9 burning questions about Patriots-Rams before Week 14

The Original England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams play on Thursday evening, and the 2 teams survey each totally different for the first time since Huge Bowl LIII when Bill Belichick’s squad received, 13-3.

The Patriots bear undergone mighty adjustments since that sport, with staunch 18 avid gamers on the roster from that Huge Bowl-winning team. And naturally, Tom Brady received’t be playing for Original England, with Cam Newton taking on at quarterback for 2020. The Rams, meanwhile, can bear that identical duo of Sean McVay and Jared Goff — and as well they’ll bear to select out how one can jumpstart the offense in the event that they desire a outlandish result than the final time these teams carried out.

Here’s a secret agent at the burning questions for this sport, with a dialogue between Patriots Wire’s Henry McKenna and Ram Wire’s Cam Da Silva.

Has there been important carryover method-wise from the Patriots in Huge Bowl LIII to now?

Henry McKenna, Patriots Wire: The Patriots’ method hasn’t changed important, even with Cam Newton taking on for Tom Brady. They’ve been the usage of flee-heavy sport plans to bewitch, which is additionally what they did for Huge Bowl LIII and the playoff games leading up to it. Original England desires to build the flee with Damien Harris after which exercise the camouflage camouflage sport as an extension of the operating sport with receivers and operating support James White. Then — if or now no longer it is far a necessity — the Patriots will throw the ball downfield. However they most efficient enact that sparingly, hanging main barriers on Newton.

Is Bill Belichick going to toy with Jared Goff again? (Accept as true with in solutions the Patriots defense is now no longer staunch this three hundred and sixty five days.)

Cam Da Silva, Rams Wire: I contemplate what the Patriots threw at the Rams in Huge Bowl LIII if truth be told puzzled both Goff and Sean McVay. They had been awaiting a heavy dose of man protection, and what they received became replace zone and 6-1 large fronts. Goff by no methodology looked happy in the game, he wasn’t studying coverages well and struggled with the psychological facet of that matchup. I don’t know that Belichick shall be ready to throw Goff off his sport as important this time spherical, however it for certain has to be a wretchedness. The lesser skills on Original England’s facet makes that tougher to enact, so I search data from Goff to play internal himself and for McVay to call replace play-action passes and short-to-intermediate routes.

Cam Newton’s numbers clearly aren’t very staunch, however how has he carried out this three hundred and sixty five days?

Patriots Wire: He’s been in each single save. There are games where he’s carried out well sufficient to bewitch, however the defense hasn’t supported him sufficient. There are games where the defense has needed to fling Newton across the attain line. And the proven fact that he’s so erratic appears to be like to be why the Patriots are happy to focal point on their dashing assault and the camouflage camouflage sport. It emphasizes Newton as a passer to limit the inconsistency from sport to sport.

What’s been the incompatibility between the lowly 2019 Rams and this more-triumphant model in 2020?

Rams Wire: The offensive line, for one, has made a titanic incompatibility. A resurgence in the operating sport has additionally helped. Goff has been higher this season, moreover, playing more internal himself and now no longer looking out for to enact too important when losing support. The defense, however, has been the glorious alternate – and for the upper. That is a top-three unit in the NFL correct now, led by Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. Coverage is mighty, stress is relentless and the safety play has been tall towards the flee and bound. I’d speak that’s the glorious incompatibility from final three hundred and sixty five days.

All people is conscious of about Stephon Gilmore, however who’s an underrated defender Rams followers must aloof know?

Patriots Wire: In the final few weeks, defensive care for Adam Butler has made crucial performs in the internal. He received’t appear to be important as a disruptor when when in contrast to Aaron Donald — however who can review to Donald? (Imprint: no one.) Edge Fling Winovich has developed nicely into a more versatile player, with contributions beyond bound dashing. And cornerback J.C. Jackson has been terrific retaining WR2s this season, and has recorded the 2nd most interceptions this season (7).

The Rams bear an awful lot of wins over the NFC East. Might perchance presumably their file be a diminutive bit inflated? Or are they war-examined by the NFC West?

Rams Wire: Ahead of they beat the Seahawks, Bucs and Cardinals, you would’ve happy me that their file became inflated. Four of their first 5 wins had been towards the NFC East, which became usually spectacular. They additionally lost to the harm-ravaged 49ers and had been crushed by the Dolphins, which were disappointing outcomes after being preferred in those games. However now that they’ve knocked off three playoff contenders in the NFC, I’d speak they’re a first price threat to bewitch the Huge Bowl.

What did the Patriots enact so well in their 45-0 bewitch over the Chargers?

Patriots Wire: Special teams. And it wasn’t even that the Patriots had been that staunch. The Chargers had been staunch that unhealthy. It became insane. That is an example: on punt returns, L.A. had 11 men on the realm, then 10, then 12 (which resulted in a flag), then 10 again. That is horrific coaching. It be no shock Patriots punt returner Gunner Olszewski had a 70-yard punt return touchdown and a 61-yard return later in the game.

What bear teams carried out to limit Aaron Donald this three hundred and sixty five days? Has it labored?

Rams Wire: Moderately important the identical stuff they’ve carried out in unique seasons: double- and triple-teams, sliding protection, operating away from his facet of the defensive line, chipping him with tight ends and operating backs. For essentially the most share, it hasn’t labored. He has 11 sacks and 9 tackles for loss, to retain firm with 22 quarterback hits and a league-high 71 pressures, however it has slowed him down greater than looking out for to dam him with one lineman would. I search data from important of the identical from the Patriots tonight.

Who wins on Thursday evening and why?

Patriots Wire: These are two rather desperate teams. These are two well-coached teams. However I if truth be told contemplate the Patriots are going to construct a playoff push, and which methodology they must bewitch this sport. Original England wins, 24-21. Rams Wire: That is a tough matchup for the Rams, and now no longer because they’ll bear trouble slowing down the Patriots offense. It’s Original England’s defense, and particularly Belichick, that can present the Rams trouble. However after their give blueprint in Huge Bowl LIII, I contemplate they’ll be higher prepared and McVay can bear a stronger sport notion. I admire the Rams to bewitch a end one, 23-20.

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