The Frankish Reich

Agreed. I think he makes the team better at the margin. He had a fantastic season in 2020, and was still generally effective last year. He probably doesn't have a lot left in the tank, but I'd be surprised if he's fallen off a cliff by simply sitting around most of the time (avoiding hits, etc.) and spending a very little amount of time with Tommy B. in Tampa. I thought he'd burned bridges here, but when you're trying to win a title a lot is forgiven.

"I know a guy who knows him" and "I sat next to him on a flight to Buffalo" is actually pretty good intel. I'm certainly not disparaging it. Then again, there was that guy who sat next to Mitch Morse's dad last year and was told he's definitely retiring ...

So we get DK AND Justin Jefferson? You're right ... senseless to go through all the counterfactuals. On the "Cody Ford was a big miss" thing? Well, that one's easy. I posted his PFF scores on the MNF thread - truly astonishingly awful, and still trending down somehow.

His PFF scores, by year; low 60s is generally replacement level. High 60s and lower 70s is kind of average starter. 2019: 52.4 2020: 53.8 2021: 46.7 2022: 35.4 - and that's in 243 snaps, so it's not like it's just one bad game. And of course it doesn't include tonight's putrid performance. You can make a case for him being the single worst player in the NFL. And the trend line is sharply in the wrong direction. So it is a mystery as to why he has a job. All I can say is relatively high draft pick + college pedigree = some NFL coach somewhere always thinks he's fixable.

Yep, that's a real area of strength for the Pats. They strike me as a team that's just missing playmakers on offense. But getting those playmakers - particularly at QB - is easier said than done.

Agreed. We haven't seen a lot of late season losing teams dogging it in recent years in the NFL. Even the Texans and Broncos showed a lot of fight yesterday. This Cards team is the exception. I know there's some gaping holes in the talent, but this is a really flat effort too. Uche abusing McCoy and nobody on the O line stepping up to get in his face. They've completely given up.

I don't get this thing about the refs giving the Pats all the calls anymore. The NFL loved featuring Brady. But now that he's gone, would they want the Pats in the playoffs instead of the big market Jets or their new golden boy Justin Herbert Chargers? I don't think so.

What a deflating, listless performance by the Cards. Murray or not, this team is a mess.

Oh, I think he's definitely out for a week or two. But it's telling that they relegated Wilson to 3rd on the depth chart. They didn't want to be forced to go to him even if White got hurt. I think Flacco starts next week. Can't blame Cody on that one. They just plain suck.

They have to say that, and they will go back to Wilson if they fall out of playoff contention or if Mike White is injured. Otherwise, no way.

Jets match up much better against us, particularly if Mike White is o.k. Not scared of the Pats at all.

If I were 6'3", 190 I wouldn't be anywhere near my current job either. Life's not fair.

Every O lineman that sucks has his supporters who'll say "he's much more comfortable on the [right/left] side of the line." So that'll be Cody's excuse.

Without Murray, it's clearly the Cards. Denver actually looked o.k. yesterday after falling way behind early. Until Wilson got knocked out ... Cody Ford!!!!

And we're back in business!

Well, we learned that Mac Jones is better than Colt McCoy I guess.

If the Pats win and make the playoffs, Kingsbury should get a cut

Kingsbury is out of the playoffs, and out of a job in a month. So he literally doesn't care.

I guess KK just doesn't care anymore. Going for it there with this anemic Pats offense is just inviting the Pats to take 3 points

I got that. Sorry ... too soon?

So you're saying he'll be six feet under shortly?

It is gonna be Zappe time!

Sam Bradford is more of the right handed Tua. Ridiculously high completion percentage because he took no chances. I guess Flacco did turn into that guy in his late career.

They do. I know Kyler is inconsistent, but there's no way this offense should've been this bad with the skill players they have. Kingsbury is toast.

So you're saying there still is some fire in that belly!