The REAL THING Patriots Podcast

The Jags knocked the Patriots off in impressive fashion in Week 2, and the overreaction wildfires have started to spread across Patriots Nation.  Matt Chatham reviews the tape to get at what really went wrong--the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Most importantly, Chatham dives into what happens next--how the Patriots must respond and adjust to the mistakes that killed them on this hot September day in Florida. No hot takes, just football.  Let's dive in...

The REAL THING is back!  The Patriots knocked off the Texans to kickoff the '18 season and former Patriot Matt Chatham is here to break down all the details ya can't get anywhere else... Chatham runs through the roster drama that brought us to gameday, the surprises inactives and how that affected the gameplan against Houston.  He then looks at the scheme choices the Patriots made in defending Deshaun Watson and the Houston offense, the approach the Pats offense took in lieu of Julian Edelman's absence, the very solid work of the revamped Patriots defense, and the new faces on the reworked offense that really stood out.  Chatham also works through the mistake and problems that arose in the game, what went wrong, and how those are resolved moving forward.  The most credible, in-depth New England Patriots podcast on the internet is back and ready to roll.  Let's goooooooooooooooooooo

The New England Patriots come up short on their 2017 championship dream, falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in heartbreaking fashion to Nick Foles & Company.  Both offenses soared, as both defenses played well below their standard, but the Eagles defense made a big-time play when they needed it most.   Losing sucks, but we take you through the important lessons of the game tape--where it all went wrong for the Pats, including how benched CB Malcolm Butler could have reasonably helped this defense (and where he reasonably couldn't have).    As is often the case in a disappointing lost, there was plenty of brilliant football by the Pats that is bound to get buried in the rubble, so we highlight the good with the bad.   They didn't quite get it done this time around, but only the tape can tell the true story.  Let's dive in...

The REAL THING Patriots Podcast comes at ya live from the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota, welcoming Courtney Cox from the New England Sports Network to help sift through this Patriots vs Eagles Super Bowl matchup. This show concentrates on the "MUSTS" for the Patriots three individual units in this game: offense, defense, and special teams.  We've organized a bulleted list of things in each of three areas to look for as you watch this huge game to decide if Patriots Nation get to welcome another trophy into the collection.   It's Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and crew back at it again with a new challenge before them.  The REAL THING pod gives ya all the nitty gritty for gameday...enjoy!     

The Jacksonville Jaguars presented a formidable challenge for the New England Patriots, and the visitors stuck with the defending champs for most of the game.  Until it mattered most.  Matt Chatham breaks down an at-times sluggisth Patriots performance sprinkled with moments of situational brilliance that helped this Pats squad advance to Minnesota for an opportunity at another league crown.   On this show, we run through all the critical drives of the game, picking apart all the good and all the bad illuminated on the game tape--from Brady's big-moment brilliance, to Danny Amendola's clutch play, to Gronk's concussion, to the timely situational stops by the Patriots defense, and the role players that stepped up in big spots to help secure another AFC Championship in Foxboro.   Let's avoid the temptation of looking ahead too soon to the Philadelphia Eagles--there will be plenty of time for that next week--and instead find a greater appreciation for how the Patriots got to this next step.  Enjoy the show!

On this championship addition of the REAL THING Patriots Podcast, we look at all the similarities of Titans and the Jaguars and the many things that the Patriots can learn from their own recent Divisional win, the Jags victory over the Steelers, and the Jags big stumble late in the season against the Niners and Jimmy G.   With a trip to the Super Bowl in Minneapolis on the line, the disruptive Jaguars come to Foxboro with a bit of an identity crisis--are they the group that led the league in most defensive categories, or are they the defense that got ran through by the lowly Niners and hung on for dear life against the Steelers a week ago?   We dig in deeper to see how New England can make sure they don't see Jacksonville's better half...

It's the playoffs, and this is a Patriots podcast--the real kind at a time when real coverage of the football team is needed most... The NFL Playoffs arrive once again in New England after a week of rest and study for the region's favorite team.  The Patriots are deep in preparation, so we decided to dive in deeper too with that lil' bit of extra playoff effort.  Former Patriot Matt Chatham goes through every angle of this Divisional matchup--everything ya need to know about the Titans from their strengths on boths sides of the ball, the schemes they prefer, their vulnerabilities, the under-appreciated aspects of their team, the areas where they'll have the most problems against the Pats, and the tips & tendencies that you can pick up from even your own couch as you watch your team try to advance to the AFC Championship.   As always, enjoy the show.  And Go Pats!   

It was absolutely miserable outside when the Patriots defeated the Jets in Foxboro on New Year's Eve--the ultimate survive and advance game to conclude the NFL season.  On this episode of the REAL THING, Matt Chatham takes a look at the dominant themes coming out of the Jets game--what from that game is relevant for the team moving forward, and what is not.  We look at the continued impressive work of Dion Lewis, the new-dude contributions of James Harrison, and the state of the roster as the regular season concludes.   Next, the show takes a bit of a detour to address the outside (mis)perception of the Patriots defense as somehow mediocre, despite every bit of relevant evidence to the contrary.  Chatham discusses why the Patriots D is indeed one of the best in the NFL Playoffs, and why the statistical impressions many get from the team are so hopelessly useless.   Packed show...as always, we hope you enjoy!  

The New England Patriots 37-16 pounding of the Buffalo Bills wasn't just about a single controversial touchdown catch that was overturned, I swear!  On this week's REAL THING Patriots Podcast we review all the other exciting stuff that happened as well, plus preview the New York Jets finale & how new outside linebacker James Harrison may fit in.   Yep, the Kelvin Benjamin play needs some fleshing out.  Was it really all that controversial?  Did the NY offices get it right?  Can something be "clear" [which it was] but not "obvious" [which seems to be what most people are hung up on]?  We'll discuss in detail, and talk about where replay needs to go from here.   The rival New York Jets have one final opportunity to take a bite out of the Patriots otherwise cheery 2017 season outlook, but that will mean they'll have to come up with a vastly improved offensive performance behind QB Bryce Petty--something that doesn't appear likely.  We dig into who the Patriots need to control to survive and advance from this final regular season challenge.   Enjoy!  

As a Patriots fan, we KNOW ya loved that win down in Pittsburgh for the driver's seat in homefield throughout the AFC playoffs.  It had all the elements--crazy-good football atmosphere, talent all over the field on both sides, tons of big plays, and a controversial call (that wasn't that controversial).  Tom Brady led a game-winning drive.  Rob Gronkowski played out of his mind.  The Patriots defense faltered-but-hardened when it mattered most.  The REAL THING Patriots Podcast walks through all the biggest moments... And now they're "On to Buffalo"--a quick transition from an emotional road win to another big AFC test.  It's the hottest time of the Patriots season as the temperatures drop.  Let's do this... Enjoy the show!    

It's a weird week in Patriots Nation, that's for sure.  The Pats put a stinker on their record in Miami, but have to quickly put that performance in the rearview and look ahead to the [other] class of the AFC, the Pittsburgh Steelers.  In this episode, Matt Chatham walks through all the problems that arose in the Dolphins game for the Pats--and which of those mistakes are concerns moving forward, and which are fixable outliers.   The return of Rob Gronkowski figures to loom large as New England travels to the Steel City, so Chatham breaks down all the differences you'll notice in the overall operation for the Pats, and what that will mean for the Steelers as they try to replicate the Dolphins' defensive perfomance.   Buckle up for a loaded REAL THING Patriots Podcast...enjoy!  

We breakdown the big road win in Buffalo by New England, as well as the fallout from the Rob Gronkowski game suspension.  It's a packed to the brim show as we dive into all of your Twitter questions, plus re-preview--is that a word?--the Dolphins as the Patriots attempt to knock off their AFC East foe twice in just 14 days.   How might the offense operate this time around without Gronk?  What will Dolphins likely try to change after their swing & a miss in Foxboro?  And how does this Pats defense just keep getting better and better.   Enjoy! 

The Patriots plunged back into AFC East play with a convincing performance against the Miami Dolphins in Foxboro.  This pod dives into how the Patriots got it done--their improvements in red zone offense, the defense taking another big step forward, the running game having a whale of a day, and much more.   Next, we preview the Buffalo Bills, as the Pats head to Orchard Park in an effort to keep the Bills Mafia down on their luck.  This pod covers how best to approach the Buffalo offense led again by Tyrod Taylor and Shady McCoy, how best to attack the Bills defense that's been dramatically up and down throughout the year, and overall what to expect this important division game to hinge on.   Enjoy!   

The REAL THING Patriots Podcast comes at ya with a special pregame show, taped on Sunday morning of the Patriots gameday against the Miami Dolphins.  It's Thanksgiving Week, so the schedule is a mess for everyone involved--how do organizations and players overcome the schedule quirks and still secure an important division win?   This week's show is framed around the "5 Patriots Things to be Most Thankful For," focusing on the specific elements that help the team most as the Miami Dolphins come to town.  Gronkowski waiting in the weeds, the weather advantage, running back cornucopia, and much more.   Enjoy the show.  Then enjoy the game.  And most importantly...Go Pats!  

The Patriots and Broncos are two franchises with their hopes for 2017 heading in the polar opposite direction.  New England solved the Denver riddle with overwhelming special teams play, tough & timely run game production, and throw-it-to-everybody quarterbacking by the game's best, Tom Brady.   Rex Burkhead showed up huge, and the Patriots defense put another brick in the wall as their span of efficient, point-preventing, hi-level defense continues to grow.   The Oakland Raiders loom on the horizon in a weird in-season business vacation for the two AFC foes.  Matt Chatham details all that Patriots fans should expect from the silver & black, and where the greatest vulnerabilities lie.   Plus, all your Twitter questions answered!   Enjoy!