Bill Belichick and Sean Payton both being winless through two games has never happened. In fact, this is Belichick’s nadir since 2001, when Tom Brady was just a twinkle in his eye. Both coaches are masters of their domain and intense perfectionists. Unfortunately, their respective teams would only be among the league’s best this season if the games were 30 minutes long. Payton’s rep — an offensive guru who won a Super Bowl and manufactured top-10 offenses as efficiently as anyone not named Andy Reid — is still intact. Belichick is arguably the greatest defensive mind in history and the league’s preeminent coach after winning six Super Bowls with Brady executing the Pats’ offenses. This year, between the two of them exists one combined elite team. For the Patriots, naptime is the first half. In Denver’s case, they nod off after halftime. In the first half, Denver is the league’s fifth-highest-scoring offense. In the second half, they’re 26th. Conversely, the Patriots are 27th in scoring defense in first halves, and a top-10 unit in points allowed when the second half rolls around. Once again, the Broncos’ record in games decided by one possession is abysmal, but there are reasons for blind optimism. Russell Wilson’s Hail Mary wouldn’t have been necessary if the Broncos offense could remain alert for the second half. Once the shock value wears off, teams seem to acclimate quickly to Payton’s game plan. Wilson used to be a crunch-time quarterback. Not only is he a more sluggish runner but he resembles DangerRuss in the first 30 minutes and a sundowning quarterback after the break. He’ll give you all he’s got, but after the sun begins setting, he turns into your gramps when he explains that “He don’t have the energy he used to.” Here are Russ’ splits in the first half vs. this season. In first halves, DangerRuss has been grilling up defenses to the tune of 279 yards while completing 85 percent of his attempts, throwing four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. In the second half, he’s cooked. His completion percentage dips 30 points, his touchdown-to-interception ratio is one-to-one, and his second-half passer rating is 80 points lower. Wilson’s second-half rating is buoyed by a lucky tipped Hail Mary in the endzone on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Patriots have been deadeye assassins with their halftime adjustments. Belichick’s Pats are 0-2 for the first time in 22 years, but for two consecutive weeks, they’ve cut off the power to a pair of the NFL’s most exhilarating, livewire offenses after halftime. The problem has been burying themselves in these holes to begin with. In Week 1, the Patriots emerged from halftime trailing 16-0. In the second half, New England forced several turnovers, kept Philadelphia out of the endzone, and rallied to cut the score to four, but their final drive stalled at the Eagles 20. In their Sunday Night Football clash with the Miami Dolphins, the Patriots did it again. Miami led 17-3 as Tua Tagovailoa was dotting up their secondary. Tagovailoa minced Belichick’s defense through the first half, but after the intermission, the Dark Lord of Football proved he’s still got it. Miami wasn’t in the clear until lineman Cole Strange was ruled down inches short of the first on fourth down with a minute remaining. Last year, my colleague/Agree to Disagree traffic cone Eric Blum and I had this novel, but completely unrealistic idea that the NFL should experiment with teams hiring two head coaches, sequester them completely from one another, and have one randomly coach the first half and completely change the tenor, or the second half of games. If there were ever two coaches who’d be the ideal social experiment to execute this, it would be these two maniacs. Payton fancies himself a jump-scare coach who has a tendency to jump on opposing teams with onside kicks and wonky calls before they even know what hit ‘em. He also knows They’re also both acolytes of Bill Parcells. When Belichick’s 2nd Half Pats and Payton’s First Half Broncos meet on Christmas Day, there’s no telling how that chemical reaction will mix, but if this trend continues, they should consider a joint coaching merger. In the meantime, Payton is onto something with the Broncos if he can configure Wilson’s pilot light to remain on for 60 minutes instead of the 30 minutes he’s currently assigned. Belichick’s teams have been playing possum for first halves and respawning in the second half with renewed vigor. These two teams aren’t completely inept, short of Voltroning these two coaching staffs, and teams, they need to assess what’s causing them to vanish for entire halves before this season gets out of hand. Follow DJ Dunson on X: @ cerebralsportex Relatedfree betting calculatorsparlay odds payout calculatormoneyline odds calculatorhalf points in online bettinghalf kelly calculatorhow to hedge a bet calculatorlook ahead lineswhat is over/under in bettingsports betting parlaysbetting on round robinev bettinghow to hedge in sports betting
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Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris labelled Spurs stunning Europa League elimination a disgrace and hinted at deeper issues within the club following their 3-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb.
Spurs sensationally bowed out of the Europa League 3-2 on aggregate following Thursday s defeat to Croatian champions Dinamo after extra time in Zagreb.
The match went to extra time with Mislav Orsic completing his memorable hat-trick in the 106th minute to clinch Dinamo s last-16 triumph, with Spurs never in control after winning the opening leg 2-0.
We are all more than disappointed. It s just a disgrace, Spurs goalkeeper Lloris told BT Sport.
I hope everyone in the changing room feels responsible because it s a disgrace. The taste of the defeat tonight is more than painful. …
An Atletico Madrid fan group has called for the club to rule out signing Cristiano Ronaldo, saying he represents the antithesis of the team s values.
The Manchester United forward returned to training on Tuesday, having missed the pre-season tour of Asia and Australia, and is reportedly pushing to leave due to his desire to continue playing in the Champions League.
Suitors for Ronaldo s services have not been forthcoming, however, although Atletico have been linked with bringing the former Real Madrid superstar back to the Spanish capital.
Fans have made it clear they are not keen on the idea though, with Atletico s International Union of Fan Clubs (Union Internacional de Peñas Atletico de Madrid) issuing a statement on the matter.
In light of the poss…
Sergio Aguero will leave Manchester City at the end of the 2020-21 campaign, the club have confirmed.
Aguero is the club s record goalscorer with 257 goals and will bring to an end a glittering 10-year stint at the club when his contract expires in June.
He joined from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and has gone on to cement his position as one of the club s greatest ever players.
The Argentina international has won four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and five EFL Cups at City.
He is likely to win a fifth English top-flight crown this season, with City 14 points clear of second-place Manchester United, while they will also contest next month s EFL Cup final with Spurs.
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Pep Guardiola knows he must not allow Diego Simeone s Atletico Madrid to smother Manchester City when the teams clash in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The City manager was impressed by how Atletico accounted for Manchester United in the previous round, preventing the Red Devils imposing their game on the second leg at Old Trafford.
A 1-0 win for Atletico carried Simeone s team through to the last eight as 2-1 aggregate winners, and now Guardiola and Simeone – arguably the two best coaches in world football – will go head to head on the touchline.
Guardiola believes Simeone has a job for as long as he wants it at Atletico, pointing to that security and board support as being telling in the success the club have had, notably in winning last season s LaL…
Yussuf Poulsen revelled in an amazing moment after RB Leipzig moved into the Champions League semi-finals.
Tyler Adams deflected 88th-minute strike lifted Leipzig to a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
A penalty from Joao Felix had earlier cancelled out Dani Olmo s opener in Lisbon, but Leipzig – founded just 11 years ago – advanced.
Poulsen, who arrived at the club in 2013, was delighted as Leipzig s rise continued, having been in the fifth tier in Germany in 2009-10.
You couldn t write a better story. It is a huge day and an amazing moment – we have to enjoy it, he said, via the club s website.
Another fantastic game is around the corner. We were the better team and are deservedly through to the semi-final. …
Werner on the Old Trafford radar
Suffering another Champions League collapse away at Galatasaray on Wednesday evening, have found themselves at the heart of real scrutiny this season.
While Erik ten Hag’s might have once again broken the bank over the summer, it has been suggested that the Premier League heavyweights could be set for another hectic January transfer window.
With former Atalanta marksman still waiting to open his Premier League account, it appears that Manchester United are seeking attacking reinforcements when the window opened up.
However, while might have struggled to find his feet since making a return to Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig last year, it has been suggested that the Germany international could be handed a shock lifeline in Janua…
Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman does not know if he will still be in charge of the club for next season.
The Catalan giants head into Saturday s final LaLiga match of 2020-21 against Eibar knowing they cannot finish any higher than third place.
After a mixed start to the season, a 19-match unbeaten run in the top flight propelled Barca back into title contention as leaders Atletico Madrid began to falter.
However, Koeman has overseen just three wins from their past eight league games, meaning they are five points behind Real Madrid and seven adrift of Atleti heading into matchday 38.
Barca s recent league form, coupled with their Champions League last-16 exit to Paris Saint-Germain, has left Koeman facing serious questions over his future despite win…
Market: Bolivar win
Odds: 4/11 @
Looking to officially book their Copa Libertadores knockout stage ticket with a final Group E statement, Bolivar will welcome Palestino to the Estadio Hernando Siles in the early hours of Wednesday.
Starting with the hosts, why Bolivar might have been disappointed as they had to settle for a Primera Division silver medal finish last season, the Blues have continued to shine on the Copa Libertadores stage. Mustering 10 points from their five Group G appearances and with one foot firmly placed in the knockout stage, Flavio Robatto’s men are rightfully pencilled in as a landslide contender here. Picking up some perfect momentum over the weekend as they cruised their way to a routine 4-0 romp against Santa Cruz while on Clausura, t…
Sancho completes his Dortmund return
Although might have only arrived at Old Trafford back in July 2021 for a fee of £73million, the England international has quickly found himself at the heart of a Manchester United nightmare.
At the centre of a major controversy this season after a public falling out with Erik ten Hag, the 23-year-old has not made a single appearance for the Premier League giants since August 26th.
With the former Ajax boss making it abundantly clear that Sancho has no part to play going forward, the one-time Manchester City starlet has completed a loan switch back to .
Enjoying what was a hugely successful spell during his four-year stay in rural Germany, Sancho certainly appears to be relishing a return to the German heavyweights.
Ajax CEO Edwin van der Sar welcomed Manchester United s rumoured interest in head coach Erik ten Hag, while he hinted at a return to the Red Devils.
Ten Hag has been linked with Premier League giants United, who are eyeing a long-term manager following the interim appointment of Ralf Rangnick until the end of the season.
Ajax s Ten Hag has impressed in his time in Amsterdam, where the 51-year-old has delivered two Eredivisie titles and embarked on a memorable run to the 2018-19 Champions League semi-finals.
Ten Hag s men have been the entertainers of Europe this term, dazzling their way into the Champions League round of 16, becoming the first Dutch side in history to win all six of their group-stage games in a campaign following Tuesday s 4-2 victory over Sporti…