The Patriots are headed back to friendlier football weather this week.
After last Sunday’s messy trip to Miami, New England returns to Gillette Stadium for a Week 9 matchup with the Green Bay Packers, and the forecast looks far cleaner for a battle between 5-3 teams. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET, with WBZ Boston calling for 56 degrees at the start, sliding to 52 at halftime and dipping into the high 40s by the end of the game.
The biggest difference from last week: rain doesn’t appear to be much of a factor. Meteorologist Sarah Wrobleski said Friday morning, “The good news is the risk of rain looks to be decreasing, clouds breaking apart,” said meteorologist Sarah Wrobleski on Friday morning. “But temperatures will fall from the mid-50s into the upper 40s, and we’ll have a breezy wind, too.”
That wind could matter. Gusts are projected to reach 24 mph, which may make things tricky inside Gillette, especially with both teams dealing with kicking inconsistency this season.
New England’s Andy Borregales has connected on 30 of his 34 combined field goal and extra-point tries, an 88.2% rate. Green Bay’s Trey Smack has gone 27-for-35, a 77.2% mark that ranks as the lowest success rate in the league.
If the forecast holds, Sunday would be New England’s coldest game of the season so far. It would also be the first Patriots game this year to see temperatures fall into the 40s as the action unfolds.
In Other News...
Patriots Suddenly Face A Running Back Decision They Didn't Expect
TreVeyon Hendersons status has quickly turned into one of the Patriots most unsettling storylines, and not just because it leaves a hole in the backfield. The rookie running back was hospitalized after a medical emergency involving unexplained neurological symptoms, and there is still no clear timetable for when he might return to the field. For a team trying to keep its offense on track, the uncertainty around his availability has created an unexpected layer of urgency.
With the trade deadline approaching, New England may have to weigh whether it needs outside help at running back sooner rather than later. Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, Tony Pollard and Breece Hall have all come up as possible targets in the broader speculation, but nothing has been finalized and no deal has been confirmed. For now, the Patriots are left balancing the immediate need for depth with the reality that Hendersons situation remains unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Face A Frightening TreVeyon Henderson Situation With No Clear Timeline
TreVeyon Hendersons situation has become one of the more unsettling storylines around the Patriots, not because of any football setback, but because of a medical issue that still does not have a clear explanation. Henderson said he went through an unexplained neurological emergency that led to hospitalization and extensive testing, and while the results brought some reassurance, they did not answer the biggest question hanging over his recovery.
For now, Henderson is working with specialists and physical therapists as he tries to get back to full strength. The uncertainty is the hard part for New England, since the symptoms have affected his body in ways that go beyond ordinary soreness or a routine injury, leaving his status for the season very much up in the air. [Read more 🡒]
Tom Bradys Patriots Return Suddenly Feels More Awkward Than Expected
Tom Brady is headed back into the Patriots orbit in a way that feels a little different from the usual reunion tour. The former quarterback will be part of the broadcast crew for New Englands Week 9 game against the Packers, which sets up his first return to Gillette Stadium since his statue unveiling and guarantees plenty of attention on a day that would already carry some emotional weight for the franchise.
Mike Vrabel was asked about catching up with Brady and answered with a line about being contractually obligated to do so, a response that only added to the sense that this visit comes with a bit more awkwardness than nostalgia. Between Bradys past comments about the Patriots and his new role on the call, there is still plenty of curiosity around how warmly he will be received and how comfortable the whole scene will feel once the cameras start rolling. [Read more 🡒]