Notes and thoughts on the Patriots’ snap counts from their 19-3 win over the Bears.
When the New England Patriots published their inactives list 90 minutes before Sunday’s kickoff against the Chicago Bears, one of the storylines was K.J. Osborn returning to the lineup. The free agency pickup, who was seen as a pre-deadline trade candidate earlier in the week, seemingly made the game day roster as the fifth option on the depth chart.
However, he ended the game playing the second most snaps at his position group. Only Kayshon Boutte (62; 97%) was on the field more often than Osborn (29; 45%).
His increase in opportunities after having played just 31 snaps total over the previous five games came at the expense of Kendrick Bourne. Typically the Patriots’ starting Z-receiver, the veteran ended up playing not a single snap despite his spot on the game day roster.
After the game, head coach Jerod Mayo claimed that “a lot” went into the decision to effectively sit Bourne versus the Bears.
“Anytime we put the active roster together, we thought that that was the best thing to do for us to give us the best chance to win” he explained. “All those guys bring a certain skillset to the game. We just didn’t know who was going to play more; it just played out that way.”
Since his return from the physically unable to perform list in early October, Bourne steadily increased his workload. The last three games before Sunday, he averaged just under 48 snaps per game as one of New England’s starting wideouts.
On Sunday, after some up-and-down play the previous weeks, that number plummeted to zero. And yet, you wouldn’t know watching Bourne interact with his teammates: he was his usual happy-go-lucky self, displaying the leadership the team covets.
“Even though Bourne didn’t play today, he was the first one smiling when I walked in the locker room, and I’ve always appreciated that, just his energy and excitement,” said Mayo. “Same thing with K.J. and the rest of those guys. Sometimes even when they’re inactive, just the excitement for their teammates.”
So, what is going on with Bourne? On Sunday, the team was reportedly prioritizing playing its younger talent at wide receiver; Ja’Lynn Polk also played 26 snaps (41%) at the position as another Z-type wideout. Of course, that does not explain why the 27-year-old Osborn suddenly seems to have overtaken the 29-year-old Bourne on the depth.
Until concrete answers follow either from the team or the player usage next week, the answer will therefore remain in the dark.
Here is our full snap count report from the Patriots’ 19-3 win over the Bears.
Offense
Total snaps: 64 | Time on the field: 31:26
QB Drake Maye (64; 100%), LT Vederian Lowe (64; 100%), LG Michael Jordan (64; 100%), C Ben Brown (64; 100%), RG Michael Onwenu (64; 100%), RT Demontrey Jacobs (64; 100%), WR Kayshon Boutte (62; 97%), TE Hunter Henry (57; 89%), RB Rhamondre Stevenson (45; 70%), TE Austin Hooper (41, 64%), WR K.J. Osborn (29; 45%), WR DeMario Douglas (27; 42%), WR Ja’Lynn Polk (26; 41%), RB JaMycal Hasty (12; 19%), RB Antonio Gibson (7; 11%), OL/TE/FB Sidy Sow (6; 9%), WR Javon Baker (4; 6%), TE Jaheim Bell (2; 3%), TE Mitchell Wilcox (1; 2%), OL/TE Layden Robinson (1; 2%)
*denotes starter
The Patriots introduced some stability along their offensive line, starting the Vederian Lowe-Michael Jordan-Ben Brown-Michael Onwenu-Demontrey Jacobs group for the third time this season after Week 6 and 8. The only lineup combination to start more than one game performed generally well, even though there is no telling what the team’s coaching staff will do once Cole Strange returns from the PUP list.
Elsewhere, the Patriots leaned heavily into two-tight end territory. While Hunter Henry played his usual high number of snaps, Austin Hooper was on the field for a season-best 41 snaps (64%). He also had his most productive day as a receiver, gaining 64 yards on three catches.
At running back, meanwhile, Rhamondre Stevenson continues to carry the load. JaMycal Hasty, meanwhile, appears to have surpassed Antonio Gibson — whose workload continued to decrease to a season-low seven snaps — as the No. 2 option at the position.
Defense
Total snaps: 60 | Time on the field: 26:07
LB Jahlani Tavai (60; 100%), CB Christian Gonzalez (60; 100%), ED Anfernee Jennings (56; 93%), DE/ED Keion White (54; 90%), CB/S Jonathan Jones (52; 87%), S Jaylinn Hawkins (49; 82%), DT Daniel Ekuale (41; 68%), CB Marcus Jones (39; 65%), S Dell Pettus (38; 63%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (35; 58%), DT Davon Godchaux (29; 48%), DE/ED Deatrich Wise Jr. (28; 47%), LB Sione Takitaki (28; 47%), CB Marco Wilson (24; 40%), S Marte Mapu (24; 40%), CB Isaiah Bolden (12; 20%), LB Joe Giles-Harris (8; 13%), DT Jaquelin Roy (7; 12%), LB Curtis Jacobs (6; 10%), S Brenden Schooler (5; 8%), ED Ochaun Mathis (5; 8%)
*denotes starter
The Brenden Schooler-led “Longhorn” package was a natural attention-grabber during and after the game, but the core special teamer was on the field for only five snaps on the day. He did make the most of them, though, and finished with his first career sack.
On the opposite end of the playing time spectrum one can find the usually suspects. Players such as Jahlani Tavai, Christian Gonzalez and Anfernee Jennings continue to play a heavy workload north of 90 percent. Also among that group on Sunday — for the first time in his career — was sophomore defensive lineman Keion White; with Tavai again focusing primarily on off-ball duties, he was the primary edge opposite Jennings.
Another player seeing an increase in opportunities was Jonathan Jones. The veteran lined up all over the formation versus the Bears’ three-receiver sets, with his increase in safety snaps the most noteworthy development: Jones’ ability to wear multiple hats paired with Marco Wilson looking solid as a No. 4 cornerback option, allows the team to move him around where it best sees fit.
Against the Bears, that was at safety. With Kyle Dugger out, he joined a rotation consisting of Jaylinn Hawkins, Dell Pettus, and Marte Mapu — the latter playing a lower-than-usual percentage of snaps. Whether that was the result of game plan or limiting exposure is not known, but the second-year DB was limited entering the game with a neck injury.
Also not playing his usual high number of snaps was Davon Godchaux. The starting defensive tackle finished with a lower snap number than both Daniel Ekuale and Jeremiah Pharms Jr. Why? The Bears having to play catch-up down the stretch likely played a role in that.
Special Teams
Total snaps: 27 | Time on the field: 2:27
S Brenden Schooler (22; 81%), ED Ochaun Mathis (22; 81%), LB Joe Giles-Harris (19; 70%), LB Curtis Jacobs (17; 63%), S Jaylinn Hawkins (16; 59%), CB Marcellas Dial Jr. (16; 59%), LB Jahlani Tavai (13; 48%), S Dell Pettus (13; 48%), TE Jaheim Bell (11; 41%), TE Mitchell Wilcox (11; 41%), CB Isaiah Bolden (11; 41%), P/H Bryce Baringer (11; 41%), LS Joe Cardona (11; 41%), DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (10; 37%), K Joey Slye (10; 37%), LB Sione Takitaki (9; 33%); CB/PR Marcus Jones (8; 30%), CB Marco Wilson (8; 30%), TE Austin Hooper (6; 22%), C Ben Brown (5; 19%), OT Demontrey Jacobs (5; 19%), G Michael Jordan (5; 19%), G Michael Onwenu (5; 19%), OL Sidy Sow (5; 19%), WR/KR Javon Baker (5; 19%), DT Daniel Ekuale (5; 19%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (5; 19%), OL Lecitus Smith (5; 19%), RB JaMycal Hasty (4; 15%), RB/KR Antonio Gibson (2; 7%), CB Jonathan Jones (1; 4%), S Marte Mapu (1; 4%)
New England’s special teams operation saw some change on Sunday, with two areas in particular standing out.
The first is the kickoff return job. While all two of Chicago’s kickoffs ended as touchbacks, the return setup looked different: Javon Baker was joined by Antonio Gibson as the two players lining up in the return spots; previously, JaMycal Hasty filled that role.
Additionally, the Patriots needed to replace Raekwon McMillan after the core special teamer was released Friday. In order to fill his role, Joe Giles-Harris was brought up from the practice squad as a standard elevation. He appears to be a potential candidate to be signed to the active roster once his lone remaining elevation opportunity is used.
Did not play
QB Jacoby Brissett, WR Kendrick Bourne
Besides the aforementioned Kendrick Bourne, the Patriots also kept backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett on the sideline throughout the game. The former starter still leads the team in total QB snaps through 10 weeks, but that will change within the next two weeks.
Inactive
S Kyle Dugger, LB Christian Elliss, DT Eric Johnson, QB Joe Milton III, ED Yannick Ngakoue, OL Tyrese Robinson, WR Tyquan Thornton
The Patriots’ inactives list on Sunday may have contained some notable names, but no real surprises. Kyle Dugger (ankle) and Christian Elliss (abdomen) were both ruled out due to injuries, Yannick Ngakoue was claimed off waivers less than 48 hours before kickoff, and the other inactives were all healthy scratches as bottom-of-the-roster options.