New England Patriots links 9/07/23 – Time for Mac Jones’ Patriots to fly

Daily news and links for Thursday.

The official 2023 NFL season may have begun in March but the fun stuff starts tonight. Lions at Chiefs kick off at 8:20 and I’ll be pretty much glued to the TV for the next three hours. Pats fans see tonight’s game as just the appetizer ahead of the start of the real season this Sunday: Week 1 Patriots vs. Eagles. The return of Tom Brady and the rebirth of the new Mac Jones-Bill O’Brien era. The atmosphere will be all love and homecoming, hopefully capped off with some good football being played and extending the warm feelings to this year’s squad going forward. 1-0. That’s the best-case scenario.

The NFL experts aren’t even close to seeing things that way. Yet. Even the local writers are hesitant to show anything but skepticism that the 2023 Patriots will be able to keep up with the top half of the league. Only one way to quell the naysayers and that’s to play the game. We finally get to watch them do that this weekend. Giddyup!

TEAM TALK

• Game Preview: Eagles at Patriots. Series history; Scouting the Matchups; Tale of the tape; What to look for.
• Broadcast Info: How to watch/listen, Eagles at Patriots.
• Patriots-Eagles Wednesday Injury Report.
• Press Conference: Bill Belichick – Hunter Henry – Rhamondre Stevenson – David Andrews – Josh Uche – Matthew Slater.
• Patriots Playbook 9/6: Eagles preview and NFL Week I predictions. (2 hours)
• Alexandra Francisco reports the Patriots collaborated with New England artists for 2023 Gameday Poster series.

LOCAL LINKS

• Doug Kyed explains how Malik Cunningham has been a secret weapon in preparation for Week 1, but the Pats know they need more than that to prepare for the Eagles.
• Doug Kyed is happy to report the Patriots practiced with a full roster Wednesday, a sign of excellent health heading into this weekend’s season opener against the Eagles.
• Karen Guregian writes how the players buying into Bill O’Brien’s offense is only half the battle. The unit is talking the talk but can they walk the walk? Can O’Brien live up to the hype of being a miracle worker and make chicken salad out of chicken bleep? /’Eesh…
• Mike Reiss reports Bill Belichick had high praise for Mac Jones, but the team remains unsettled at backup QB.
• Matt Dolloff resets the Patriots’ wide receiver depth charts for 2023.
• Sophie Weller hears from new OL Vederian Lowe on his quick transition to New England. “Just trying to get used to the culture that I’m in and the coaches and learning the playbook. I’m trying to pick that up as quickly as I can… I’m very excited to see what our team can do this season.”
• Zolak & Bertrand guest David Andrews talks about the standard set by Tom Brady in New England.
• Scott McLaughlin highlights WEEI guest Boomer Esiason who states that anyone suggesting the Patriots could fire Bill Belichick if they miss the playoffs again this season is an “idiot.”
• Mark Daniels notes Bill Belichick expects Jack Jones will be available to play on Sunday. Belichick declined to say if there was any communication from the NFL about possible league discipline.
• Andrew Callahan mentions Kyle Dugger says there’s no update on a possible contract extension.
• Hayden Bird posts a quiz to test your knowledge of Patriots-Eagles history.
• Alex Barth’s Patriots Mailbag: Getting ready for Week 1.
• Steve Hewitt reports the Patriots are eager to celebrate Tom Brady’s return ‘the right way.’
• Alex Barth and Matt McCarthy pick “The Brady 23”: Recounting the 23 best games of Tom Brady’s career.
• Locked On Patriots podcast: Mike D’Abate and Gino Cammelleri (Locked On Eagles) preview the Week 1 Patriots-Eagles matchup. (34 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) NFL Mailbag; Seahawks could follow familiar formula to another successful season; New England’s unusual quarterback situation, why an NFL draft lottery hasn’t been considered and more.
• James Dator, et al (SB Nation) 1 thing we love and 1 thing we hate about every NFL team in 2023. Patriots Love: This looks like a defense that can spur a deep playoff run. Hate: This looks like an offense primed for a .500 season. New England’s offensive players believe they can put up points, but we need to see that before we can buy in.
• MMQB Staff (SI) 2023 NFL Predictions: Super Bowl LVIII, playoff picks, award winners and more.
• Adam Schein (NFL.com) Nine last-minute predictions for 2023 NFL season: Josh Allen wins MVP, 49ers win Super Bowl LVIII. No Pats.
• Analysts (ESPN) Fixing the five NFL QBs who regressed the most in 2022. Mac Jones included.
• Nick Shook (NFL.com) QB Index, Week 1. Season begins with Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts on top. Mac Jones 21st.
• Matt Verderame (SI) Week 1 QB rankings: AFC dominates top 10. Mac Jones 24th.
• David Carr (NFL.com) 2023 NFL offensive player rankings, Week 1. No Pats.
• Gilberto Manzano (SI) 2023 Week 1 NFL coach rankings. Bill Belichick 3rd.
• Mark Maske (Washington Post) Teams are adapting to new kickoff rule. What will that mean in Week 1? Plus team rankings, insight on Roger Goodell’s extension and more.
• Joseph Salvador (SI) NFL has a new kickoff rule, and it will be noticeable immediately.
• Staff (NFL.com) NFL news roundup: Latest league updates from Wednesday, Sept. 6.
• Anthony Gharib (ESPN) Ezekiel Elliott shows off jersey numbers on reversible chain.
• Staff (Delta) Tom Brady joins Delta Air Lines as strategic adviser in first-of-its-kind multiyear partnership.