Notes and thoughts on the Patriots’ snap counts from their 25-22 win over the Jets.
Stability along the offensive line has been a problem for the New England Patriots throughout the 2024 season. Over the first seven weeks, they started seven different lineup combinations — a lack of coherence that directly impacted the unit’s performance.
On Sunday against the New York Jets, however, the group found some much needed stability. For the first time all season, the Patriots were able to use a starting five they previously employed at some point: Vederian Lowe, Michael Jordan, Ben Brown, Michael Onwenu and Demontrey Jacobs already started in Week 6 against the Houston Texans.
Unlike that particular game, which saw both Lowe and Jordan get banged up, the group was able to go wire-to-wire this time around. The quintet was on the field for all 67 offensive snaps against the Jets, with pass blocking in particular looking drastically improved compared to the first matchup between the two division rivals.
Whereas Patriots quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye were sacked a combined seven times in Week 3, the team surrendered only two takedowns in Week 8. Run blocking was more of a mixed bag, but the signs are nonetheless encouraging — a perspective echoed by head coach Jerod Mayo.
“What was perceived, I would say, early on as a weakness on this team has now become a strength,” Mayo told reporters on Monday.
With that said, here is our full snap count report from the Patriots’ 25-22 win over the Jets.
Offense
Total snaps: 67 | Time on the field: 29:27
LT Vederian Lowe* (67; 100%), LG Michael Jordan* (67; 100%), C Ben Brown* (67; 100%), RG Michael Onwenu* (67; 100%), RT Demontrey Jacobs* (67; 100%), TE Hunter Henry* (57; 85%), WR Kayshon Boutte* (55; 82%), RB Rhamondre Stevenson* (54; 81%), WR Kendrick Bourne* (52; 78%), QB Jacoby Brissett (47; 70%), WR DeMario Douglas (38; 57%), TE Austin Hooper (32; 48%), QB Drake Maye* (20; 30%), RB Antonio Gibson (13; 19%), WR Tyquan Thornton (12; 18%), WR K.J. Osborn (9; 13%), TE Jaheim Bell (8; 12%), OL/FB Lecitus Smith* (3; 4%), OT/TE Zachary Thomas (1; 1%), OL/FB Sidy Sow (1; 1%)
*denotes starter
The Patriots started the game with rookie quarterback Drake Maye under center, but he lasted only 20 snaps. A scramble in the late first quarter saw him absorb a helmet-to-helmet hit, and he eventually was pulled from the game and placed into the NFL concussion protocol. With him out, the team turned to veteran Jacoby Brissett to play the final 47 snaps of the day.
The supporting cast around the quarterbacks was led some familiar faces. Hunter Henry and Rhamondre Stevenson continue to hoard snaps at the tight end and running back positions, respectively, with Kayshon Boutte once more leading the receivers.
As for that particular group, Kendrick Bourne saw his largest workload since returning from the physically unable to perform list. Despite an increase in opportunity, however, the veteran wideout did not have a particularly good game: he did not catch a single pass on three targets, and dropped a pair of balls.
Other players worth mentioning include Tyquan Thornton, who played 12 snaps in his return after back-to-back healthy scratches; Antonio Gibson, meanwhile, played only 13 snaps with Stevenson now back as the undisputed RB1; offensive linemen Lecitus Smith and Sidy Sow both entered the field as fullback/H-backs at some point.
Defense
Total snaps: 62 | Time on the field: 28:42
S Marte Mapu* (62; 100%), CB Marcus Jones* (62; 100%), CB Christian Gonzalez* (62; 100%), ED Anfernee Jennings* (60; 97%), LB Christian Elliss* (52; 84%), LB/ED Jahlani Tavai* (49; 79%), DT Davon Godchaux* (47; 76%), DE/ED Keion White* (42; 68%), S Dell Pettus (37; 60%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr.* (33; 53%), S Jaylinn Hawkins* (32; 52%), DE/ED Deatrich Wise Jr.* (30; 48%), DT Jaquelin Roy (30; 48%), CB/S Jonathan Jones (30; 48%), CB Marco Wilson (23; 37%), LB Raekwon McMillan (12; 19%), DT Eric Johnson II (10; 16%), LB Sione Takitaki (5; 8%), ED Ochaun Mathis (4; 6%)
*denotes starter
With Kyle Dugger unable to play against the Jets, the Patriots had to reshuffle their safety group on relatively short notice; he was added to the injury report on Saturday before eventually being ruled out pre-game. Besides Marte Mapu playing his usual high number of snaps, this also meant increased opportunities for Dell Pettus and Jaylinn Hawkins: the pair ended up playing 37 and 32 of 62 possible snaps, respectively.
Also part of the safety mix was veteran Jonathan Jones. While playing only 30 snaps overall — resulting in a season-low playing time share of 48 percent — he lined up in a free safety alignment on seven of those.
Jones playing fewer snaps than the norm was tied to the Patriots using more base looks and installing Marcus Jones as the No. 2 cornerback opposite Christian Gonzalez. While Gonzalez looked as expected, the younger Jones was targeted repeatedly in his matchup with standout receiver Garrett Wilson. Nonetheless, the team held onto him and he ended up playing 100 percent of snaps for just the second game in his career.
At linebacker, Christian Elliss continues to step up. Having fully replaced Raekwon McMillan as the No. 2 off-ball player alongside Jahlani Tavai, he was on the field for 84 percent of snaps — the highest total of his four year career. Elliss responded well, and registered a crucial sack in the fourth quarter.
With him emerging as a solid player versus the Jets, the Patriots’ other linebackers were given minor roles. McMillan played just 12 snaps, with Sione Takitaki contributing five.
Along the defensive line, the Patriots turned to Jeremiah Pharms Jr. to fill the starting role left vacant by Daniel Ekuale’s inactivity. Like Christian Elliss, he too set a new career mark for playing time share; never before had Pharms Jr. crossed the 50 percent barrier in a single game.
Special Teams
Total snaps: 26 | Time on the field: 1:51
LB Raekwon McMillan (23; 88%), S Brenden Schooler (23; 88%), CB Marcellas Dial Jr. (23; 88%), ED Ochaun Mathis (18; 69%), LB Curtis Jacobs (18; 69%), LB Jahlani Tavai (16; 62%), S Jaylinn Hawkins (15; 58%), S Marte Mapu (14; 54%), S Dell Pettus (13; 50%), CB Isaiah Bolden (13; 50%), TE Jaheim Bell (12; 46%), LB Christian Elliss (10; 38%), DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (8; 31%), K Joey Slye (8; 31%), P/H Bryce Baringer (8; 31%), LS Joe Cardona (8; 31%), RB/KR JaMycal Hasty (8; 31%), DT Davon Godchaux (5; 19%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (5; 19%), WR/KR Javon Baker (5; 19%), CB/PR Marcus Jones (4; 15%), DT Jaquelin Roy (4; 15%), CB Marco Wilson (4; 15%), C Ben Brown (3; 12%), OT Demontrey Jacobs (3; 12%), G Michael Jordan (3; 12%), G Michael Onwenu (3; 12%), TE Austin Hooper (3; 12%), OT Zachary Thomas (3; 12%), OL Sidy Sow (3; 12%),
The Patriots’ special teams usage was once again impacted by players filling roles elsewhere, especially on defense. As a consequence, a player like Raekwon McMillan saw a bigger kicking game workload opposed to the likes of Christian Elliss and Dell Pettus.
A different-looking role was also given to rookie wide receiver Javon Baker. While not seeing any snaps in his return to the game day roster after four weeks of inactivity, the fourth-round draft pick played five snaps as one of the Patriots’ kickoff returners alongside JaMycal Hasty; Baker ran back one kick for 17 yards.
Did not play
N/A
With Jacoby Brissett entering the game in the second quarter, and with the Patriots using their backup offensive linemen as extra blockers on select plays, the entire game day roster saw action on Sunday. The only other time that has happened so far this season came in Week 3 against the Jets, when New England was blown out 24-3.
Inactive
WR Ja’Lynn Polk, QB Joe Milton III, S Kyle Dugger, ED Joshua Uche, OL Layden Robinson, DT Daniel Ekuale
A majority of the Patriots’ inactives on Sunday was dealing with injury. None of Ja’Lynn Polk (concussion), Kyle Dugger (ankle), Layden Robinson (ankle) and Daniel Ekuale (abdomen) received the green light to suit up against the Jets.
The most notable name on the list of inactives, however, was one of the two healthy scratches. Joshuah Uche, a rumored trade candidate ahead of the Nov. 5 deadline, was held out of the contest.