NFL GameDay Week 17 GDT

GameDay Discussion
The New England Patriots will take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium for their second-to-last game of the season.

Ahead of the matchup, they downgraded center Ben Brown to out due to a concussion. Instead, New England will have to rely on either Cole Strange or Lecitus Smith, neither of who have ever played center in an NFL game, to man the middle of the offense line.


New England also placed cornerback Marcus Jones on season-ending injured reserve with a hip injury. He finished his season with 58 tackles, 10 passes defensed and an interception while averaging a career-high 14.8 yards per punt return. This is the second year in a row that Jones' season ends early due to injury.

To fill his spot on the roster, the Patriots activated tackle Caedan Wallace from injured reserve. He's been out since early October with an ankle injury, and if he's good to go, he could start at either left or right tackle for the final two games of the year. If Wallace plays well, he could solve an issue for the offseason.

New England also elevated wide receiver/returner Alex Erickson and linebacker Montry Rice from the practice squad.

Erickson made his Patriots debut in Week 16 against the Buffalo Bills, fielding one punt. Rice played in his first game with New England last week, playing 13 special teams snaps.
 
The New England Patriots will take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium for their second-to-last game of the season.

Ahead of the matchup, they downgraded center Ben Brown to out due to a concussion. Instead, New England will have to rely on either Cole Strange or Lecitus Smith, neither of who have ever played center in an NFL game, to man the middle of the offense line.


New England also placed cornerback Marcus Jones on season-ending injured reserve with a hip injury. He finished his season with 58 tackles, 10 passes defensed and an interception while averaging a career-high 14.8 yards per punt return. This is the second year in a row that Jones' season ends early due to injury.

To fill his spot on the roster, the Patriots activated tackle Caedan Wallace from injured reserve. He's been out since early October with an ankle injury, and if he's good to go, he could start at either left or right tackle for the final two games of the year. If Wallace plays well, he could solve an issue for the offseason.

New England also elevated wide receiver/returner Alex Erickson and linebacker Montry Rice from the practice squad.

Erickson made his Patriots debut in Week 16 against the Buffalo Bills, fielding one punt. Rice played in his first game with New England last week, playing 13 special teams snaps.

Saturday?
 
The 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class has been trimmed down from 167 Modern-Era nominees to 50 candidates to 25 semifinalists and finally now to the 15 finalists on Sunday.

The Hall of Fame class will officially be revealed at the NFL Honors in February.


Within the list of 15 finalists, there were two former New England Patriots who played at least one game for the team (not including Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne, who both spent just a training camp with the Patriots).

Those two former Patriots were Adam Vinatieri and Fred Taylor.

Taylor played 13 seasons in the NFL, spending 11 with the Jacksonville Jaguars and his final two with New England. He appeared in 13 games as a Patriot, rushing for 424 yards and four touchdowns on 4.0 yards per attempt and catching four passes for 23 yards. This is his second time being a finalist.

Vinatieri played 24 seasons in the NFL, spending the first 10 with the Patriots and the final 14 with the Indianapolis Colts. He won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and made 81.9% of his field goals with the team. He won a fourth Super Bowl with the Colts in his first season there. This is his first year eligible for the Hall of Fame.
 
I picked the Chargers in the pickem. Sorry Pats fans
 
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