TEAM TALK
- Game Preview: Patriots vs. Dolphins. Broadcast info, series history, team connections and which players to watch for.
- Andy Hart takes a closer look at how New England’s defense fell victim to a play the team’s offense has run as well as anyone in recent years.
- Patriots re-sign LB Dekoda Watson.
- Conference Call Transcripts: Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels, and Matt Patricia.
LOCAL LINKS
- Tom E. Curran sees the Miami Dolphins in disarray, on and off the field, and doesn't figure them to be an obstacle to the Patriots clinching the No. 1 seed.
- Gregory Hunt doesn't think Miami's nightmare season will get any better against New England.
- Christopher Price reports Ed Hochuli will work as referee for Pats-Fins.
- Christopher Price says Tom Brady is closing in on the best regular season of any 38-year-old QB in NFL history.
- Mike Reiss gives us a rundown of some of the team's banged-up players and where things stand.
- Tom E. Curran passes along the good news that Sebastian Vollmer's ankle injury is not as severe as first feared, and he'll be back for the playoffs.
- Mike Reiss notes the injury to Rob Ninkovich likely led to the Patriots' signing of Dekoda Watson.
- Doug Kyed reports on the Patriots re-signing of Dekoda Watson to the 53-man roster and Joey Iosefa to the practice squad.
- Chris Mason finds the Patriots coaches are impressed with Keshawn Martin's emergence.
- Mike Reiss notes the Patriots will attempt to expand Steven Jackson's role in the offense.
- Mike Petraglia notes Josh McDaniels explains how familiarity might amp up the role for Steven Jackson going forward.
- Bill Reynolds says it's clear that the Patriots' 'next men up' are a step down.
- Mike Reiss examines the striking contrast in the media reaction from both Patriots' OT losses.
- Kerry J. Byrne tells us why the coveted No. 1 seed doesn't really matter as much as the pigskin punditry would lead us to believe.
- Karen Guregian ranks the teams the Patriots could potentially face in the AFC playoffs.
- Christopher Price looks at the complete target breakdown for the passing game through Week 16: James White, Danny Amendola nearing mark for dependability.
- Rich Garven Patriots Journal: McDaniels says he went with the flow on gadget plays.
- Karen Guregian Patriots Notebook: The inside word on Sebastian Vollmer continues to be encouraging; He will likely sit this week but be ready to go for the playoffs; Pats will travel to South Florida two days earlier than normal due to the Winter Classic being held at Gillette Stadium; Josh McDaniels talked about the gadget plays used last week; Count on seeing a little more of Steven Jackson in Miami; Matt Patticia talks up the Dolphins' receivers.
- Pat Bradley notes Rob Gronkowski had a blast at WWE Providence ringside with the Hype Bros.
- Matt Dolloff lists ten important things to know (so far) about the Peyton Manning HGH allegations.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Report: Dolphins took anti-cheating precautions in New England. /How'd that work out for you,'Fins?.
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Sebastian Vollmer expected back for playoffs.
- Mike Renner (Washington Post) The key weaknesses for the NFL's strongest teams.
- David Steele (Sporting News) Who's left that hasn't dabbed now? Start with Belichick.
- Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) Rob Gronkowski gets hyped, stays hyped at WWE Providence.
- Dave Dameshek (NFL.com) The Shek Report: Week 16.
- Kenneth Arthur (Sports on Earth) The post-week 16 Eliteness Rankings.
- Matt Bonesteele (Washington Post) The NFL’s playoff races almost all come down to Week 17.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Week 17 playoff scenarios: Patriots, Panthers can clinch top seeds.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Nick Saban learned from Bill Belichick not to give out information.
- Melissa Jacobs (SI) Year in review: 10 controversies that defined the NFL and wishes for 2016.
- Will Leitch (Sports on Earth) This year's 10 dumbest sports stories.
- Arnie Stapleton, AP (Yahoo! Sports) NFL season again filled with surprises, disappointments.
- Steve Fainaru and Mark Fainaru-Wada (ESPN) NFL backs away from funding BU brain study; NIH to fund it instead.
- David Portnoy (Barstool Sports) Peter King turns the Peyton Manning HGH scandal into a crusade against Patriots fans and all of New England.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Al Jazeera releases recording confirming that Sly worked for Guyer Institute in 2011.
- Nick Schwartz (USA Today) Watch the full Al Jazeera documentary that links Peyton Manning to a doping ring.
VIEW FROM MIAMI
- Adam H. Beasley (Miami Herald) Leery Miami Dolphins took extra staff to Foxboro for October’s Patriots matchup. /Nothing more than a lazy-ass rehash of rumors and innuendos.