Rating the 9 Patriots video games this season on leisure worth

Patriots

Befitting New England’s 5-4 file because it enters the bye week, there was some good and a few unhealthy.

By Chad Finn, The Boston Globe

November 9, 2022

How is that this Patriots season greater than half over already? It seems like simply, oh, a month in the past they opened the season with a loss in Miami during which the offensive sport plan appeared to be constructed round Mac Jones chucking up 50-50 balls.

9 video games in and, effectively, Matt Patricia’s offensive sport plans are nonetheless a piece in progress. When coach Invoice Belichick acknowledged Tuesday that the final two opposing defenses referred to as out a few of the Patriots’ performs, it got here as extra of a aid than a shock.

Seems step one to bettering an offense isn’t higher blocking or savvier quarterback play, however not telegraphing your intentions to these making an attempt to cease you. Who knew?

Yep, it’s been a bizarre 9/17ths of a season. Befitting their 5-4 file as they enter the bye week, there was some good and a few unhealthy.

The nice: Rhamondre Stevenson has emerged as a spectacular three-down operating again. Matthew Judon is channeling peak Andre Tippett. The rookie class has been wonderful, regardless of a few latest in-game benchings of first-round decide Cole Unusual.

The unhealthy: A wide range of elements has led to Jones’s regression in his second season. Patricia has struggled to greatest make the most of succesful gamers similar to Hunter Henry and occasional doghouse dweller Kendrick Bourne. And with 17 turnovers, second-most within the league, they’ve didn’t correctly defend the soccer.

All in all, it’s led to a season to this point that has been reasonably encouraging, however hardly thrilling. Which will change with matchups with the Vikings, Bengals, and a pair with the Payments nonetheless to come back, however to date this season has been about as enjoyable as watching a Season 8 rerun of “The Workplace.” there shall be some chuckles and a few good instances, however it’s not what it as soon as was.

For the game of it, right here’s a rating of the 9 Patriots video games based mostly on leisure worth, from worst to greatest. Even with additional weight given to wins, these have been surprisingly powerful to rank …

No. 9

Week 1: Dolphins 20, Patriots 7 — Fast, who scored the Patriots’ first landing of the season? In the event you mentioned Ty Montgomery, effectively accomplished, your reminiscence has fewer clouds than mine. His 6-yard landing catch got here within the third quarter with the Patriots already down, 17-0, in a sport that portended a few of their ongoing issues. The promising first possession of the season sputtered when Jones threw an interception ultimately zone on an alley-oop to DeVante Parker, and the offensive line play was spotty at greatest, with Trent Brown and Unusual lacking an project that led to a Brandon Jones strip-sack and Melvin Ingram fumble restoration for a landing.

No. 8

Week 9: Patriots 26, Colts 3 — There’s no want for a deep rehash right here, proper? We simply watched this one just a few days in the past, and as spectacular as Judon, Josh Uche, and the hellacious cross rush was in its nine-sack efficiency in opposition to the Colts’ not-ready-for-1 p.m.-Sunday-let-alone-prime-time quarterback Sam Ehlinger, the general sport was a slog, with Jones (147 passing yards) nonetheless trying to find his first above-average efficiency of the season.

No. 7

Week 7: Bears 33, Patriots 14 — This was entertaining, I suppose. Simply in all of the incorrect methods. It was extra of a spectacle than a soccer sport. Belichick waited till sport time to disclose his starter, went with Jones, then yanked him for Bailey Zappe after a horrible interception within the second quarter. The switcheroo appeased a Gillette Stadium crowd that chanted the backup’s title on and off early within the sport, however it wasn’t the kindest approach to welcome Jones again from his damage. Zappe had just a few sparks of magic early, however the Bears — who got here in averaging 15.5 factors per sport — scored the ultimate 23 factors, with their second-year quarterback, Justin Fields, weaving by way of the Patriots protection for 82 of the Bears’ 246 dashing yards.

No. 6

Week 2: Patriots 17, Steelers 14 — I don’t recall this one — the uncommon Week 2 “must-win” of the Belichick period — being this shut, in all probability as a result of Mitchell Trubisky and the Steelers offense might muster solely 243 complete yards. However the Patriots didn’t safe the victory till a 5-yard run by Damien Harris on third and three with 1 minute, 38 seconds left. It’s honest to say this can go down as the very best sport Nelson Agholor could have in a Patriots uniform. He caught all six of his targets for 110 yards and a spectacular 44-yard landing reception simply earlier than halftime.

No. 5

Week 3: Ravens 37, Patriots 26 — Nope, not the end result you’re in search of, however it was an entertaining sport, and there was hope for some time within the Patriots’ dwelling opener. They trailed by simply 14-13 at halftime earlier than issues obtained, oh, let’s name it chaotic. Lamar Jackson, in all probability essentially the most electrifying participant within the league, turned on the juice within the second half, ending with 4 passing touchdowns, one dashing landing, and 325 complete yards. The Patriots did tally 447 complete yards, nonetheless their highest output of the season, however three of their ultimate drives ended with Jones interceptions … after which he harm his ankle late within the fourth quarter, throwing his season into – yep — chaos.

No. 4

Week 8: Patriots 22, Jets 17 — The J-E-T-S suffered their thirteenth straight L-O-S-S to the Patriots, and for Jets followers whose spelling-bee repertoire is proscribed to at least one phrase, I’m spelling “loss” there. Glad to assist. Fact be instructed, your proficient younger group is making Patriots followers a bit nervous, what with the rematch developing in Week 11. Positive, this was a satisfying victory for the Patriots — all wins over the Jets are satisfying for Belichick specifically — however the path wasn’t precisely a thrill trip. Kicker Nick Folks saved some sputtered drives with 5 subject objectives, the Patriots took benefit of Zach Wilson’s here-you-take-it strategy to quarterbacking, and a Jets penalty erased an 84-yard pick-6 by Michael Carter that may have modified the tenor of the sport.

No. 3

Week 4: Packers 27, Patriots 24 (OT) — Hey, keep in mind after we thought the Packers have been good? Regardless of blowing a 24-17 fourth-quarter lead and shedding in additional time on a 31-yard Mason Crosby subject objective, this one felt like a real ethical victory on the time. With Jones out and Brian Hoyer sidelined with a concussion within the first quarter, rookie fourth-round decide Zappe got here in and planted the seeds for a quarterback controversy, enjoying with poise whereas finishing 10 of 15 passes for a modest 99 yards. There was nice enjoyable within the protection’s tormenting of Aaron Rodgers within the first half. The Patriots held him to 4 completions earlier than the break, with rookie Jack Jones choosing off a cross simply earlier than halftime and taking it 40 yards for a landing. The Packers have misplaced 5 straight since this sport, nonetheless, so this ethical victory has turn into one thing of a what-if.

No. 2

Week 5: Patriots 29, Lions 0 — That the Patriots would win with ease seems apparent on reflection. And I doubt many, if any, amongst us thought Lions coach Dan Campbell was prepared for a duel of teaching wits with Belichick, provided that tactically Belichick is enjoying chess whereas Campbell is enjoying … I don’t know, WWE 2K22 or one thing. Nevertheless it’s value a reminder that there was real suspense coming into this sport. The Lions got here in averaging 35 factors per sport. Zappe was making his first begin. And at 1-3, the Patriots couldn’t afford to let this one slip. They actually didn’t, with Lions quarterback Jared Goff trying as befuddled as he did because the Rams quarterback in Tremendous Bowl LIII, and Stevenson breaking out with 161 dashing yards on 25 carries, each profession bests.

No. 1

Week 6: Patriots 38, Browns 15 — Why is that this essentially the most entertaining and satisfying Patriots sport of the season to this point? Allow us to depend the methods. Even skeptics caught Zappe Fever after the rookie QB accomplished 24 of 34 passes for 309 yards — nonetheless a season excessive amongst Patriots quarterbacks — and two touchdowns to steer the Patriots to a second straight win. The protection picked off two passes and recovered a pair of fumbles whereas limiting the NFL’s main rusher, Nick Chubb, to 56 yards on 12 carries. Rising star Stevenson proved essentially the most spectacular operating again on the sector, operating for a hard-fought 76 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 19 makes an attempt. What else? Oh, and rookie receiver Tyquan Thornton scored a receiving landing and a dashing landing, the latter a 19-yard burst that each one however clinched the win within the fourth quarter. All in all, it was fairly a day. The most effective they’ve had this season.