Mac Jones directs traffic at the line of scrimmage in Sunday's win over the Steelers.
(Photo Courtesy: Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald)
The Patriots are off to an unimpressive 1-1 start and are looking like a third-place team in the AFC East in 2022. On Sunday, they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-14 in a game defined by defense. The Patriots defense has played well, allowing just thirteen and fourteen offensive points to their opposition through their first two games. New England held the Steelers to just 243 yards of total offense in the win. The biggest play in the game was with 4:06 remaining in the third, when Patriots punter, Jake Bailey, punted it away to former Patriot all-pro returner in 2020, Gunner Olszewski. Olszewski muffed the punt, and an undrafted free agent out of Texas, Brenden Schooler, recovered the ball. Throughout training camp, Belichick had said nothing but good things about Schooler.
The recovery set the Patriots up in the red zone, where Damien Harris later punched it in from two yards out, putting the Patriots up 17-6. Pat Freiermuth of the Steelers scored on the first play of the fourth quarter before Diontae Johnson converted a two-point conversion with 14:58 remaining to make it a 17-14 game. Both teams traded punts before the Patriots got the ball back on their 30-yard line with 6:33 remaining. The Patriots went on a thirteen-play, 46-yard drive to run the clock out and ice the game.
Mac Jones was 21-35 for 252 yards with one touchdown and, one interception. Something concerning for Patriot fans is that Jones has seemingly regressed early on in his second season. Jones had two turnovers in week one and another this past Sunday. I believe that the main reason for this is the new offensive coordinator. Bill Belichick dodged questions from the media all offseason about who the new coordinator would be with long-time play caller, Josh McDaniels, taking the head coaching job with the Las Vegas Raiders. Jones seemed very comfortable in McDaniels’ system, which is predicated on establishing the run to set up the play-action pass and to try and get the ball out of the quarterback's hands quickly. Brian Hines, of patspulpit.com, reported that the Patriots have only run seven play-action passes through the first two weeks, ranking dead last in the NFL. The play-action pass has been a staple for the Patriots offense for years, going back to their days with Tom Brady.
During the offseason, Belichick brought back former assistants, Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, who were let go by the Lions and the Giants respectively. Patricia is the new offensive signal caller, but he is someone who does not have a ton of experience coaching offense. He was the defensive coordinator for the Patriots from 2012-2017, then he was the head coach in Detroit from 2018 to halfway through the 2020 season. In his three seasons with the Lions, they ranked 25th, 18th, and 20th in points per game.
Patriots fans must hope Patricia becomes more comfortable calling plays as the season continues. Kendrick Bourne, the team’s second-leading receiver in 2021, played only two snaps in week one and twenty-four in week two. Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston has reported that Kendrick Bourne arrived late to a meeting with Matt Patricia in the offseason, which is why he has been in the doghouse throughout the first two weeks. Bourne's snaps increasing in week two is a good sign. If the Patriots want to have any playoff aspirations, then Bourne will need to play a key role moving forward.
The Patriots have scored just twenty-four total points in two games to start this season, albeit it is a small sample size. In 2022, when offense is king, however, you will not win many games with this lack of firepower on offense. This week they will gear up to host the Baltimore Ravens in their home opener on Sunday. The matchup with the Ravens will be their biggest test yet in the young season, and they will need Mac Jones to match the dynamic Lamar Jackson.
Have an opposing viewpoint to this opinion? Let us know. All views are welcomed. Send your thoughts to our Editorial Staff – Dylan Hicks dhicks@student.dean.edu or Dean Daily Faculty Advisor, Professor John Rooke jrooke@dean.edu
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