Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #3, Do or Die for Pats?
John Crowe, Sports Contributor
Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #3, Do or Die for Pats?
“We’re hungry for a ‘W,” said Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss Wednesday on X. “We’ve put in so much hard work these past two weeks, and that we’re close is kind of getting annoying. We want to put good stuff on film and get a win.”
Last Sunday night, the Patriots shot themselves in the foot twice. First, it was a first-quarter Demario Douglas fumble at the Miami 29-yard line when he got caught from behind. Douglas didn’t see another offensive play the rest of the game. Then, Mac Jones (31-42, 231 yards, 1TD, 1INT) cost his team sure points with a poorly thrown pass attempt to DeVante Parker, who was boxed out for an easy interception by Xavien Howard at the Dolphins 3-yard line that cost the Pats at least a field goal. That caught up with them when their final drive came up just inches short on fourth down on a Mike Gesicki lateral to Cole Strange was overturned on replay.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Patriots should’ve been able to run the ball against the Dolphins, but managed only 88 yards, the bulk of that coming from Rhamondre Stevenson (15 carries, 50 yards, 1TD). Ezekiel Elliott barely contributed, getting just five carries for 13 yards. Time after time, Miami’s defensive line overpowered New England turning what should’ve been a strength into a weakness, forcing Jones to throw 42 times. In fact, it was Miami's run game that was better, rolling around to the tune of 145 yards, including a Raheem Mostert 43-yard fourth-quarter touchdown romp. Mostert scored twice while piling up 121 yards rushing.
Defensively, the Patriots were passive without top cornerback Jonathan Jones and lost Marcus Jones early due to a shoulder injury and concussion. It was too much to overcome even despite rookie Christian Gonzalez and crew holding Tyreke Hill to only 40 yards and a late TD. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (21-30, 249 yards, 1TD, 1INT), now 5-0 against the Patriots, spread his passes out among nine difference receivers for 249 yards.
Next up: Sunday at Jets (1-1)
Sunday, they catch a break as they’ll face Zach Wilson at quarterback instead of Aaron Rodgers, who’s out due to his torn Achilles injury. With Wilson, the number two overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, New York managed just 10 points in Dallas last week. Wilson, in three games against New England the past two seasons, has thrown seven interceptions. So, if the Pats could shut down the run game of Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook, along with Wilson’s top target, Garrett Wilson, they should come up victorious.
The key will be patience. New England will have to block the Jets' front seven, and its strength and matriculate down the field like Dallas did last week, moving the chains and eating up the clock. Keep Jones’ pass attempts to 25 instead of 42, and keeping him upright will be key. Tiring out this Jets defense would help come the second half. The Cowboys held on to the ball for 42 of the game’s 60 minutes last week.
Tight ends Hunter Henry and Gesicki could be integral parts of that offense beating Sauce Garnder in the secondary and the middle of the field. Jones has chemistry there and it would give him the opportunity to go deep to Kendrick Bourne from time to time.
No matter who New England plays right now, they have to focus on who they are first. What type of team are they going to be. Do they want to be a run first, physical team. Do they want to be a more explosive team that likes to take more shots down the field? Will they be a more aggressive team defensively as the season goes on or will it be a sit-back, bend-but-don’t-break team, trying to keep the score down? They need to figure out their identity and until head coach Bill Belichick figures that out, it might not matter.
Health remains an issue as Marcus Jones suffered a torn labrum in the loss to Miami and is now headed to injured reserve where he will miss at least four games. In addition, tackle Sidy Sow didn’t practice late in the week after showing up on the injury report with a concussion. There is good news in that left tackle Trent Brown is backing from a concussion after missing the Miami game. So, for the first time this season, they could have their starting offensive line of Brown, Strange (left guard), David Andrews (center), Mike Onwenu (right guard), and Calvin Anderson (right tackle).
When it comes to these types of games, it’s usually the more desperate team that wins. Well, my friends, there’s no one more desperate than the Patriots are right now because if they don’t win here, it could be a while before they do with Dallas and New Orleans on the horizon. Add in Belichick’s hatred of the NYJ and we might just get the makings of a New England win. Either way, it looks like the weather forecasters have them playing in plenty of rain. Or maybe those would be tears should the Pats lose and fall to the lowest tier of the NFL.
Prediction: Patriots 17, Jets 16
Top five teams in the NFL:
5. Ravens – Lamar Jackson is just starting to heat up in Baltimore.
4. Eagles – Philly has played two mediocre games and is still 2-0.
3. Dolphins – Miami’s 2-0 after two road wins. What a way to start the season for the Fins.
2. Cowboys – If only they could only play New York teams all season long. Trevon Diggs’ ACL injury is a big blow.
1. 49ers – Niners are 3-0, aptly scoring 30 points in each of their games.
Five games to watch in week 3:
Patriots at Jets (Sunday 1 pm on CBS)
Falcons at Lions (Sunday 1 pm on FOX)
Saints at Packers (Sunday 1 pm on FOX)
Steelers at Raiders (Sunday 8:20 pm on NBC)
Eagles at Buccaneers (Monday 7:15 pm on ABC)