We all know the Patriots are about the team and rarely single out individual performances, but the NFL does every week! And this week, they decided that Patriots safety Adrian Phillips was worthy of some recognition. He's the Week 8 AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
ICYMI, I'm a narrative guy, and what an incredible narrative for our friend Adrian. His game-changing pick 6 against his former team gave his new team the lead in a game they desperately needed. How awesome is that? And it wasn't even his first pick of the game! AP's first INT set up a field goal that cut the Chargers' lead to one going into the half. The Pats don't win without those plays. Way to step up. That's why he has the 4th highest PFF ranking on the team (77.6).
Idk which of these clips came first in his postgamer, but we've got diplomatic; here's the x's & o's snoozefest behind the play answer.
And a little more lively, emotional response about wanting to perform well against your old team.
I know I predicted the Patriots to win the Super Bowl in my 2021 NFL preview, and I still do believe this team can play with anybody in the NFL, but the fact is they're just a .500 club at the moment.
HOWEVAAA, should they go on to win the Super Bowl this season, Adrian's pick 6 will undoubtedly be the turning point moment in the championship blu-ray/tik-tok. You could argue that the Patriots' point differential is inflated by their demolishing of the Jets, but the Jets just beat the AFC's #1 seed going into week 8. Just like their record is what it is. So are the "advanced" stats and. the Pats are 10th in scoring and 8th in points allowed. They're getting better every week. This is starting to look like the old Patriots. Obviously, they're not some high-flying Tom Brady circus on offense, but Belichick teams have had multiple slow starts then came into themself as the season progressed. Fuck what you heard; the AFC is more wide open than Odell in his dad's video. The Chiefs are in shambles; Derrick Henry is likely done for the year, the Raiders just had another huge emotional setback, the Ravens play to their competition, the Browns are on the brink of a Browns like meltdown, we just beat the Chargers, the Bengals just lost to he fucking Jets and we still have two games left against the Bills. This next three-game stretch is huge for the Pats. They're @ Carolina, home vs the Browns, and @ Atlanta. Those are three winnable games, and if they can take care of business, they'll be 7-4 and right in the thick of things in the AFC going into Thanksgiving. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but what Adrian Phillips did on Sunday might've saved the season, and I'm pumped he got to stick it to his old team like that. Who knows how that game turns out if the Chargers pick up that first down and end up scoring? 4-4 and 3-5 may only be a game apart, but right now, it's all the difference in the world. Sure, I'm fucking pumped because I had Pats ML +170, which combined with Titans live ML +450 made for my first profitable Sunday since like week 3, but this is so much bigger than a blogger trying to win a little scratch and prove his worth. This Patriot team is legit, and I can't help but get 2001 vibes. Such a similar narrative. Good defense with great special teams and a young QB who can rely on a solid running game. Sure Mac, was a 1st round pick, and Cam didn't get hurt like Drew Bledsoe, but the way these teams play is quite similar. Both went from 1-3 to 4-4.
2001
2021
I feel like I'm rambling now, but I'm just excited about this team. Congrats to Adrian Phillips on an excellent game and some league-wide recognition. Even though Halloween made me almost not like Ted Lasso anymore, I'm not letting some squares and people who are nothing like Ted bring me down.
P.S.
Huge shoutout to Odell Beckham Sr. such a ride or die dad move, I'm fucking jealous. We love. to see that kind of unconditional love and support.
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