New England Patriots links 9/09/21 – DT Davon Godchaux: Plug the run, toughen up the defense

Daily news and links for Thursday

TEAM TALK

• Patriots-Dolphins Wednesday Injury Report.
• Players to Watch: Patriots vs. Dolphins.
• Patriots 2021 captains announced.
• Mike Dussault’s Notebook: Jones preps for first start vs. Dolphins.
• Press Conference transcript: Bill Belichick.
• Press Conferences: Bill Belichick – Davon Godchaux – Kyle Van Noy – David Andrews – Devin McCourty – Trent Brown – Mac Jones.

LOCAL LINKS

• Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots-Dolphins Week 1 key matchups, Who has the razor’s edge?
• Robert Marcello (FullPressCoverage) Patriots enemy profile: Miami Dolphins.
• Michael Hurley tells us what to watch for when the Pats kick off the season vs. Miami. 1. The ground game.
• Evan Lazar finds Davon Godchaux leading the “stop the run to have some fun” charge for the Patriots.
• Andrew Callahan spotlights new Pats DT Davon Godchaux looking to fortify the league’s worst run defense.
• CBS Boston points out that lots of questions remain at wide receiver.
• Chad Finn writes, this much we know: The Patriots are going to be a very good football team this season.
• Kevin Tame (PatriotMaven) 5 bold predictions for New England in 2021. 1. The Patriots will lead the NFL in sacks.
• Mike D’Abate (PatriotMaven) Stevenson reportedly suffers thumb injury: What it means for Patriots vs. Dolphins.
• Andrew Callahan reports Rhamondre Stevenson attends practice despite reported dislocated thumb
• Matt Cassel explains how Josh McDaniels will set Mac Jones up for success in Week 1.
• Karen Guregian explains how Mac Jones is taking the ‘do your job’ mantra to an extreme.
• Andrew Callahan talks about how Mac Jones is now ready to solve his toughest problem yet.
• Justin Leger highlights Mac Jones addressing the pressure of filling Brady’s shoes.
• CBS Boston reports Mac Jones jerseys are outselling Tom Brady jerseys since start of August.
• Mike Reiss notes recent history suggests the Patriots will get a boost after finishing 7-9 in 2020, but the hard part will be sustaining success after splurging.
• Robert Alvarez (PatsFans) S**t Pats fans say – 2021 season preview.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Marcel Louis-Jacques (ESPN) Devin, Jason McCourty to face each other as captains of Patriots, Dolphins.
• Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Devin McCourty: We feel good about what we have without Stephon Gilmore.
• Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) NFL insider notes: Why the AFC-NFC gap is expanding, a surprising Cam Newton landing spot emerges and more. Listening to Bill Belichick talk about Cam makes you wonder …
• Cameron Filipe (FootballZebras) Week 1 referee assignments. Dolphins at Patriots: Clete Blakeman.
• Hal Habib (Palm Beach Post) QB Tua Tagovailoa not among Miami Dolphins’ five captains.
• Mark Schultz (Football Zebras) 5 officiating things I’m watching in 2021.
• Ben Austro (Football Zebras) The NFL’s 3 changes under the hood of replay that could have mixed results.
• MMQB Staff (SI) 2021 NFL Predictions: Super Bowl LVI, playoff picks, award winners and more.
• Nate Davis (USA Today) NFL 2021: Super Bowl 56, playoffs, MVP and other awards predictions from USA Today’s sports experts.
• Adam Schein (NFL.com) Nine last-minute predictions for the 2021 NFL season: 1) Josh Allen wins MVP and Super Bowl LVI. 6) All five first-round quarterbacks dazzle, with Mac Jones nabbing OROY.
• Mark Schofield, Doug Farrar & Laurie Fitzpatrick (TouchdownWire) 2021 NFL predictions. /No love for the Pats.
• Marc Sessler (NFL.com) 10 intriguing scenarios to track as we tumble toward Week 1: Ben Roethlisberger, Lions, Andy Dalton; More.
• Henry Bushnell (Yahoo! Sports) 17-game seasons will upend NFL records. Here’s how to fix that.
• Albert Breer (SI) Mailbag: Are the Dolphins being overlooked for 2021? Plus, Carson Wentz and Sam Darnold’s second chances, the growing trend of holdouts, Deshaun Watson and more.
• Doug Farrar (TouchdownWire) Breaking down all five first-round rookie quarterbacks with Tony Romo.
• Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) QB Index, Week 1: Ranking all 32 starters entering 2021 NFL season. Mac Jones 22nd.
• Patrik Walker (CBS Sports) NFL coach hot seat rankings: Mike McCarthy isn’t safe, Joe Judge standing on thin ice and more.
• Michael Renner (PFF) Biggest NFL breakout candidates at every position based on 2021 NFL preseason performance. Running back: J.J. Taylor.
• Nick Shook (NFL.com) Jimmy Garoppolo confirms he’s 49ers’ starter, even if Kyle Shanahan won’t say it.
• Doug Farrar (TouchdownWire) Tom Brady will be the oldest non-kicker ever to start a Week 1 NFL game.
• Kevin Patra (NFL.com) Cam Newton: ‘I have a lot of football still in me.’
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) NFL Week 1 odds, picks: Mac Jones wins Patriots debut 23-17.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) NFL Week 1 picks: Buccaneers roll over Cowboys in season opener. Patriots win 19-16.
• You Pod to Win the Game: Charles Robinson’s season preview: Ravens a low-key mess, Packers have the eye of the tiger; More. (73 min.)