The New England Patriots fell to 1-2 on the season after dropping to the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium, 28-13. It was a tough exhibiting for Invoice Belichick’s group as they’d three-straight three-and-outs to start the sport and had varied errors that both prevented New England from placing factors on the board or helped the Saints add to their lead. With that in thoughts, there are many issues that want correcting because the Patriots transfer ahead in the event that they wish to stay aggressive the remainder of the way in which.
Under, we’ll spotlight which gamers on New England’s roster have their inventory transferring in the precise path popping out of Week 3 and who’ll be on the lookout for a bounce-back efficiency after they host Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4.
Bourne was a vivid spot in Sunday’s loss because the receiver turned in his finest efficiency as a Patriot since signing with the group this offseason. He caught six of his eight targets within the loss for a game-high 96 yards and a landing.
Bourne’s landing seize was arguably the spotlight of the afternoon. On a first-and-10 throw on the Saints’ 22-yard line with 9:30 left within the recreation, Mac Jones was nearly immediately beneath stress and lobbed a throw to the precise sideline for Bourne. The receiver was capable of leap over his defender, safe the catch and attain over the aim line for the rating.
I dove a bit deeper into the Patriots tight finish woes instantly following this recreation and for good motive. Each Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry did not put their finest foot ahead within the dropping effort for New England on Sunday. Over a two-drive sequence, Henry was known as for a false begin on what was going to be a fourth-and-1 try that pressured the Patriots to go for a discipline aim as a substitute of hoping for a landing. On the very subsequent offensive possession at first of the third quarter, Smith had a throw from Jones hit him within the palms, tip within the air, and into the arms of Saints defensive again Malcolm Jenkins, who returned it for a landing.
The 2 additionally mixed for six receptions for 40 yards, which is not precisely dwelling as much as the hefty price ticket the group paid to land them in free company this offseason.
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Whereas a lot of the offense was stagnant all through the afternoon, Meyers was one other key outlet for Jones, particularly with James White knocked out of the sport as a result of a hip damage. Meyers was focused a team-high 14 occasions and caught 9 for 94 yards. All of these marks had been a season-best for Meyers, who’ll doubtless see much more work out of the slot going ahead.
Inventory down: Offensive line
Defending Mac Jones continues to be a significant challenge with the Patriots. In opposition to the Saints, Professional Soccer Focus notes that he was pressured 18 occasions and sacked twice on the day, which largely contributed to his three turnovers. Particularly, the precise sort out spot has been an Achilles heel for New England with starter Trent Brown (calf) injured. In his place, Justin Herron began at proper sort out and allowed six pressures. Heart David Andrews additionally did not have his finest exhibiting, permitting 5 pressures and two quarterback hits.
There have been actually holes within the Patriots protection on Sunday — a blown protection in opposition to Alvin Kamara on his landing catch, for instance — however Matt Judon continues to be one of many free agent additions which might be really paying off. He had a team-high 2.5 sacks on the day and three complete tackles in opposition to New Orleans and has been a noticeable determine each time he is on the sector, routinely stepping into the opponent’s backfield.
Inventory down: Mac Jones’ deep ball
The dearth of deep photographs taken by Mac Jones by his first two video games was a storyline heading into Week 3. Properly, the Patriots rookie quarterback did begin to chuck it deep in opposition to New Orleans and the outcomes weren’t precisely awe-inspiring. In response to PFF, Jones accomplished simply certainly one of his 11 deep throws (20+ yards down the sector) for 27 yards and an interception. When Jones was throwing 10 yards or fewer down the sector, he was 24 of 28 for 169 yards. Jones’ deep ball will doubtless come alive with time, but when he is pressured right into a scenario the place he must throw deep to maintain the group aggressive at this stage in his growth, you may most likely count on the outcomes New England received on Sunday.