Mike Reiss offers his three keys for Pats vs. Browns.
Expect the unexpected. Former Pats assistant Eric Mangini knows his Browns are overmatched, so expect him to throw everything he can at the Patriots, just as he did when shocking the Saints. Fake punts, fake field goals, unconventional plays, etc. ... the Patriots will have to be ready for anything.
Joshua Cribbs. The Browns struggle to score (their 16.9 point-per-game average is second-to-worst in the NFL), but Cribbs is their most explosive weapon. The Patriots will have to be disciplined about making sure he’s accounted for at all times, both on offense and special teams.
Recognition in pass protection. The Browns throw many different looks at teams on defense; the Patriots will have to be ready for them all.
Eric Mangini (Akron Beacon Journal) talks about why Tom Brady was picked so low in the draft.
"He didn’t come out of college the guy who he is now. There was a lot of work that had to be done and we used to do this post practice work and he wasn’t quite lighting it up, but he worked at it every day. He did all that opportunity work where I was coaching the DBs so I had the young DBs and he was throwing against them and you weren’t sitting there saying, ‘Holy cow this guy is unbelievable,’ but what you did sit there in those periods and getting to know him was, ‘Man this guy has an unbelievable work ethic, this guy’s really smart, this guy really cares.’ He got bigger, he got more experienced, he’s worked at it, it’s just hard work. Ability combined with hard work and it wasn’t a finished product by any stretch but he turned himself into who he is."
TEAM TALK
- Patriots-Browns Thursday Injury Report.
- Erik Scalavino tells us what happened at Thursday's practice inside the bubble.
- Press Conference: Matt Light makes an announcement about a new charity event. (4.08 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Mayo vs. Hillis. (3.17 min. video)
- Patriots Today - McCoy and company pose a test. (3.23 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Tedy Bruschi breaks down the Browns vs. Patriots.
- Mike Rodak talks about the Patriots preparing for a talented, well-rested, well-prepared Browns team in Cleveland.
- Shalise Manza Young breaks down her three keys to a Patriots victory over the Browns.
- Danny Picard notes the Patriots expect a physical game against the Browns.
- Mark Farinella says the Patriots are cautious on what the 'Browns can do to you'.
- Gary Marbry offers his Patriots-Browns stat-filled game preview.
- Robert Lee notes Browns' McCoy will try to do what few rookie QBs have done - beat Belichick's Pats.
- Robert Lee notes Ben Watson's departure worked out well for all sides.
- Monique Walker takes a look at the coaching connections between the Browns-Patriots.
- Mike Reiss identifies the Patriots' front seven against Browns RB Peyton Hillis as a key matchup in Sunday's game.
- Shalise Manza Young says the Patriots are aware of the many wrinkles the Browns put into their offense, and need to be ready for it.
- Christopher Price is impressed at how the Patriots are keeping their focus in this extraordinary, drama-filled season.
- Ian Rapoport writes about the Patriots' renewed emphasis on strength and conditioning under coach Mike Woicik, and its effective translation on the field.
- WEEI Patriots Friday highlights: Jerod Mayo talks about prepping for the Browns, and says Randy Moss was 'very hospitable to the staff here.'
- Karen Guregian notes RB coach Ivan Fears refers to little big man Danny Woodhead as a playmaker, a guy who's got that 'something special' regardless of size.
- Shalise Manza Young focuses on Zoltan Mesko, the most interesting man in the NFL. "I don't normally punt, but when I do I prefer Zoltan Mesko."
- Mike Reiss cleans out his Patriots notebook, with some interesting notes from the locker room.
- Mike Reiss offers the transcript of his weekly online chat. Lots of great insight here.
- Mike Petraglia talks about welcoming back Logan Mankins and why it matters.
- Mike Reiss notes Patriots OL Logan Mankins reported today that he felt good after his first practice with the team Wednesday.
- Mike Reiss looks at the benefits of having QB Tom Brady under center vs. staying in the shotgun, with the season totals for each.
- Mike Reiss checks out the injury report from Thursday, noting Pat Chung (knee) and Deion Branch (hamstring) were limited in practice.
- Mike Reiss looks at Julian Edelman's contributions as the 4th receiver on offense.
- Steve Buckley talks about the importance of charity work to Matt Light, and the support he gets from Tom Brady, Wes Welker and the team.
- Mike Rodak reports Matt Light announced a raffle to benefit the Light Foundation. Nice prizes, great cause.
- Ian Rapoport Patriots Notebook: Cleveland's stunning win over the Saints holds the players' attention; NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith will come to Foxboro Thursday to meet with the players, who plan to vote to decertify the union; Browns RB Peyton Hillis will be a huge challenge for the Pats D; Logan Mankins said he survived practice; Robert Kraft has noticed the positive change in the locker room, compared with last year.
- Boston Globe staff: Week 9 Picks. All New England to win.
- Jim Lazar makes his Week 9 picks. Pats, 26-13.
- Kirk Minihane makes his Week 9 picks. Patriots 24, Browns 17.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Patriots have a robust chance to be 7-1.
- James Walker (ESPN) Mangini-Belichick divide still strong.
- Judy Battista (NY Times) Sacrificing some star power to reinvent the Patriot Way.
- Kerry J. Byrne (Cold Hard Football Facts) Offensive Hog index. Will Mankins' spoil the chemistry of the Pats' O-line (the NFL's best Offensive Hogs) if he's inserted into the lineup too hastily?
- Andy Benoit (NY Times) The Jets, the Patriots and Danny Woodhead's real height.
- Kerry J. Byrne (Cold Hard Football Facts) Moss shocker & CHFF shiny hood ornament theory.
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Jason Whitlock (Fox Sports) NFL Truths: Making sense of Moss. Wow.
- Don Banks (SI) NFL Midseason Report: 2010.
- Peter King (SI Magazine) Kick starts and kicks in the head. What's the secret to this crazy season? Special teams.
- Jim Trotter (SI) Ten predictions for 2010 second half.
- Peter King (SI Magazine) Midseason All-Pro Team.
- Randy Cross (Nat'l Football Post) NFL at midseason: Who's the best, worst or biggest surprise?
- Lynn Zinser (NY Times) Moss and Garnett vie for the wrong kind of attention.
- Peter King (SI) Weekend Pickoff: Week 9. Patriots over Browns 23-13.
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Week 9 NFL tip sheet. New England over Cleveland.
VIEW FROM CLEVELAND
- Tony Grossi (Cleveland Plain Dealer) Cleveland Browns can't camouflage Colt McCoy likely starter.
- Nate Ulrich and Stephanie Storm (Akron Beacon Journal) Mangini leaning toward McCoy.
- Matt Florjancic (ClevelandBrowns.com) McCoy would face tough 'D'.
- Stephanie Storm (Akron Beacon Journal) Mangini thinks Brady started off as average. Strong work ethic makes Patriots QB great player he is today.
- Matt Florjancic (ClevelandBrowns.com) Brady left lasting impression.
- Tony Grossi (Cleveland Plain Dealer) Simply the best: Browns are unanimous in praise, respect for New England QB Tom Brady.