Brent Schwartz

Drake Maye's ranking among qualified NFL QBs (2025) on passes of 10+ Air Yards, per @NextGenStats

+0.73 EPA/dropback (1st in NFL)
+103.1 EPA (2nd)
127.5 Passer rating (2nd)
13.2 YPA (2nd)
62.4% Completion (1st)
+12.2% CPOE (1st)

Not bad for a neighborhood view

One of the more underrated players of the decade. To me, he’s the quintessential Z/Flanker. Can play in 2-WR sets on early downs (great at catch point, and working downfield on crossers) and move inside to be your go-to man on 3rd and 6. Always dependable. Helluva player.

2025 #Packers WRs average depth of target (aDOT), min. 5 receptions:

1. Christian Watson (19.4 yds)
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2. Matthew Golden (13.4)
3. Romeo Doubs (12.7)
4. Dontayvion Wicks (12.2)

Clear role in both 2-WR / 3-WR sets as top vertical option. Doubs remains the top high-volume option.

Ring, Ring, Ring up there for me this year. Pure Neptunes era-sounding beat. Good taste!

#Patriots D vs NYG:

- Durden got start at 1-tech, Barmore 3-tech

- DL depth is impressive. They often use an entire fresh second unit for subs. Gregory at 1T, Farmer 3T, Jennings/Ponder in on edges

- NE veers to 3-4 front vs heavy personnel

- Mix of 4-down/2-4-5 in Nickel

This was the most vicious Patriots defense we’ve seen since they were winning Super Bowls - The Boston Globe Led by linebacker Christian Elliss, the Patriots were brutal and efficient in their efforts to stop the Giants on Monday night.

Patriots-Giants review: Christian Elliss, Hittin' Machine ... Marcus Jones is making me reconsider my belief that Mike Haynes is the best punt returner in Patriots history ... Griping about a meaningless punt ... Aikman was excellent ... and more. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/02/s...

BUF-PIT felt like sort of an "eliminator" game. Tough, cold-weather football. High (ish) stakes and heavy atmosphere...I don't feel great about the Steelers going forward. Whereas the Bills, despite their own injury issues/personnel limitations, remain in the thick of the AFC.

Once again, the corned beef hash and homemade hot sauce at Theo’s (Boston’s North End) is waking me up for an NFL Sunday

Analysis of #Patriots DTs vs CIN:

Christian Barmore – now primary 3-tech/top iDL rusher w/ Williams out

Cory Durden – 33 snaps at DT/NT. May start vs NYG w/ Tonga out. Go Pack🐺

Eric Gregory – 18 snaps, 17 at nose/1T

Jeremiah Pharms – Mostly rushing from B-gap on pass downs

Qualified WR leaders in CROE (catch rate over expected) in '25 via Next Gen Stats

1. Kayshon Boutte (+24%) #Patriots
2. George Pickens (+13.9%)
3. Stefon Diggs (+13.8%) #Patriots
4. Puka Nacua (+13.3%)
5. Jaxon Smith Njigba (+13.3%)
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7. Mack Hollins (+12.6%) #Patriots

Finalists for the Biletnikoff Award for the nation's top pass-catcher:

UConn's Skyler Bell
USC's Makai Lemon
Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith

Fantastic stuff from Mike, as always. Short-yardage/goal line stuff(s) analysis is spot on. Even with Tonga as an option, #Patriots absolutely need to invest in a power/lead-blocking fullback this offseason. Maybe Brock Lampe returns and is that guy in '26. Their original plan.

One of my favorite shows of the decade thus far

Just a nasty contested catch from NC State’s Justin Joly for a TD against Florida State.

Joly is one of the best tight ends in the country. Came into tonight No. 2 in the ACC in yards per route run among TEs (1.72).

Yeah half off for now. I still play ESPN NFL 2K5 on updated rosters but I’ll play some online H2H here on the new Maddens for fun when I can

The full play

Same play 😆

Madden 26 was half off so I downloaded for fun. Playing my first game and this ended up being a TD catch by TreVeyon Henderson, who is right there next to Geno Stone lmao

After the TD, he glitched with a defender for about 10 seconds

Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett set a new NFL single-game record with his 47th completion Sunday against the 49ers.

Historically good football player. Hard to be hyperbolic when describing his greatness.

According to NextGenStats, Myles Garrett has an average get-off of 0.60 seconds today.

To put that in context, the fastest average by any player this season is 0.73 (It's Myles Garrett lol)

Darnell Washington is legitimately like a kaiju on the football field. Just a terrifying monster

When Madubuike went to IR, the Ravens began often using two nose tackles in nickel fronts with Travis Jones (Go UConn) moving to 3T, vet John Jenkins at NT. Jones is such a beast that it’s working, but #Patriots better equipped to handle loss of a ⭐️ 3T. Likely best spot for Barmore anyhow

Agreed, I was glad when they drafted him seemingly a bit lower than projected. Eager to see him continue to develop

If NE can get Williams back vs BUF after the bye, would be ideal. In the meantime, Tonga will get more reps at 1T/NT in Nickel, beyond those 4-3 Under “big base” reps. And the #Patriots are well positioned with their depth at iDL. Durden, in particular, has been awesome.

You’ll now see Barmore playing more 3-tech in base nickel. He played a ton of 3T as the top pass-rushing DT earlier in his #Patriots career, but NE paid Williams big 💰to occupy that spot, putting Barmore more inside (1T) often, hence the high “double team” (center-guard) stats.

The signing.

The next Tom Brady? No, Drake Maye is a different breed. Maye has led the Patriots to the top of the AFC in his second year. Though that story might sound familiar, his play style and personality set him apart.

"When the Patriots’ new coaching staff arrived, it might have expected a broken quarterback in need of rebuilding. Instead, it found a resilient franchise pillar eager to start a new season."

Great piece on Drake Maye last week from Adam Kilgore / The Washington Post. #Patriots