Senior writer at @TheAthletic covering the Patriots. Adjunct at @NUjournalism. High-handicapped golfer, low-rated tennis player, seeker of a good old fashioned.
Foxboro, MA, USA
Joined May 2010
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Chad Graff retweeted
Had Carlie Irsay-Gordon seen the situation more clearly a year ago, she could have fired Chris Ballard after the 2025 season and initiated the rebuilding process under a new GM. Instead, it's a fire sale, and guys in the Colts' locker room are checking their phones to see if they'll be the next to be set free... Good stuff, Colts. My @TheAthletic column from last October:
nytimes.com/athletic/5884624…
Everyone on the Patriots' 53-man roster participated in practice today in some fashion.
Rare good injury news for the Pats.
Pretty much just New England and South Florida households will get Patriots-Dolphins at 4:25 on Sunday.
From Jolly Ranchers to Big League Chew: A look at how the equipment staff helps the Patriots ... and the sometimes funny requests they get.
Story, free to read here: nytimes.com/athletic/7729218…
Chad Graff retweeted
I know how much time, thought and effort we put into our NFL power rankings each week. Now's *your* chance to tell us what *you* think. Amazing work from our graphics team!
Each week, The Athletic ranks all 32 NFL teams — but what do you think?
Create and share your own list, and see how your choices compare to our rankings this week, along with the rankings of other readers:
nyti.ms/3WPzNKs
Think our power rankings are wrong?
Well, with a cool new tool at @TheAthleticNFL, you can now make your own power rankings.
Try it out here: nytimes.com/athletic/interac…
With the trade deadline looming, the Patriots should be aggressive.
Story, free to read here: nytimes.com/athletic/7717705…
Chad Graff retweeted
Prime Video’s Patriots-Bears game averaged 19.86 million viewers. That's the second most-watched TNF on Prime game ever behind last season's Christmas night game between the Broncos and Chiefs (21.1M)
Prime says Thursday's game is the most-watched Week 7 game on record across the history of the Thursday Night Football package, beating the previous mark set in 2015 by +16%.
Big number.
NFL team tiers via @benbbaldwin's rbsdm.com based on EPA/play.
(How are the Bills and Vikings playing the same game?)
With a lengthy injury report, the Patriots have little room for error, as they learned last night in Chicago.
Story, free to read: nytimes.com/athletic/7716272…
Chad Graff retweeted
“That felt like watching Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. That felt like the next version of that to me."
Derrik and @davehelman_ discuss the heavyweight matchup between Caleb Williams and Drake Maye on TNF.
Final: Bears 30, Patriots 24
The Pats fall to 4-3. Drake Maye was good but the defense missed too many tackles and needs help at CB.
And Patriots WRs didn’t do much.
The Patriots need more from their WRs. Tonight:
Drake Maye when targeting WRs: 7-for-12 for 87 yards, 0 TDs
Drake Maye when targeting RBs and TEs: 17-for-18 for 234 yards and 2 TDs
Drake Maye when throwing to his WRs tonight: 4-of-7 for 49 yards
Drake Maye when throwing to RBs and TEs: 14-of-15 for 204 yards, 2 TDs
Somehow the Bears offered worse defense on that final play of the half than the Patriots did on the third-and-17 screen.
So far, the Patriots are living in 12 personnel and taking short passes.
Drake Maye's average depth of target is less than 5 yards.
