Check out what the experts are saying about the Patriots heading into Week 5
The race to the bottom has begun. There are six teams currently competing for low man on the 2024 AFC totem pole: Patriots, Dolphins, Browns, Bengals and Titans all stand at 1-3, with the Jaguars at 0-4. New England will face two of these teams in the next three weeks: the Dolphins in Week 5 at home, and the Jaguars in Week 7 for the international game in London. Lucky Germany.
All of these teams belong here. You can argue that the Bengals and Dolphins have franchise quarterbacks, solid rosters and were supposed to be contenders – and maybe the next quarter will boost them in that direction – but as Bill Parcells aptly stated, “You are what your record says you are.” Miami has been unraveling since they lost QB Tua Tagovailoa to a concussion in Week 2. The earliest he can return is Week 8. Not ideal, but contending teams figure it out. The Pats have been without a franchise quarterback since 2020 so I have zero sympathy for Miami losing theirs.
This Week 5 Pats-Fins matchup has potential to be a game. Maybe not an exciting game, but one that each team has a chance to win. I’m picturing a cross between the Week 4 Titans-Dolphins slog on Monday Night Football, and that 2022 Week 11 Pats-Jets game when the only highlight came with 25 seconds left, on a Marcus Jones punt return for the game’s only touchdown.
I wasn’t confident last Sunday, but thought the Pats had an outside chance to catch the 49ers after 10 days of preparation. I was waaaaaaaay off. This week, again, I can see an outside chance for a win. That assumes the offensive line can keep Jacoby Brissett upright long enough to connect with the WRs, that Rhamondre Stevenson ends his fumbling give-aways, and the defense rediscovers its discipline. We’ll see what happens.
GO PATS!!
Around the AFC East:
Buffalo Bills (3-1) at Houston Texans (3-1)
New York Jets (2-2) at Minnesota Vikings (4-0)
New England Patriots (1-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (1-3)
AFC Matchups:
Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) vs. New Orleans Saints (2-2)
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) vs. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)
Baltimore Ravens (2-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-3)
Indianapolis Colts (2-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4)
Las Vegas Raiders (2-2) at Denver Broncos (2-2)
Cleveland Browns (1-3) at Washington Commanders (3-1)
Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) — Bye
Tennessee Titans (1-3) — Bye
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26th – Ryan Dunleavy (NY Post). [-1]
28th – Nate Davis (USA Today): RB Rhamondre Stevenson has fumbled once in five consecutive games going back to last season. Maintain that horrid pace, and he’ll set a single-season record for a non-quarterback. [+2]
29th – Eric Edholm (NFL.com): In spite of the painful turn offensively in the past three losses, I think sticking with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback remains the right call. Why? Well, none of us on the outside really know how Drake Maye is developing, but the Patriots certainly do, and in light of their pass-protection issues right now, why would giving the ball to Maye help matters? Against the Niners on Sunday, Brissett took six sacks and was hit several more times. His pick-six was his biggest mistake of the game, but he wasn’t helped by Rhamondre Stevenson losing a fumble in the first quarter and being stopped on fourth down in the second. This offense is just in rough shape. The Patriots’ three scores Sunday came on “drives” of minus-6, 27 and 32 yards. What does that tell you? If New England’s defense isn’t securing pristine field position, the offense’s chances of scoring are remarkably low. The Week 1 upset over Cincinnati feels more and more like a distant memory. [-2]
29th – Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News): The Patriots’ defense isn’t what it was with Bill Belichick, as it has plenty of holes under Jerod Mayo. They need to think about getting Drake Maye to start at QB with the season looking lost for the offense after the Week 1 surprise in Cincinnati. [nc]
29th – Staff (The Score): Jacoby Brissett kept the Patriots in both games and hasn’t turned the ball over. His ability to scramble was crucial in the club’s upset win over the Bengals. [-2]
30th – Pete Prisco (CBS Sports): They are limited on offense, which showed up against the 49ers. That will continue to stay that way because of a lack of talent. It’s hard to score with bad line play. [-3]
30th – Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk): It’s Drake Maye time. [-2]
31st – Conor Orr (SI): Jerod Mayo can’t quite say it out loud, but his comments on Jacoby Brissett after a 49ers game in which Brissett looked absolutely exhausted, said it all. “I will never question his toughness, his dependability, his leadership style for this team—and that’s what we need right now.” Toughness being the word we want to underline. Drake Maye isn’t getting thrown into this right now. [-5]
31st – Matthew Cannata (ProFootballNetwork): … Almost no one expected the Patriots to contend this season, with their preseason win total of 4.5 being the lowest in the league, per Sharp Football Analysis. The offensive struggles are no surprise — the Patriots rank 28th in EPA per play, driven in large part by allowing a league-high 45.8% pressure rate through three games. The more surprising development is how the Patriots appear to have lost some of their defensive DNA despite promoting Jerod Mayo to head coach. New England ranks 24th in defensive EPA per play, a huge decline after finishing fourth last year. … The Patriots’ immediate future is all about creating the best environment possible for Drake Maye, so the offensive struggles get nearly all the attention. But if the defense’s decline is real, New England’s path back to contention is longer than anyone imagined. [-1]
31st – Consensus (Bleacher Report): The New England Patriots are settling into a pattern. First, New England and its anemic offense takes the field. Then the Patriots get pummeled by an opponent. Then head coach Jerod Mayo fields questions about when rookie Drake Maye is going to get a start at quarterback. … Week 4 followed the script. But despite another lopsided loss and a fourth straight game with less than 150 passing yards, Mayo insisted to reporters that veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett remains the team’s starter—at least for now. … Maybe the Patriots are trying to get as high a pick as possible to get Maye an actual, legitimate receiver to throw to in 2025? [-1]
32nd – NFL Nation (ESPN): Biggest issue on defense: Allowing QBs out of the pocket. There isn’t an official statistic for blown edges, but if it existed, the Patriots might lead the league. As coach Jerod Mayo said after Sunday’s loss to the 49ers, “Keeping the quarterback in the pocket continues to be an issue.” The Patriots allowed Brock Purdy to escape the pocket three times on the first drive to extend passing plays or use his legs, which was alarming because it was a top point of emphasis after Geno Smith and Aaron Rodgers had similar success. Mayo said that if defenders continue to make the same mistakes, they might lose playing time as a result. — Mike Reiss. [-3]
32nd – Diante Lee (The Ringer): Nobody’s better at making losing look painful. I don’t know how much longer I can stand watching Jacoby Brissett peel himself off the turf; Each sack or knockdown appears more punishing than the last. I’d venture to guess that 1st-round pick Drake Maye is sure to pick up all the donuts, Gatorade, and dinner tabs Brissett asks for, thankful that he’s not the one taking this kind of beating during his rookie season. The Patriots have given up sacks at the highest rate in football, totally negating any advantages the team might have on the ground or with its defense. But they were bad in those departments on Sunday against the 49ers, too. [-3]
32nd – Matt Johnson (SportsNaut): The New England Patriots have reverted back to the team everyone expected to see this season. Each passing week gives legitimacy to the club’s decision not to start Drake Maye, because the rookie quarterback would get pulverized behind this offensive line. New England is also clearly missing Christian Barmore, an absence that has dealt a significant blow to this defense. With October arriving, it’s already time to think about which offensive tackle the Patriots should draft in 2025. [-2]
32nd – Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports): How did the Patriots beat the Bengals in Week 1? Or keep it close with the Seahawks in Week 2? Since then New England has looked as bad as many people thought it would be, looking outclassed by the Jets and 49ers. That’s probably what we’ll see the rest of the way. [-1]
AVG RANK: 30.1 [-1.4]