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TEAM TALK
- John Rooke Nitpicks & Nitwits: Playing to win the game - or not?
- Briana Palma reports "The Office" star, John Krasinski, explains why he's not worried about his hometown team's chances in the playoffs.
- Press Pass: Patriots discuss the bye week. (1.22 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Karen Guregian tells us what the Patriots must fix before the playoffs.
- Doug Kyed reports Tom Brady walked through the locker room without a noticeable limp.
- Mike Reiss looks at David Andrews, an undrafted rookie, who surprisingly started the first 10 games and provided some stability to an O-line that was hit hard by injuries.
- Doug Kyed reports Patrick Chung stands out in Patriots season-long advanced passing stats.
- Ryan Hannable believes Julian Edelman has the chance to become a superstar this post-season.
- Adam Kurkjian notes LB Jonathan Freeny looks to be ready to go for the playoffs. Freeny was just hitting his stride when he dislocated his thumb against the Texans.
- Rich Thompson looks at the positive impact Brandon King has had on special teams, finishing second to Slater in ST tackles, including a forced fumble.
- Mike Reiss sees some good news from the loss in Miami: Steven Jackson showed the Patriots he should help fuel their playoff run.
- Kerry J. Byrne finds the Patriots still is ranked No. 6 in passer rating differential, the most reliable indicator of championship potential, offering plenty of statistical confidence.
- Michael Hurley compiles the season-long stats that show that air pressure really doesn't affect Tom Brady or the Patriots.
- Matt Dolloff examines the Patriots final grades on Pro Football Focus: Jamie Collins joins elite.
- Michael Hurley thinks Super Bowl momentum doesn't necessarily exist, and other leftover Patriots thoughts.
- Tom E. Curran saw Sunday's game plan as wholly out of character for the team.
- Christopher Price states Patriots fans are right to wonder why Peyton Manning isn't receiving the same rush to judgment that Tom Brady did.
- Eric Wilbur calls the Peyton Protection Plan, in regards to HGH accusations, a duplicitous farce.
- Phil Perry notes Jimmy Garoppolo 'has made great strides' according to Bill Belichick.
- Mike Reiss completes his regular-season snap-count analysis: Two cornerbacks filled big holes for the Patriots' defense in 2015.
- Chris Mason outlines the Patriots scenarios for wild card weekend.
- Ricky Doyle notes Rodney Harrison says the Patriots 'don't have the weapons' going into the playoffs.
- Phil Perry highlights Bill Belichick on Tom Coughlin: 'A lot for him to be proud of.'
- Karen Guregian Patriots Notebook: The Patriots were back at Gillette yesterday for meetings; Self-assessment is a big part of their bye week; Belichick is more concerned with the upcoming playoff game than with other teams pursuing his top assistants for head coaching vacancies; With Brady's ankle injury there has been increased focus on Jimmy Garoppolo and how he has progressed this season.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Erik Frenz (Bleacher Report) Patriots lack of running game could be playoff weakness.
- Bob Snowdon (Goal Line Gazette) Patriots: Break out the lifeboats?
- Nathan Currier (ManGamesLost) The most injured NFL teams since the 2009 season.
- Don Banks (SI) 10 storylines for NFL playoffs: Victory droughts, lack of newcomers, more.
- Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Playoff kryptonite: Where each team can be exposed.
- Jeff Diamond (Sporting News) Don't bank on Panthers, Broncos doing much with No. 1 seeds in NFL playoffs.
- Peter King (SI) Can Patriots overcome injuries to make run in playoffs? (1.42 min.video)
- Dave Dameshek (NFL.com) The Shek Report: Week 17. (3.53 min. video)
- Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent's Take: What are players paid during the postseason?
- Highly Questionable (ESPN) Drew Rosenhaus explains the time he was close to being involved in an altercation over signing Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski. (1.18 min. video)
- Sheil Kapadia (ESPN) Pete Carroll: Seahawks' big challenge was getting over Super Bowl sting.
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Michael Powell (NY Times) Following the names in the Al Jazeera doping report. /Interesting read.
- Barry Svrluga (Washington Post) Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Howard file suit against Al Jazeera.
- Diana Moskovitz (Deadspin) Ryan Howard, Ryan Zimmerman sue Al Jazeera America over doping report.
- Simon van Zuylen-Wood (ESPN) How Roger Goodell and Cynthia Hogan are turning the NFL into a political machine.
- Jim Reinekiing (NFL.com) Top 50 clutch moments in Super Bowl history: 41-50.
- Don Banks (SI) Black Monday Snaps: Giants' best options for replacing Tom Coughlin.