Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #10 - Patriots Play in Germany, Will It Help?

Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #10 - Patriots Play in Germany, Will It Help?

The losses have come and now the dissension has begun. Yes, it can actually get worse for the New England Patriots.

Last Sunday, a 20-17 loss sent the Patriots reeling to an AFC low of 2-7. Yet that wasn’t rock bottom. It seems cornerbacks Jack Jones and JC Jackson were both late for curfew Saturday night left them on the sidelines to start the game instead of playing, where they would normally be. They both eventually played as head coach Bill Belichick acknowledged tersely in his postgame presser, according to the team’s website:

Reporter: Were J.C. Jackson and Jack Jones benched to start the game?

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Belichick No.

Reporter: Why did Shaun Wade start and then not play after the first two series?

Belichick: Everybody played. They all played.

Reporter: Why didn't Shaun Wade play after the first two series?

Belichick: They all played.

But fast forward to Thursday as the team left for Sunday’s game against the Colts, a team they’ve beaten nine of the past 10 times they’ve met, in Frankfurt, Germany as Jackson was left back in Foxboro, out for the game due to a personal not injury related issue, along with Trent Brown and DeVante Parker (concussion). Brown’s reason is also curious as he’s listed as not practicing due to an ankle injury as well as personal reasons.

Belichick also faced questions about rookie wide receiver Kayshon Boutte not being active after what the head coach deemed his best week in practice. It seems that Boutte’s chances of playing went south after talking to the press on Friday before the game as he was left inactive for the game.

In addition to the players, offensive line coach Adrian Klemm is now away from the team with an unknown health issue too. So, things aren’t exactly trending in the right direction heading into an international game that the entire World will see come 9:30 am Eastern time.

Owner Robert Kraft tends to see these games as showcase games for the franchise. They’re 3-0 all-time outside the United States. But right now, there’s little to put a positive spotlight on his team so one has to wonder what a loss and a very long flight back to the United States on Sunday might look for this organization. If the rumors are true, it might start looking like the next chapter.

Those whispers in Foxboro are getting mighty loud, my friends.

Week 10 NFL Power Rankings:

10. San Francisco 49ers (5-3, Last week ranked 9th)
The Niners needed the bye desperately with injuries to several key members and a three-game losing streak. A trip cross country to face the Jaguars isn’t exactly a soft landing, and neither is the schedule ahead that sees them playing the Seahawks twice along with the Eagles and Ravens.

 

9. Cleveland Browns (5-3, Last week not ranked)
Right now, the Browns would make the AFC playoffs as a wild card. Not only is their defense tops overall (234 yards/game) and third in scoring defense (17.4 points/game), but Deshaun Watson is getting better week by week. A tough test awaits them this week in Baltimore against a Ravens team that smacked them around to 28-3.

 

8. Dallas Cowboys (5-3, Last week ranked 8th)
If only the Cowboys could be a bit more consistent right? One week they beat the Rams by 30, the next they stopped six yards short of upsetting the Eagles in Philly. Until they solve that problem, they’ll continue to yo-yo up and down our power rankings.

 

7. Miami Dolphins (6-3, Last week ranked 2nd)
The Dolphins continue to confound us by losing to good teams (Bills, Eagles, Chiefs) and beating bad teams. They can find some solace in their second-half comeback in Frankfurt, Germany last Sunday that saw them make a 21-0 game at halftime interesting with a shot to tie things late in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for them, five of their last eight games are against teams with .500 or better records.

 

6. Cincinnati Bengals (5-3, Last week not ranked)
Is there a team playing better than the Bengals right now? Quarterback Joe Burrow is healthy after starting the year with a bad calf and now is using all his weapons with precision. They’ll put their four-game win streak on the line against the surprising Texans and rookie sensation quarterback CJ Stroud on Sunday in Cincinnati.

 

5. Detroit Lions (6-2, Last week ranked 6th)
After a bye in week nine, the Lions head West to face the Chargers in a matchup of premier pass rushers: Aidan Hutchinson and Joey Bosa. If Detroit is to be taken seriously as a Super Bowl contender, this is a game they should win against a Chargers defense which is ranked 30th in the league.

 

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2, Last week ranked 3rd)
Five straight victories have the Jags sitting atop the AFC South and welcoming the 49ers to town Sunday. Jacksonville’s one-two punch of quarterback Trevor Lawrence (1935 yards, 9 TDs) and running back Travis Etienne (583 yards, 7 TDs) have northern Florida thinking of deep playoff runs come January. The road ahead gets much tougher though with games against the 49ers on Sunday followed by the Texans, Bengals, Browns, and Ravens, and two vs. the Titans.

 

3. Kansas City Chiefs (7-2, Last week ranked 5th)
Should we give the Chiefs more credit for their seven wins or knock them more for their lack of style points in those seven wins? Patrick Mahomes is having a bad season (for him) yet he’s still third in the league in yards (2442) and fourth in TD passes (17).

 

2. Baltimore Ravens (7-2, Last week ranked 4th)
The Ravens are the best in the toughest division in football, the AFC North. Right now, they would have three playoff teams (Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh). Baltimore tops the league in scoring defense (13.8 points/game) with its relentless pass rush and league-leading 35 sacks. Its offense is running on cruise control so well that they scored 37 points last week against Seattle and their quarterback Lamar Jackson didn’t account for one touchdown. They have a net point differential of plus 115. The next closest is the Bills at plus 80.

 

1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1, Last week ranked 1st)
Week after week, Philly seems to get themselves into trouble yet week after week, all they do is win. The turnovers are a concern, witnessed by Jalen Hurts eight interceptions. Three fumbles against the Cowboys that the Eagles recovered could’ve made it much worse. So, there’s work to be done for the Eagles who are still clearly the class of the league right now.

Five games to watch in week 10
Colts vs. Patriots in Frankfort, Germany (Sunday 9:30 am on NFL Network)
Texans at Bengals (Sunday 1 pm on CBS)
49ers at Jaguars (Sunday 1 pm on FOX)
Browns at Ravens (Sunday 1 pm on CBS)
Lions at Chargers (Sunday 4:05 pm on CBS)