Tom Brady looks back at the execution of the offense against Kansas City and says they have to do a better job Sunday against tougher competition in the Eagles.
Our execution early on obviously wasn’t very sharp. we just weren’t on the same page collectively as a group. I thought once we settled into the game and got to the stuff that we felt really good about, we did a much better job of executing. Obviously, that produces points.
Early on it was just tough. They threw a bunch of different things at us and we were just kind of out of sorts. But I thought we responded well there in the second half. I always say it’s hard to win in the NFL. To win 34-3 was pretty good for us coming off really an emotional win against the Jets and then a tough loss at home two weeks ago. Now it’s on to the Eagles.
Deion Branch knows the Patriots have to get back to starting fast.
"[Chiefs defensive coordinator Romeo] Crennel came in with a great game plan, but the thing is our execution was our fault," Branch said. "The plays that were messing up on, whether it be protection, whether it be getting the right plays, somebody releasing on a certain route, that was all of us.
"There was nothing that they were doing that was really stopping us within those first four possessions. I’m not taking anything away from them, they have a great team, great coordinator who came in and had a great game plan. But if we go out and just execute our plays the way we know we can, you’ll see the output you saw in that second half."
"We have to get back to starting fast like we did in the past. … We have to get back into that form of doing what we supposed to do in the first half when we get the ball going down for a touchdown. Starting fast, in the first half and also the second half, that’s the most important thing, and maybe it just comes with figuring what we need to do to change a couple things here and there."
TEAM TALK
- Game Preview: New England Patriots at Philadelphia Eagles. Broadcast info, series history, team connections and more.
- The New England Patriots announced today that Julian Edelman has been named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week by the NFL.
- Ask PFW: Making progress.
- Patriots Today - O-line, Edelman, and more. (3.31 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Post game locker room reaction. (4.02 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Pats spread Thanksgiving goodwill. (2.58 min. video)
- Conference Call Transcripts: Bill Belichick - Bill O'Brien - Nick Caserio.
LOCAL LINKS
- Christopher Price gets an opposing scout's perspective on this week's Patriots-Eagles matchup.
- Mike Petraglia says whether the Patriots will face Michael Vick or Vince Young Sunday, they'll be ready and tested.
- Greg A. Bedard analyzes the problems the Patriots had on offense in the first half against Kansas Cit,y and concludes the wounds were all self-inflicted.
- Monique Walker reports the Patriots are concerned about how slow the offense has been to get going.
- Karen Guregian reports Tom Brady's quarterback guru Tom Martinez knows something is wrong with his star pupil.
- Christopher Price tells us what happened to Wes Welker Monday night.
- Ian Rapoport notes Rob Gronkowski ended up with four catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns despite KC's concerted efforts to disrupt him.
- Ian Rapoport breaks down each game, showing Tom Brady is relying more and more on his tight ends as his receivers struggle to get open.
- A. Sherrod Blakely reminds us Rob Gronkowski came into the league with his durability in question . Now the questions are about how to stop him.
- Mike Reiss charts Nate Solder's performance as a tight end.
- Jerry Thornton digs deep to find Bill Belichick's defensive plan. "Like the half-finished Death Star II, they’re fully operational and everything is transpiring according to the Emperor’s design."
- Chris Forsberg notes Patriots players feel their defense is heading in the right direction.
- Tom E. Curran offers 20 thoughts in 40 lines. Jerod Mayo looked and hit like the pre-MCL Jerod Mayo Monday night.
- Mike Reiss takes a look at snaps played by Patriots defenders in the win over the Chiefs, noting Shaun Ellis has seen his playing time drop.
- Chris Forsberg breaks down Julian Edelman's punt return.
- Mike Rodak re-watches the TV copy of Monday night's game and offers his observations: First half - Second half.
- Mike Reiss keeps weekly tabs on former Patriots that were with the team during training camp, and tells us how they're doing.
- Mike Reiss answers his weekly Patriots mailbag and says Rob Gronkowski is making his case as the top TE in the league.
- WEEI Patriots Monday highlights: Tom Brady - Deion Branch - Andre Carter.
- Kirk Minihane issues his Week 11 Report Card with a quick word about running up the score in the NFL.
- Jeff Howe grades the Patriots in his Week 11 Report Card.
- Ron Borges grades the Patriots in his Week 11 Report Card. Brady gets a C.
- Boston Herald Patriots Notebook: Kevin Faulk responds to being a healthy scratch for the second time; Matt Light appears he escaped major injury Monday night; Shane Vereen said his TD play was worth the wait it took to get on the field; Chad Ochocinco was open at times but was not targeted in the Chief's game; The defense had its best performance and is now 10th in the league in points allowed;Bill Belichick emphasized how Wes Welker helped the team, even with only two catches.
- Monique Walker Patriots Notebook: Belichick says stats don't reveal Wes Welker's worth; Rob Gronkowski didn't know how dangerous his landing was until he saw the replay; Gronkowski and teammates helped distribute Thanksgiving baskets at Morgan Memorial yesterday; Kevin Faulk said the coaches have been straight with him about his inactive status and he understands their decision; Tom Brady took the blame for not spreading the ball around.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) Patriots 60-second rant: Chiefs expose Pats' O-line.
- James Walker (ESPN) AFC East Stock Watch.
- Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) Patriots Stock Report: Week 11.
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Why are the Patriots' tight ends a matchup issue? Looking at Gronkowski and Hernandez in the N.E. offense.
- Peter King (SI) MMQB Mail: Two controversial plays stole the headlines in Week 11.
- Mike Pereira (Fox Sports) The real definition of indisputable: Breaking down the NFL's Week 11 reviews.
- Michael Silver (Yahoo! Sports) NFL Thanksgiving games are appealing, for once.
VIEW FROM PHILADELPHIA
- Jeff McLane (Philadelphia Inquirer) Patriots will be a challenge for Eagles defense.
- Staff Report (Philadelphia Daily News) Brady, Belichick build up Eagles.
- Bob Ford (Philadelphia Inquirer) Eagles are in the playoff hunt - just barely.