New England Patriots: All games fans should watch during the bye week
By Fran Brown
There may not be a Patriots game this weekend, but that doesn't mean there isn't intriguing football for fans to watch. Here is a quick guide to help you get through a weekend without the Patriots.
Saturday
With the Patriots now in a position to have a top-five pick in the NFL Draft, it's time to turn your attention to college football, and there are plenty of intriguing players to watch on Saturday. Just make sure you have multiple televisions or streaming devices.
Noon EST: Michigan vs. Maryland (Fox) - Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy could be a potential second-round option for the Patriots
Noon EST: Rutgers vs. Penn St (FS1) - if Bill Belichick is still around, watch out for the Rutgers long-snapper
3:30 PM EST: USC vs. UCLA (ABC) - both of these teams have been struggling but USC quarterback Caleb Williams could be the #1 pick
3:30 PM EST: North Carolina vs. Clemson (ESPN) - here's where you may need multiple devices as UNC quarterback Drake Maye could be the other option for teams at the top of the draft board
4:00 PM EST: Ohio State vs. Minnesota (BTN) - Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. would immediately be the Patriots #1 receiver
Sunday
Nothing beats sitting on the couch with NFL RedZone for the one o'clock window, but if you don't have the channel and like to watch other games, here's a list of intriguing ones. Check 506sports.com to see which games may be on in your local market.
1:00 PM EST Pittsburgh at Cleveland (CBS) - chance to check out the Steelers, who the Patriots will play in a few weeks
1:00 PM EST: Arizona at Houston (CBS) - if Patriots fans want hope, look at Houston. They brought in a new coach, drafted a quarterback at the top of the draft and now are in playoff postion. There's also Kyler Murray, who could be a potential trade target in the offseason
1:00 PM EST: Los Angeles Chargers at Green Bay (Fox) - another chance to see an upcoming opponent as the Patriots host the Chargers on December 3rd. It could also be Bill Belichick's next team
1:00 PM EST: New York Giants at Washington (Fox) - along with getting a feel for next week's opponent, root for the Giants to win this one as it will help the Patriots draft position
4:00 PM EST: New York Jets at Buffalo (CBS) - an AFC East matchup between two struggling offenses with playoff implications. Either coach could be fired at season's end