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A candid look at how the Patriots’ culture shift, a selfless offense, and a versatile content team reignited New England’s spark. Alexandra Francisco shares her path from writer to on-air host and the story behind “Good Jewels Hunting,” plus honest advice for women breaking in.

• Vrabel’s leadership and character-first roster building
• Drake May’s impact and a share-the-ball offense
• Behind the scenes of an award-winning schedule release
• From writing to radio to on-camera hosting
• Why winning changes content velocity and tone
• Community impact through the Patriots Foundation
• Confidence over imposter syndrome for women in sports media
• Practical tips for breaking into sports content now
• Where to watch Patriots Unfiltered and Alexandra’s interviews

Catch us on Patriots Unfiltered live on Patriots.com and all Patriots social channels every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. I’m always on Thursday. Find me on Instagram at al_francisco, X at byalfrancisco, and TikTok at Alexandra Francisco

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New York was buzzing over a rookie tandem—until one brutal play stopped everything and reminded us how fragile this sport can be. Cam Scadaboo’s season-ending injury forced a gut-check for the Giants, and even Eagles fans rose for a standing ovation. Rivalries paused; respect didn’t.

From there, Week Eight delivered: a young QB learning why chemistry matters, a reset coming to New York’s RB room, and fantasy waiver names that call for patience, not panic.

Off the field, honesty stole the week. Justin Fields admitted he cried in his closet before leading the Jets’ first win—redefining toughness in real time. We debate the tush push (keep the play, fix the calls), say goodbye to the banana uniforms, and give props to NFL x Lululemon for finally getting what fans actually wear on Tuesdays.

The standings sharpened: the Colts keep surprising, the Chiefs recalibrated, the Broncos’ defense is real, and the playoff picture is finally taking shape. With the trade deadline looming, the Bills need a separator, the Vikings might chase a veteran QB, and the Saints have tough calls in a crowded WR room. Inside locker rooms, players—not coaches—are setting the tone for accountability.

Week Eight had everything: heartbreak, honesty, and just enough chaos to keep us glued. If this is where the league’s headed—raw, self-aware, and still ridiculous—we’re here for it.

Thanks for listening to The Game!

We're happy you're here. If you enjoyed the episode, please send it to a friend, share it on social, or leave us a cute 5-star review.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY of women in our Substack Community for gameday chats, exclusive articles, and more NFL by the girls, for everyone: Thegamethepodcast.substack.com

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A pop lyric, a ping pong table, and a 33-point fourth quarter shouldn’t belong in the same story—but week seven made it make sense. We kick off with Taylor Swift’s “Redwood” line and the Kelsey brothers’ joke parade, then pivot into the meat of the league: what culture really means when your quarterback is struggling, your owner won’t stay quiet, and your kicker melts down at the worst possible time.

We unpack the Miami mess, where Mike McDaniel’s public nudge at Tua says more about leadership than box scores. Then it’s the Jets, expected to move from Justin Fields to Tyrod Taylor while front-office voices stoke headlines. Over in Baltimore, the Ravens removed locker room “toys”—ping pong, hoops, consoles—as if amenities were the issue, not cohesion or schematics. Contrast that with the Colts, who look like the most complete AFC team: Jonathan Taylor rumbling through the Chargers while the defense and offense sync in all the small ways that win Sundays.

The highlight reel belongs to Denver. Down big, the Broncos ripped off 33 in the fourth, capitalizing on a New York interception and two brutal missed extra points that flipped the script. We break down how the comeback unfolded drive by drive, why special teams discipline matters, and what this says about the Giants’ ceiling with Jackson Dart and Cam Scattaboo. And yes, we talk Russell Wilson vs Sean Payton—“classless” tweet and all—because words shape culture as much as play calls do.

There’s more: Chargers “banana” uniforms, Carly Irsay’s Dior sideline statement, a referee stepping in to shield a young star from a fight, and a few pick sixes that turned stadiums electric. If you care about football beyond the score—how teams actually hold together or fall apart—this one’s for you. Hit play, subscribe for the next breakdown, and drop a review with your boldest take from week seven. Who’s the most complete team right now?

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Thanks for listening to The Game!

We're happy you're here. If you enjoyed the episode, please send it to a friend, share it on social, or leave us a cute 5-star review.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY of women in our Substack Community for gameday chats, exclusive articles, and more NFL by the girls, for everyone: Thegamethepodcast.substack.com

Ready to try CUSO'S?

Head to cusocuts.com/thegame for 10% off your order!

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL:

Victoria Henderson

Instagram | TikTok

Giovonna Scroggins

Instagram | TikTok

The Game

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The Game's On Every Thursday!

LOVE YOU, BYEEEE!