This is why you play the game people! Are the Bills and the Jets a mere formality for the Patriots to close out the season? I hope. Of course. But the Patriots needed some outside help for the first time in a long time and old friend Nick Foles did just that as the Eagles knocked off the Texans behind his 400+ yard day. This was not a regular back door cover though as the Texans were doing everything they could to steal a W. Seriously, just look at this play from Deshaun Watson that set up the Texans TD to take the lead with less than 2 minutes to go.
When haters hear the #Patriots are about to back door their way into a playoff bye. #Eagles #Texans pic.twitter.com/B2CraMSo38
— The 300s (@The300sBoston) December 23, 2018
Naturally I was shouting at my TV cussing out the Eagles like it was February all over again, but the enigma that is Nick Foles wasn’t ready to go home yet. Despite nearly getting his sternum broken in half by Jadeveon Clowney, he missed 1 play, came back and led the Eagles to a game winning FG.
#Eagles 32 #Texans 30 and the #Patriots officially backdoor their way into the No. 2 seed.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?? pic.twitter.com/kQ843rruP1
— The 300s (@The300sBoston) December 23, 2018
The Patriots win coupled with the Texans loss moves New England back into the No. 2 seed and back into the driver seat as they, somehow, once again control their own destiny. LETS. GO.
Victory Dip. #Patriots #Bills #NEvsBUF #BUFvsNE #NFL pic.twitter.com/3ktg1L76Qo
— The 300s (@The300sBoston) December 23, 2018
Now just don’t implode against Sam Darnold and the Jets next Sunday and we’ll all be resting our ailing MCLs on Wild Card Weekend.
Lets get to a few rapid reactions from this Patriots Bills game that, despite a slow start and a less than ideal game from Tom Brady, ended up being a 24-12 blowout.
-Tom Brady did not look great. He finished the day 13/24 for 126 yards 1 TD and 2 INT, which gives him 11 on the year, his most since 2013. One of those picks came on a deflection off Gronk’s banana hands that should have been an easy catch and the other came on a miscommunication with Rex Burkhead zigging when Brady thought he was going to zag. But, he still had a lot of missed throws and generally seemed out of sync all day aside from the Edelman TD.
-Two reasons for concern moving forward though.
Tom Brady just seriously cut off his pregame trot down the sideline. Not sure he even got to midfield. If you needed any more indication his knee is bothering him…
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) December 23, 2018
If you had any doubts that Tom Brady is dealing with an injury, the fact that it’s Brian Hoyer time with SEVEN minutes to go in this game should make you wake up. #Patriots #Bills #NFL #NEvsBUF #BUFvsNE
— The 300s (@The300sBoston) December 23, 2018
-I take little joy in this win in of itself because Josh Allen is AWFUL. Yes, the guy can scramble and has an absolute cannon for an arm, but the guy has worse accuracy than Tebow.
Josh Allen legit stares a hole into McCoy here before throwing the easiest pass in the NFL. #Patriots #Bills #NEvsBUF
— The 300s (@The300sBoston) December 23, 2018
-Rob Gronkowski looked straight up old in this game. He was on the sidelines in favor of Dwayne Allen on a lot of early downs as the Pats ran the ball almost exclusively to open the game. Gronk used to be one of, if not the, best blocking tight ends in the NFL though so this is concerning. He couldn’t really get open and even when he did he was dropping bunnies.
Gronk is running like he’s trying not to break the seal after 5 beers and now drops a pass that turns into another INT for Brady. This hurts to watch. #Patriots #Bills #NEvsBUF
— The 300s (@The300sBoston) December 23, 2018
-Josh McDaniels continues to mystify me with his shitty play calling in big spots. It obviously didn’t seriously jeopardize the Patriots’ chances of winning the game, but some of McDaniel’s play calls were real head scratchers.
On the 5 yard line and McDaniels dials up a 4 wide HB toss?? That is an AWFU play call that wouldn’t even work in Madden. #Patriots #Bills #NFL #BUFvsNE #NEvsBUF
— The 300s (@The300sBoston) December 23, 2018
A win is a win is a win though and the Patriots improve to 10-5 on the season with one game to go. Mattes will break down this game a little bit further later this week and preview next Sunday’s regular season finale against the Jets!
The 300s 
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