Bill Belichick’s Patriots won with minutes of relentless focus.
Certainly, the details can refer to the air pressure in football. To give signals to opposing coaches. Or video boards in front of kickers, as former Eagles analyst Ryan Paganetti explained on social media yesterday.
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Patriots field goal trick: Kickgate?
Yes, Belichick had a field goal strategy.. Here’s how it works: When opposing batters line up at Gillette Stadium, the video board displays a reverse view, placing off-center yellow verticals behind the correct ones. Check out some examples:
Diabolical. And it looks perfectly legit. I have not found any law against it.
It seems to have worked. Gillette Stadium opened in 2002 but didn’t add those video screens until 2010 (and Belichick’s tenure ends in 2023). Here are some kicking statistics from 2010-2023:
- 84.3 percent; It was the league average for all field goals per TruMedia.
- 83.9 percent; Average way The percentage was almost equal. Away games were more difficult for balls, but only slightly.
- 77.6 percent; That’s the opponent’s rate in road games against Belchic’s Patriots, which is 6.3 percent below his typical road strikeout rate. 👀
I checked a few other variables. Gillette Stadium often has harsh weather, but the same goes for stadiums like Buffalo (opponents average 83.3 percent) or Chicago (81.9 percent). None were offered.
Also, New England balls were subject to the same weather conditions as their opponents. They don’t seem to have seen the misleading screen.
They were not affected in the same way. The Patriots hit an above average 88.2 percent of their field goals at Gillette Stadium.
Maybe opponents had a tough time with Belichick’s defense and had to settle for more field goals? That’s not what the home/road split shows. Per TruMedia, when the Patriots play road games, opponents make 81.5 percent of their field goals, 4 percent better than New England.
(I watched other 2010 Patriots home games, where I saw other road tackles face the video screen. The screen was different for the New England kicker. You can see examples of both in The game “To Cincinnati”.)
“It’s the perfect summation of a Patriots dynasty,” Ryan wrote. “No detail was too small, and no possible edge went unnoticed.” That motivates you today. Get that edge!
Why ram (not)?
“If I read one more story about the Rams as Super Bowl favorites…” You’re not alone. Enough already. We got it.
This is not about that. On the contrary, in fact. Before I elaborate, here’s where all 32 teams stack up in Super Bowl odds from last night.
Donald’s comeback hasn’t changed much, really. “His arrival was highly anticipated, so we definitely priced it out.” A sports book director told him The athletics.
The Rams went from +550 to +500 at major sportsbooks like DraftKings, which shows a 17 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl. This is a lot, but remember, it gives them 83 percent chance is not They won it.
Still, they are the betting favorites ahead of the Ravens and Bills (+1000 each). I asked Mike Sando — now in his 29th season covering the NFL — what history suggests could happen here. It’s good news depending on who you ask.
Sandow’s pick: Rams unlikely to pull off, but…
These Rams feel like a dream team. How were the previous teams?
💬 Only 10 NFL teams in the past 15 seasons have been stronger preseason favorites to win the Super Bowl than the 2026 Los Angeles Rams (+500 or 5-1).
For all the warnings about “dream teams” like the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles falling short, that legendary team was +800 (8-1) before finishing 8-8.
These Rams are in the upper stratosphere, and history says they don’t really crawl.
The 10 other teams that were +550 or better to win the Super Bowl since 2011 have all made the playoffs.
They averaged 12.4 wins during the regular season, though seven of those came in a 16-game schedule. Five made it to the Super Bowl.
Less good news: All five Super Bowl players on that list lost the big game (2024 Chiefs, 2020 Chiefs, 2017 Patriots, 2014 Seahawks and 2011 Patriots).
Still, it’s a solid roster for the Rams and an encouraging one overall.
My biggest question going into the season is whether there hasn’t been enough improvement on special teams, where Seattle had a nearly four-point EPA advantage in three games against the Rams last season, offsetting LA’s combined edge on offense and defense.
Sando too NFL execs had NFC levelNoting that the Rams finished 1-2 in Seattle last season … with an ugly, -26.7 EPA differential on special teams. Of
More points
🗣 Jayden Daniels Solo. go over In the arms of WashingtonThe third-year QB is still learning. “After all, Daniel has never met a game in his pro career.”
🏈 Jaguars, again? Liam Coyne has big plans for Year 2. They took a trick from Sean McVay..
👎 The NFL’s worst QBs. Saad Yusuf holds the rank of the league 10 worst quarter situations. Sorry, Cleveland.
💬 ICMI As mentioned above, he had Sando NFL execs NFC level. Warning: The Cowboys are fourth.
▶️ Multi-click: of Wild videos The 35-year-old Dejon Love, who appeared as a receiver for the 49ers
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