Image courtesy of The Associated Press FOXBOROUGH – Now this is more like it. From the time the lots opened at 4:00, to the time the lights went out and pregame introductions started at about 7:50, Gillette Stadium was alive for playoff football again. It looked and sounded like the old days. In the end, the offense struggled, but the defense had its best performance of the season, holding the…

Image courtesy of Fox Sports By Alan Segel NEFJ Contributor FOXBOROUGH — When the Los Angeles Chargers (I still have problems saying or seeing that in print) came into Gillette Stadium 54 weeks ago to face the Patriots, circumstances were certainly different than what they are now. The Patriots were just a three-win team at the time and going through the motions of a second straight extremely disappointing season. The…

FOXBOROUGH – Mack Hollins has still been around plenty, but it’s hard to deny his missing presence on the field is clear. After all, he’s 6’4,” 220 lbs. and entertaining as hell. New England has continued winning without him, but now as the stakes get higher, the receiver room needs to step up in order to replace some of the leadership and physicality that Hollins brought between the white lines….

If you think back to the home game against Buffalo, penalties on special teams handed the Bills some incredibly fortunate field position. Field position that Josh Allen and the offense ended up taking advantage of when the defense couldn’t stop them. Now, as the Pats prepare to play their first playoff game at home in six years on Sunday night against the Chargers, any and every mistake will be magnified….

Image courtesy of Kathryn Riley/NFL By Alan Segel NEFJ Contributor FOXBOROUGH – There are always surprises, in life and in sports. Some surprises are better than others and some of the surprises sometimes bring thoughts of ‘why is this happening?’ In 2023 and 2024, Patriots players and the fan base were surprised with 4-13 records in both years. Nobody expected that a Bill Belichick-led team would crater so badly in…