The Real Thing Patriots Podcast

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 th

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!    

Back from the Patriots bye week, The REAL THING Patriots Podcast returns to break down where things stand with New England as they head into the back nine of the 2017 season.  Matt Chatham takes stock of the Patriots current roster health & recent transactions as they head down the stretch.  He then talks areas of vulnerability for this team to keep an eye on, and aspects of this team he expects the Patriots to flourish in as the playoffs approach.  In the second half of the show, former Colorado Buffalo & NFL lineman Matt McChesney pops in to give his insight on all that ails the struggling Broncos as they head into this important AFC clash at a place the Patriots have obviously had mixed success.   We've got a packed show for ya, Patriots Nation...let's dive in!  

The talented Atlanta Falcons were prepared to wash the bad taste of last year's Super Bowl loss from their mouths with a successful trip to Foxboro, MA.  But the New England Patriots had other plans, producing a hallmark victory at home to put to bed many of the doubts about the kind of team this can be.  There's still a ton of time and work to go, but a well-rounded performance against a top team deserves a tip o' the cap.   Matt Chatham works through the top takeaways on tape from the Falcons-Patriots game, then turns his attention to the San Diego---err, Los Angeles Chargers, who have three straight impressive wins against the Giants, Raiders, and Broncos.  Chatham welcomes former Patriots 4th round pick, offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger to the show...Rich played for the Chargers as well during his NFL career, and now work in San Diego covering the team on the "Mark & Rich Show" for Fox Sports San Diego.  He knows both the Patriots Way & this surprising Chargers team well, offers some great insig

Matt Chatham picks apart the [mostly] good and the bad in the hard-fought win on the road at the Jets, including that so-called controversial fumble call that went against New York tight end Austin Sefarian-Jenkins (as the rules dictate it should have).  The "worst call ever!" hyperbole that came after was obviously totally sane and not rooted in simply not wanting the Patriots to get the call.  Clearly.  Next, Chatham welcomes former Atlanta Falcons quarterback & Georgia Bulldog DJ Shockley to the show to help preview the Super Bowl revenge game for ATL, this Sunday night in Foxboro.  Shock was Matt Ryan's backup in Atlanta, and offers great insight on where the team is at now, at QB's perspective on what they're struggling with as they come into this game, where they're still very dangerous, and what this game means to the people of Atlanta who still have that had taste in their mouth since February in Houston.    Enjoy!  

The New York Jets have been one of the sneaky-surprising stories of the young NFL season, defying predictions of tanking and reeling off 3 victories in a row to sit at a surprisng 3-2 on the season.  That puts them in a [relatively meaningless] October tie for first place in the AFC East with the New England Patriots, but division titles are well down the road with the Pats not yet playing one of their scheduled six division games.   So where do your New England Patriots sit after the first 5?  What lessons can be pulled from the TNF win against the Bucs?  And what parts of that goofy mid-week game should be ignored?   Matt Chatham does his usual thorough review of the Patriots popular outstanding issues--from protection, to coverage, to scheme choices moving forward.  What's real in these areas, and what's not?   Chatham also dissects the new-look New York Jets, and what to expect as the Patriots look to pin one on their rivals to get a jump on another division crown.   Thanks for checking out the show..

Former Patriots linebacker/special teamer Matt Chatham takes you through the a field-view, cause & effect analysis of the ugly Patriots loss to the Carolina Panthers--one that featured a defensive performance that was marred by glarring mistakes.   How will the Patriots respond to mounting uncharacteristic individual mistakes?  What are the little things they can do to fix a defense that's trending in the wrong direction?   What's going right that's hidden in the muck of overall disappointing performances? What must the Patriots change in a short week to ensure that this doesn't continue against the Tampa Bay Bucs?   What changes--if any--are required of the Patriots offense as they compliment the struggles on the other side of the ball?  Tom Brady and the offense are clickling, and a ton of talent & proven leadership lives on the defensive side of the ball.  It shouldn't come as a surprise if the Pats turn things around...but can they do it quickly with only walk-thru practices?   All this an

Former Patriots linebacker & special teamer Matt Chatham dissects the thrilling come-from-behind Houston Texans game, then previews the Patriots' upcoming opponent, the Caroliina Panthers.  Chatham is joined by his former Pats teammate & Carolina punter Ken Walter.  Wlater lives in the Charlotte area now, and joins the show to give his insight on all that ails this curious Panthers team after an ugly loss to the Saints.   Topics covered in this in-depth show include a thorough review of the state of the Patriots run & pass protection, the state of the coverage units, who's showing up & who has a ways to go, and what vulnerabilities have the Patriots shown that the Panthers may try to gameplan for.    All this and more, so let's get to it... Enjoy! 

Former New England Patriots linebacker & Houston radio host Ted Johnson joins the show to address the State of the Texans, plus a full-game Patriots autopsy following the big win against the Saints.   Chatham and Johnson get into the biggest issues facing the Texans right now, and what to expect from their former teammate Mike Vrabel's first gamepblan as defensive coordinator against New England.   Some really insightful stuff from Johnson follows as he breaks down former Houston Cougars & current Patriots LB, Elandon Roberts--a big hitter & downhill linebacker that has a unique role for an evolving Patriots defense.  Johnson also offers some great insight on specific Texans that will likely have important roles in the game, but that Patriots fans may not know much about.   Chatham does his weekly deep-dive into the previous game performance, reviewing top plays, scheme choices, and issues that arose in the Saints game.  There was a ton of great stuff for hardcore fans of this Pats team to chew

It's Episode #2 of The REAL THING Patriots Podcast, and what a crazy mess we have to sort through after the surprising loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.  It wasn't so much that the Patriots lost--it was how they lost.  Sloppy play down the stretch, communication errors, and uncharacteristic performances all around.  As Bill Belichick likes to say, they didn't play well enough to win, they didn't coach well enough to win.  Nothing was good enough.  Gotta get back to work and get better.   Former Patriots linebacker & special teamer Matt Chatham dives into the game film of that Chiefs loss and sifts through the rubble to find what real problems exist, and what are just hot-take scrap heap stuff that weren't real problems--and won't be issues going forward.   Next, the show is joined by former Saints running back Deuce McAllister, who works for the New Orleans radio network as the color commentator for their games.  He offers some great insight into the frame of mind down there as that team looks to bounce b

The debut, all-new REAL THING Patriots Podcast kicks things off with three-time Super Bowl champ & former Patriot Matt Chatham, joined by Brady Quinn & former Chiefs defensive lineman Mike DeVito, wrapping the Patriots preseason and final roster decisions, looking at the biggest NFL challengers for New England, and previewing the huge Patriots-Chiefs home opener. Quinn offers the big picture, national view of the legitimate threats to another championship for the Patriots.  DeVito, the former Massachusetts native, Maine Black Bear, and 9-year NFL defensive lineman with the NY Jets & KC Chiefs offers great insight into the view from Kansas City from someone who was on the field the last time these two teams squared off.   Awesome in-depth show to get things started with this new FBF project focussed solely on all-things-Patriots.  Dig in, we hope you enjoy it!  

The guys are back with an 11th hour pregame breakdown show for Super Bowl L1 in Houston.  All the media fluff and off-field storylines are in the rearview, the guys dive into the details of what will ultimately decide the contest between the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots.   After a week of discussion about prolific passing games, what role will the running games of these two teams have in deciding the champion -- and is it ultimately just as (or more) important as all the passing game talk with Matt Ryan and Tom Brady.   What factor will experience play in the contest, and how from a players point of view does this materialize in a game?   What are players doing in these final 24 hours before the game and how can these final details show up in the performance?   And finally, Chatham shares a story from his Super Bowl experience, how Bill Belichick suprised the players the night before their contest against the Eagles in Jacksonville with a move that put a cloud of silence over the room.   Each