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Mike Reiss, ESPN writer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Some quick thoughts and notes on the New England Patriots and the NFL:
1. Identity of the patriots: There was a common theme between Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo and his top assistants, Alex Van Pelt and DeMarcus Covington, in the aftermath of their 24-3 loss to the New York Jets on Thursday.
It wasn’t us.
Their first two games — a 16-10 win over the Bengals and a 23-20 overtime loss to the Seahawks — were good for players and coaches. The Patriots played hard, were mostly fundamentally sound and appeared to be ahead of schedule, considering ESPN’s Football Power Index projected them to have the fewest wins in 2024.
They then failed and burned against the Jets, seemingly because they forgot what primarily defined them over the first two weeks.
This is a team that runs hard and has to protect an undermanned offensive line that has struggled at times to protect its passes. This is an energetic defense that comes out to recover the ball, tackles well and creates turnovers.
“We tried to play a formula and I thought we did a good job of it the first two weeks,” longtime center and captain David Andrews said after Thursday’s blowout win. “That wasn’t it.”
All of this sets up an intriguing week for the Patriots (1-2), as it’s unclear which way things will go.
A tough road game awaits them against the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers. The Patriots can reassert their identity by getting back to basics, allowing them to view their disappointing performance as a problem that sometimes befalls teams that find themselves in fast-paced games on Thursdays.
Or Thursday could be closer to where they really are, which would then raise the question of whether the Patriots team of Weeks 1 and 2 played so far above themselves that it was the high point of the season.
Safety captain Jabrill Peppers said before players return to work Monday, they need to “get back in order, reset and heal.”
That may be the case on the offensive line, where the potential return of starting left guard Sidy Sow (ankle) is a bright spot for a unit that has been holding the team back. Consider that a 48.6 percent pressure rate against the Jets was the highest the Patriots have allowed since 2016, according to ESPN Research. Sow won’t be able to fill a gaping hole at left tackle — injured Vederian Lowe (knee) has been the best of an unstable group — but the Patriots could use any kind of good news up front.
Likely with the offensive line’s shortcomings in mind, Mayo said, “We have to be very intentional in how we approach the game and how we adjust during the game.”
Whether they can get back to that level represents a tough test at the start of the season for Mayo and his coaching staff.
2. Maye’s day: In a sign of the interest in rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s development, reporters surrounded him in the visitors’ locker room Thursday night after he entered late in the fourth quarter for a drive.
Maye’s parents, Mark and Aimee, were at the game to see his first regular-season action (16 snaps), which Maye said was bittersweet in that it was a crushing loss. Maye (4 of 8 for 22 yards; 2 carries for 12 yards) was hard on himself for taking two sacks, but he also saw positives to build on by converting four first downs.
Van Pelt saw Maye’s motivation as an integral part of his project.
“I think it was a great experience for him to come here, especially a night game in New York,” he said. “I think it was a good start for him. He definitely has some things to improve in his game, but he made some shots, made some plays with his legs. I’m encouraged about his future.”
Of Maye’s footwork under pressure, Van Pelt called it “up and down.”
“There were things to fix, and that’s usually the case the first time you play a live game – it can change your feet and come back to you,” he said. “It’s still a work in progress, he’ll be able to take it to the next level.”
Maye plans to visit his alma mater, North Carolina, during the players’ bye weekend.
3. Stevenson’s escapes: Fourth-year running back Rhamondre Stevenson has only one turnover in 2023, a turnaround from his four turnovers in 2022. But things have changed this season. He has lost the ball in each of the first three games and seemed to be seething after Thursday’s loss.
“I have to hold the ball,” he said pragmatically about the worrying trend.
Van Pelt outlined what this means Stevenson can expect in the coming weeks.
“Job security is ball security and now he’s got a target on his back. Teams are going to see it and they’re going to go after the ball,” Van Pelt said. “I know he’s going to fix it. I know he prides himself on (being safe with the ball) and he’s going to be a better person for it.”
4. Brissett beaten: Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett was tackled nine times, and after taking 15 hits in Thursday’s loss to the Jets, he’s now been hit 30 times in three games. That’s a reflection of how shaky the pass protection has been at times, and also Brissett’s toughness.
“One thing is for sure, I will always get back up,” he said.
This earned him the sympathy of players and coaches, starting with Maye.
“That says a lot. I told him on the sideline, ‘That’s how we represent quarterbacks out there,'” Maye said.
5. Communication verification: Linebacker Jahlani Tavai had the communication device in his helmet Thursday as his primary communicator with the sideline, filling the void created by Ja’Whaun Bentley’s torn pectoral muscle injury.
Tavai, like Mayo and Covington, felt communication wasn’t an issue. Among their biggest concerns was players getting into sloppy positioning, which is Bentley’s strong suit.
“It’s always tough to lose a guy like Bentley, but I feel like we have players who can step up and fill those roles,” Mayo said, referring to Tavai and Raekwon McMillan.
6. Bourne on the verge of fame: Fifth-year veteran KJ Osborn has played more than any Patriots receiver through three games, totaling 130 snaps, with his primary contributions coming as a blocker in the run game. In the pass game, Osborn has just four receptions for 28 yards.
With veteran Kendrick Bourne eligible to begin practice after Week 4 and coming off the physically unfit list, he could potentially replace Osborn if things continue in the same direction. Mayo noted in his pregame radio interview that Bourne is performing as expected.
“He’s done a great job and he’s close to the goal. We’re looking forward to having him back in the room,” Mayo said.
7. Touchback Team: Jeremy Springer, the Patriots’ first-time special teams coordinator, was instrumental in how he approached the new kickoff rules.
Over the last three games, the Patriots have returned 11 kickoffs to the end zone, with nine touchdowns. So instead of strategically putting the ball in play in the end zone, forcing a return, Springer and Mayo have essentially been content to let the opponent start at their own 30-yard line. Acknowledging that things could change, Springer said there have been more touchbacks leaguewide than he had originally anticipated.
8. Kromah Report:The Patriots signed rookie defensive end/outside linebacker Jamree Kromah on Wednesday off the Bears’ practice squad, filling the void created by the placement of outside linebacker Oshane Ximines (knee) on injured reserve. Kromah has high-end physical attributes; he stands 6-foot-3, 270 pounds with a 34-inch arm span, which helped make him a sought-after free agent after going undrafted out of James Madison.
Kromah played 63 defensive snaps in the preseason (the Bears got an extra game because they were part of the inaugural Hall of Fame game) and his improvement over that span, along with previous scouting reports, likely contributed to the Patriots’ pursuit. But he didn’t play much on special teams (just seven snaps), which is a big part of Ximines’ role for the Patriots.
9. Reunion with Anderson: Thursday’s outcome was painful for the Patriots, but not as much for one of their longtime former employees. Kevin Anderson, who made his NFL debut with the Patriots in 2006 as an operations assistant and spent 10 years in Foxborough before joining the Lions for six, is in his first year as chief of staff to Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
He notably met Patriots assistant Matthew Slater and former safety Devin McCourty (who did the national radio play-by-play) on the field before the game.
10. Did you know?: Kicker Bryce Baringer, whom Springer called a “weapon” for the team, has punted 50 yards or more in 20 consecutive games. Since 1970, the NFL record for longest streak with at least one 50-yard punt is 38 games, set by Shane Lechler of the Raiders from 2007-10.
