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New England Patriots links 9/17/25 – Week 2 cleanup, moving on to Pittsburgh

New England Patriots links 9/17/25 – Week 2 cleanup, moving on to Pittsburgh
Pats Pulpit Pats Pulpit

TEAM TALK

LOCAL LINKS

  • Tom E. Curran talks about how the Patriots gained traction on road from bad to mediocre the with win over Dolphins.
  • Bob George offers 22 NFL thoughts after a surprising Week 2. No. 4. The worst play call of the weekend may have been that late second and 8 call which allowed Miami to save a timeout and nearly cost the Patriots a win. I say run the ball even if they stuff it. The Dolphins get the ball back with less than a minute and no timeouts and need a touchdown.
  • Mike D’Abate posts the Patriots snap counts from Sunday: Run game shines in victory.
  • Steve Balestrieri issues his Week 2 Patriots Report Card: Quarterbacks get extra recess; Secondary and linebackers get detention.
  • Tyler Geis points out that the Patriots currently lead the league in sacks – the polar opposite of where they stood a year ago.
  • Mark Morse clears the Week 2 Notebook: The grades are in and the Offensive Line performed very well; Drake Maye had his finest game; Mack Hollins blocking and special teams play; More.
  • Phil Perry tries to make sense of Pop Douglas’ diminished role through two games (three catches for six yards). “He’s not really a valuable player when you’re planning on handing it off.”
  • Karen Guregian has her eyes peeled on what will happen with Christian Gonzalez
  • Phil Perry and Tom E. Curran discuss how the Patriots should handle injured CB Christian Gonzalez.
  • Jennifer Streeter describes how Mike Vrabel’s hands-on coaching style was evident by his involvement throughout the game and beyond just coaching duties.
  • Karen Guregian notes Mike Vrabel says he’s not ready to move on from kicker Andy Borregales.
  • Doug Kyed‘s Patriots mailbag: Is DeMario Douglas being phased out of offense?
  • Alex Barth‘s Patriots Mailbag: Questions coming away from the first win of the year.
  • Alex Barth notes Mike Tomlin told reporters that Alex Highsmith won’t play against the Patriots this week.
  • Alex Barth reports former Patriots captain, LB Ja’Whaun Bentley has signed with Pittsburgh ahead of Sunday’s matchup.

NATIONAL NEWS

  • Austin Gayle (The Ringer) The 14 stats that explain Week 2: This is what the box scores won’t tell you. 3.7 – Points allowed per drive for the Dolphins through Week 2; 50.4 – Percent Steelers’ defensive success rate, lowest ever for a Mike Tomlin defense through Week 2.
  • Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) NFL Week 2 grades: Patriots B+, Dolphins C-. *Two games into Mike Vrabel’s...
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