What is the story about?
TEAM
TALK
- Evan Lazar‘s After Further Review: Breaking down Drake Maye, the defense and quick-hit film notes from the win over the Bengals. Defensively, the impact of not having Williams and Tonga (played 12 snaps before exiting the game) really showed up both on film and statistically. /Good read.
- Alexandra Francisco has the story behind Hunter Henry’s custom cleats designed by survivors impacted by an organization he champions: International Justice Mission.
- Mike Dussault revisits the 1985 Patriots, the team that made New England believe.
- My Cause My Cleats: Your Patriots chosen charities for 2025.
- Press Conferences: Mike Vrabel – Andy Borregales and Carlton Davis.
- WEEI Patriots Monday: Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye.
- Highlights: Patriots players unbox the custom cleats they’ll wear for My Cause My Cleats. (1 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Andrew Callahan‘s Patriots film review: How Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel escaped Cincinnati with a ninth straight victory.
- Michael Hurley serves up some still-warm leftover Patriots thoughts: Don’t discount another road victory. The Patriots won ugly in Cincinnati. That’s worlds better than losing.
- Jerry Thornton‘s knee-jerk reactions to Pats-Bengals. The biggest takeaway from this one is the Patriots are good. Very good. They’re the 1-seed for one very simple reason, …they’ve earned it. Winners of nine straight.… They’re just not good enough for any of us to take an opponent like Cincinnati lightly; More.
- Chad Finn‘s Unconventional Review: Patriots win ninth straight, but red-zone struggles are a major concern if they want playoff success.
- Phil Perry tells us what we learned in Pats-Bengals: McDaniels in focus after Campbell’s injury; Patriots might have to get creative to keep Drake Maye protected.
- Conor Ryan offers 8 takeaways from Sunday’s road win. 1. A Pyrrhic victory. A win’s a win — but there’s more work to be done on both sides of the ball.
- Doug Kyed looks at the Best and Worst to see what we learned from the Pats win over the Bengals. Drake Maye on the naughty list, Marcus Jones, Carlton Davis, Hunter Henry, Andy Borregales on the nice list.
- Jake Seymour takes a look at the Week 12 snap counts: The Pats had multiple offensive linemen step into large roles due to injuries, while skill position players received new reps.
- Karen Guregian spotlights what was wrong with Drake Maye in Cincinnati.
- Chad Finn points out how Drake Maye continues to play beyond his years in the Patriots’ ongoing streak, even in imperfect win over Bengals.
- Mike D’Abate identifies seven Patriots who need to step up amid OL injury troubles, from Vederian Lowe to Andrew Rupcich.
- Andrew Callahan wonders how much damage did the Patriots’ Super Bowl hopes just take.
- Doug Kyed‘s Patriots extra points: Players wanted to win for Jahlani Tavai.
- Hayden Bird relays Mike Vrabel joking about Drake Maye’s nickname, the state of ESPN and more. “I couldn’t even figure out 6-7, and now it’s Drake ‘Drake Maye’ Maye-Maye, I don’t know.”
- Alex Barth notes the initial report provides an optimistic timeline for Jared Wilson’s return.
- Pats Procrastination podcast: Clare and Chudders recap wrap the Pats’ week 12 win against the Bengals, and take a quick look ahead to the Monday Night game against the Giants. (37 min.)
- A Clare Perspective podcast: Clare welcomes Dan Roche to discuss the Week 12 expensive trip to Cincy and what’s ahead for the Pats. (26 min.)
- Pats Postgame Show: Greg Bedard joins John Zannis, Taylor Kyles & Mike Kadlick to break down & react to the Pats’ 26-20 win over the Bengals. (80 min.)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Henry McKenna (FOX Sports) Sound Smart: 7 observations from NFL Sunday in Week 12. 5. What everyone else is afraid to say: Josh McDaniels is once again the NFL’s best offensive coordinator.
- Mike Kadlick (SI) Will Campbell injury update: Pats receive good news on LT Will Campbell, pending MRI
- Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) Cover 32: Is Mike Tomlin’s seat starting to heat up? Plus games balls, biggest gaffes from NFL Week 12
- Nate Davis (USA Today) 32 things we learned in Week 12: Giants the first team officially eliminated from playoff contention; The Patriots moved their record to a league-best 10-2, which also allowed them to assume first place in the AFC over the idle Broncos; New England’s win came at the expense of the snakebit Bengals… credit to the Stripes for nearly salvaging a win before succumbing 26-20. /Credit to who? Wut?
- Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) Cover 32: Is Mike Tomlin’s seat starting to heat up? Plus games balls, biggest gaffes from NFL Week 12. Game ball: Hunter Henry.
- Gilberto Manzano (SI) Week 12 Notes: Saquon Barkley, not A.J. Brown, is the one holding the Eagles’ offense back; Plus, the AFC North has no seven-win teams but plenty of intrigue after a lively Week 12.
- Zachary Pereles (CBS Sports) 5 things we liked and didn’t like from Week 12: Unlikely stories, Gibbs shines, Chiefs survive and parity ahead of Thanksgiving.
- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today) Week 12 winners and losers. Winner: Marcus Jones. Loser: Drake Maye.
- Steven Ruiz (The Ringer) The winners and losers of NFL Week 12.
- Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) 2025 NFL playoff picture: Who’s in, who’s out and who’s in the hunt.
- Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports) 2024 NFL Draft regrade: Who’s already a star, who’s stalled and what’s changed 18 months later. “Drake Maye would be the No. 1 overall pick and it wouldn’t even be close.”
- Albert Breer (SI) Dismiss this flawed edition of the Chiefs’ dynasty at your own risk.
