Bill Belichick’s 18th trip to the playoffs with the @Patriots may have been his most impressive work. Here’s how a team with a rookie QB, a punishing rushing attack, and a devastating defense found its way back to the postseason. 📈
New England struggled out of the gate, starting just 1-3, although @MacJones_10’s first career TD pass was an early sign of optimism.
That optimism grew when Jones led a fourth quarter comeback in Week 5, capped off by Nick Folk’s game-winning field goal.
It wasn’t until Week 7, when the Patriots were 2-4, that their season started turning around. They went on a seven-game win streak that vaulted them into first place in the AFC East.
In addition to their young offense stepping up, their defense proved itself as a force to be reckoned with. They held opponents to 13 or fewer points in six of the seven games during their win streak. 😤
In the final game of the streak, Belichick and New England took an unorthodox approach, at one point running the ball 32 straight times in their win over Buffalo.
The @Patriots ended their home slate with a dominant 50-10 win, running for 4 TDs in the process.
The #WPMOY Award is the most prestigious honor in the NFL, given to a player that exemplifies greatness on and off the field.
But to understand the significance of this achievement, it's important to the know the man who the award was named after. 🧵
Walter Payton was born on July 25th, 1954, in Columbia, Mississippi. As a child, he was involved with his church and Boy Scouts, which shaped his strong character.
He did not play football until his junior year of high school, not wanting to compete with his brother Eddie.
Once Eddie graduated, Walter agreed to play on the team and immediately became a star. During his senior year, his all-Black school integrated, and Payton’s athletic performance and sheer determination helped ease the tension around desegregation in his community.
On Saturday, the @Lions and @Broncos meet for the first time since 2021. Both teams are top 2 in their respective divisions and vying for playoff spots.
But there’s an added layer of competitiveness between these clubs’ HCs.🧵
Dan Campbell and @SeanPayton have known each other for nearly 25 years, and this is the first time they’ll meet as head coaches.
Their friendship began when TE Dan Campbell was drafted in 1999 by the @Giants, where Payton was a QB coach.
When @SeanPayton moved to Dallas to become the @dallascowboys assistant HC, Campbell was one of the first free agents to sign with Dallas. He was there for 3 years before signing with Detroit.
Born in the Republic of Gambia, Ali Gaye’s journey to the NFL Draft has been anything but ordinary. 🇬🇲
(THREAD 🧵⬇️)
LSU edge prospect Ali Gaye grew up in The Gambia, Africa’s smallest mainland country, and immigrated to the United States when he was 12. Gaye, along with his parents and two siblings, settled in Lynwood, Washington.
As a kid, Ali Gaye’s favorite sport was soccer. When he adjusted to American culture, Gaye turned to football in 8th grade at the age of 14. He had the footwork with his soccer background and developed as a three-star recruit coming out of Edmonds Woodway High School.