A scary ghost story/ And tales of the glory/ Of Christmases long, long ago.
But one that is very much relevant to today.
Until ownership told him he didn’t have the authority to fire anyone.
So Bell struck a deal with owner Billy Sullivan.
What made it even more surreal was when rookies and Stanford teammates Jim Plunkett (the No.
But it rhymes."
On the one hand, the Pats went in as well-prepared as they’ve been all year.
On both sides of the ball, and on special teams.
Then driving the length of the field to make it 14-0.
We were all feeling it.
–But they got outscored 24-7 the rest of the way.
By doing the very same things that made them a 3-11 team coming in.
Handling the ball like it’s a burning Yule log.
Still, it’s important not to lose sight of everything he did right in this one.
And you have to appreciate the way he let Maye off the leash early on.
This ball was going to Boutte from the presnap.
The Bills showed blitz but dropped into underneath zone and rushed four.
Gibson picked up an inside rusher.
Maye got the ball out too quick for Cameron Lewis to come over from his post safety spot.
First behind Michael Onwenu and Demontrey Jacobs for 14.
Then a gap run behind Layden Robinson for 5.
Then a trap play behind pulls by Onwenu and Ben Brown to pick up the 1st down.
(A deep pull, I’ll admit.
But I listened to Quentin Taratino talk about this personal favorite Disney classic on his podcast.
And like him, I owned it onViewMaster.
So I can’t get it out of my brain.)
Just a great finish to a 16-play, 91-yard drive that devoured nearly 10 minutes of the game clock.
The sort of possession that was unthinkable with our last half dozen or so starting quarterbacks.
But is our new reality.
Marte Mapu hasn’t seen the field in weeks, pretty much since Jabrill Peppers came off suspension.
On Buffalo’s first possession, Daniel Ekuale broke through to stop Ray Davis for no gain.
Kyle Dugger forced an incompletion in man coverage on Khalil Shakir.
–That is, until reality struck.
And suddenly the talent gap between the two units became apparent.
O’Cyrus Torrence sealed off Takitaki 5 yards into he secondary.
Maye missed a wide open Boutte.
(Must … resist … making … lazy … “wide open Boutte” reference.)
Mayo opted to punt on 4th & 1 from midfield.
(More on that in a second.)
Even if you wanted to appreciate the gesture, they’ve just created work for you.
But it’s part of a larger pattern of this team lacking situational awareness.
And by default, that blame gets pinned on the head coach.
As does TWO more false starts by Jacobs.
A time out to avoid a delay of game in the red zone.
The running back’s inability to protect the football.
As well as Mayo’s own indefensible game-management decisions.
In fact, they should’ve made the stop.
Regardless, that’s a hell of a call by Mayo.
Which is exactly how Mayo justified it in the postgame.
It was a display of aggressive play-calling we’ve rarely seen from the normally risk-adverse Mayo.
–Until he wasn’t.
Until he went right back to his factory setting of playing everything cautious.
Then he chose to boot it away.
So which is it?
Is he the aggressive Dan Campbell pop in who’ll take crazy risks because he believes in his guys?
Because he can’t be both.
We’re 15 weeks into this grand experiment.
It’s time Mayo picks an identity for his team and sticks with it.
Jacobs whiffs on the block and ends up on the ground.
Gregory Rousseau is on Stevenson practically before the ball is.
He can’t secure it.
The ball spins on its end for a while like the totem in DiCaprio’sInceptiondream.
And four Bills are on it before a single Patriots player arrives at the crime scene.
I promise you by lunchtime, this will be given the Curb Your Enthusiasm ending or set toYakkety Sax.
–Speaking of whom, there’s a reason you didn’t notice Gonzo yesterday.
So here’s some more.
On a 1st down in the red zone, no less.
And a ball that he never should’ve thrown.
I for one am grateful Mayo and Van Pelt are taking the first approach.
Because this is what we get when they keep letting him grow into the role.
I wish it didn’t take them nine plays from goal-to-go situations inside the 10 to punch it in.
All he got out was…"
Old Man Parker: “Naddafinga!”
-A Christmas Story
–I love the Christmas season and would never wish it to be over.
Are they suggesting she can take part in the Sign and Drive event?
Because the vibe is more like a kitchen the Dateline: NBC camera crew is about to burst into.
–I didn’t look up the name of the female official who worked this one.
I just know she did a hell of a job.
In the Patriots case, I’d eliminate the Bills red jersey.
We don’t come to NFL Sundays to have to use our brains.
–Merry Christmas, Pats fans.
Here’s the gift we’re stuck with in the great NFL Yankee Swap:
