data-mm-id=”_pf500tsh5″>Despite the fact that the Patriots are 9-1, all anyone can talk about is how poorly the offense has performed so far this season (including this very website). It's fair criticism, though; New England is ranked 16th in total yards per game while averaging only 91 yards on the ground. All things considered, it's the least lethal offense that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have engineered since maybe 2015, where everyone important other than Rob Gronkowski got hurt. There are a variety of elements that have combined to create this odd alternate reality where a Brady-led team is relying almost entirely upon the defense to win games — a rotating cast of skill-position players, young guys playing key roles and struggling to pick up the offense, and Josh McDaniels using the regular season as a science experiment for play-calling all come to mind. But the heart of all their issues is a depleted offensive line. It flew under the radar (because linemen generally do), but last year's starting center, David Andrews, went down for the season with blood clots before Week 1. Replacement Ted Karras has done an admirable job, but the line struggled to work cohesively early on. This was only compounded when starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn was placed on IR after Week 2. Wynn was activated by the team this week, however, and his return may solve most of, if not all, the Patriots' offensive issues. Brady is the greatest quarterback ever, but his quality of play drops significantly when he doesn't have confidence in his offensive line. This doesn't exactly make him unique, but given his lack of mobility and the offense's reliance on timing to succeed, it becomes a big problem when Brady gets jumpy. Between Trent Brown and Nate Solder, Brady hasn't had to worry about his blind side for a number of years. That changed when Marshall Newhouse stepped in after Wynn's injury. Newhouse has done a fine job for a journeyman tackle, but he has been solely responsible for a handful of offensive possessions dying because he gets blown by on the edge. Even when that doesn't happen, Brady is clearly affected by the ghosts of past pass rushers and usually gets rid of the ball quicker than he needs to, resulting in suboptimal completions or just a throw-away. Wynn played like the first-round pick he was billed as for the first game and a half this year. If he can get anywhere close to that level as he steps back into the starting position, Brady will be able to go through his reads comfortably and shouldn't bail out before the full play develops– something that has been happening very often, and especially so against Philadelphia this past week. Wynn's return probably won't turn around the run game, another significant issue that will continue to hamper this offense. But at the end of the day, keeping Brady comfortable is the priority for New England — keep Brady clean and upright, and the rest will come. Wynn will not only be a welcome boon for the Patriots, he could reverse the Patriots' narrative of 2019.
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Marseille caretaker coach Franck Passi expects Michy Batshuayi to leave the Ligue 1 side at the end of the season amid interest from Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and West Ham.
The Belgium international joined OM from Standard Liege in August 2014 and has since become the club s undisputed number nine.
Batshuayi sits fourth in the Ligue 1 goalscoring charts heading into the final matchday with 17 goals in 36 appearances and his good performances have not gone unnoticed.
Several Premier League sides are keeping a close eye on the 22-year-old s situation and Marseille seem ready to cash in on their star attacker.
The entire world knows Batshuayi will leave Marseille, Passi said at a news conference.
That s part of Marseille s current predicament. …
Northern Ireland had a stoppage-time equaliser ruled out by VAR as a battling display went unrewarded in a 1-0 Euro 2024 qualifying loss to Denmark.
Jonas Wind’s goal early in the second half made the difference in Copenhagen as debutant Callum Marshall saw a dream goal ruled out for offside after a review which took almost five minutes.
The West Ham youngster flicked the ball in after Jonny Evans headed on a free-kick, but there was despair when referee Daniel Stefanski eventually signalled for offside after his colleague Tomasz Kwiatkowski took an age to review the footage.
Michael O’Neill’s men defended doggedly away to the top seeds in Group H, but a mistake just two minutes after the break proved decisive as Denmark bounced back from March’s shock de…
Prediction: Austria to win 1-0
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Austria and Sweden will lock horns with each other in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group F this week. The match between Ralf Rangnick’s side and Janne Andersson’s team will be held at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna and is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm UK time on Tuesday.
Austria
Austria are a modest team in European football and are not expected to do much of note. However, they have some wonderful players, such as David Alaba of Real Madrid, and the fans will hope to at least see the team quality for the European Championship finals in Germany in 2024.
And things are going extremely well for Austria. Ralf Rangnick’s side are at the top of UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group F at the m…
Gianluigi Buffon s less-than impressive showing in Juventus Champions League draw with Tottenham on Tuesday is evidence the Italy legend should retire, according to Mario Basler.
After Juve raced into a 2-0 lead inside 10 minutes in Turin, Buffon made a point-blank save to deny Harry Kane.
However, he could do nothing to stop Spurs fightback as first Kane and then Christian Eriksen beat the 40-year-old to earn a 2-2 draw for the visitors.
An onrushing Buffon was beaten by Kane for Tottenham s first goal after 35 minutes, and he was caught by surprise as Eriksen fired home a late free-kick.
Buffon has previously said the 2017-18 season would be his last, but his future has been subject to huge speculation, with many calling for him to carry on.
Ju…
Louis van Gaal says speculation he is set to take over at Chelsea is fake news .
After Van Gaal was spotted in London he took in Sunday s EFL Cup final at Wembley it was reported the former Manchester United manager is being lined up by the Stamford Bridge club as a replacement for under pressure Antonio Conte.
Arsenal have also been credited with an interest in Van Gaal, who has been out of work since leaving United after winning the FA Cup in May 2016.
But Van Gaal, who lists Barcelona and Bayern Munich among his previous employers, suggested the reports are false.
They saw me at the airport I suppose and that’s how the fake news was born, Van Gaal told Dutch outlet Ziggo.
I m used to people who want to take a picture with me and you …
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has resigned following the host nation s FIFA World Cup failure.
Scolari, whose contract was coming to an end, stepped down after Brazil were thrashed 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals and suffered a 3-0 loss to Netherlands in the third-place play-off in front of their home fans.
Brazil were considered pre-tournament favourites to claim a sixth world crown but came up short, denying Scolari the opportunity to add to the title he won in 2002.
And it was announced on Monday that the 65-year-old had called time on his tenure.
“Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and his fellow coaching staff surrendered their positions to the board of the Brazilian Football Confederation, a statement said.
The resignation was accepted by pre…
Reading and QPR s relegation from the Premier League has been confirmed by the sides 0-0 draw on Sunday.
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However, a stalemate has sealed the pair s fate, ensuring that they will play in the second tier when the 2013-14 campaign kicks off.
QPR and Reading have earned just 25 points from their 35 fixtures thus far, and will battle to avoid finishing rock bottom over the remaining three games.
Reading s relegation comes just one season after they were promoted to the Premier League as champions under the stewardship of Brian McDermott.
The Englishman was replaced by Nigel Adkins in March, despite having just earned the Manager of…
Best Odds: 3/2
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Desperate to try and find some stability as we inch closer to the Christmas break, Lazio will welcome Napoli to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night.
Lazio
Starting with the hosts, while Lazio might have really impressed many across Serie A as they managed to secure a Champions League return last season, the Eagles have struggled to match that level this time around. Last seen earlier in the week when having to settle for a 1-1 draw away at top-flight returners Benevento, I Biancocelesti find themselves sat way down in ninth and are a side who are desperately seeking a bounce. Although Head Coach Simone Inzaghi might have seen his squad manage to secure their spot in the knockout stage of this year s Champions League, the Light Blues ha…
Market: Osasuna win
Odds: 1/1 @
Hoping to claim back-to-back La Liga victories this weekend, Osasuna will welcome Cadiz to the El Sadar on Saturday afternoon.
Starting with the hosts, while Osasuna might have opened the 2022/23 campaign with a tough test at the El Sadar, Los Rojillos put in a stellar display. Laying down what was a shock marker on home soil, Head Coach Jagoba Arrasate saw his side claim a thrilling 2-1 victory against Sevilla last weekend. Impressing almost everyone across Spain last season as they pinched a top-half finish, the Navarre-based outfit have also enjoyed an eye-catching summer run. Along with a 2-1 victory away at Dutch side Feyenoord last month, Osasuna won each of their final three pre-season matchups. With it looking like the moo…
Paulo Dybala believes Juventus are on the same level as Real Madrid and Barcelona, with only bad luck preventing the Turin outfit from winning the Champions League in recent seasons.
Juve have been dominant in Serie A of late, scooping the Scudetto in each of the last five campaigns.
Massimiliano Allegri s men are also two-time defending champions of the Coppa Italia, but are yet to turn their domestic purple patch into continental glory.
Champions League runners-up to Barca in 2014-15, Juve were beaten by Bayern Munich in extra time in last season s round of 16.
But Dybala is confident the club can count themselves among Europe s elite.
Juventus are a great team, exactly like Real, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, he told Gazzetta dello Sport. <…