New England Patriots links 10/14/21 - Pats’ Week 6 fixes: Faster starts, fewer fumbles, nix the miscues

TEAM TALK

• Game Preview: Cowboys at Patriots. Scouting the matchups, series history, tale of the tape.
• How to Watch/Listen: Cowboys at Patriots.
• Patriots-Cowboys Wednesday Injury Report.
• Transactions: Patriots sign linebacker Jahlani Tavai to the 53-man roster from the practice squad; Sign defensive back Sean Davis to the practice squad.
• Mike Dussault spotlights Dont’a Hightower coming off his best game of the season with some familiar physicality.
• Press Conference Transcript: Bill Belichick.
• Press Conferences: Bill Belichick - Mac Jones - Gunner Olszewski - Jonathan Jones - Devin McCourty - Jakobi Meyers - Matthew Judon - Dont’a Hightower.
• Patriots Unfiltered 10/13: Previewing the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday practice report, Mac Jones’ development. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Andrew Callahan says the Patriots offense must start faster – and it can through Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith.
• Zack Cox notes Hunter Henry is beginning to break out for the Patriots; Can Jonnu Smith follow?
• Matt Cassel explains how the next stage in Mac Jones’ development might come on Sunday.
• Karen Guregian believes the Patriots will learn what they’re made of Sunday.
• Dakota Randall says the Patriots are still searching for their identity, and suggests what it should become.
• Andrew Callahan sees the Patriots hoping to force QB Dak Prescott to read the defense, and hold the ball Sunday.
• Khari Thompson analyzes how the Patriots are struggling more than usual with miscues. Costly turnovers, like Damien Harris’s two crucial fumbles, and uncharacteristic penalties have hurt.
• Evan Lazar explains what makes LB Matt Judon a perfect fit for Bill Belichick’s defense.
• Zack Cox says if you were choosing a defensive MVP from the first five games of this Patriots season, there’s only one real candidate: Matt Judon.
• Mike Reiss reports Matt Judon will wear pink in honor of his mother’s breast cancer battle.
• John Andersen says the overrated Cowboys defense should be no match for Mac Jones and the Patriots.
• Andy Hart notes Mac Jones will face familiar Cowboys playmaking defender Trevon Diggs on Sunday. Jones and Diggs battled often in their time together at Alabama
• Dakota Randall Bill Belichick Lessons: Nearly five minutes, 600 words on the Cowboys.
• John Andersen says past matchups between the Patriots and Dan Quinn hardly matter this week
• Mike D’Abate (PatriotMaven) Patriots-Cowboys Week Six Injury Report: Issues continue on the O-Line. The Patriots list a total of 12 players on the report, nine of which were limited participants on Wednesday.
• CBS Boston notes Damien Harris and Shaq Mason were non-participants at practice.
• Zack Cox reports the Patriots promote LB Jahlani Tavai from the practice squad to fill the 53-man roster.
• Evan Lazar finds the offensive line is still depleted. (2.32 min. video)
• Michael Hurley suggests that in exposing Jon Gruden, you have to wonder whom the NFL is shielding, and makes his Week 6 picks. “Getting borderline shootout vibes, because the Cowboys’ pass defense is terrible. But Dallas is much better equipped to emerge victorious from such a game.” Cowboys win.
• Keith Pearson’s The Bet Box. Cowboys win 31-20.
• One Patriots Place podcast: Alex Barth of 98.5 joins Clare, Murph and Steve. (1 hour)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) Mailbag: Who will the Raiders hire as their next coach?
• Tim Kelly (AudacySports) Week 6 announcer assignments. Patriots-Cowboys: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo.
• Cameron Filipe (Football Zebras) Week 6 referee assignments. Pats-Cowboys: Brad Allen.
• Marc Sessler (NFL.com) Week 6 NFL underdogs: New England just another faceless entity?
• James Jackson (ESPN) NFL rookie QB tracker: Let’s check in for the strides signal-callers took in Week 5.
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) Four NFL predictions that were big whiffs: Admitting mistakes about Cowboys, Patriots and more.
• Andrew Brandt (SI) Business of Football: The NFL is losing its lawsuit against St. Louis, but has been in situations like this before.
• Scott Pioli (NFL.com) NFL trade deadline: An executive’s guide to player transactions.
• Staff (ESPN) Patriots, Steelers and more NFL teams join red flag emoji trend.
• Mike Tanier (Football Outsiders) Josh Allen and the NFL’s Roughing the Passer problem.
• Mark Schultz (Football Zebras) Players are adapting to the taunting point of emphasis faster than expected.
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) NFL Week 6 picks. Cowboys win 33-23.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) NFL Week 6 odds, picks. Cowboys win 24-17.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• The Daily Coach (Substack) Jon Gruden’s Downfall: Gruden never built trust with his players, nor did he monitor himself. /Good read.
• Sam Farmer, Nathan Fenno (LA Times) Jon Gruden emails were part of June court filing by WFT owner Dan Snyder.
• Bruce Goldman (Law360) NFL Union’s pursuit of Washington probe emails a stretch.