New England Patriots Links 12/12/12 - December All About Details, Depth

TEAM TALK

• Game Preview - Patriots vs. 49ers. Broadcast info, series history, team connections and more.
• Paul Perillo tackles the Ask PFW mailbag: Stepping up.
• Patriots announced today that WR Donte’ Stallworth has been placed on IR with an ankle injury. In addition, TE Visanthe Shiancoe has been released.
• Conference Call Transcripts: Bill Belichick - Josh McDaniels - Matt Patricia.
• Patriots Today - Children's holiday party a hit. (2.39 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Back with his teammates. (1.52 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Brady for MVP? (3.02 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Inside the winning locker room. (1.48 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Rocking out Gillette. (2.07 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Matt Chatham emphasizes that no matter what a teams' record is or stats are, December is all about focus, attention to detail and awareness.
• Mike Rodak examines the decision-making on Shiancoe.
• Tom E. Curran puts in his two cents on Tuesday's surprising roster moves.
• Field Yates notes practice paid off for the Patriots, in stalling J.J. Watt.
• Tom E. Curran reports Josh McDaniels reamed out his offense for missed assignments and avoidable errors during the game.
• Tim Britton credits the Patriots O-line for the role it played in the blowout of the Texans.
• Jeff Howe reports how the Aqib Talib acquisition opens up the options on defense.
• Jeff Howe looks at the receivers the Patriots will face in the next three weeks and the potential plan to defend them.
• Luke Hughes asserts Vince Wilfork deserves Defensive Player of the Year consideration, even if impact can't be summed up in statistics.
• Bill Reynolds focuses on how it's too easy to take Brady for granted.
• Steve Buckley says the hyped Texans were just no match for the Patriots and their cool QB.
• Tim Britton reports Bill Belichick had high praise for the work of his scout team.
• Field Yates writes Tom Brady is not focused on the MVP award.
• Zuri Berry evaluates this year's candidates for NFL MVP.
• Jeff Howe highlights Tom Brady's conversation on WEEI the morning after the win against Houston.
• Mike Reiss looks at the snaps played by the offensive skill-position players, noting Donte Stallworth chipped in with 20 out of 73.
• Christopher Price tracks the opportunities in the Patriots passing game. Welker still leads by far.
• Christopher Price lists the offensive opportunities for the skill position players through 13 games.
• Mike Reiss tallies the snaps played by Patriots defenders in the win. Chandler Jones was eased back into the mix with 41 of 70.
• Christopher Price charts which NE defenders have done the best job of getting after the QB this season. Ninko still leads in sacks and hits.
• Mike Reiss takes a look at the positional groupings utilized by the Patriots in Week 14. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Pats bring in another WR.
• Mike Reiss updates base vs. sub defensive stats following the win in Foxboro.
• Mike Reiss breaks down the Patriots special teams personnel. Arrington's role has grown.
• Chad Finn says the AFC road to the Super Bowl will go through Foxborough. Again.
• Greg Payne reports Doc Rivers gushes over the Patriot Way.
• Doug Kyed posts a pic of Rajon Rondo rocking a Wes Welker jersey on the sideline of Monday night's game.
• Zuri Berry reports Jerod Mayo was racing around Boston Tuesday doing 12 random acts of kindness for Subway.
• Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag: Positive vibes after impressive MNF performance.
• Ron Borges pulls out the smiley-face stickers for his Week 14 Report Card.
• Andy Gresh grades the Patriots in his Week 14 Report Card.
• Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Patriots move Donte Stallworth to IR and re-sign Deion Branch; McCourty's confidence has grown with time at the safety position; Veteran safety Steve Gregroy helps him out; Good news for Alfonzo Dennard, who left the game with a hamstring injury that's all good now.

NATIONAL NEWS

• James Walker (ESPN) Patriots' dominance by the numbers.
• Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Patriots-Texans: Breaking down McCourty"s INT.
• Peter King (SI) MMQB Tuesday Edition: Texans, Falcons ugly losses give Super Bowl race wide-open feel.
• James Walker (ESPN) Week 14 knee-jerk reactions.
• Michael Lombardi (NFL.com) J.J. Watt, Houston Texans show they need an early lead to win.
• Chris Burke (SI) NFL playoff picture, Week 15.
• Adam Schein (NFL.com) Super Bowl XLVII: Separating the contenders from pretenders.

VIEW FROM SAN FRANCISCO

• Daniel Brown (San Jose Mercury News) 49ers get TV glance of Patriots' firepower.
• Alex Espinoza (49ers.com) 49ers prepare for up-tempo Patriots.
• Taylor Price (49ers.com) 49ers comfortable in 'Pistol' offense.