Patriots are back in the Win Column
The Patriots get it done in Foxborough
Coming into this week, the Patriots needed a win to bring back the preseason hype. After a devastating loss to the Seahawks in week 1, a victory in week 2 was required for the Patriots. The defense played at an elite level for nearly the entire game with amazing plays from the line of scrimmage and excellent pass coverage. The Patriots offense also succeeded in the run game, with TreVeyon Henderson making his season debut and looking quick and decisive. It was an overall above-average game from the Patriots, who are now back on track.
The Defense came up Huge!
Zak Kuhr held the Steelers offense in check for most of the game this past Sunday. Aaron Rodgers looked lost out on the field, only throwing for 187 yards. The Patriots were able to do that by getting pressure on Rodgers, with multiple players creating big plays. By the end of the game, the Patriots forced 2 turnovers and nearly a third with a huge strip sack, which resulted in a nearly 40-yard loss.
The defensive line came up huge with a total of 4 sacks from Christian Barmore, Elijah Ponder, Christian Ellis, and Joshua Farmer. For much of the game, Rodgers was unable to set his feet straight, which forced him into bad decisions. The secondary could also take the credit for making Rodgers look washed. Christian Gonzalez locked up D.K. Metcalf, holding him to just 2 catches when covered by Gonzalez. The rest of the secondary held nearly all receivers to under 10 yards per reception even without Carlton Davis III. The secondary of the Patriots is going to be extremely tough to throw against for opposing quarterbacks.
The Patriots defense played at such an elite level that for the first time in nearly 16 years, Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy did not score a touchdown the entire game. It says a lot to hold a very accomplished duo to just 3 points. This is the type of stuff Patriots Nation expected this year, and they have already delivered.
A “Mid” Day for the Offense
After a horrible game overall for the Offense against the Seahawks, the Patriots were looking for a rebound. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a picture-perfect day. Drake Maye threw for just over 200 yards and zero touchdowns. He also threw an interception in the third quarter, marking his 4th interception to start the year off. Maye managed to find 9 different receivers, including finally gaining chemistry with Romeo Doubs, who caught 3 passes for 96 yards, including one deep ball that totaled 63 yards. It is great to see this duo forming a good connection after Doubs’ rough Week 1.
The run game showed good signs of getting downfield with the return of star running back TreVeyon Henderson. He rushed 16 times for 76 yards and 1 touchdown. His insane speed was showcased early in the first quarter when he ran the ball up the middle and took it to the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown. With his quickness and decisiveness, he can be extremely effective on big plays. Rhamondre Stevenson started the game rough, with a fumble lost on the first drive. It brought back distinct memories of his 2 fumbles last time the Patriots played the Steelers. His usage died down after that play, but he was able to tack on a 24-yard run with multiple broken tackles. TreVeyon and Rhamondre need to both be utilized correctly and fairly if the Patriots want to control the clock in their upcoming matchup versus the Jaguars.
Injuries are Beginning to Pile Up
The Patriots came into the season with no major injuries. That luck quickly faded in Seattle when A.J. Brown went out with a high ankle sprain. Now in Week 2, the Patriots had a handful of injuries, and some were major.
Mike Onwenu was the biggest injury in Week 2. T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers fell right on the back of his ankle, causing Onwenu to break his ankle, and he is now out for the season. Mike Onwenu has held down the offensive line for the past 6 seasons and played well. With him out now, the Patriots will miss a key part of the offense.
Other Injuries include Carlton Davis III, who was out for the Week 2 game with a neck injury. Starting Safety Craig Woodson left the game early and was reportedly seen wearing a sling after the game. Hopefully his injury isn’t too bad, as he is a big part of the defense and an up-and-coming star. Dre’Mont Jones was also injured during the game, but his injury doesn’t seem to be a long-term issue. The injuries are going to have to slow down if the Patriots want a successful beginning to a long season.
On to Jacksonville
The 1-1 Patriots head down to Jacksonville to take on the 1-1 Jaguars, who are coming off a tough loss to the Denver Broncos. Jacksonville has an elite offense with multiple dangerous weapons, meaning the Patriots’ secondary will have to play lights out, make plays, and force turnovers. On offense, Drake Maye needs to push the ball down the field while also being mindful of turnovers, as he has already thrown four interceptions in two games. This is an important game for Maye to show he can make the right decisions and lead the offense when it matters most. With both teams looking to make a deep playoff push, this could be an important early-season matchup.
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