Patriots Today - Taking stock

[2:46] ..." It is about to expire after the patriots top the New York Giants Saturday night the post -- you know regular season and they admitted that they. Surely enjoy the conflict but only for a short while. Time is about to fire on the celebration and it can't get back to playoff preparation on Thursday Bill Belichick no bill have work to do a little bit. That was our best football and other today you think a lot of"...

[3:39] ..." yeah. That being said Gary is a big difference when you're the New England Patriots. It's been nearly twelve months into the -- lost the game so they have a dignity and usual target for each and"...

[11:03] ..." know patriots -- Kentucky no Alison right so so. I don't see Vince young coming in here I don't I don't think they can run the ball down the patriots throats they don't have a passing"...

[0:09]" The full size Toyota time. The trucks exchanging you know."

[0:16]" Coming up what Toyota's patriots to next we're taking one last look at the giants game where the patriots the end -- the post season. Paul Perillo and Bryan lower checking in with a look ahead AFC playoffs I -- you won't perfect. Welcome to Toyota's patriots today. Brought to you side that Toyota tundra."

[0:39]" Hello everybody happy New Year I'm Kristina Akra we're back in action here on just the second day of 2008. And the patriots have a few days off things too late first round bye in the AFC playoffs with a few more things -- on from the giants game today. Authentic look at the patriots and where they stand heading into the playoffs they get started. This weekend pretty it started here right now the news --"

[1:06]" Based on that's national ratings an average of 34 point five million viewers tuned into the patriots giant game. Making it the most watched show of the current TV season. And most watched NFL regular season -- for thanksgiving 1990. The NFL announced the time for the post season AFC playoffs. -- to play on Saturday to twelve against the number 45 or six feet. Pittsburgh Jacksonville and Tennessee. The Jackson Steelers game this Saturday we'll narrow it down to potential opponents. Titans last to beat the chargers on Sunday to stay in the right. Patriots came on the twelfth is scheduled for 8 o'clock on yet. The 2008 NFL draft order was also -- out this week in because the trade on last year's draft day with a forty -- The finished by the eleven this season. Sixteen you know patriots -- actually picked seventh in the draft on April 26 2000."

[2:08]" Coming up right after that the look at the patriots stand heading into the playoff."

[2:28]" The full sized Toyota tough. The truck that's changing at all."

[2:39]" And that's the patriots today -- going to Brian -- now who had a summer area where the patriots stand heading into the post season."

[2:46]" It is about to expire after the patriots top the New York Giants Saturday night the post -- you know regular season and they admitted that they. Surely enjoy the conflict but only for a short while. Time is about to fire on the celebration and it can't get back to playoff preparation on Thursday Bill Belichick no bill have work to do a little bit. That was our best football and other today you think a lot of things we can do better -- non starter than me of -- we can do better double across the board yes that is the head coach of old team to ever win all sixteen games and one regular season. When -- the head coaching those out of reality check at this point with thirteen wins you know like. What's at -- like say wildcard entry Tennessee each one start to do clean slate of wealth music but you know. There everything and others look and kind of music of yeah. That being said Gary is a big difference when you're the New England Patriots. It's been nearly twelve months into the -- lost the game so they have a dignity and usual target for each and every opponent. They've recognized that in the play those points down record this year it will likely continue until the patriots go down in defeat. Our team that hasn't been BR US hard every game has been tour -- that -- that every game is really for the last will be as I've been here. And that's why they won't let up this week when they return to the practice field for you bye week sessions or next week when they know the identity of their divisional round follow."

[4:19]" Postscript on the pressure -- there is -- welcome back so it's a bit of relief in the sense that. Hopefully we we have week. That's about it. The playoffs and anything to happen it just is really one game at a time and if you lose you're out so like a seven -- didn't really enjoyed this for what we've accomplished. As a whole unit no more of 48 hours and then we'll get detonated reading and you ready for playoffs."

[4:51]" best part about the playoff picture for Tom Brady Randy Moss and company at least in the early days of January. Is that they nearly have to watch the action this weekend as for other AFC playoff teams duke it out for the right -- come here Foxboro more to Indianapolis to play the pats. And colts next weekend that's where they stand right now will look forward to hear from them a little more on Thursday when their back in action for some practices this week. Is finally can really is a huge advantage actually to watch all three teams potentially play in. It's it's a huge -- back in 200120032004 the three years they won the Super Bowl they had the bye week. These last two years when they lost in the playoffs and didn't make the Super Bowl they didn't have the bye week. I'm not saying anything right there I don't know how the -- play out now. But but certainly that you can't underestimate the bye week from -- from a physical standpoint. And for nearly for a fact that there's one last win that you need to achieve in order to get the Super Bowl so it doesn't work that way perverts in Pittsburgh few years ago won the Super Bowl having played three road games in the playoffs but it's huge the players were talking about last week. And down yeah it's it's it's you you can't underestimate."

[5:57]" I think there's even a comparison to that the bye week of the regular season. The when he played coming off of that there was -- huge adjustment kind of a step up."

[6:05]" Yeah and and if you if you look back to that that -- we during the season for the patriots came at a really solid time has kind of right in the middle a year maybe slightly. Past the mid range point on they played whatever it's been -- since then now another -- we stayed there really coming at a at a pretty good that the timing of them have been pretty good for this particular team so you don't on the chance you know to have these four days off as they as -- just now happens pretty big. On that just kinda."

[6:31]" And in the mindset apparently that. And the season means nothing at all zero and zero they'll hear more from you and -- coming -- final event we will and right now it's a quick break we'll be back -- the patriots name right after that."

[6:59]" The full size -- time. The truck that's changing at all."

[7:09]" Patriots today let's go to Paul Perillo and Bryan low over recapping the big win that wrapped up the regular season for the patriots. Heading into a new season the post season."

[7:24]" Our Paul will the patriots turn the page from 20072008 and 2007 calendar year could not and ended in any more spectacular fashion. Could -- scripted anything better than what we saw sending it didn't want to laugh that means. I I just think the fact that the game was so meaningful. You know with a record was one thing but haven't played out the way it did on. I think people -- laughed -- you if you went to Hollywood with the script like this we're going to have that the record setting touchdown pass of the record setting receiver. Actually put you had to stick to those sixteen and no it wasn't just one -- 65 yard bomb. The giants played great the patriots were every bit tested I think that's the way you would want. You know let's make this as meaningful as possible the patriots came through yes."

[8:11]" It was. Quite game and it ended a fairly grueling stretch for the patriots in the month of December I Tedy Bruschi said after the game that this might be the most advantageous bye week that the patriots have ever had. And why didn't specify the mental or the physical side do you agree with him that he couldn't come at a better time from the standpoint of pressure and how physically demanding it's been yeah I I think that he was very insightful after the game he had a lot of interest -- things to say and I and I certainly would understand where it was coming from I don't think it was the mental mean all of the night game."

[8:40]" Games heading in the end of November to December you know the patriots being featured as the main attraction the Pittsburgh game -- 4 o'clock in that was the big game that weekend. Everybody had the patriots on everybody was looking to see if they can do it and then you top -- off Brian was. The recital solid cast of three different networks but it the last game against the giants and I do with Tedy. Mentally great time to -- What is the best trained you've seen on this team now we've. Brady -- that's been all your run all your -- what's the best friend for this team going into the playoffs. Well I just think you know I look at the offensively and I don't really see. Any holes even when they weren't running the ball as effectively is as you might want they still we're never getting slowed down but. A Cadillac but Maroney is done the last couple weeks especially this week and I know this sounds silly he averaged less than three yards carrying you sit there. I thought he went better this game and he did in the Miami game in -- 150 some -- yards I just not maximize what was there. The giants were playing really tough defense they was shooting gaps lot of run blitzes they were getting him in the backfield. And letting me a lot of to god runs that really should have been one yard losses and on the goal line -- three times the two touchdowns two point conversion. Solid run solid reds reds on production. I guess that's the trends that I am most encouraged by -- but it can be a little bit more back. Let's say now I going to these I had these two weeks they have between games now. Where -- they most need to improve on the field as they get ready for this -- You know how do you improve on perfection. You know and I I think that. Certainly defensively and I talked to a couple of the guys -- after the game. They felt like they were making strides in getting when they wanted to go they felt like it's a step back against New York the other night. Eli Manning played very well. They didn't get any pressure. And indeed they did try at times to do so so that's a little bit of a concern. One area I would say. If they don't get pressure Hubbard's going to be kind of happy one thing that say. I think you can throw on the patriots if the quarterback as time it's Pittsburgh it's Jacksonville and Tennessee those of three possibilities. If we hear the patriots truthfully discussed what they're looking -- get out of this weekend who they're looking to play what we hearings. Got to beat Tennessee I think if not far away that we missed the playoff teams in the AFC -- I think they can play tough defense but. You know patriots -- Kentucky no Alison right so so. I don't see Vince young coming in here I don't I don't think they can run the ball down the patriots throats they don't have a passing game go -- so Tennessee's been the weakest. Amongst Jacksonville Pittsburgh. Who would you say that it resembles most like to see here I I really think that's a coin flip I'm not I'm not falling in line with his Jacksonville flavor of the month thing you know we've talked about this a little bit I don't see them having enough. Big play ability in the passing game to really cost OK will -- happy New Year we'll see how this all plays out we'll hear from you later in the week with your five points and it will. Discuss AFC divisional round next week -- Let's not I think what's going -- he has confidence -- we'll see we'll proceed hopefully -- some confidence took a back."

[11:55]" Take you volley and Bryan will be right back after that."

[12:04]" Wait and hope that. Isn't it lovely dinner you've -- beat him."

[12:12]" Yeah yeah. This year give the perfect pitch. Instant games season tickets from the lottery."

[12:29]" The full size included -- under the truck that's changing at all."

[12:38]" On Thursday we'll have the latest in the locker room at the players head back to work at Gillette stadium."

[12:44]" And also have an inside look at the NFL's super at heat featuring -- very young linebacker Larry is that's it for Wednesday. He that the more tomorrow in please"