6 Rings and Football Things

The Patriots will complete their first cycle through the AFC East this Sunday when they travel to Miami to take on the Dolphins at a stadium that has been a house of horrors for New England. After some self-scouting and rest following the Thursday Night Football “mini-bye,” should the Patriots cruise to a win? Mike Oliva of Dolphins Talk joins Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin to discuss why this may not be the pushover win many expect it to be in our behind-enemy-lines Week 8 preview.

Meghan Ottolini joins Rich, Ken and Ted Johnson in studio to push back on fears the Patriots could spiral, break down A.J. Brown's role and why the Bears' receivers ran wide open. Plus Ken's five-star questions on whether this offense is holding Drake Maye back, and whether the Pats will try to show up Tom Brady in the booth against Green Bay. Follow 6 Rings and Football Things on X @6RingsPod and Instagram @6ringspod, and rate the show on Apple Podcasts!

As injuries have piled up for the Patriots through the summer and into the fall, the team finds itself in a tricky situation with multiple starters and high-level contributors on injured reserve. With NFL teams limited to eight players returning from IR, how will the Patriots handle the situation? Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin discuss.

Plus, some thoughts on A.J. Brown's role in the offense and Mike Vrabel's reported hefty fine.

Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin break down what went wrong in the Patriots’ 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears, discuss the concern level surrounding A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson, examine the Patriots’ current injured reserve dilemma, and more.

WEEI.com's Justin Turpin joins Rich, Ken & Ted Johnson in studio after the Patriots' 30-24 TNF loss in Chicago. Turp says the explosive plays beat New England (405 yards, the most allowed under Mike Vrabel), and digs into the 16 missed tackles, Drake Maye's red-zone interception, the A.J. Brown worry scale and Josh McDaniels' first-quarter play calling. Plus: the Bears' illegal trick play, whether Caleb Lomu should move to guard, if this team is better than last year's, the Patriots' blitz rate against Caleb Williams, and why the offense needs more from its wide receivers and TreVeyon Henderson.

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Dan Bahl and Jon Lyons open the show right after the Patriots' 30-24 Thursday Night Football loss in Chicago, breaking down why New England couldn't slow down Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson's offense and how Drake Maye and the Pats can bounce back from their first loss in three weeks.

Follow 6 Rings and Football Things on X @6RingsPod and Instagram @6ringspod, and rate the show on Apple Podcasts!

Dan Bahl and Jon Lyons break down the Patriots' 30-24 Thursday Night Football loss to the Bears in Chicago. The guys dig into New England's 16 missed tackles on defense, a non-existent rushing attack behind a banged-up offensive line, and whether Caleb Lomu could push Morgan Moses at right tackle. Plus, they react to A.J. Brown's locker room comments on drawing coverage, name their players of the game, and look ahead to the 10-day break before facing Miami.

Follow 6 Rings and Football Things on X @6RingsPod and Instagram @6ringspod, and rate the show on Apple Podcasts!

The Patriots will look to extend their winning streak to four games Thursday night when they travel to Chicago to take on the Bears in a matchup featuring two of the NFL’s brightest young quarterbacks in Drake Maye and Caleb Williams. What will it take for the Patriots, 3-point underdogs, to leave the Windy City with a win? Where can New England exploit Chicago’s weaknesses, and what challenges will the 4-2 Bears present? Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin are joined by Zack Pearson of Bear Report for a behind-enemy-lines preview of Thursday night’s matchup.

WEEI Patriots reporter Meghan Ottolini joins Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson in studio on A.J. Brown's drops, a banged-up offensive line and what it takes to beat the Bears on a short week. Plus whether it's AFC title game or bust, and who the locker room glue guy is. Follow 6 Rings and Football Things on X @6RingsPod and Instagram @6ringspod, and rate the show on Apple Podcasts!

Dan Bahl and Jon Lyons continue to break down the Patriots’ win over the Jets with 3x Super Bowl champion Ted Johnson. Plus, the guys discuss how the Patriots closed out the game, name their players of the game, recap the biggest storylines from around the NFL on Sunday, and look ahead to Thursday night’s matchup against the Bears in Chicago.

Dan Bahl and Jon Lyons break down an ugly 26-19 win over the Jets that moved the Patriots to 4-2. From A.J. Brown’s drops to an offensive line running out of healthy bodies, the guys discuss the biggest takeaways from an incomplete victory. Plus, WEEI’s Justin Turpin joins from Gillette Stadium to share his thoughts on the win, the mounting injuries ahead of a short week, the defense, and Drake Maye’s continued dominance.

Justin Turpin joins Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson (RKT) on WEEI to talk Patriots-Jets. Turp explains why he still leans toward A.J. Brown sitting Sunday with a short week before the Bears, who could lose a roster spot if Brown is active, and what Brown's return would mean for Kyle Williams and Romeo Doubs. Plus: why the Jets' blitz-heavy defense could play into Drake Maye's hands, Eli Raridon's breakout, two straight strong Patriots draft classes, how the pass rush can get after Geno Smith, what it would take for the Jets to pull off the upset, Josh McDaniels...

In recent years, the Patriots/Jets division rivalry has been one-sided. In their last 40 games, the Patriots are 32-8 against the Jets. They are 26-4 in their last 30, 18-2 in their last 20, and 8-2 in their last 10. However, this year's Jets team isn't quite the pushover we've seen in recent years.

To break down what's different about this year's Jets team and preview Sunday's matchup in Foxborough, Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin are joined by Will Parkinson (@Willpa11) of the "Turn on the Jets" and "In The Trenches" podcasts for a peek behind enemy lines.

The Patriots got some major reinforcements at Wednesday’s practice, with A.J. Brown and Christian Gonzalez both returning to the field ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the New York Jets. What does it mean for the Patriots to have two key players back? Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin break down the latest injury news and what it means moving forward. Plus, an encouraging potential update on Will Campbell.

Meghan Ottolini joins Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson (RKT) on WEEI for a full hour of Patriots talk. Mego breaks down what's unlocked Drake Maye, from a dominant offensive line and Caleb Lomu's big day to Josh McDaniels' new play-calling. Plus: who Mike Vrabel's "team guys" message was really aimed at, whether the Bills and Raiders defenses deserve the credit, where the Pats stand in the AFC, the TreVeyon Henderson and Will Campbell injuries ahead of the Jets, under-the-radar contributors, and Mego's 2024 QB redraft. Recorded Tuesday, Oct. 13 on RKT.

The Patriots' injury woes continue after Sunday's win over the Raiders, as TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) and Will Campbell (knee) both suffered injuries that could sideline them for a few weeks. How will the Patriots handle the latest setbacks? And could A.J. Brown return to the field Sunday against the Jets, with the wide receiver eligible to come off injured reserve this week? Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin break it all down. Plus, they share their final takeaways from the Patriots' dominant win over the Raiders before turning their attention to Week 6.

Dan Bahl and Jon Lyons react to the Patriots' blowout win over the Las Vegas Raiders, as New England picks up its second straight victory despite missing key pieces, including A.J. Brown and Christian Gonzalez.

Three-time Super Bowl champion Ted Johnson joins the show to reflect on being honored alongside the 2001 Super Bowl championship team.

Plus, the guys give their Players of the Game, and callers share their thoughts on Drake Maye and the Patriots' latest win.

The Patriots put together their most complete performance of the season in Sunday's blowout win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Dan Bahl and Jon Lyons break down Drake Maye's big day, what went right for the offense, and how the Patriots overcame a series of injuries to earn the victory.

Plus, Meghan Ottolini joins the show live from Gillette Stadium to discuss what looked different about the team this week and what stood out in the win.

6 Rings' Justin Turpin joins Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson in studio on WEEI (Thursday, Oct 9) for a full hour of Patriots talk ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders.

- Turp's pick: Patriots by a touchdown, and why Las Vegas's weak run defense fits what New England is trying to build

- The worry: the Raiders lead the league in forced fumbles, and the Pats have been loose with the football

- Drake Maye after Buffalo: he stopped pressing, trusted his reads, and Turp thinks it's sustainable

- WR depth with...

Lars Anderson, author of the new book Brady: An American Story and the Price of Greatness, joins Jon Lyons and Dan Bahl to take a deeper look at Tom Brady’s relentless pursuit of greatness, the sacrifices he made along the way, and the price he paid to become one of the greatest athletes of all time.

Mego joins Rich Shertenlieb, Ken Laird and three-time Super Bowl champion Ted Johnson in studio to break down the Patriots' win in Buffalo: why Efton Chism should be in the slot more, Drake Maye's ball security, how the motion opened up the run game, Elijah Ponder's emergence, the refs' rough week and the Vrabel flag, whether it's sustainable against the Raiders, and Rich's case for 13 wins. From Rich & Ken w/ Ted Johnson on 93.7 WEEI, Boston's Sports Original.

After a much-needed win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 4, one that Mike Vrabel says put his team “back in the race,” the Patriots will look to keep the momentum rolling when they return home to Gillette Stadium to take on the surprisingly 3-1 Las Vegas Raiders. Can the Patriots keep it going at home, and what will be the keys to another win? Scott Gulbransen of Silver & Black Today and 101.5 K-DAWN Las Vegas joins Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin for a behind-enemy-lines preview.

The Patriots picked up a much-needed, potentially season-turning win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. What’s real, and what can we expect to continue seeing? And what’s fake and may not carry over? Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin have updates from Wednesday’s practice as they break it all down live from Gillette Stadium.

Drake Maye looked much more like his old self in Sunday's 29-26 win over the Buffalo Bills. How did he get back on track? And what does he need to do to keep it rolling? Dan Bahl and Jon Lyons discuss. Plus, the guys share more thoughts on the Patriots' statement victory.

For the second consecutive year, the Patriots went into Buffalo on the first Sunday of October and pulled off an upset win over the Bills. Dan Bahl and Jon Lyons react to the statement win, Drake Maye’s bounce-back performance, and more.

Matt Bove, the Sports Director at WKBW and co-host of the “It’s Always Gameday in Buffalo” podcast, joins Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin for a behind-enemy-lines preview of the Patriots’ Week 4 matchup against the Bills in Buffalo.

How are the Bills approaching this game with the Patriots reeling a little bit? Could Buffalo actually present an opportunity for the Patriots to find themselves? Plus, a look at the X-factors, advantages for both sides, and more.

Following his postgame comments on Sunday, Drake Maye’s shoulder has been a hot topic of conversation. On Wednesday, he popped up on the injury report. Is the shoulder what’s been wrong with Drake Maye this season? Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin discuss.

Plus, what are the other issues with this Patriots offense, and how can they get back on track? And what would qualify as a bounce-back game for Maye?

The Patriots had a chance to prove their Week 2 win was the start of something.

Instead, they were completely overwhelmed in Jacksonville.

New England fell to the Jaguars 35-6 on Sunday, the most lopsided loss of the Mike Vrabel era. And after a performance like that, the questions surrounding this team have only gotten bigger.

What are those questions? And what should we make of dropping to 1-2 for the sixth consecutive season? Dan Bahl and Jon Lyons discuss.

As a nor’easter gets ready to roll through New England, the Patriots head down to the sunshine to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3.

Can the Patriots’ offense get back on track? What challenges will the Jaguars present?

Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin are joined by Tony Wiggins, host of the Locked On Jaguars podcast, to break it all down.

Through two games, Drake Maye and the Patriots offense have scored just two touchdowns. What’s going on with the offense, and at what point should fans start to worry about Maye’s early-season regression?

Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin share their final thoughts from Sunday’s win over the Steelers, break down the sudden rash of injuries, and discuss the curious situation the Patriots find themselves in with their running backs.

Dan Bahl and Jon Lyons break down the Patriots’ 20-3 win over the Steelers, including the biggest takeaways from the game and the heavy price the team paid with injuries. With the injury list continuing to grow, can the Patriots overcome the losses and keep things rolling?

Plus, the guys look ahead to Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ted Johnson joins the show to break down the win, the offensive line’s improvement from Week 1, and how the Patriots’ defense was able to pressure Aaron Rodgers.

The Patriots have won their first home opener since 2020, although it wasn’t pretty. Dan Bahl and Jon Lyons look back at what went right and what went wrong for the Patriots in Week 2 against the Steelers. Plus, Meghan Ottolini calls in to share her thoughts on the offensive shortcomings and the defense’s ability to keep the Steelers’ offense in check.

Drake Maye and the Patriots are looking to get their first win of the season against Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tim Benz of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review joins to preview the matchup and discuss what the Patriots can expect from a new defense, revitalized T.J. Watt, and 42-year-old Rodgers.

Meghan Ottolini sits down with Nicole Yang and Chad Graff at Patriots practice to discuss who will make up for the lost production during A.J. Brown’s injured reserve stint, and what they’re looking for in the Steelers game. 

In a game that was there for the taking for the Patriots, they gave it away, with Drake Maye throwing an interception on each of the final three drives of the game before ultimately falling to the Seahawks 13-10. Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly from the Patriots' disappointing season-opening loss in Seattle.

Plus, what does life without A.J. Brown look like for the Patriots? And how concerned should we be about Maye after his worst game as a pro?

The Patriots losing in Seattle was always feasible. But losing to Drew Lock after Drake Maye threw an interception on three straight drives? That was not.

Dan Bahl and Jon Lyons react as the Patriots collapse in a season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks, while also losing A.J. Brown to injury in the process. Plus, Justin Turpin joins the guys, along with your calls!

The wait is over. After months of negotiating, Christian Gonzalez and the New England Patriots have agreed to a record-breaking four-year, $135 million contract extension.

Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin react to the deal before being joined by Gregg Bell, Seahawks beat reporter for The Tacoma News Tribune, to preview Week 1 against Seattle from behind enemy lines.

Meghan Ottolini and Rich Keefe are joined by Patriots offensive lineman Mike Onwenu and special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer on a Patriots Friday ahead of the season opener in Seattle.

The 2026 season opens in less than a week, and Christian Gonzalez and the Patriots remain far apart in their contract negotiations. Following comments from Mike Vrabel and Gonzalez on Thursday, is it time to worry about Gonzalez’s Week 1 availability? Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin discuss. Plus, should anything be made of Gonzalez not being named a captain? And is the Vrabel/Russini situation officially in the rearview?

The 2026 season officially kicks off a week from Wednesday, with the Patriots traveling to Seattle for a Super Bowl rematch against the Seahawks. As they prepare for Week 1, what is the biggest concern on the roster, and is too much being made of the Patriots’ lack of depth? Meghan Ottolini and Justin Turpin discuss.

Plus, another reason why the Patriots need to get the Christian Gonzalez deal done.