Examining what happens, win or lose to the Bills
The Patriots showdown with the Bills is mindful of an old TV game show: It’s “Truth or Consequences.” Win, and the Patriots have life. They come off life support, and crawl back into the AFC East race with 10 games remaining. That’s the narrative Bill Belichick & Co. are banking on. The Patriots are trying to show their truth isn’t as bad as everyone seems to think. And they’ll live to fight another day. Lose? That will mean they are truly bottom-feeders the year after Tom Brady, and there will undoubtedly be consequences for that. Right now, they’re jugular is exposed. If the Bills are up for the moment, which is debatable given past history, and are finally able to deliver a knockout blow to the perennial division champs, the ramifications for the Patriots will be endless. It starts with the quarterback position, and moves on out, especially if Belichick decides to be a seller before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. trade deadline. So a lot depends if the Patriots can get up off the mat, and even then, questions will persist about the future of the team as the season moves along. What to keep an eye on? 1. The quarterback position – If Newton’s woes continue, do they just flip to Jarrett Stidham the rest of the year, to see what they have in the second-year quarterback? Based on events of the offseason, and training camp, it’s possible they already know the answer to the Stidham question. The former fourth-round pick certainly doesn’t appear to be the long-term answer at the position. He just hasn’t done much to take advantage of the opportunities presented. It still might behoove the Patriots to play Stidham, have him prepare as a starter, and see where it goes from there. Now, if Newton plays well, and the Patriots lose, they’re likely to stick with him the rest of the way. Belichick and Josh McDaniels also need to discover if Newton can be salvaged, particularly in their offense. Newton is still playing for his future. He’s still trying to resurrect his football life. If he continues to struggle, he might once again be faced with no takers in free agency. While he continues to take responsibility and say his recent performances have been “unacceptable,” he knows he must improve for the team’s sake, as well as his own. If he rises to beat the Bills, he’s back in business. “I’m all about putting the team in the best situation to win,” he said Thursday, “and that’s what I have to do moving forward.” The way it’s trending, however, the long-term answer at quarterback for the Patriots lies in a future draft, perhaps 2021. 2. Stephon Gilmore as trade chip – Between all the rumors, his house being for sale, and him being downgraded to out for Sunday’s game, it would be an upset if Gilmore was kept at the trade deadline. But, then again, stranger things have happened. The Patriots top cornerback reportedly had an MRI for a knee problem that was deemed “mild” during the week. His being out appears the biggest tip-off the Patriots have plans for him to play elsewhere. If the Patriots beat the Bills, and get back in the division race, it might not make sense for the Patriots to deal their best player. Not yet anyway. Belichick, however, has never been one to keep high-priced players past a certain point, unless they’re named Tom Brady. Belichick has a reputation for dealing players a year ahead of time.
