Greg Bedard Patriots Podcast with Nick Cattles · Boston Sports Journal

Assessing Patriots Place in AFC

·46 min·4 clips

Greg Bedard exposes how Alabama's conference championship loss didn't impact their playoff ranking, questioning the system's fairness.

This episode of the Greg Bedard Patriots Podcast with Nick Cattles analyzes the Patriots' standing in the AFC playoff race and reviews the NFL weekend. Hosts Greg Bedard and Nick Cattles are veteran Patriots analysts for CLNS Media Network. They begin by venting about the College Football Playoff selection process, criticizing the committee's decisions involving Alabama, Notre Dame, Tulane, and James Madison. The hosts then shift to Patriots injury updates, noting Will Campbell was seen walking without a brace and Jared Wilson returned to practice at left guard. They highlight Mike Rabel's changed messaging, quoting the coach's use of the word "champions" to motivate the team for the upcoming Buffalo game. Assessing the AFC, they declare the Indianapolis Colts essentially eliminated due to quarterback injuries and a tough schedule. Greg Bedard details Justin Herbert facing a pressure rate of nearly 70% in the Chargers' win, a historically high figure for a victorious quarterback. They debate whether the Kansas City Chiefs are "dead," with Bedard noting ESPN analytics give them only about a 10% chance to make the playoffs. The hosts dissect Patrick Mahomes' recent struggles, attributing them to a lack of deep-passing accuracy, a declining supporting cast, and an inconsistent run game. Nick Cattles identifies the Houston Texans' defense as a "dynamite" and scary playoff opponent, despite offensive second-half struggles. Bedard's current AFC power rankings place the Patriots first, citing their balance and coaching edge, followed by the Broncos, Texans, Bills, and Chiefs. He argues the entire conference is flawed, with every contender having significant questions. The episode closes with Bedard questioning the narrative that Drake May is "blueprint-proof" against specific coverages, suggesting the Patriots' weak strength of schedule for pass defenses skews the data. The tone is conversational and opinionated, featuring two hosts with clear team biases debating league-wide topics. This episode is ideal for Patriots fans seeking an optimistic, insider view of the team's playoff prospects and critical AFC analysis. Listeners wanting neutral, national NFL commentary or deep Xs-and-Os film breakdowns might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A blunt AFC map that keeps pulling the Patriots back into frame.

Greg and Nick spend the episode tracing where the Patriots sit in the AFC, using weekend results, the bonus-practice injury report, and a read of the schedule to keep the picture grounded.

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Why you'd press play

You want a calm Patriots recap that still tracks the AFC race and injury news without the hot take noise.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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