FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Here are some quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and the NFL:
1. Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers is coming off one of his best games of the season, not to mention one of the best weeks of his life, as he was present for the birth of his second child, daughter Shylo Reign.
How he was able to make it from Foxborough, Massachusetts, to Alabama -- and back again to dominate against the Minnesota Vikings -- shines a spotlight on the human side of the game and how players balance major life milestones and their demanding jobs.
“I had let [coach Bill Belichick] know before what was going on with the baby, but you don’t know when it’s going to come. You have a set date around the time, but it could come early, could come later. It was one of those things where you’re on call,” Flowers said.
The call, from back home in Alabama, came Thursday, Nov. 29. Flowers practiced with the Patriots that day, and he boarded a late-night flight to Alabama. He just made it.
Shylo Reign was born at 2:24 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 30, with Trey not only present but also playing an unexpected role in the delivery.
“The nurses were out getting medicine, and she started coming out, so I kind of had to go into focus mode and just about catch her when she was coming out,” he said, smiling. “It came kind of fast. I had to snap up into my tight-end mode, get ready to catch it. It was an experience.”
Shylo Reign was born at 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was -- true to family form -- 20 inches long. (Flowers’ arm length made him a top prospect coming out of Arkansas in 2015.) Flowers reports that Mom, Tyler Smith, is healthy and happy.
It wasn’t long before Flowers, an Alabama native who maintains a year-round residence in the state, was on a return flight to Massachusetts. He played 48 of 61 defensive snaps against the Vikings while totaling two tackles, one critical sack and consistent pressure up the middle.
“I didn’t really have much sleep prior to the game,” he said. “I was on autopilot. All the stuff that goes outside, in real life, but when I get in between the lines, it’s just focus and locking in.
“It’s definitely a blessing to be down there and be part of the experience and then go play the game I love. You find a new motivation to go out here and grind and put it all on the line for another addition to your family.”
2. A change on the media front: Rob Gronkowski didn’t hold any media interviews after Sunday’s win and waited until the final five minutes of the media-access period this week, on Friday, to do so leading into Sunday’s game against the Dolphins. That was different from the past two weeks, when he was more expansive, jovial and humorous in news conferences. While Gronkowski has managed back and ankle injuries this season, some believe he has also been fighting his confidence at times, so when he goes more under the radar, as he did this week, it's notable.
3. The Patriots’ preparation for their Week 14 road game in Miami was different this season than last, when Bill Belichick had players inside the Empower Field House and jacked up the heat. This year, it was three straight outside practices in chilly conditions. As it turns out, the team’s indoor facility is undergoing some renovations with resurfacing that made it unavailable, but I’m told the team would have been outside regardless. Belichick bristled at any talk of the South Florida weather this week, as his focus was on execution, similar to how he used to respond to questions about Denver’s altitude.
4. The most disappointing Patriot in 2018? Defensive tackle Danny Shelton, who was a healthy scratch on Sunday, is a top candidate. Acquired from the Browns along with a fifth-round pick in exchange for a third-rounder in March, the 2015 first-round draft pick played 35 percent of the defensive snaps, and his impact as a run-stuffer has been limited. He’s a free agent after the season.
5. It seems like Tom Brady breaks a record each week, all of which he deflects by saying that the most important record to him is recording victories. But I thought his answer during his weekly Westwood One interview with Jim Gray added another layer of insight on what he values. Asked which sports record amazed him most when he was a youngster, he chose Cal Ripken’s consecutive-games-played streak (2,632) with the Baltimore Orioles. “I remember him kind of running around the field,” Brady said. “What a great tribute. I always feel like you’re part of a team, and if you’re not available, how do you help your team win? I’ve always tried to take a lot of pride in being out there for my team.”
6. For all the lighthearted humor about Brady finally reaching 1,000 rushing yards last week, much of it sparked by Brady himself, not to be overlooked was offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ view of the milestone. He called Brady an underrated runner, noting his acumen with sneaks in short-yardage situations and timely scrambles. “His production as a runner has been really, really remarkable,” he said. “Each one of those yards was probably pretty doggone important to the series we were in.”
7. A game against Miami provides a nice bookend to highlight Josh Gordon’s growing role in the Patriots’ offense. He made his debut Week 4 against the Dolphins, and Miami coach Adam Gase noted this week that Gordon naturally looks much more in sync with what the Patriots are doing. The numbers reflect it: Gordon leads the team with 605 receiving yards since Week 4, and his 17.8 yards per reception are fourth in the NFL in that span. The Patriots continue to carefully manage Gordon's interviews with reporters -- limiting him to about four or five questions during the week and then after games -- with Gordon showing a "flash" of his personality this past week that wasn't evident in past exchanges with reporters.
8. From the culinary department: Players often look forward to what team nutritionist Ted Harper has on the menu for “Fat Fridays,” with this year’s options including Chick fil A, Mac & Walt’s, Popeye’s, Five Guys, Ted’s Montana Grill, Skipjacks and Little Donkey (of Cambridge, Massachusetts). One offensive lineman who keeps track of the weekly menu notes that the team is 4-0 when Chick fil A is the pick, which, of course, might be his way of trying to make it a weekly staple. Those offensive linemen can be crafty.
9a. Did You Know, Part I: If the Patriots clinch the AFC East with a win over the Dolphins, they will become the first team in NFL history to make 10 consecutive playoff appearances. They are currently tied with the Cowboys (1975-83) and Colts (2002-10) with nine straight playoff berths.
9b. Did You Know, Part II: A Patriots win would also clinch the AFC East title for the 10th straight year, and according to Elias, New England would join the Atlanta Braves as the only franchises in the NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL to win at least 10 straight division titles. The Braves won three straight from 1991-93 and another 11 straight following the 1994 strike-shortened season.
10. While winning the AFC East is old hat for longtime Patriots veterans, one point coach Bill Belichick and players make annually is that it’s nice to see newcomers experience it for the first time. That is a group highlighted by starting cornerback Jason McCourty, who last year played on the 0-16 Cleveland Browns and was elated in the locker room on Sunday while noting to teammates that he had tied his career high for wins in a season with nine.