the Steelers��� David DeCastro and and the Bears��� Kyle Long

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After a slow start to the season Duke Dawson Jerseys Stitched , the New England Patriots offense has grown into one of the best in the NFL. The unit, which has scored at least 38 points in all of its last four games, now heads into Buffalo today to take on a Bills defense that has had to carry an anemic offense for much of the season. And while it failed to consistently lift the team over its first seven games, the group still has the ability to disrupt an offensive rhythm and make plays.In order for Tom Brady and company to stay ahead of the Buffalo defense, it will need to get off to a fast and keep its foot on the gas 60 minutes ��� and accomplish the following goals:Establish a presence on the groundThe Patriots will be without starting running back Sony Michel, who suffered a knee injury last Sunday and is considered week-to-week, but they should nevertheless try to run the football on a consistent basis. There are three reasons why this would make sense against a a Bills defense that has its strengths when it comes to stopping the pass and pressuring the quarterback:1. It helps New England control the tempo of the game.2. It keeps the defense honest and should also open up play-action.3. It worked very well for the Indianapolis Colts last week as they had 220 rushing yards.As a result Cheap N'Keal Harry Jersey , Kenjon Barner should see plenty of carries as the early down back with James White playing his usual role as a change-of-pace and receiving option. The Patriots could potentially also use wide receiver and kickoff returner Cordarrelle Patterson as a backfield player to mix things up for the Bills. Whoever they use: sticking to the ground game should tremendously help the offense wear down its opponent.Get Rob Gronkowski involved early and oftenThe NFL���s best tight end was limited in practice all week long, but is expected to be good to go tonight. If that is indeed the case and even if New England should decide to limit his overall snap numbers, Gronkowski should play a big role in the Patriots��� offensive game plan. Not only does the 29-year old have a successful history against his hometown team, he also matches up well with the Bills��� defensive scheme.While Buffalo has shown some man-to-man tendencies in the past, its defense is primarily based on zone-principles. This, in turn, means that the defenders need to be on top of their game when it comes to communication and diagnosis. The Patriots and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels have shown in the past that they know how to effectively counter zone coverages Womens N'Keal Harry Jersey , which could lead to Gronkowski having a big day.He is not only a crisp route runner, after all, but also has a high football IQ and just like his quarterback knows how attack weaknesses in different coverage alignments. In the past, this has oftentimes led to big games against the Bills ��� and even with Sean McDermott at the helm, this did not change. The Patriots would be smart to go back to the well again today and have Gronkowski serve as a zone beater down the field.Play with a sound ball handling techniqueTaking care of the football is of course important no matter the opponent. Against Buffalo, however, the team will be tested in this area: as head coach Bill Belichick pointed out in his film breakdown of the Bills N'Keal Harry Jersey Patriots , the defense is as good as any in the league in going after the football. It is therefore imperative to not get sloppy in handing the ball on receptions, runs, quarterback drop backs and returns ��� something New England has not always done well this season as the team���s 13 giveaways through seven games reflect.Turnovers can quickly change a game���s momentum and against a team with a struggling offense can generate short fields and easy scoring opportunities. Just ask the Minnesota Vikings: the team was blown out 27-6 by the Bills after allowing 10 points off turnovers in the first quarter. Minnesota was never able to get itself out of the hole as the deficit played into the hands of the Buffalo pass rush.What Shaq Mason���s 5-year extension means for Tom Brady and the Patriots The New England Patriots locked up right guard Shaq Mason to a 5-year extension worth up to $50 million on Monday, locking up the team���s youngest starting lineman and solidifying the right side of the offensive line for what should be the remainder of quarterback Tom Brady���s career.Mason turns 25 years old tomorrow (what a great birthday gift- that Bill Belichick is so thoughtful) and is four months younger than left tackle Trent Brown, 9 months younger than left guard Joe Thuney, and nearly two years younger than center David Andrews. Mason is arguably the best offensive lineman on the Patriots and he���s still (theoretically) a couple years away from entering his prime.Mason joins Andrews (2021 UFA) and 30-year-old right tackle Marcus Cannon (2022 UFA) as the long-term projected starters, while Thuney (2020 UFA) is still one year away from being eligible for an extension of his own. Brown is a free agent after this season Youth N'Keal Harry Jersey , so the Patriots could decide whether to extend him or move forward with rookie first round pick Isaiah Wynn- who is going to spend his rookie season on the injured reserve.I have to wonder if Wynn���s season-ending injury played any role in Mason���s extension. While Wynn wasn���t necessarily in the running to replace Mason- Wynn had practiced at left guard and both tackle positions- his injury could have sparked an interest in Mason to get a deal done before the wear-and-tear of the regular season. And on the other hand, I wonder if Wynn���s injury took some of the leverage away from the team because they could no longer point to their first round pick as a potential replacement.When looking across offensive line positions, Mason is easily the most valuable of the offensive linemen and it���s great to see the team reward his upside with a big contract as Mason will now be the highest-paid of the Patriots offensive line. The deal is for ���up to $50 million��� so I���m curious to see the incentive structure. I would be shocked if Mason agreed to a deal that required him to make an All Pro team to get his money, but the Patriots have been signing players to ���game-day incentive��� deals so Mason would likely have to remain healthy for all 16 games to get the maximum amount. The reason I would be shocked if Mason needed to hit any incentive beyond game day activity is that even at the maximum $10 million per year Mason would be considered a bargain. The $10 million would tie him with the Steelers��� David DeCastro and and the Bears��� Kyle Long for the ninth-highest paid interior lineman in the league. Both DeCastro and Long signed their deals in 2016, which makes Mason���s deal an even greater relative bargain.Multiple interior linemen have signed for much greater amounts over the past two years, capped off with Cowboys guard Zack Martin signing a $14 million per year deal and Jaguars guard Andrew Norwell signing $13.3 million per year deal this offseason. So for Mason, who is in the tier below these All Pros Color Rush N'Keal Harry Jersey , to sign for up to $10 million per year is a complete steal.Mason will join Andrews and Cannon in locking down the right side of the offensive line for the remainder of Brady���s career and their combined ability to be stellar run blockers and pass protectors will grant the aging quarterback some peace of mind in the pocket.