For this week’s Turning Point, we’ll break down the coin flip.  Only kidding of course, but more on that in a moment.
Last Thursday night’s contest was full of momentum shifts.  The Jets scored on their first four possessions (one of them a kickoff return touchdown) to jump out to an early 24-6 lead.  Afterwards the [...]

Following an 18-15 setback to the Colts in Week 9, the Patriots entered a critical stretch of three straight divisional games, the first two of which would match them against opponents possessing a share of the AFC East lead.  With every team in the division owning a winning record, even a Miami squad one season [...]

by Tyler Carter
tyler@patriotsdaily.com
By now, certain miscues have been widely cited as reasons for the Patriots’ most recent defeat:

Gaffney’s dropped TD pass late in the 3rd quarter
Personal foul call on Dave Thomas
Belichick’s ill-fated challenge/questionable use of time outs

It’s possible that these events have blown out of proportion, however.  Gaffney was only thrown to twice, having been [...]

by Tyler Carter
tyler@patriotsdaily.com
In front of a nationally televised audience against Denver, Matt Cassel completed 75% percent of his passes (7.7 yards per attempt), three of them for touchdowns and none for interceptions.  Although his success was no doubt buoyed by a potent rushing attack (not to mention five forced turnovers), his 136.3 passer rating was [...]

by Tyler Carter
tyler@patriotsdaily.com
A week after this columnist suggested they were on pace for their worst statistical season since 2000, the Patriots responded by recording their most decisive win of the season against AFC West-leading Denver, an organization that has historically given them fits.
Although it was certainly satisfying to watch, such a butt-kicking made it difficult [...]

by Tyler Carter
tyler@patriotsdaily.com
We’re about to enter Week 7 of the NFL.  The trade deadline has passed, players on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list start to return, so by this point you generally have a good idea of what your team will look like going forward.
And New England fans, unless this group of guys [...]

by Tyler Carter
tyler@patriotsdaily.com
In his first year on the job, San Francisco offensive coordinator Mike Martz is transitioning the 49ers to an “Air Coryell” offense, having previously used it in St. Louis (with spectacular results) and Detroit.  The system is named for Don Coryell, who first developed the complex, pass-happy (hence the “Air” epithet) offense at [...]

by Tyler Carter
tyler@patriotsdaily.com
This column has relied on Bill Belichick early and often for relevant quotes.  However banal at times, he offers plenty of noteworthy nuggets provided one knows where to look.  That was certainly true on the occasion of Troy Brown’s retirement press conference.  Here are some of his sentiments spliced with some supporting statistics [...]

by Tyler Carter
tyler@patriotsdaily.com
Bill Belichick’s opening statement from his morning-after press conference following the Patriot’s worst home loss during his tenure:
“we all obviously feel bad…it was a total team loss. I don’t think we did a good job coaching, starting with me, and didn’t do a good job of playing. We got pretty well beat in [...]

by Tyler Carter
tyler@patriotsdaily.com
Years down the road, an unbiased observer might take a quick glance at yesterday’s box score and wonder how the Patriots managed a 9 point win.  After all, New York gained nearly as much total net yardage (256) as New England (260) while averaging more yards per play (5.2 versus 4.4) and being [...]

by Tyler Carter
feedback@patriotsdaily.com
For those who arrived here expecting a moratorium, this link should appease you.  Feel free to return when ready to accept that, for at least the next calender year, Thomas Edward Brady Jr. will not take a meaningful snap from center for the New England Patriots.  Since he won’t be contributing it makes [...]

by Tyler Carter
feedback@patriotsdaily.com
In his post-game press conference, Bill Belichick was asked about the importance of the final score in preseason games:
“Well, I think certainly the score is relevant and that you played a game that way.  There is a lot of things we need to work on, on a play-by-play basis and teach and correct [...]