What to Watch For: Patriots vs Ravens

Belichick vs Jackson

How will Bill Belichick and the Patriots defense slow down Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson?

So far this season, Jackson has rushed for 576 yards on 83 carries and is dangerous in the open field.

Along with his running ability, Jackson has also completed 63% of his passes for 1,650 yards and 11 touchdowns on the year.

“I’ve never seen a player like this at the quarterback position. I think, obviously, his speed. The way he’s able to throw the ball down the field. You watch some games where he’s moving around the pocket, he’s close to running, and he sees a guy downfield, and it’s like he flicks his wrist and it’s 50 yards down the field easily,” said Patriots safety Devin McCourty during his press conference on Wednesday.

In Baltimore’s last game, Jackson rushed 14 times for 116 yards and a touchdown in a 30-16 win at Seattle.

“He’s a major problem and everybody's had trouble with him. It'll be a big challenge for us. Yeah, he can do it all. He can run, he can throw, can throw on the run, can extend plays. He's tough,” said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during his press conference on Wednesday.

However, in that game, Jackson only completed nine of his 20 pass attempts for 143 yards.

The goal of New England’s defense will be to make Jackson a passer, whether they do that by staying in man or switching to a zone.

“Honestly, it’s dangerous if you’re in man or zone. I mean, there’s times where they have two guys committed to him and he just outruns them. There’s times they’re in zone and you still have a guy that’s in your zone, so you’ve got one guy that’s playing the guy in the zone, so that leaves one guy with eyes on Lamar Jackson to get him down. He makes them miss, and now he’s gone,” added McCourty.

Another option is for the Patriots to spy Jackson, which is something that they did a little bit against Josh Rosen earlier this year.

McCourty added, “I think when you say spy, it’s very simplistic. Like, we’re going to take one guy. He’s just going to watch him. Within spying, other guys have to do their job. If you put Lamar Jackson in the middle of the field and you choose whatever linebacker or defensive end, and you say, “Go tackle him”. I’m saying maybe one time you touch him. Every other time you won’t tackle him at all.”

No matter how the Patriots decided to play Jackson, and it could be multiple different ways, it will be fascinating to watch.

Pats Secondary vs Brown

The Patriots secondary, namely Stephon Gilmore and Devin McCourty, will face a challenge on Sunday night when they go up against Baltimore receiver Marquise Brown.

Brown missed the last two games with an ankle injury, but is expected to play on Sunday night according to Baltimore’s Friday injury report.

“You know, we’ve seen fast guys before, and he’s one of them, but I’d say his ability to track the ball is very good. So, I’d say that’s the difference between the good and the great deep receivers is not just speed, but the ability to track, and catch and play the ball at some unusual angles and so forth. So, he’s done a good job of that,” said Belichick during his press conference on Friday.

In five games this season, Brown has hauled in 21 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns.

He averages 15.5 yards per reception on the season.

“They run their passing game, their RPO’s, but certainly when they get a chance to hit him in the deep part of the field in post routes, go routes, inside fades, yeah. Obviously, people play off of him, so the underneath routes and hitches, and slants and things like that are hard to cover because people give him space,” added Belichick.

Look for the Patriots to contain Brown with Gilmore and McCourty bringing help if needed.

So far this season, the Patriots defense has held teams to just 15.6% conversion rate on third down and is ranked second ins passing yards allowed with 148 per game.

PHOTO: Patriots Media Website 

Pats Running Game

The Patriots running attack was a staple of their Super Bowl run last season, but this season it has struggled.

So far this season, the combination of Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead, James White and Brandon Bolen have been over 3.5 yards per carry just one time, and under three yards per carry on three separate times.

“I think as an offense we're trying to get everything going – running game, passing game, play-action, whatever it is, screens. Whatever the coaches dial-up, we just want to execute it and be on the same page. I think everybody's working towards that,” said Patriots running back James White during his press conference on Wednesday.

The Ravens defense come into the game having given up a total of 333 yards on the ground to Kansas City and Cleveland.

Prior to that, they gave up a total of 41 yards on the ground to Arizona and Miami.

“They're good at every level. Good pass rushers, good linebackers, they're really talented in the secondary. They have a lot of guys that can create negative plays and turnovers. So we just have to protect the football against these guys because when you win the turnover battle you usually win the football game,” said White.

Can the Patriots get their running attack in order this week on the road against Baltimore?

PHOTO: Patriots media website

N'Keal Harry

The New England Patriots have activated rookie wide receiver N’Keal Harry off of injured reserve, and he is expected to play on Sunday night.

Harry began practicing with the Patriots two weeks ago after beginning the year on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

“He’s missed a lot of football – missed a lot of training camp, missed eight regular-season games. So, you know, he’s just got to try to work at it every day, and it’s going to be up to him to put the effort in and to – you know, everyone’s there to help him, but you’ve got to go out there and you’ve got to do it and earn it, and earn the trust of your teammates and coaches and stuff,” said Brady during his press conference on Friday.

Harry will join a Patriots receiving group that includes newcomer Mohamed Sanu, Julian Edelman, Phillip Dorsett and fellow rookies Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski.

Brady added, “So, it’s kind of a different mix – three veterans, three rookies – and I think those rookies need to rely on the veterans to really show them the way. So, I’m glad that room has provided the leadership that they have. So, we’re going to need everybody.” 

At 6’4”, Harry gives Brady a big target to throw too over the middle or on the outside.

The question is, how quickly can Harry earn Brady’s trust?

PHOTO: Patriots media website

Nick Folk

Earlier this week, the Patriots released kicker Mike Nugent and just over an hour later signed Nick Folk to replace him. 

"I mean, look, yeah, he's had a very successful career, but we'll see where we're at," said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during his press conference on Wednesday.

However, the new signing comes with several concerns. 

Folk, 35, has not played in an NFL game since 2017 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

His most recent full season in the league came in 2016 with the New York Jets.

During that season, he converted 27 of 32 field-goal attempts and 24 of 26 extra points.

In 154 career games, he has converted 245 of 305 field goals and 342 of 346 extra points.

PHOTO: Keith Allison/Wikipedia