Category: News

That was the week that was

Another week, a few more scandals to report on including in the NHL, with the Phoenix Suns, no real accountability for the Washington Football Team’s workplace abuse scandal and the Aaron Rodgers lies, there’s plenty of ammo for another World’s Gone Mad column. But we’ll keep it to the good, the bad and the ugly from the current or past field of play.  

News Item: Pats Update

(1) The 24-6 win over Carolina on Sunday moved the 5-4 Patriots into a six-team scrum for an AFC wild card playoff spot, as well as drawing them to a half game behind Buffalo for first place in the East. That makes Sunday’s game with the 5-4 Browns like a playoff game, where a win moves them a game ahead of Cleveland in the playoff race and gives them the tie-breaker if they finish with the same record to make it actually worth two wins, like their recent win over the Chargers was as well. (2) Here are two questions regarding pursuit of Odell Beckham Jr. after he was dumped by Cleveland. With Cleveland also a contender, what makes anyone think he’ll behave any better here than in NY or Cleveland? And regarding the Randy Moss comparison, Moss came to a team with a three-time SB winning quarterback, not an impressionable-kid nine games into his rookie year. So do you want a serial malcontent yacking in his ear if things don’t go OBJ’s way? (3) Despite losingtheir QB for good, the Saints passed on signing the unemployed Cam Newton.

News Item:Not So Smart Marcus  

Things have not started great for your Boston Celtics. There have been frustrating close-but-no-cigar losses to New York and Washington, mixed in with awful non-efforts in home court blowouts by Toronto and Chicago. Then after getting blown out by Chicago after leading by 19 in the third quarter, Marcus Smart sounded off correctly (in frustration) that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown need to share the ball more. But it’s hard to escape the irony of him complaining about people not giving up the ball, when everyone in Celtic Nation wants him to stop taking all his plain stupid threes. Yes I know his buzzer three sent the opener vs. NY to OT, but overall he’s been awful. Best expressed by Tony Massarotti on the Sports Hub when he said of a possible trade involving shooting impaired Ben Simmons and Smart last summer, “I’d rather have a guy who can’t shoot and knows it than a guy who can’t shoot and thinks he can.” Amen to that. Though most would prefer Smart just get a clue about what a bad shot is and gain the restraint not to take them. However, it should be noted that after his complaints the C’s won two straight in Florida before (not so) Smart’s foul on Luka Doncic that gave him five extra seconds to beat them, which he did at the buzzer.   

News Item:The Big Mac Project – Update

While not so great the last two games, Mac Jones is still crushing it in direct competition with the QB’s taken ahead of him in last year’s draft. He leads in every category, including wins. He’s also on pace to throw more for more yards, TD passes and have a better completion percentage than any of the QB’s taken first overall (Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow and Kyler Murray) the last three years did as rookies and has also thrown for over 500 yards more than Jimmy Garoppolo.  

News Item:RemDawg Passes  

Rarely, if ever, has a team’s broadcaster gotten into the DNA of its fan base quite like the late Jerry Remy did with Red Sox Nation. Vince Scully with the Dodgers comes to mind but not all that many others on Remy’s scale. His death was front page news for three days and rarely has anyone gotten that. Especially beyond awful news like the death of Reggie Lewis. It was mixed with sadness, humor and warmth. Not sure how it all came to be, but for me, it was two things. The silliness to downright giddiness at times during the Don Orsillo era and with the Eck and the insight. I don’t suffer broadcast fools easily. To avoid that you have to tell me something I don’t know or make me think. RemDawg did both. RIP.   

News Item:1980s NHC/SNHU Star Cleveland Woods Passes  

He was the most likable person I ever met and it had nothing to do with how great a player Cleveland Woods was at NHC/SNHU, which included being a two-time Division II All American, the New England Player of the Year his senior season, NHC’s all-time leading scorer and only player to accumulate over 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. All of which makes him the first guy on my Mt. Rushmore of NHC/SNHU basketball players.   

But forget the player. The grief and affection expressed on Facebook by so many who knew him following his death last week at 56 tells you the impact he had. Always a smile. I don’t think I ever saw him in a bad mood. Even during all the insanity that went on our practices his first few years playing on North River Road. It obviously is a reflection on all the players given the bond shared by the guys he played with. A snapshot of a great thing sports can create when the right people cross paths at the right time. As one of his coaches then, the bond that developed is what I’m most proud of from his time. He wasn’t the only reason, it was the group as a whole, but he certainly was a major contributor to it all. Sadly, he leaves behind his wife Joliette Hall-Woods, two sons and a daughter.  

Rest in peace big fella.   

Doing the numbers

NHDRA names new Taxpayer Services director

After nearly two decades at the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration serving in various roles, Lisa Crowley has stepped into a new position as the director of the Taxpayer Services Division. Crowley offered a look at what the division does and what it’s like to work a job that is “no one’s favorite topic.”

What is the function of the Taxpayer Services Division?

The Taxpayer Services Division is the largest division in the Department of Revenue. Essentially, we’re very much customer service-based. We hold the DRA [Department of Revenue Administration] call center. All of the mail and the money that comes into the department comes right to us, so we process and scan everything in. We also have a Tax Account Reconciliation Group; if there are any issues or errors that come up with the processing that we can identify right off, the Tax Account Reconciliation Group takes care of those so when the other divisions have to use … that information in our system, hopefully most of the bugs are worked out and they can just do their job. We also update our forms … and make any changes that need to be made on the website. Most recently, we’ve been overseeing the production support phase of our most recent system upgrades.

What does your job as director entail?

I oversee essentially everything in this division. … I do whatever I can to support my employees. I manage staffing, making sure we have the right amount of staffing to get our jobs done. … I make sure we’re processing our returns on time and getting the money in the bank on time. I just support the group in whatever way I can, even if that means opening mail during our busy times. That’s part of the job as well — managing from an upper perspective as well as diving in to do the little deeds our current staff may not have time to do.

What is your background in this work?

I’ve been with the department for about 19 years. This was my second job out of college. … I was hired as a tax forms examiner … starting in the Document Processing Division, which is now the Taxpayer Services Division. From there I became a supervisor in the Document Processing Division, worked in an audit group for a little while, and worked in our Municipal and Property Group. Then … I became our hearings manager, managing the department’s appeals. About three and a half years ago I was asked to be the director of our legacy system upgrade project, where we took our 30-year-old tax information management system and upgraded it into new software. It was quite an undertaking. Now that that project is done, I was asked to take over as the director of Taxpayer Services. … I think it’s a natural progression for me to come into this position.

What are some of the biggest challenges for the division right now?

There are a lot of challenges with getting used to this new world we operate in, especially [due to] Covid. … One is the new [software] system. … It comes with a learning curve. We’ve automated a lot of things, which means more mailings need to go out. … We’re also assisting GOFERR, the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery, with some of their programs. … There’s a lot coming at us, and we’re a very small department of a little less than 150 people … so everyone is working very hard right now to [adjust to] all these changes and overcome these challenges we’ve been faced with.

What do you hope to accomplish as director?

The employees in this division work really hard and do such a great job. … One of my goals … is to make sure they understand the great work they do, and to reward them as much as I possibly can. … Another thing I want to do is support our employees … with our new software. Some of our employees have been here for 10- or 20-plus years, so going into new technology is difficult. I want to make sure they know it’s OK if they aren’t as quick with the new system as they were [with the old one]. We’re all learning this together, and we’ll just keep plugging away until we get there.

What do you enjoy about your work?

It’s funny — when you say you work in taxes, a lot of people are like, ‘Oof,’ and, admittedly, tax isn’t the most exciting thing to work in every day. What I love about the department is the people; we’re a family here, and we support each other. We all understand that maybe tax isn’t the most exciting area to work in, but it’s necessary. … Even though we’re looking at numbers and returns all day and sometimes dealing with unhappy taxpayers, we make the best of it and find ways to make our days happy.

What do you wish people knew about the Taxpayer Services Division?

We [at the division] get it; we all pay taxes, too, and it’s no one’s favorite topic … but we care about our taxpayers. They aren’t just a number. … We want to help them as much as we possibly can. Of course, we have a job to do, and if there are bills that have to go out, unfortunately, [sending them] is part of that job … but I think [taxpayers] can at least come away with a positive feeling about [being] treated [well] and respected.

Featured photo: Lisa Crowley. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 21/11/11

Covid-19 update As of Nov 1 As of Nov 8
Total cases statewide 136,755 141,317
Total current infections statewide 3,948 5,164
Total deaths statewide 1,568 1,599
New cases 2,029 (Oct. 25 to Nov. 1) 4,562 (Nov. 2 to Nov. 8)
Current infections: Hillsborough County 642 1,405
Current infections: Merrimack County 257 562
Current infections: Rockingham County 364 915
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. *Numbers not available on Oct. 26 when the state’s Covid dashboard was undergoing maintenance.

Covid-19 news

Due to a continued increase in Covid-19 numbers in New Hampshire, Gov. Chris Sununu recently announced that state officials will be returning to press conferences on a weekly basis.

During the state’s weekly public health update on Nov. 2, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire continues to average between 500 and 600 new infections of the virus per day, while test positivity and hospitalization rates remain high. As of Nov. 8 there were 5,164 active infections of Covid-19 statewide and 212 current hospitalizations. All 10 counties in the state still remain at substantial levels of community transmission.

Pfizer vaccines are now available for kids ages 5 to 11 in New Hampshire, following the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Oct. 29 authorization for emergency use. Dr. Chan said during the Nov. 2 press conference that 5- to 11-year-olds receive a smaller dose, about one-third of a dose compared to adolescents and adults. “Even with this smaller dose … it creates a similar antibody response, and has been shown to be effective at preventing symptomatic disease,” he said. A statewide map of locations by town can be found at vaccines.nh.gov.

OSHA vaccine mandate lawsuit

New Hampshire will join a coalition of states filing a lawsuit to challenge the Emergency Temporary Standard issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration mandating that all private employers with 100 or more employees require their employees to be vaccinated, or conduct weekly Covid-19 testing and implement mask requirements. The Petition for Judicial Review was filed in the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals on the morning of Nov. 5, Attorney General John M. Formella announced. New Hampshire is the 11th state to challenge the mandate, joining Missouri, Arizona, Nebraska, Montana, Arkansas, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Alaska and Wyoming, as well as a number of private businesses and organizations. “Covid vaccines are the most effective tool we have to protect ourselves and our community from this virus,” Gov. Sununu said in a statement. “but as the head of state, I recognize the limitations of government in mandating this personal medical decision. President Biden has created a loophole to facilitate this overreach, which is why I fully support the Attorney General’s decision to sign on to this lawsuit.”

No Senate for Sununu

Gov. Chris Sununu will not pursue a 2022 run for the U.S. Senate, but will seek re-election as the New Hampshire governor, he announced in a news conference on Nov. 9. According to WMUR, the decision is a surprise to Washington Republicans, who expected to see Sununu in a run for the Senate in a possible match-up against Sen. Maggie Hassan. “My responsibility is not to the gridlock and politics of Washington, it’s for the citizens of New Hampshire,” Sununu told reporters in Concord, according to WMUR. If reelected as governor, Sununu will be the second governor to serve four two-year terms, following Democrat John Lynch.

Craig re-elected

The Manchester mayoral election on Nov. 2 ended in another victory for incumbent Joyce Craig, as she was elected to her third term as the mayor of the state’s largest city. According to WMUR, Craig defeated former state Rep. Victoria Sullivan by a significant margin; the unofficial count from the Manchester City Clerk’s office on election day was 10,228 votes for Craig and 9,005 votes for Sullivan, a margin of 53 to 47 percent, with Craig winning eight of the city’s 12 wards. Craig won her first term in 2017, defeating incumbent Ted Gatsas, and her second term in 2019, defeating Sullivan by a margin of 56 to 43 percent. In her victory statement Craig reflected on the challenges that faced the city at the beginning of her second term, specifically in regard to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We took decisive action — developing guidelines, increasing access to city services, and providing free testing and vaccinations — all to ensure the health and safety of our community,” she said. “And through it all, we continued to move Manchester forward. We prioritized public safety, made investments in affordable housing, returned our students safely to the classrooms, and fostered economic growth.”

Veterans Day parade

The Manchester Veterans’ Council will present a Veterans Day Parade in Manchester on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 10:30 a.m. The parade will proceed down Elm Street starting at the north end and concluding at Veterans Park. Visit sweeneypost.org.

Enrollment open

The open enrollment period for the Healthcare.gov Marketplace, during which New Hampshire residents can purchase or change their Affordable Care Act individual health coverage for 2022, kicked off on Nov. 1 and will run through Jan. 15, 2022. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Insurance Department, New Hampshire has two Navigator grantees this year, First Choice Services and Health Market Connect, who will award a total of $1.6 million aimed at making affordable health insurance more accessible. Lower individual premium rates on the Marketplace were also made possible through a 1332 State Relief and Empowerment waiver approved in 2020, allowing New Hampshire to run a state-based reinsurance program that provides partial claim reimbursements to insurers from 2021 through 2025. “Premiums for individual and small group markets are the lowest in New England,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement. Insurance companies offering ACA-compliant individual health insurance plans on the Marketplace for coverage through 2022 include Anthem, Ambetter from NH Healthy Families and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Residents are still eligible to enroll for Marketplace insurance outside of the enrollment period if they have a life event such as a marriage, the birth of a child or a change in employment status, according to the release.

Sports betting

Retail locations for sports betting are now permitted to operate in Nashua, according to a press release from New Hampshire Lottery. The sports betting legislation drafted in 2019 allows individual communities in New Hampshire to have their residents vote on whether or not to allow the operation of sports betting retail locations in their own communities. Nashua residents voted to permit retail sports betting during city elections on Nov. 2, becoming the 21st community in the state to do so. There are currently three retail sportsbooks operating in the state, located in Seabrook, Manchester and Dover, and the New Hampshire Lottery and DraftKings are looking to eventually operate as many as 10, according to the release. September was the state’s largest sports betting month on record with more than $68.1 million wagered.

CASA of New Hampshire is hosting a virtual information session to recruit new advocates in the Manchester area on Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 5:30 p.m. CASA is a nonprofit that trains volunteers to advocate for children who have experienced abuse and neglect, according to a press release. To register for the session, visit casanh.org, click on the Volunteer tab and select Virtual Info Sessions.

The State Historical Resources Council has added six properties to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places, according to a press release. Most locally, it includes the Milford Suspension Bridge, which has been in nearly continuous use since it was built in 1889, and the Goodhue House in Deerfield, which was built circa 1773 and is a Georgian-style, center chimney farmhouse with an attached ell, according to the release.

The Fairgrounds Middle School in Nashua, built in 1961, was rededicated on Nov. 4, according to a press release. It is the first phase of a $118 million middle school project that includes ongoing expansion and renovations at Pennichuck Middle School and the building of a new middle school at Buckmeadow Road, the release said.

The NH Tech Alliance TechWomen|TechGirls Annual Awards, delivered virtually this year, were presented to women who are making an impact in STEM education or professional advancements. The Tech Student of the Year is Isha Mistry of Salem High School, who graduated third in her class and was a part of her school’s FIRST robotics team and Girls Who Code. Tech Educator of the Year went to Kimberly Eckenrode, the Career and Technical Education Pathways Director at Nashua Community College. The Tech Professional of the Year is Melissa Jurkoic, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Addapptation.

This Week 21/11/04

Big Events November 4, 2021 and beyond

Friday, Nov. 5

Symphony New Hampshire will present “Suites and Schubert” at St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church (39 Chandler St. in Nashua) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $30 ($25 for seniors; children 18 or younger get in free).

Saturday, Nov. 6

Get a little more Halloween fun at the Halloween Trivia Extravaganza at Liquid Therapy (14 Court St. in Nashua; 402-9391, liquidtherapynh.com) today at 1 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 6

With November comes craft fair season. Today, find the Village Craft Fair at the First Congregational Church (15 Lawrence Road in Salem) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a snack bar that closes at 3 p.m. Admission and parking are free. The Lakes Region Fall Craft Fair will run today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tanger Outlets in Tilton. The fair will feature 90 exhibitors; see joycescraftshows.com. The Knights of Columbus will host the Merrimack Craft Fair today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (and also on Friday, Nov. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m.) at Mastricola Upper Elementary School (26 Baboosic Lake Road in Merrimack), where, in addition to handmade crafts, you can find a bake sale, food concessions and a chance auction, according to kofc6725.org. The Hampstead Mothers’ Club will hold their annual craft fair today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hampstead Middle School (28 School St.) with more than 80 crafters, a raffle and a food court, according to the group’s Facebook page. St. Jude’s Women’s Guild will hold its 42 annual Country Christmas Fair today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Jude Community Parish (435 Mammoth Road in Londonderry). The event will feature hand-crafted items, a quilt raffle, a bake sale and more. Coe-Brown Northwood Academy (901 First NH Turnpike in Northwood; coebrown.org) will hold its craft fair today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Luke the Evangelist (8 Atkinson Depot Road in Plaistow; stlukenh.org, 382-8324) will hold its Christmas Craft Fair from 9 am. to 3 p.m. featuring more than 20 vendors, a silent auction, jewelry table, raffles, “Cookie Heaven,” breakfast and lunch items available for purchase, live entertainment and children’s entertainment (including possibly photos with Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), according to the church’s website. Do you know of a craft fair this season? Let us know at [email protected].

Sunday, Nov. 7

See Kathryn Lewek, a coloratura soprano called “the Metropolitan Opera’s reigning Queen of the Night” in a press release, at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; anselm.edu/dana-center-humanities) today at 4 p.m. She will be accompanied by pianist Elizabeth Blood and by opera tenor (and Saint Anselm College professor) Sean Parr, who wrote the book Vocal Virtuosity and will offer historical commentary, according to a press release. Tickets cost $45.

Save the Date! Nov. 19

You may still be snacking on trick-or-treat candy but the season of The Nutcracker is nearly here. The Southern New Hampshire Dance Theatre will present its production of the classic Christmas ballet at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Friday, Nov. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 21. Shows are Friday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 20, at 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 21, at noon and 4:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 to $46.

Featured photo: Kathryn Lewek. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 21/11/04

Three cheers for the Chicken Tenders!

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats will become the Manchester Chicken Tenders for one game at Delta Dental Stadium during the 2022 baseball season. According to a press release, it’s a tribute to Manchester’s culinary history: The chicken tender was invented by the Puritan Restaurant in 1974. The temporary jerseys will read “Manchester Chicken Tenders Est. 1974,” while the hats will feature either The Classic Chicken Tender, the Buffalo Chicken Tender or the Coconut Chicken Tender — and it’ll be the fans who decide. Pre-sale orders of all three versions of the baseball hat are available now at nhfishercats.com, and the one that gets the most sales will be worn by the team for the game (date to be determined).

Score: +1

Comment: QOL thinks a massive amount of Puritan chicken tenders and vats of dipping sauces should be available at the concessions during this game.

Third safest state in the country

Last week, personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2021’s Safest States in America, and the Granite State came in 3rd, thanks to several key factors. According to the report, New Hampshire has the fewest murders and non-negligent manslaughters per capita and the fewest fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, as well as the second lowest number of assaults per capita, the 5th lowest number of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel, and the 8th lowest loss amounts from climate disasters per capita.

Score: +1

Comment:New Hampshire was edged out by two neighbors: Vermont, which ranked No. 1, and Maine.

An early start to giving

Because of ongoing supply chain issues, Tower of Toys is getting an early start in collecting unwrapped children’s toys, sports equipment, art supplies, cosmetics, movie certificates and gift cards to benefit children and families in need. According to a press release, this will be the 10th Tower of Toys, where donations are formed into a toy-filled tower at the Atrium of the Beacon Building at 814 Elm St. in Manchester. Toys are being accepted now through Thursday, Dec. 16, for toy distribution on Dec. 18 and Dec. 19. According to the release, the Tower of Toys collected 2,500 presents, $1,400 in gift cards, and $15,600 in monetary donations (used to purchase additional gifts) for 1,500 children.

Score: +1

Comment: Donations can be brought to Red Arrow Diner Corporate Headquarters (814 Elm St.), or you can order gifts online and ship them directly to 814 Elm St., Suite 102, Manchester, 03101. Online monetary donations are welcomed to help sponsors purchase gifts for all age groups; visit facebook.com/toweroftoysnh or redarrowdiner.com for a PayPal link and online QR code.

QOL score: 74

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 77

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

Pats mid-year report

The Patriots hit what passes for the 2021 midway point in the new 17-game NFL season with Sunday’s gritty 27-24 win over the San Diego, er L.A. Chargers. After their wild off-season spending spree, that’s not what the optimists or pragmatic folks like myself were expecting. I even said they could start 6-2 if things went their way during what was supposed to be the easiest part of their schedule. But I underestimated how good Dallas and the Saints defense would be — which showed itself in the Pats’ only real dog so far. Well, OK, the Houston game was stinker.    

So amid the ups and downs here’s a midseason report and what to expect moving forward.  

Coach B:He’s faced a ton of pressure from the over-reactionary wolves mostly for how well you-know-who has done in Tampa Bay and their 2-4 start. The most ridiculous came from doofuses on the afternoon crew at Boston’s Sports Hub, who actually wondered out loud whether ”the game had passed him by.” Like integrating 25 new players is no big deal and should happen like that. The last time they had as much turnover was 2001 when, while also breaking in an untested QB, they were 5-5 after their first 10 games before rolling off nine straight wins. Not saying it’ll happen the same this time, just that it takes time. Not that he hasn’t made a mistake or two, the most damaging one being sending Stephon Gilmore away just before getting hit with a rash of injuries in the secondary. He’s also getting hit for being too conservative for not going for it on fourth down. Which worked out perfectly on Sunday, didn’t it, when they got stopped on fourth and 1 at the goal line instead of taking the FG and then falling behind 17-15 late in the fourth quarter. Of course that comes from the same people who killed him for going for it on fourth and 2 vs. the Colts in 2009. If you want to hit him on the GM front, have at it, but even with the mistakes I’m OK with what he’s done overall.  

The Big Mac Project: Amid all the yacking that he’s a dump down artist, his 1,997 yards after are 9th best in the NFL, put him on pace for 4,237 (Brady at 2,830 in 2001) and are more than Justin Herbert, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers and all four QB’s taken ahead of him in the 2021 draft.

Best free agent – Matt Judon: With JC Jackson he’s arguably been their best defender who’s shown up in the run game and been the most reliable at pressuring the QB.  

Best surprise – Jakobi Meyers: I wondered if his leading the team in 2020 catches was a function of somebody from a bad bunch had to do that. But with a team-leading 48 catches for 427 yards, not so, as he catches in traffic, takes big hits, is clutch and most importantly is reliable on third down.   

Biggest free agent disappointments: There are a few among the large free agent newcomers, but so far it’s the starting-to-come-around Nelson Agholor, whose target-to-catch ratio is among the worst in the league and who had a few big drops.  

Biggest disappointment – offensive line: Trent Brown has played one play and since he went out right tackle was an absolute disaster until Michael Owenu went back there and Ted Karras went to left guard vs. the Jets. That led to the first time Mac Jones was protected all year and the result was a 54-point explosion.

Below expectation: We’ve been told all off season and in pre-season that Josh Uche was going to be a sack machine. He’s had his moments, but with three sacks, seven solo tackles and a fumble recovery in garbage time vs. the Jets that has not been the case.

Anything good most don’t realize: With all the yards they give up, especially vs. Dallas, it obscures the fact that the Pats are only giving up 20.5 points per game on average, which is 6th best in the league.

Likely second-half improvements: (1) The targets– Free agents Bourne and Hunter Henry seem to be finding their footing to give the QB more reliable options beyond just Meyers. (2) The offense – They’ve scored 110 points in the last three games, which suggests the pieces are coming together.

Biggest trade deadline need: Game breaking wide receiver that Agholor was supposed to be.   

They will make the playoffs if: They need to beat wild card competitors Cleveland and Indy, who are just ahead in the next month, and a split with Buffalo would help too. To do that, (1) the O-line improvement needs to continue, (2) ditto for the defensive front seven, which played very well holding down the explosive Chargers on Sunday, and (3) they need to eliminate theboatload of stupid penalties, like those that brought back 29- and 38-yard (for a TD) runs by Damian Harris on Sunday and other bonehead mistakes that hurt all year.

Bottom line: Without playing close to a complete game until Week 7 vs. the Jets, they still are just three plays away from starting 7-1. You can’t unring the bell off a loss of course, so instead they are just 4-4. But Coach B’s biggest strength has always been that the team improves as the season moves along, which is how to ultimately judge this team in 2021. Because, as I said in the season preview, the biggest x-factor would be not Big Mac but how quickly all the new faces can be turned into a well-functioning team. And with three wins and narrow losses to the Bucs and Cowboys that each turned on one play in their last five games that seems to be happening, making the prospects for the second half seem a lot brighter than they did after that deflating loss to Dallas three weeks ago.

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