeping you kept uh you kept Buffalo under 30. You keep the Raiders under under 20. That's tough because not for nothing before you before you give your answer. Yeah, ever since they played us, the Steelers in that offense look like Aaron Rodgers of 2015.

unknown 8:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:42

Uh it's man, that's tough because in offense, mmm. It's so skewed to think about this question in a sense because I we've been so spoiled the past 30 years, have erred 20 years with um Tom Brady as like your second offensive coordinator for the Patriots, in a sense, that Josh McDaniels could call some great plays, but you

Who Deserves Credit Offense Or Defense

SPEAKER_02 9:10

knew Tom Brady was gonna go out there, diagnose a defense, and if he was gonna call an audible, he's gonna do that, he's gonna have a great pocket press presence and be able to allure the rush, and he knew it was coming every time. Um so we've been kind of spoiled with that. So part of me is leading defense because Drake May is so talented. Yep. And he's clearly grown after the first three games. Um, but I mean the defense again, like losing a top two corners is is a pretty big deal, or top four, yeah, top four. Um and then I don't remember, was was Barmore out of this game too, or did he come back this week? I I he came back. Did he come back? Okay, I don't I don't know that he I don't know that he started, but he played he played snaps. I just didn't hear his name at all, so I just assumed he was kind of there-ish, maybe. Um I do I do think it has to be the defense. Um there was a lot of talk about making sure Christian Gonzalez was paid and a lot of stock was being put in the the defense, uh basically kind of building it around him. Um yeah, I I think defensively it's been pretty impressive. But um I mean, would you say they've played like an elite, a truly elite offense yet?

Michael Marcangelo 10:26

Do you know you don't think the Bills are an elite offense? That the Bills are averaging 32 points a game. Yeah, but that was after what, like the first two games are going off.

SPEAKER_02 10:34

And well, actually no, they they just played, they just played last night there against the Rams and they went off again. So right.

Michael Marcangelo 10:40

I mean, I suppose uh Yeah, I we lost we we didn't have Christian Gonzalez last week, and we also uh we also uh lost oh god, what the hell is it uh it's just he just slipped my name. Who's the number two corner? It just slipped my mind. Davis? Yeah, Carlton Davis. So we lost Carlton Davis in the second in the second quarter of last of last week, and we still held the Bills to under 30 points. Yeah. Oh, and by the way, Barmore didn't play either. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:12

I I I'm trying to I feel like I have to lean defense um for being more impressive so far. Again, it's just when you have Drake May and it seems like he's shaken off the stupidity of the first three weeks, which are apparently his his preseason's done. He's in the regular season now. Happened last year, too. So that's kind of the way I'm leaning towards.

Michael Marcangelo 11:35

What about you? Yeah, I'm no, I'm right there with you. I think because we know what Drake May can do, right? We expect it, and when he doesn't do it, it's a big, it's a big X against him. Uh when he does it, you're like, okay, that's what you're supposed to be doing. But for a defense to like when if you go back and listen to uh my interview with Karen Greegan, uh the show notes, link will be there. Um she said the one thing this team cannot afford is injuries. And there we are. We have had we have had more players uh on the inactive list or on the injury list in the first five games of this season than we did in all games last year.

SPEAKER_02 12:14

Yeah, that was a still three and two. And that was a big uh mark against the team. I mean, easy schedule, yes, but they also didn't suffer any injuries until later in this season. And it seemed like every week they were playing a team that had either a backup quarterback or their star player got injured or was out for the game. Um seems to be the exact opposite issue. I mean, aside from week one with Drew Locke and the Seahawks. Uh but it's for the most part, I know there's been guys here and there have gone out, but for the most part, they're playing relatively healthy teams and the other ones being depleted and they're still coming out with W's.

Michael Marcangelo 12:52

Yeah, here's what I like because you just bring up that that Drew Locke game, which I tried to just get out of my fucking head. Um a question I was thinking about, and I just want to think like let's think about this out loud. Uh let's do it. Are the Patriots better than their three-and-two record suggests? Or had they beat Drew Locke like they were supposed to, would people be looking at them as a fraudulent four-in-one team?

SPEAKER_02 13:18

Uh yeah, definitely. Yeah, I think it was a lose-lose for us. Yeah, no, no, I I do, and I don't say that as like, oh, poor Patriots fans, poor us. Like, sure. No, I I think it'd be a fair criticism. Uh, I mean, if you face a backup quarterback for the entirety of a game and you beat them, like you're kind of expected to do that at that point, especially as a defending AFC champ. I know they're the Super Bowl champs, but uh yeah, I I think people would be looking at them as a fraudulent four-in-one team, and all they'd have to do is just kind of prove them wrong otherwise going forward.

Michael Marcangelo 13:51

So that being said, are they a are they better than their three-and-two record suggests? No, I think they're right where they are.

unknown 13:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:59

It's still early. Like five games is early. I mean, I I hate to do that. I know 25 over 25% of the season's done. Um, so it's it's early, but it's not. But I think three and two is right where we should expect them to be. I think if we looked, I don't I don't remember if we went game by game in the preseason prediction show, but I think to your point earlier, that if we looked at the schedule and we picked uh wins and losses, three and two would probably be right around where we were expecting.

Michael Marcangelo 14:31

Yep. No, I wholeheartedly agree. I mean, we we all penciled in the Patriots to lose the game against the Seahawks. We just thought that it would be against Sam Darnold and not Mazoo's own Drew Locke.

SPEAKER_02 14:46

We saw it was gonna be a loss against Sam Darnold. Like, do you imagine saying that sentence out loud like a year ago? Like, no, oh, they they didn't face Sam Darnold and it's Drew Locke, and it's like they're kind of like it's like the uh the office meme picture, like oh we'll tell the difference between the two. It's kind of the same picture. Like, I know Sam Darnold played great last year, and then this he played fine in the Super Bowl, but it's like Sam Darnold's not Patrick Mahomes. Sam Darnold's not Josh Allen. He might be smarter than Josh Allen, but he's not uh he's got a ring.

Michael Marcangelo 15:15

He's got a ring. And unlike Trent Dilfer, he was the main reason why that team got a ring last year. So I think Josh.

SPEAKER_02 15:26

Not JSN, not Kenneth Walker. Who threw it to JSN? Not not Kenneth Walker?

Michael Marcangelo 15:31

Who handed it off to Kenneth Walker? I don't know. He's a super old. Kenneth Walker had a mediocre season, but had an amazing postseason. And he's looking great this year so far. Yeah. So he's fine. Yeah. Um is do you think Drake's processing what's happening on the field faster?

Drake May Growth Without Star Targets

Michael Marcangelo 15:50

Or to to give you a chance to talk a little bit more about the offense, is Josh just finally calling plays that fit into Drake's strengths better?

SPEAKER_02 16:00

Uh I hate to say both, but I mean, I I do think there is something going on with with Drake May that he either he has to play more in the preseason or something, because it just he looks clueless for the first three weeks of the season, and this is now back-to-back years. We have enough of a sample size. Rookie season, it's kind of a wash because he was a starter halfway through the year. But it does seem like he needs to play a few games before he gets up the speed. So I think he's getting up the speed, and I also think he's kind of forced to diagnose these plays better. He doesn't have AJ Brown, he doesn't have Matt Collins. I think the thing better for him than than AJ Brown going down is Matt Collins also going down because now he's truly got a uh wide receiving core of misfits, which is no not to really put disrespect on uh Pop Douglas, uh Chisholm, Williams, who you love, and uh you know uh you got the ism for Chisholm. I've listened it is what it is. Uh but I think it forces him to spread the ball around, it forces him to actually have to look at defenses and look at his options out there and make the right choice rather than saying where's number one, where's number 13? So I I do think a part of it is him being able to diagnose, and I think there's a portion of Josh McDaniels having him draw plays that kind of favor a balanced offense that doesn't necessarily rely on you know a certain option for AJ Brown because they expect him to be open or or to get open. Um so I do think it's a little both, but if you gun to my head had to make me choose, I'd say it's more Drake May being able to read defenses and and trust his players.

Michael Marcangelo 17:51

Can I just say that I love that I don't know if you did this on purpose, I really hope that you did. That when you when you were listing off the wide receivers that Drake May now had to be uh to you know throw to, you did not mention Romeo Dubbs. And I I I think I hate him. I think I hate his helmet, I hate the way he catches or drops, but I I you know that they teach you to catch with your hands. I understand that. I've been told this too. It's it's an interesting concept. I've never seen someone so blatantly unable to make catches with his hands when he should be bringing it into his body more than Romeo Dobbs.

SPEAKER_02 18:32

And what's ironic is he's actually had like a decent two games. I know he has. I know it's I know it's been decent, but I and I think it's uh I didn't purposely leave him off. I kind of sort of forgot about it because I think I'm a little more impressed by these other receivers, these other names stepping up the way they have. Um, if Romeo Dobbs is going off for over 100 yards and ton of catches and multiple touchdowns these past two or three weeks, be like, oh well, that makes sense. He's the number two, and AJ Brown's on the field, so this is what he should be doing. Normally, when like you pick up a guy on waivers in fantasy, and you you you know, you know that uh you know, some stud wide receiver, not one is like you know, Mike Evans is injured again, and you know, you need the backup there. Uh that's typically what you see. Uh, you're not seeing that from Romeo Dubbs, and he's been a fine piece, but I also think that's good for Drake May. I think it's I think it's working in his favor, and I think it's gonna help when they have a full healthy receiving cord to be able to spread the ball around.

Michael Marcangelo 19:42

I hate him. I I'll I'll I will never like it, it will take he needs to have his JD Drew moment for me. I was just gonna say JD Drew, but I didn't want to make the comparison. And and but it can't happen until the postseason. He cannot undo the hurt that he caused me in that opening week when he on third and 19 may hit him like exactly where we were supposed to. And I don't, I just I mean, he just looked like Michael J. Fox trying to catch football out there. Like it was just not good. Do you have anything you want to add?

SPEAKER_02 20:15

No, no, I'm not gonna touch that one.

Michael Marcangelo 20:16

No. Okay. I'm just gonna let that marinate for the uh for the listeners.

Vrabel Culture And Biggest Injury Returns

Michael Marcangelo 20:20

Perfect. So the Patriots were already without several key contributors, uh, including AJ Brown, not collins, Gonzo, Carlton Davis during the game. Will Campbell suffered a knee injury, Trevion Henderson injured his ankle, as we already mentioned, two of the backups for Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis were also unable to play. So, how much credit does uh do you think uh Vrabel deserves for getting like keeping the team competitive with so many starters unavailable?

SPEAKER_02 20:48

I mean, that's kind of been the culture he's brought since day one. Just feels like a team effort, especially kind of ironic, too, that they were celebrating the old one Patriots uh you know coming out as a team and playing as a team, and um, they had to do that this week. So I do give credit to Vrabel for installing this culture that's clearly been infectious. They've gravitated towards it, they've gravitated towards their coach, but I do in a way feel like it's a lot on the defensive coordinator, is that current. I mean, um it's I mean, he he got his opportunity last year to come out and show uh show what ability he could have, um, having the step in as the interim role. Now he's full-time defensive coordinator, and it's been impressive to watch. He I wouldn't be surprised by the end of the year if if teams were reaching out to to try to get interviews with him for their for their head coaching job. I know it's early, but you know a lot of the stupid teams out there want to jump on board and get a coach before someone else snatches them up.

Michael Marcangelo 21:57

We also saw what this guy did last year when he had to step up when the Uh the named defensive coordinator had to step away due to the health care. Right, right, exactly. This guy now has a track record of making good decisions on the defense. Um which I'm interested to hear your take. Which which which injured player is most important to get back the fastest? And you can't say AJ Brown.

SPEAKER_02 22:23

On both sides of the ball, you're saying. Okay. Yep. Uh probably Matt Collins, uh, because his run blocking's very effective. Um, I know it's a lot of the offensive line, obviously. Um is Will Campbell going is expected to be back next week, or is it no?

Michael Marcangelo 22:41

He's gonna miss some time. He's gonna miss some time as well.

SPEAKER_02 22:45

Uh man, I mean I think anytime you you lose offensive linemen, I think that's a a big part there.

Michael Marcangelo 22:54

But if I were to pick like a dark that that big bastard that they brought in from Utah did a pretty good job when Will Campbell went down. I mean, he's got longer arms for sure, and he's six foot taller.

SPEAKER_02 23:05

For sure. But I I would uh if I were to pick like a dark horse pick or something a little more unconventional, I'd probably say Matt Collins because he's obviously great in the receiving game. He's kind of Drake May's safety safety choice there. Um, but he is also great in run blocking. Uh Chisholm has shown he's been great in run blocking too. Um and you're gonna need that without Trevion Henderson uh for the next few weeks. Uh I think that'd be important. I just hope that uh that Stevenson doesn't run into the back of linemen and the back of any of his own players uh against the Jets, but God, who knows? We'll see. But I I if I were to make a pick, I'd probably say Matt Collins.

Michael Marcangelo 23:47

My pick is Trevion Henderson because we saw what he did when Ramondre went down last year. And I I you I know that you've mentioned that you don't think he could he doesn't have any game-changing plays in him, but I think that that's the most absurd thing I've ever heard. That's what uh you say on this on the on a sports podcast. That's fine. Uh he is the perfect compliment to to Ramondre. And the fact that if if he's in there, uh what Ramondre worked on all offseason, that's what we heard from Karen Greedy is receiving. I think you can make it more of a dual threat. If he's in every down back, I don't think you can. Um, so I think you need to have him back. I thought Kiner was fine minus that stupid fumble. Oh, that was great, huh? But like it didn't cost him, really.

SPEAKER_02 24:29

You know, um yeah, they won 45 to 17, so of course it didn't cost him, but it's just it's just I I hate I hate those plays so much for so many different levels. I hate it for the the player because you come in with this opportunity, you're like, oh, maybe he'll have a big big run, and people talk about him taking a job and it's just like it's a feel-good story, but then they fumble and you're like, God damn it, like that guy just like showed up and he just fucked it all up, and it's uh he just ruined his opportunity. I hate, I hate seeing that. And then you feel like as a fan, you're like, shit, like, can this team like do we need to cut him? Like, does this guy need to be cut? Or like, do they have any other options that back? Should they just like have Drake run the ball, like bugs bunny it the whole time? Like, what the fuck do we do now? Like, uh, I I just hate those plays. I do. So hopefully it's a one-time thing, nerves, whatever, but we'll see.

Michael Marcangelo 25:23

We're just accustomed to it being Patriot fans because we saw like Caseon Booty dropped like two of his first passes that was ever thrown to him, and Bill just didn't just bench him for the rest of the year. That's what that's what that's he'd love to do that with players. Ben Drivers Screen Ellis didn't have a single fucking fumble his entire Patriot career, and then once he went to somewhere else where they actually put the

Do Running Backs Matter In January

Michael Marcangelo 25:40

the right amount of poundage in the ball, all he did was fumble. So I just think you need versatility in the in the backfield. I don't think that I don't think I've said this to you. If if if the best player on your team is a running back, you will not win a Super Bowl. So I'm I don't need to have the best player.

SPEAKER_02 25:59

Who was the Super Bowl MVP last year? Kenneth Walker. Weird. That sounds like he was the best player on the Seahawks last year.

Michael Marcangelo 26:09

Oh, so you think Kenneth Walker was better than JSN? He was the best player in that game last year. So in one game, yeah, that's fine. Anyone can do that. One of them was Super Bowl, right? Yeah, Julian Edelman was on was Super Bowl MVP too.

SPEAKER_02 26:20

Was he better than Tom Brady? Who was the best uh team on the Eagles? That's what I thought. Who was the best player on the Eagles team two years ago? AJ Brown.

SPEAKER_00 26:30

No, shut the hell up. It was Saquon Barkley. No, stop that. It was Saquon. It was Saquon, enough. Milton Williams, no. Any member of that team.

SPEAKER_02 26:41

Stop that. It was Saquon Barkley. Enough. He had a phenomenal year and they won the Super Bowl. He was a major part of it. He was the best player on that team. Enough. I know he was. I think the better point with that though is these teams that have great running backs, 95% or 90% of the time, it's because they have a great offensive line. Uh and that I mean the Cowboys proved that for a decade plus before when they had guys like DeMarco Murray, you know, being a thousand-yard rusher when he had no business even being a starting running back. Uh it's Tony Pollard. Tony Pollard, too. That's another name. Like they just they churned out these running backs because they had really good. Right. Like you could, I mean, Ezekiel Elliott, and then you saw him in New England, he wasn't anything. Um, so it's fat. True. So so, but I think it's more of a product of a good offensive line than it is a talented running back. Uh, I mean, yes, you need a talented running back, you need someone who can actually read whole, you know, see the hole, get through it, uh, yards after contest.

Michael Marcangelo 27:45

I don't think that that's true, dude. We had we I can point to many different cases where a running back does not uh is not even the top five best player on the team. And ultimately, when you have I'll give you the the Eagles. Who's your other one in the in the 60-year history of the Super Bowl? Who's your other Super Bowl uh champion that had it that the best player was a running back?

SPEAKER_02 28:10

That the best player was a running back? Uh I gotta think of I can't think of that right now. I can't. I will say this though. I I think saying that makes it seem like that you don't think running backs are important. I don't. Okay. If that was if that all right, well, if that was the case, then Belichick wouldn't have brought in Corey Dillon for the Super Bowl 39 season.

Michael Marcangelo 28:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 28:37

And he was and he was a key player in that that team.

Michael Marcangelo 28:40

1600 yards, absolutely. Um, and then he won with Shane Vereen and James White, and yeah, but that any any other running back that he could get that he could draft in the sixth round.

SPEAKER_02 28:55

Now I'm looking up Super Bowl winners year by year because I want to look we're totally going off on this like TP Boston episode, but now this is what happens when it's just you and I on an episode. We get in these side conversations where you just try to piss me off and get me to like because I've been saying everything that you've been agreeing with, and you're like, you know what? I need to find something that Zach disagrees with me with, and then that's entertaining. So here we are.

Michael Marcangelo 29:19

Uh my def in my defense, I said I don't think I've asked you this on the air before, so I'm just gonna do it, and then I did it. Excellent. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 29:26

So we're going back Kansas City back to back.

Michael Marcangelo 29:30

Whatever. This is a podcast. So like we need to fill the dead.

SPEAKER_02 29:32

I know. I I'm speaking, like the words are being spoken. Are they competent words? Debatable. It's fine. Uh, I would say that uh what's the name? Legarrett blunt made a massive difference in that Super Bowl against the Patriots.

Michael Marcangelo 29:45

So the so the best player on that team was LaGuarrett Blunt all year. That's what you're gonna say. All right, if we're going all year, then no. Yes, the best player in your team. All year. Yeah, the best player. So like Emmett Smith. Emmett Smith. Derek Henry. I'll give you Walter Payton too.

unknown 30:08

Okay.

Michael Marcangelo 30:09

I don't think I don't think you give me any others. Wait, did Derek when did Derek Henry won a Super Bowl? He didn't. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Like Walter Payton and Barkley are the anomalies. Emmett Smith wasn't the best player on uh on that team. He had Michael Urban, Troy Aikman, Emmett Smith, he had Dion. He was the all-time leading rusher. Not by the time, not when they won the Super Bowls.

SPEAKER_02 30:30

That's just because he's still the all-time leading rusher. You can't just be like, oh, he wasn't the best player on the team. He was, you know, he was just played for 15 years. Oh, okay. That's that's all it was. So I mean, Brady's the all-time touchdown passer because he played for a million years, too.

Michael Marcangelo 30:42

So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 30:44

Oh, so he wasn't the best quarterback of all time.

Michael Marcangelo 30:47

He he was, but I I I would still argue that even if he threw less touchdown passes, he'd still be the greatest quarterback of all time because of how he was in the clutch.

SPEAKER_02 30:55

So Emmett Smith wasn't good, is what you're saying.

Michael Marcangelo 30:57

Not in the clutch. He was he was fine.

unknown 31:01

Okay.

Michael Marcangelo 31:01

All right. Well, we'll just leave it at that then. You just uh I just I know that you're gonna do this whole little you know deflecting thing because you know that's the thing. I'm not deflecting you. No. Go on. No, go on. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 31:13

Uh let's look ahead to uh no was there another point to that or no?

Michael Marcangelo 31:19

No, that was it. Okay. Yeah, I just don't think like I I I love the fact that Trevion Henderson and Ramondre Stevenson are a good backfield. I would I would not pay either of them $15 million to be a running back for the Patriots. I would never, ever, ever pay a running back more than $10 million uh if I was a GM, because what I what I've seen is that if you have a competent quarterback and you have a competent defense, you can draft fifth rounders to come in and do it. Like nobody, you don't need like you don't you really don't need that. And I always hate when people are like, oh, Derrick Henry is the greatest running back of all time. Yeah, or he's he's he's really good.

SPEAKER_02 31:56

Do you think the Giants so do you think the Giants could use Saquon Barkley? Do you think they kind of regret giving him up?

Michael Marcangelo 32:02

I think Scattaboo's fine. Okay. Where would you would I rather have uh Saquon Barkley for three million dollars a year as opposed to Scattaboo? Yeah. Would I rather would I pay $12, $13, $14 million a year for for a running back? No. No. Okay. Okay. That's fine. And you would. That's why you have never won any Super Bowls. I mean I can't seven four.

SPEAKER_02 32:24

I can I can I can't afford any bills, so no, I wouldn't pay any millions of dollars.

Michael Marcangelo 32:28

So week six,

Jets Preview And What Must Hold Up

Michael Marcangelo 32:30

Patriots versus the Jets. The Jets travel to Foxboro. New England has the opportunity to turn two impressive wins into a three-game winning streak and kind of start to mirror what they did last year against an AFC rival. The Jets enter the game two and three after beating Cleveland 17-12th in week five. Uh a couple of questions I have for you. Will the offensive line hold up without Will Campbell against the Jets? Rapid fire, I'm gonna say yes.

SPEAKER_02 32:55

Gonna be fine. I would say yes to you, but I wouldn't be surprised if they force a couple fumbles on Drake May.

Michael Marcangelo 33:04

Will the new will New England's depleted secondary be able to contain Geno Smith and Garrett uh Garrett Wilson?

SPEAKER_02 33:15

Uh just the first half of that question is great. Will they're problem? No, Garrett Wilson's great. Don't I'm that's I'm not laughing at Garrett Wilson. I'm laughing at uh uh Gino Smith. Um I think they should be okay. Uh, if Garrett Wilson has a game similar to Brock Bowers, then fine. But if he goes on for 250 yards and three touchdowns, that's different.

Michael Marcangelo 33:41

Uh do we see the Drake May that we've seen the last two weeks, or do we see more of the Drake May that we saw against Pittsburgh or against Seattle against the Jets defense, which by the way, again, last year did not notch an interception all season?

SPEAKER_02 33:58

Well, I mean they finally got one this year, but no, I I have no concerns about the Jets defense. I agree.

Michael Marcangelo 34:07

Uh let's see here. I don't I had I had this question written down and I I wrote it and then I got pissed off. So is a loss to the Jets unacceptable for a team that reached the Super Bowl last year? Yes. Now are you say no hold hold on. Are you saying that because I wrote it and I was like, well, there's so many ways that I could that I could pick apart this question that I wrote. You know, well, if Drake May goes down, no, it's not ex it's it's acceptable to lose against the Jets. Well, yeah, duh. Duh. Yes. But given all right, even going into this game with all the injuries they have, there's you know, always always always plays well against us, by the way. He's never not played well against the Patriot defense.

SPEAKER_02 34:54

Okay, but that was also against what other defensive coordinators and coaches and players. Last year. He was a Raiders quarterback. Yeah, it was the first game of the season. It's different.

Michael Marcangelo 35:06

Well, against this defense and it was the first game of the season.

SPEAKER_02 35:10

Yeah, I don't know. I spell out. Go ahead. Keep welcome. You're welcome. It's fine. Um no. I think uh even with the injuries they have, even with everything they everything they're going to with this game, uh, they should win. I don't think it should be a 47 to 17, uh 45 to 17 blowout like it was with the Raiders. But they should win. They should win. Uh if it's sloppy and they they are close, I won't be happy with it. But they should win.

Michael Marcangelo 35:42

So you won't be happy if it's if they beat the Jets 27-24.

SPEAKER_02 35:50

On the whole, yes, I'll be happy with it. But I'll have questions and criticisms.

Michael Marcangelo 35:57

As you should we we had to keep the fucking lights on around here.

SPEAKER_02 36:00

Uh, yeah, exactly. Right. So I guess no, that's that's the thing. Yeah, I guess overall they should win this game. I think they should win, they should win by a touchdown. If they win by a touchdown, even just a touchdown, I'll be like, okay, great. You had some injuries, and maybe some of these guys maybe maybe they let Wilson go off for a big game and it gets kind of close and what have you. Fine. I'm fine with that. But anything less than a touchdown would be unacceptable.

Michael Marcangelo 36:29

What worries me is that if if Brees Hall is healthier, he's a problem. Again, I I don't I mean Yeah, but running backs don't matter, Mike. You said that. So yeah, but he's not the best player on their team. Garrett Wilson is. Um it's fine. I didn't say they didn't matter, I just said I don't I don't value them. That's a there's a there's a big difference. I would take a running back over a punter. Uh after five weeks, we start out we go from a disastrous one and two

Is This The Start Of A Run

Michael Marcangelo 37:00

start to a winning record. Is this the beginning of another like serious AFC run, do you think? Or is it just like a temporary correction?

SPEAKER_02 37:14

Um the real I guess test per se. I love uh I wish DK was on the show because I was I'm gonna say like the real test is gonna come like in a little bit, despite the fact that Chicago, they're playing Chicago in a week and two days. Um so I think that because look, as I alright, New York, Chicago, then it's Miami garbage. Um Green Bay could go either way, and Detroit's been kind of shaky, and that's also an uh international game as well, and then they go in the bye. So when they come back from the bye, that's gonna be interesting. LA has been ass, so who knows? But then you have Buffalo, Minnesota, who's somehow undefeated, then Monday Night Football, Kansas City. Um, and then you're got down. It's just you yeah, Denver, Miami to wrap up. But um so is it the start of a run? Could be. I hate I hate to answer that way. It could be. Uh I uh I will be I feel like I'd be able to give a better but even Chicago's a Thursday night game as well. That's even a better answer after the run's already taken place and you can no no no no no because I want to say after the Chicago game, because Chicago has been uh has been frisky, they've been good, especially at their battling adversity at the quarterback position, and you know the slapped last week. They got slapped all right by a by a subpar mediocre quarterback, they did. Um so but Thursday night games, I just feel like they're so hard to judge because it is on short rest, and I think just it's just such a bullshit scenario for the viewers and for the players. I think it's dumb. Um so you know what? No, fuck it. No, I'm gonna no, I'm saying it fuck off. I think I'm saying it's just it's a whole other conversation that the NFL just tries to squeeze all the money they can and all the viewership they can to have all these games on these like I'm fine with Thursday night football, but like give the team a bye week before then, don't have it, so they're on four days rest. That's stupid. Why do you want to do that? Why do you want to like harm your product with bullshit because they get money out of it? That's why. Because we all still watch, we all still watch, still fucking watch. That's right. It's just it's dumb, but you know what? No, I uh I think it's the start of a run. I think so because you're gonna start to see players get healthy again. AJ Brown might play this week, which I think would be silly. I think they should hold him out for Thursday. Um yeah, so they they should hold him up for Thursday, hopefully get some other guys back as well. They were saying Travion Henderson's apparently Superman or Wolverine he heals fast, which was just fucking weird. Like, he's a fast healer, like great, cool, awesome.

Michael Marcangelo 40:20

Like he's been hurt a lot, so they have that they can look back on it, right?

SPEAKER_02 40:24

Uh so I would say if these guys start coming back player by player, piece by piece, yeah, it should be the start of a run. I and I I do look at this as uh there's a few teams in the way, but yeah, why not? Start of a run. Uh serve a dynasty, Mike.

Michael Marcangelo 40:44

One one word responses, please.

SPEAKER_02 40:47

Just one word?

Michael Marcangelo 40:48

Yeah, well, as close to one word as possible. You ready? I'll do my best. Are the Patriots currently the biggest threat to Buffalo in the AFC East? Uh yeah. Um, can I expand on that? No.

SPEAKER_02 41:00

Uh it ain't the Dolphins and it ain't the Jets, so yeah.

Michael Marcangelo 41:05

Is is May a top five NFL quarterback when he's playing at his best? Yes. Is Rabel's coaching the biggest reason the Patriots have survived the injuries?

SPEAKER_02 41:20

Yeah. I'm reluctant because I think the coordinators have really shown out as well.

Michael Marcangelo 41:27

Well, the coordinator's success ultimately is Rabel's success until they go and do the same thing elsewhere without him. Right, so then what are we talking about? I'm just correcting you. Uh should the Patriots be buyers at the trade deadline? No. Really? You wouldn't add to this team?

SPEAKER_02 41:45

Where would you add? Well, no, I know I I'm not trying to say it condescendingly, but like where if you disagree, where do you want them to add?

Michael Marcangelo 41:55

If you can figure if there is a market for uh a defensive tackle or uh or uh an edge rusher, I would do that. Um like a good one. I I would have loved for them to have uh traded a second and a fifth for Marvin Harrison Jr. Because then you have AJ Brown, Marvin Harrison, Romeo Dobbs, the Chisholms, uh Chisholm, uh, and and I mean I think you have one of the best skilled you know wide receiver rooms in the league at that point, just based on talent. Um I'm mad that he went to the Texans. I know that. And plus Colts fans would be real mad about that one. Oh, I know. I I mean I'd give him 88 just to just to fuck with him.

SPEAKER_02 42:42

Yep.

Michael Marcangelo 42:43

Love that. Um what's the Patriots' biggest weakness heading into this week in the middle of the season?

SPEAKER_02 42:53

Uh the run game. And that includes offensive line. Just just say what you want to say. You want to do lightning round, but just say what you want to say. I would say uh quarterback pressure. Yeah, and I think part of that is if you have a good run game, it helps allow to open up.

Michael Marcangelo 43:17

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. So from the defensive pressure.

Week Six NFL Picks And Gambling Lines

Michael Marcangelo 43:20

Oh, our ability to pressure the quarterback. Yeah, gotcha. Okay. Yeah. Um, all right, ready to make some picks? Do you want me to give you the over-under or the the lines too? Uh, I can pull them up real quick. Are we doing picks for the whole NFL?

SPEAKER_02 43:33

Is that what we're doing? Yeah, every week we do this. Oh. Well, I thought that was like a uh is that not just a uh what you call it their uh you know, the the weekly ranking show? We we get involved in this too.

Michael Marcangelo 43:47

Oh, I'm gonna I'm gonna ask you to pick winners or losers. And and then uh what what happens is DK and dipshit will listen to this and they'll disregard probably everything that I say and they might find value in what you say. So I think it can be good. Excellent. There's Night football, Seattle at Denver. Seattle's a two and a half point favorite.

SPEAKER_02 44:04

Uh Denver. I think that Denver can uh yeah, I think Hope Field Advantage will work out for them, especially in these Thursday night games. Go with Denver.

Michael Marcangelo 44:18

I don't know why I hate Bo Nicks as much as I do, but I do. I think it's because Sean Payton's his coach and I really fucking hate him. Um it might be like the most hateable combination.

SPEAKER_02 44:28

It really might be.

Michael Marcangelo 44:29

And I don't think it's really anything to do with Bo Nicks. Like I I just think I hate Sean Payton so much that uh so give me Seattle.

SPEAKER_02 44:37

Sean Payton is like Sean Payton gives like cop energy, and then like Bo Nicks is like the the dipshit son who has like house parties and like he gets caught with a bag, but then you know he's never gonna face any trouble because his dad's like the captain, and his dad's being Sean Payton. Like that's that's what I see with him.

Michael Marcangelo 44:57

Can't argue with that. Uh London. I think this is the last London game. Jolly Houston. No, wait, where are the Patriots playing? France or Barcelona? Oh they have they have a Barcelona game and a France game, and it may be a Germany game this year, too. There's there's nine nine international taking on Jacksonville. Jacksonville's a three-point favorite. Give me Houston.

SPEAKER_02 45:26

Fucking no, Jacksonville. That's a dude. Back-to-back home games. Give me Jacksonville, absolutely. They are riding such a high right now, it is incredible. Uh they it might be Jags and Patriots in the uh AFC Championship. Throwing it out there right now. It won't be. It's fine. I'm just I need to throw it out there now so when it happens, I sound correct.

Michael Marcangelo 45:52

Yeah, I appreciate that. You're welcome. Uh the Bears take on the Dirty Birds down down in Atlanta. Chicago's a three-point favorite. Uh I really want to hear about I want to hear DK and and Matt talk about this because Matt is just he bought all the Michael Penix stocks. I mean, there's there were just none left, and now he can't sell them fast enough. Penix sucks. Uh I was right. You were right. Everyone that believed that was right. Um if Caleb plays, this line should not be three points.

SPEAKER_02 46:23

No, it shouldn't be. And uh yeah, I mean I would even argue it should be like four or five, uh, as it is right now. So give me the Bears.

Michael Marcangelo 46:34

Baltimore at Cleveland. Uh Baltimore's a four and a half point favorite. This is the see, there's like the AFC North is so f fucking tricky. This is gonna come off as me and my hatred. Um not hatred, but my hatred value. Give me Cleveland. You're taking the pervert?

SPEAKER_02 46:57

Deshaun. Well, that is the pervert, so yeah.

Michael Marcangelo 47:02

Yeah. I mean, I don't love them, but I I this is there's always one game between these two teams where uh Cleveland just shows up. I mean, when's the last time uh the Ravens swept the the the series every year against Cleveland? Uh it's been a while. Yeah, I think that's a tough that's a tough division. They play each other, they they play each other tough. Uh there's no there's no Miami Dolphins in that fucking division when they play each other.

SPEAKER_02 47:26

Yeah, I'd have to look back. But uh I mean Cleveland's home. Ravens had a Baltimore.

Michael Marcangelo 47:36

Okay. Uh Tennessee at Indy. Indy's a seven-point favorite. Can I take Tennessee to cover, but indie to win? Yes, absolutely. Uh I'll do that. Just another fucking toilet bowl.

SPEAKER_02 47:47

I don't want to spend any more time talking about that game.

Michael Marcangelo 47:51

Chad's at New England. New England's a seven and a half point favorite. Again, divisional game. Give me the give me uh give me the pats.

SPEAKER_02 47:57

Patriots and points, like I said before, they should win by a touchdown. Um seven and a half is just such a fucking teaser in the gambling to kick out. I just like I just said, like they should win by a touchdown, and of course they make it seven and a half. I didn't look at the line before. Um God, that's so funny.

Michael Marcangelo 48:13

Yeah, it they should cover. Uh, Saints go to New York to battle the Giants. The Saints are a one and a half point favorite. So essentially, if this game was played in New Orleans, it'd be a four and a half point favorite, and I just don't understand why they think the Saints are that much better than the Giants.

SPEAKER_02 48:32

Uh, because I think the Giants showed us Yeah, I mean that game between the Giants and and uh commanders is brutal. That was just stupidity back and forth. I would think that the Giants would learn from that, and especially with Harbaugh being their coach to be able to turn that around. I I would go uh moneyline for Giants.

Michael Marcangelo 48:55

Yeah, yeah, give me the Giants. Uh Carolina at at Philly, Philly's lost three in a row. Philly's a one and a half point favorite. Can Carolina make it four in a row?

SPEAKER_02 49:05

Yeah, I think they can. Dude, I think they're gonna make like an actual run. I think people are really sleeping on the Panthers. Uh I hate that statement. I no, I dude, I think Bryce Young is actually gonna like break out a little bit. He might be like in the MVP race or conversation by the end of the year. Uh I think people this is great. I I again I people are sleeping on the Panthers. I think they they're they'll win this game.

Michael Marcangelo 49:35

Steelers at Bucks, Buck uh Pittsburgh's only two and a half point favorite.

SPEAKER_02 49:40

Uh Steelers. Yeah, it takes Steelers too. God, the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers are just this always happens to them that like especially Aaron Rodgers with the Steelers, I it's a whole combination of like Aaron Rodgers, Steelers, and Mike McCarthy. Like any other regular circumstance, they'd lose this game, but because of uh one in four bucks. I know they beat Dallas, but you know, Dallas is a joke. Um like of course they're gonna win this game. Aaron Rodgers is gonna have like 300 yards, and people go be like, oh, Aaron Rodgers, serious the old Aaron Rodgers, and it's just like they just beat a shitty team, dude. So yeah, it's gonna be one of those games. They'll probably win by two. He's played pretty well the last two weeks. Great, you know what? It's and then he'll fall apart at the end of the year, and they'll finish like nine and eight or eight and nine. Who knows?

Michael Marcangelo 50:26

Yeah, I hate Aaron Rodgers. You're right. Uh, Cardinals at Rams. Rams are a 12 and a half point favorite.

SPEAKER_02 50:31

Uh, they should be 20 and a half point favorites. They're going to dog walk the Cardinals after uh, again, this another uh national game that they just got embarrassed. And I mean embarrassed by the fact that like they should be much better than what they're showing. I think they're just gonna absolutely wipe the floor with the Cardinals. And the Cardinals, they get just got rid of Marvin Marvin Harrison Jr. Not that he was really doing much, but I'm sure that so like I mean they're not really getting anything back for him. So yeah, I'm taking like I would take uh Rams by like 20 points.

Michael Marcangelo 51:05

I mean, that the that potent Jacoby Brissett led offense. Uh I listen, I need I I need Jeremiah Love to have like 500 fucking yards every game for the rest of the fantasy season to give me a chance. So uh that being said, give me give me the Rams. Um the Chargers at the Chiefs, Chiefs eight and a half point favorites. What is going on with the Chargers, man? I think I think Harbaugh's cooked.

SPEAKER_02 51:33

Like he doesn't know what to do. No. No idea. There's no what what's hilarious too is he'll probably I don't know if they will fire him. Who I don't know what their deal is with the uh ownership and like the front office, like how how aggressive they'll be with that. But the hilarious thing is he'll if he does get canned, then it's probably gonna be Mike McDaniel that becomes the head coach right after coaching the uh after coaching the Dolphins and like God knows how that will go. Uh that team's a mess, absolute disaster. Uh I mean I don't think it'll be eight and a half because somehow the Chargers and Chiefs always end up being really close game somehow. Uh, but I still think the Chiefs will win. Probably by like a buck or field goal at the end of the game.

Michael Marcangelo 52:16

Yeah, give me uh give me give me the Chargers to cover, uh, but Chiefs to win. Yep. Uh Buffalo at Vegas. Buffalo's a five and a half point favorite.

SPEAKER_02 52:25

Yeah, they'll they'll they'll take care of business. They'll be easy. Yeah, give me the give me everything in Buffalo. But I will say Josh Allen will have another like stupid interception like he did at the end of the first half. Dude, like I watch that game and I'm just like, why is Josh Allen so stupid? Like I I saw him do that, and I'm like, this is like Drake May type level crap. Like in terms of like a young quarterback with a big arm who thinks they can just do everything. I'm watching him run around and scramble and try to chuck a ball down with two timeouts, mind you, to be able to like and I know they won the game, but come on, dude. Like, that is just so stupid. It's so dumb.

Michael Marcangelo 53:05

With that said, the butt uh bills are gonna win. Dallas at Green Bay, Sunday night football. Green Bay's favorite by a point and a half. Give me Green Bay.

SPEAKER_02 53:12

Uh yeah, Green Bay. They I again I feel like something with Green Bay always happens is they get a big win, like against the uh the Bears last week. They get the couple of games, a couple of runs, and like, oh, is Green Bay back again? Maybe they have like that quarterback after Rogers and then after Rogers or before Rogers Farvin. Like they kind of have this like vibe going with them, and then they'll be very much let down by the end of the year. But yes, uh, very much the Packers in this game.

Michael Marcangelo 53:38

This is and this isn't like my my love for uh Jordan Love. I just think that these are the games that Dallas loses. Yes. Always. Yep, and until I'm proven wrong, prove me wrong. Uh Washington at San Francisco. San Francisco's only a seven and a half point favorite.

SPEAKER_02 54:00

San Francisco should be like a 70-point favorite, in my opinion. Uh San Fran is so good. They and I Yeah, but this is this is a trap game for the 49ers coming off that big divisional game. It is, but dude, I messaged the group chat like, how the hell could the Bucks let Mike Evans walk? He looked incredible in that game. Incredible. It's because he is. But even more so, the some of the plays, some of the catches, he is ripping the ball away. I'm like, this guy, like still, and like when he took his helmet off, he said on the sideline, like, oh, that hairline, holy shit. Okay, shave your head, like polar braun. Uh, just awful. But um, nonetheless, he checked Diggs' name, dude. And I said in the group chat too, I'm like, if someone does that to you, you have to retire.

SPEAKER_00 54:50

Diggs needs to retire. Like, that's one of the most disrespectful things I've ever seen done.

SPEAKER_02 54:55

I loved it. Oh my god. Uh, that was incredible. Um, no, San Fran is the real deal right now. Uh, yeah, they they should absolutely take care of business in this game for sure.

Final Takeaways And Sign Off

Michael Marcangelo 55:08

I agree. All right, we did it. Another episode of MTP uh Boston. Two weeks ago, the Patriots looked like a team that had forgotten how to win. Now Drake May looks like he's back to his MVP candidate. Rabel has a team rolling. The question is not whether the Patriots can beat the Jets, it's whether they can start looking like the team we watched go to the Super Bowl last year. So until next week, for Zachary Gray, I am Mike Marcangelo saying thank you for listening to MTV Boston. Stay tuned for the Power Ranking Show, and we'll talk to you later.