German_Force » Week 1 Monday Night Football open thread: Root for the Lions

to beat the Jets! The Detroit Lions host the New York Jets for the first game of the Monday Night Football double-header. Kickoff is at 7:10 PM ET on ESPN.The Oakland Raiders host the Los Angeles Rams for the second game of the double-header. Kickoff is at 10:20 PM ET Damien Harris Buffalo Bills Jersey , also on ESPN.The Patriots are going to root for the Lions to win the first game because 1) they’re playing the Jets and it’s always good when the Jets lose; 2) former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will be making his head coaching debut and it would be great to see him get off to a strong start; and 3) did I mention we want the Jets to lose?The second game should be a hoot as we will get our first look at the stacked roster in Los Angeles. Technically we should be rooting for the Rams to win because the Raiders are in the AFC and it would be beneficial for the Patriots if Oakland lost, but this should just be a fun game to watch. Get ready for the fireworks!Use this as the open thread for discussion.New England Patriots links 9/20/18 - Will it take a rocket scientist for the Lions to beat the Pats? TEAM TALKPatriots - Lions Wednesday Injury Report.Patriots sign DB Cyrus Jones; Release RB Kenjon Barner.Erik Scalavino shares the news, notes and locker-room buzz from Wednesday at Gillette: Patriots welcome new teammate.Press Conference Transcripts: Bill Belichick and Rob Gronkowski.LOCAL LINKSSteve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots-Lions key matchups: Who has the razor’s edge?Johnny Maffei (FullPressCoverage) Patriots vs. Lions: Three stats to know. 1. Six (6): Since Patricia took over as defensive coordinator in 2012, the Patriots finished top 10 in scoring defense all six years Youth Drew Bledsoe Jerseys , finishing in the top five twice.Devon Clements (PatriotsWire) 3 matchups to watch during Patriots vs. Lions. 1. Eric Rowe vs. Lions receivers.Karen Guregian mentions how Bill Belichick throwing a Josh Gordon curveball at Matt Patricia.Mike Reiss notes Josh McDaniels was able to pull off a win in his first matchup Bill Belichick in 2009, but Matt Patricia faces an uphill battle Sunday.Karen Guregian frames this week’s matchup as the rocket scientist trying to outsmart the football genius.Evan Lazar details how Matt Patricia’s Lions defense looks mighty familiar.Zack Cox hears from Josh McDaniels on how he’s prepping for Matt Patricia’s defense this Sunday night.Kevin Duffy hears from some of the players as Josh Gordon makes his first practice in Foxboro.Michael Hurley points out Josh Gordon gets his locker right next to Brady’s.Tom E. Curran explains why Bill Belichick was so quiet on the Josh Gordon deal: The Patriots re-worked the trade, getting an assured seventh-round pick rather than a conditional one that reportedly was originally agreed upon.Stephen Hewitt finds Rob Gronkowski warning against getting too excited about the possibilities with him and Gordon on the field at the same time.Phil Perry talks with Dont’a Hightower on Josh Gordon in 2013: “He was a monster then, he’s a monster now”.Doug Kyed doesn’t understand those rooting against Josh Gordon succeeding with the Patriots and who want to bask in the glory of his next downfall.Andrew Callahan notes DE Derek Rivers has been a healthy scratch so far this season Drew Bledsoe Jerseys Stitched , but he’s remaining patient. “Just got to keep going... Keep getting better whether you play or not.”Kevin Duffy Patriots Notebook: Former draft pick Cyrus Jones back for another tour.Jim Gilhooly (DiehardBostonSportsFans) NFL Game Day: It’s not just a game. It’s an event.Mark Schofield (InsideThePylon) Locked On Patriots Podcast: (9/20) Recaps some transactions, has thoughts from Bill Belichick and More. (33.10 min.)Crossover episode with Locked On Lions: (27.25 min.)NATIONAL NEWSJosh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Rob Gronkowski tempers excitement about Josh Gordon’s arrival.Highlights (NFL.com) First look at WR Josh Gordon at Patriots practice. (1.08 min. video)Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Corey Coleman joins Patriots’ practice squad.Staff (TMZ) Kaepernick’s attorney hints Raiders and Pats interested... ‘stay tuned’.NFL Nation (ESPN) Biggest injury questions for all 32 teams in Week 3. Patriots: Patrick Chung, Trey Flowers (concussions), Marcus Cannon (calf strain).Albert Breer (SI) Game Plan: Surprise unbeatens: Breaking down the Broncos Youth Kevin Faulk Jerseys , Bengals, Bucs and Dolphins; Weekend watch list; Reader Mail.Jonathan Jones (SI) Morning Huddle: The Super Bowl halftime show, how it should be.Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: Here are the 10 best NFL contracts from the player’s perspective. No surprise no Pats.Sarah Hardy, et al. (SB Nation) NFL Panic Index 2018: The Patriots’ surprise bet for an offensive revival.Cam Mellor (Pro Football Focus) NFL QB Rankings – after Week 2. Brady 6th.Michael Renner (Pro Football Focus) NFL Offensive Line Rankings – after Week 2. Pats 8th.Maurice Jones-Drew (NFL.com) RB Index Kevin Faulk Jerseys Stitched , Week 3: NFL’s dual threats deserve MORE money.John Breech (CBS Sports) Ravens hit with monstrous $200,000 fine for violating NFL policy during preseason: The Ravens have now paid more than $700,000 in fines over the past two years. /NFL reaction? Yawn...Edward Lee (Baltimore Sun) Ravens fined by NFL for violating on-field communication policy in preseason.Shalise Manza Young (Yahoo! Sports) NFL fines Ravens for another rules violation, this time in-helmet headset use. “This is the third time in three years that Baltimore has gotten in trouble for violating league rules.” SI.com/nfl - NFL.com - ESPN.com/nfl - Not a single peep about the Ravens.Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Unnamed assistant says Patriots coaches think they could win without Tom Brady. “Bottom line: If the coaching staff truly believed what the unnamed assistant said (and I don’t doubt that the unnamed assistant said it) Youth Andre Tippett Jerseys , they had a chance to put their money where the unnamed assistant’s mouth is, and they didn’t.”