Patriots vulnerable to physicality, Brady wilts under inside pressure

Peas got inside Brady’s head with the inside rush

“Dean Peas was once the Patriots’ defensive coordinator, and he dreamed up a wonderful bunch of schemes for the Titans, and they got to (Tom) Brady up the middle.  He not only is not good at that, he starts seeing things that aren’t even there, and he starts to turtle.  He was at his absolute worst.  They made him look horrible.”

Bob Ryan, ESPN Around the Horn, on Tennessee’s upset of the New England Patriots

Patriots can’t withstand physical punishment

“I know those guys.  I know that you be physical with them and let ‘em have it, and they’ll fold.  . . . Hell yeah it’s personal.  That’s what happens when you go cheap.  You get your ass kicked.”

Dion Lewis, Titans running back bitter at the Patriots for not trying to re-sign him

Kyle Shanahan’s playbook challenges young players

“Coach Shanahan threw me into the ocean and expected me to swim.”

George Kittle, 49ers tight end, on the “density” of his coach’s playbook

Detroit’s quarterback is no leader 

“Matthew Stafford is a reluctant leader, if he’s a leader at all.  He doesn’t have that personality, doesn’t have that fire.  When Reggie Bush, who was playing for the Lions and knew a thing or two about championship teams, suggested a players-only meeting, Stafford’s response was, ‘Nah, we don’t need to do that.’”

Peter King, NBCS Pro Football Talk

Rookie quarterback was confident of victory

“When I woke up this morning I was feeling pretty dangerous.’

Baker Mayfield, after Cleveland Browns upset Atlanta