Bill Belichick didn’t mind discussing Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and the Kansas City Chiefs’ explosive offense. Though he failed to address the fact that they’re not that explosive in recent weeks.
The New England Patriots coach is preparing for an AFC Championship Game rematch with Kansas City. And as usual, he was ready to praise his opponent. He also discussed the strong work from his receivers Julian Edelman and Mohamed Sanu.
But just like every week, there were topics Belichick avoided as best he could. He dodged topics like the Patriots’ decision to go without a kicker this week. And he didn’t field a question about the Tom Brady drama or the Antonio Brown apology.
Here’s what Bill Belichick wouldn’t say in Week 14.
1. What’s going on with your kicker situation? Can you announce that you’re re-signing Nick Folk?
What he said Friday: “Nope.”
What we think he’s thinking: The Patriots have clearly expected all week that Nick Folk would be returning to the team. He was dealing with appendicitis and missed last week’s game. Perhaps the timeline for his return hit a snag, because they won’t be adding Folk on Saturday. But they will add Folk despite spending the week without a kicker, according to NFL Network. It would have been a truly Belichickian oddity for the Patriots head into one of the biggest matchups of the season without a kicker. He probably would’ve enjoyed the challenge.
2. Who will Stephon Gilmore cover?
What we think he’s thinking: This is the type of question where no coach will answer truthfully — especially not Belichick. But the coach did make one indication about how he might use Gilmore, the top cornerback in the NFL. Belichick said tight end Travis Kelce is “one of the best receivers in the league.” Does that mean Belichick will treat Kelce like a No. 1 wideout and put Gilmore on him? It seems likely. Meanwhile, the Patriots will double Tyreek Hill with Devin McCourty and Jonathan Jones (or a different cornerback). That seems like the Patriots’ most obvious set of matchups.
3. Any update on Antonio Brown?
What we think he’s thinking: No. Just no. Brown is untouchable for what he wrote on Twitter about Robert Kraft. It doesn’t matter how many desperate and insincere apologies Brown posts on Twitter. Kraft is likely to keep distance between Brown, who is facing allegations of rape and sexual assault, and the Patriots. And obviously, he has good reason.
4. Will Mohamed Sanu bring a much-needed spark to the offense?
What he said Friday: “Each week there’s building blocks and you can add some things or repeat things that have come up in previous weeks to improve the execution on him and communication. We’ve made a lot of progress – definitely headed in the right direction. We’re definitely not there yet either, but we’re gaining ground.”
What we think he’s thinking: There was some hope that N’Keal Harry would bring a boost to the offense. That didn’t work out. That followed similar stories with Antonio Brown and Josh Gordon. But with Sanu, the situation might play out differently. He showed against the Ravens in Week 9 that he can be a difference-maker when he had 10 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. In the following week, he hurt his ankle, which threw an obstacle into his acclimation to the Patriots’ system. But there should be optimism that Sanu — more than Harry or Jakobi Meyers — can be a contributor as New England’s regular season winds down.
5. Does Tom Brady have enough playmakers on offense?
What he said Tuesday: “I think we all have to do a better job. So, start with that, see how it goes.”
What we think he’s thinking: Probably not. As previously noted, Sanu needs to step up to lighten the load for Julian Edelman. James White should also get a higher usage rate — that’s on Josh McDaniels to figure out. But it would have been nice if Rob Gronkowski had decided to come out retirement. It would have been nice if Sony Michel had developed into a legitimate pass-catching threat. It would have been nice if Harry, a first-round pick, had been a Day 1 contributor. It would have been nice of receiver Adam Humphries hadn’t signed with a Titans this offseason. (What was he thinking?) And it would have been nice if Jared Cook hadn’t signed with the Saints. The skill positions are weak, but it’s not for lack of trying. So Brady is going to have to figure out how to perform better while elevating the quality of play from his teammates.
