Randolph Charlotin's New England Patriots Fan Profile

Pick Six: AFC Championship posted on 01/24/2012

1. DT Vince Wilfork was in beast mode all afternoon. Six tackles and a sack doesn’t begin to explain his influence on the game. Wilfork had at three tackles for a loss and his share of pressure on QB Joe Flacco. It was a dominant performance by a team leader showing what it takes to get to a Super Bowl. It was arguably Wilfork’s best game in the biggest game of the year.

2. The other hero on the afternoon was CB Sterling Moore. He practically saved the game with the two passes defended at the end of the game. Moore first knocked a sure touchdown reception by WR Lee Evans out of the receiver’s hands just before Evans’ second foot hit the ground. The other was swatting away a pass to TE Dennis Pitta. That would had put the Ravens inside the five yard line with a fresh set of downs. As badly as K Billy Cundiff hooked the 32-yard field goal, if the ball was spotted about 10 yards closer, Cundiff doesn’t miss.

Continue reading "Pick Six: AFC Championship"
(0 comments)

Hours Before Kickoff: AFC Championship posted on 01/21/2012

After a playoff win over San Diego, several Patriots mocked then-Chargers LB Shawn Merriman’s “Lights Out” sack celebration right on the Chargers logo at midfield.

In a thorough dismantling of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship played in Pittsburgh, WR Deion Branch was caught on camera asking the fans, “Where’s your towels? Where’s your towels?”

In the third Super Bowl win over Philadelphia, WR David Givens caught a touchdown pass and celebrated by flapping his arms like wings, then shook his head no, sending the message this won’t be the Eagles’ night.

Disrespectful? Depends upon who you ask. Victims don’t like attitude to salt the wound.

New England didn’t make friends during their dynasty days. They just put the boots to almost any team that stood in their path. Sometimes they reminded their foes after demolition.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: AFC Championship"
(0 comments)

Pick Six: Divisionals posted on 01/17/2012

1. Regular season or post season. It doesn’t matter. The Patriots keep on breaking records. QB Tom Brady became the first player to throw five touchdown passes in one half of playoff football. He also tied a post-season record with six touchdown passes in a game. Brady did this while throwing for 300 yards in a playoff game for the first time. To top it off, Brady executed a well placed 48-yard quick kick to Denver’s 10-yard line.

2. With the win, Brady and head coach Bill Belichick became the winningest head coach-quarterback combo in NFL playoff history. They surpassed Pittsburgh coach Chuck Noll and QB Terry Bradshaw. Not that the record matters to Belichick and Brady. They are still behind the Steelers tandem in Super Bowl wins, four to three. Brady and Belichick still have work to do to be most successful tandem.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Divisionals"
(0 comments)

Hours Before Kickoff: Divisionals posted on 01/13/2012

Bill Belichick doesn’t do reunions. The Patriots head coach is not the sentimental type. Only if he feels someone can make the team better, then Belichick will welcome a familiar face back.

Josh McDaniels, formerly the Pats’ offensive coordinator from 2006-2008, is back after a failed head coaching stint in Denver and escapes St. Louis before probably getting fired by new head coach Jeff Fisher. McDaniels will be an offensive assistant to outgoing OC Bill O’Brien, who’s leaving New England for the Penn State head coach job after the playoffs.

It’s unknown what McDaniels will do as offensive assistant, but he won’t be positioned to step on O’Brien’s toes, that’s for sure. But looking at what they did in their separate terms as New England’s offensive coordinator, the offense can be more consistent with McDaniels around.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Divisionals"
(0 comments)

Pick Six: Week 17 posted on 01/02/2012

1. Want more records? On TE Rob Gronkowski’s 16th TD reception, QB Tom Brady surpassed Dan Marino for second on the single season passing yards record. New Orleans’ Drew Brees broke the Marino’s record last week and put it out of Brady’s reach with 389 yards on Sunday. Gronkowski, though, set the record for single season receiving yards by a tight end with 1,327 yards. It was a tug of war between Gronk and the Saints’ Jimmy Graham all afternoon, but a late 22-yard reception by Gronkowski, after New Orleans’ game was over, was the difference. Gronkowski also extended the touchdown receptions by a tight end record, raising the bar to 17. Not to be left out is Bill Belichick with his fifth season with 13 or more wins.

2. Good to see safety Patrick Chung and LB Brandon Spikes back in action. They last played November sixth against the New York Giants. With the defense having the problems they’ve had all year, the return of these two veterans for the playoffs should be huge.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 17"
(0 comments)