New England Patriots links 10/01/21 - So you’re saying there’s a chance ... Keys to a Pats’ Week 4 win

TEAM TALK

• Patriots-Buccaneers Thursday Injury Report.
• Mike Dussault’s Notebook: Red zone, ball security top offensive priorities.
• Mike Dussault explains how the Bucs’ deep group of weapons will challenge the Pats D.
• Players to Watch: Patriots vs. Buccaneers.
• What They’re Saying: Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Press Conferences: Ja’Whaun Bentley - J.J. Taylor - Jalen Mills - Nelson Agholor - Matt Judon - Hunter Henry.
• Belestrator: Breaking down the Buccaneers defense. (3.11 min. video)
• Player 1-on-1 with Devin McCourty. (2.32 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered 9/30: NFL Week 4 picks, Bucs preview and more. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Thomas Murphy (E2GSports) Patriots hunt for Red October and Monster keys to victory over Tompa-Bay. 1. Set the depth charges.
• Thomas Baslios (PatsBuzz) Patriots vs. Buccaneers: 5 keys to victory. 1. Play smart fundamentally sound football.
• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots-Bucs Week 4 key matchups: Who has the razor’s edge? Patriots WRs vs Bucs secondary – Razor’s edge New England.
• Alex Barth gives us his Patriots-Buccaneers key matchups. Patriots tight ends vs. Buccaneers linebackers: If there was a time to try to jumpstart [the TEs] with heavy involvement in the game plan, Sunday is it.
• Karen Guregian explores whether Mac Jones can crash Tom Brady’s party.
• Michael Hurley suggests with all the attention on Tom Brady, Mac Jones has a real chance for his first great game.
• Khari Thompson tells us three things we should know about Tom Brady and the Buccaneers offense. 1. It is similar to the Pats offense.
• Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) 9 burning questions ahead of Patriots-Buccaneers in Week 4. 1. What is the Patriots identity at this point in the 2021 season?
• Mike D’Abate (PariotMaven) The end of the Brady-Belichick era is still the quintessential Patriots “Whodunit?” Was it really Coach Belichick…at the airport…with a Roger Goodell-bearhug???
• Jerry Thornton notes Bruce Arians saying the Patriots offense has copied his is the most ludicrous statement in the history of statements.
• Nick Stevens calls Belichick vs. Brady the great cash-in of 2021. “Stop and think for just a second as to how many people stand to cash in from this improbably scheduled football game, which happens in Foxboro once every eight years.”
• Andrew Callahan tries to look at what are the actual stakes of Tom Brady vs. Bill Belichick, and finds that it’s complicated.
• Danny Jaillet (PatriotsWire) Mac Jones reveals insightful tidbits about meeting with Bill Belichick.
• Alex Barth highlights Mac Jones on facing Tom Brady: ‘It’s really just us against the other team.’ /Too sane.
• Ryan Hannable notes Drew Brees has been impressed with Mac Jones so far this season.
• Khari Thompson relays Matt Judon saying the defense is ‘not scared’ of what Tom Brady can do. /Stupid question.
• Karen Guregian notes J.J. Taylor is excited for his chance to assume James White’s third down role. /Godspeed.
• Alex Barth reports two kickers were among four players visiting the Patriots for free agent workouts
• Zack Cox revisits the Rob Gronkowski trade to see what the Pats got for Gronk.
• Michael Hurley spotlights Tom Brady giving the shortest scouting report humanly possible on Mac Jones.
• Mike Reiss reports Tom Brady’s return drives Buccaneers-Patriots prices to regular-season high for New England.
• Eric Wilbur offers his Buccaneers-Patriots prediction roundup.
• CBS Boston sports staff make their Patriots-Buccaneers predictions. All five pick Bucs. /Et tu Steve Burton?
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) A behind the scenes look at Julian Edelman’s halftime ceremony.
• Jim Hackett says Patriots fans who boo Tom Brady need a history lesson.
• A Clare Perspective podcast: Clare Cooper and Mike Dussault discuss the current roster, the future of the team and Pats-Bucs. (46 min.)
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Crossover edition: Mike D’Abate and David Harrison (Locked On Bucs) preview this Sunday’s matchup and the return of Tom Brady. (48 min.)
• Pro Fans Sports podcast: Tanya Ray Fox on the Patriots season and Mac Jones’ early struggles. (78 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) GamePlan: What past Patriots quarterbacks can teach us about Tom Brady vs. Bill Belichick; Plus, previewing Week 4’s best games, big themes and more.
• Henry Bushnell (Yahoo! Sports) The genesis of Tom Brady’s legend.
• Steven Ruiz (The Ringer) What does a “successful” rookie season look like for Mac Jones?
• Conor Orr (SI) Are these five early surprise teams contenders or pretenders?
• Lorenzo Reyes (USA Today) Tom Brady and Bill Belichick spent 20 years together with the Patriots and will face off Sunday. Here’s a look at their relationship over the years.
• NFL Live (ESPN) Can Tom Brady notch a win in his return to Foxborough? Marcus Spears believes Tom Brady will figure out the Pats’ defense, and the Bucs’ defense will use this game to get back on track. (1 min. video)
• Bryan DeArdo (CBS Sports) Notable revenge games between legends and their former teams ahead of Tom Brady’s return to New England.
• NFL Network Analysts (NFL.com) Week 4 bold predictions: Jets, Zach Wilson get first win; Panthers’ D stuns Cowboys.
• MMQB Staff (SI) Week 4 NFL picks. One out of five (Conor Orr) picks Pats to win.
• Nate Davis (USA Today) Week 4 NFL picks: Tom Brady or Bill Belichick as Bucs visit Pats? All seven pick Bucs.
• Will Brinson (CBS Sports) 2021 NFL Week 4 odds, picks: Three undefeated teams go down, Bucs thrash Pats 31-17.

VIEW FROM TAMPA BAY

• Scott Smith (Buccaneers) 2021 Game Preview: Buccaneers-Patriots, Week 4.
• Scott Smith (Buccaneers.com) New look Patriots led by rejuvenated defense, rookie QB. Scouting Report: Matt Judon and other key additions on defense have New England’s defense back in the top 10 as the offense adjusts to Mac Jones at the helm...Plus, other key players and strengths and weaknesses for the Bucs’ Week Four opponent.
• Joey Knight (TampaBay.com) New Patriots QB Mac Jones trying to carve his own New England niche.
• John Paul (ThePewterPlank) Buccaneers need to utilize this opportunity in front of them.
• Joey Knight (TampaBay.com) Rob Gronkowski’s status still unclear as his New England return looms.
• Brandon Thornton (ThePewterPlank) Be patient with Richard Sherman.
• Joey Knight (TampaBay.com) Will Richard Sherman play Sunday? ‘It’s still early,’ Todd Bowles says.
• Jenna Laine (ESPN) Tom Brady says breakup with Bill Belichick, New England Patriots was handled ‘perfectly’.