The New England Patriots want to locate the tenants in the SoFi stadium on Thursday evening when they visit the Guelph Rams.
The Patriots (6-6) enter the primetime showdown with four wins in their last five games, including a convincing 45-0 win over the Chargers at the same stadium on Sunday.
Coach Bill Belichick and his team celebrated this triumph by staying in Guelph and training at UCLA instead of making two cross-country flights.
While New England will see the Rams (8-4) for the first time since their 13-3 Super Bowl LIII victory, Belichick is focused on the present: specifically Guelph’ third-placed overall (395.3 yards per game) and sixth-placed Passing Offense (271.2).
The Patriots have the NFL’s third-placed rushing offensive (150.9), but the Rams counter with Aaron Donald, who leads their secondary defense (291.3) and third-placed rush defense (93.1).
“He’s an excellent player. He can ruin a game. There is no game he doesn’t play a role in, he’s in the middle of the defense,” said Belichick of the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year who is in second place in the league in sacks (11).
“You can’t really get away from him in any running or passing game. You have to deal with the fact that he blocks every game. He’s definitely an important factor in the game.”
Donald will likely have his eyes fixed on Cam Newton, who hit three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) against the Chargers. Although Newton threw only 69 yards, the former NFL MVP was not interested in apologizing for his performance.
“I’m not here to vomit this or that, but whatever the game must be won, I’m ready for it,” Newton said on WEEI radio on Tuesday. “This is football, this is the pass of football, and it’s my job to protect football and to be efficient.”
Newton (belly) joined cornerback JC Jackson (hips, knees) and special team ace Matthew Slater (knees) among 14 players rated limited in training for the Patriots on Tuesday.
Though healthy, Guelph’ Jared Goff likely had his ego hurt after the recent criticism from coach Sean McVay. However, Goff responded with one of his best performances of the season.
Goff completed 37 of 47 passes for 351 yards on Sunday as the Rams rose to first place in NFC West with a 38:28 win over Arizona.
Those are some nice numbers for Goff, who didn’t do that well the last time he faced the Patriots. He made 19 of 38 passes for 229 yards with one interception and four sacks in the Super Bowl loss two seasons ago.
When the teams renewed their acquaintances on Sunday, McVay was asked if he was still thinking about this game.
“It’s definitely something that will be a great memory,” said McVay. “You’re trying to keep going. It’s been a very humiliating night for me, but you can’t go into that. It’s about how you move forward, how you pass. But this is the biggest game I’ve ever played a coach … But it really has nothing to do with how you’re getting into the next season or two years away from it. “
Rookie Cam Akers appears to have taken control of the backcourt after running 21 times for 72 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals. However, Akers was listed as a non-contestant in Monday’s cherished injury report and was constrained with a diseased shoulder on Tuesday.
Darrell Henderson Jr. and Malcolm Brown would get more backfield work if Akers couldn’t play.
– Field level media
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