Belichick reverts to praise for Bills’ Allen
Reportedly knocked Buffalo QB before 38-9 thrashing last season
Prior to last year’s Monday Night Football game against the Bills, Bill Belichick reportedly told broadcasters during their pre-game chat that he wasn’t the biggest Josh Allen fan.
Brian Griese, one of ESPN’S MNF analysts, relayed during the broadcast that Belichick “didn’t buy into the Josh Allen craze.”
Allen, of course, preceded to rub out Belichick’s team 38-9, throwing four touchdown passes in the process.
Now, a week before this season’s Monday night showdown, Belichick pumped up the Bills quarterback, singing his praises.
During his appearance on WEEI’S “The Greg Hill Show” Belichick was highly complimentary of Allen.
Asked what makes Allen tough to defend, Belichick answered: “Pretty much everything.”
He didn’t stop there.
“He can throw it, he can extend plays,” said Belichick, “his experience level has made him a really smart quarterback, doing a lot of the little things, like things with the cadence, audibling, seeing blitzes, anticipating them and sliding the protection over to pick them up, things like that.”
While the Patriots did have some success containing Allen in the first meeting, he absolutely torched Belichick’s team during that Monday night meeting in Foxboro.
Along with the four TD passes, Allen went 27 for 36 for 320 yards during the rout.
While Belichick last year didn’t seem to buy into Allen being an MVP candidate, he made sure to heap the praise this time around, calling him one of the best in the league.
“He’s a smart player, he’s tough, he’s physical. He’s got a great arm. Hard to tackle. Make all the throws,” Belichick told WEEI. “He’s got good leadership, and toughness out there. He’s one of the top quarterbacks in the league.”
Allen isn’t having quite as good a year this year as last, but remains one of the best statistically in a number of categories.
He’s tied for third in touchdowns (25), sixth in yards (3,071) and 10th in quarterback rating (99.1). On the downside, he’s also tied for fourth in interceptions (10).
The Patriots, who are 8-4, are set to face the 7-4 Bills in a key AFC East division showdown that will also have ramifications toward the AFC’S top seed.
“Division games on the road are always challenging. We look forward to every game, home or away, neutral site, wherever they are,” said Belichick. “We’ll be ready to go. Buffalo’s a great team … we’re going to have to play our best game. We know that, and that’s what we’re going to prepare to do.”
Jones hyped for MNF
It’s hard to tell if playing a Monday Night Football game was something on Mac Jones’ bucket list as a pro.
But after checking off other notable items such as a Sunday-nighter against the reigning Super Bowl Champion Buccaneers, an overtime duel against Dak Prescott and America’s team, a Thursday night contest in Atlanta, and a frosty bout with the Titans at Gillette, next up is the rookie quarterback’s first encounter with the Bills in Buffalo.
Jones told WEEI’S “Merloni & Fauria” during his weekly appearance he was looking forward to the first Monday Night Football clash of his career.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Jones. “Everyone has said that there’s a lot of energy. Obviously, where we’re playing it’s a great football city that cares a lot about football.
“They have a really good team. I think we have to go in there, have fun and enjoy the moment and I know both teams are going to play really hard. It will be a really good atmosphere and all that. I am excited for it. It will be fun.”
Asked what he knows about the Bills Mafia, the nickname for the team’s fan base, Jones seemed to have a pretty good idea what to expect.
“I know they are a great fan base,” said Jones. “They have a lot of passion and they bring a lot of energy to the games. Even before the games, I have seen a lot of crazy videos and stuff.”
He’ll be seeing a lot more come Monday night.
Turnover flip
When it comes to turnovers, the Patriots have flipped the script in terms of protecting the ball, as well as forcing more fumbles.
During a video call with reporters Monday, Belichick said the team had placed a greater emphasis in those areas, taking measures to improve after a rough start, and it has shown in their play.
The first six weeks of the season, they had eight fum
bles, losing five of those. Defensively, they only managed to force three fumbles in the early going, gaining two of those.
From Week 7 on, during their current six-game winning streak, it’s been a different story.
They’ve only lost two fumbles from the three times they put the ball on the ground, while forcing ten fumbles, with opponents losing four.
“We hadn’t gotten any fumbles out in I don’t know however many games it was. We went back and looked at a lot of things and tried to address it,” Belichick explained. “And we were losing the ball as well, so we just tried to address things as a team. I think we’ve done a better job of coaching, the assistant coaches, and myself, all of us, I think we’ve done a better job of coaching it. I think the players understand what we’re trying to do.”
After Sunday’s games, the Patriots now own the second-best turnover differential at plus-10. They’ve had 25 takeaways (19 inter
ceptions, six fumble recoveries) versus 15 giveaways (eight picks, seven fumble recoveries).
In the 36-13 win over the Titans, they produced four turnovers (three fumble recoveries, one interception).
Said Belichick: “There’s much more evidence of them doing what we’re asking them to do, and we’ve had better results. If we had coached it better in the beginning, we might have had better results in the beginning, I don’t know.”
Taylor hits COVID list
Running back J. J. Taylor was placed on the COVID19 reserve list, per league wire.
Taylor has been a healthy scratch in recent weeks, with rookie Rhamondre Stevenson getting the nod over him.
Taylor last appeared in a Week 10 win over the Browns. On the season, he has 19 rushes for 37 yards. He’s scored two rushing touchdowns.
In other Pats news, the team has designated rookie kicker Quinn Nordin to return from Injured Reserve.