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Deputy Editor of Content Jim Pignatiello returns for Week 10:
The Patriots stood, well, pat at the trade deadline this week, seemingly prioritizing the future rather than the present, despite a 7-2 record and a wide open AFC.
Tied with the Colts and Broncos for the best record in the conference, New England has a real chance to be the No. 1 seed in the postseason.
Our own Karen Guregian wondered if that was a mistake:
The Patriots weren’t unwilling to deal, it just had to be the right deal.
They were trying to come down somewhere in the middle where the assets unloaded wouldn’t hurt the overall plan, and still acquire decent reinforcements.
Their rationale is valid. It’s a good strategy if you can pull it off. It just didn’t happen.
It’s disappointing that it didn’t.
They have the coach, and the quarterback, who is on a rookie deal.
As long as Vrabel and Maye are around, the future is bright. But the schedule will be tougher next year. Injuries might factor in.
They might not have a better road to the promised land. They could very well wind up kicking themselves for not striking while the fire was hot.
Now, with no real reinforcements this week aside from Jerry Rice’s son, the Patriots face one of the toughest games on their schedule as they head to Tampa to take on Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers (6-2).
The question now becomes whether the Patriots’ nightmare second half against the Falcons was a sign of things to come or simply a bad 30 minutes of play.
I worry that it is more of the former, especially against a Super Bowl contender with no cavalry having arrived Tuesday.
Final score prediction: Bucs 31, Patriots 17
