Preview: (9/25) BAL @ NE

The Patriots host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, September 25 at 1pm.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has been playing out of his mind and the Patriots have nothing in their defensive arsenal to stop his otherworldly talent. That being said, the Ravens just lost a close one to the Miami Dolphins, allowing Tua Tagovailoa to lead his team to a massive comeback. The Ravens have talent, but they also have flaws. HC Bill Belichick is a mastermind when it comes to exploiting an opponent's flaws. If the defense can open the door to a Patriot’s win, can Mac Jones walk through it with a less than stellar offense? 

What we learned

The Patriots won a morale-booster last Sunday (9/18) against the Mitchell Trubisky-led Steelers. No one’s going to Canton for beating the Bears QB castoff, but it counts as the first win of the season. It’s a relief to get off the schneid.

New England delivered solid defensive play overall, patiently waiting for Trubisky to fold on his own.

The highlight of the day was a series of highlights: a dominant offensive drive that closed out the game, full of solid blocking and tough runs. On the other hand, the offense the rest of the game was still finding itself. The rushing attack broke the 100-yard mark on the ground, but it took the combo of Harris/Stevenson to get there. The passing attack was limited to a big play by Nelson Agholor and reliable, chain-moving connections to Jakobi Meyers. The Kendrick Bourne breakout game didn’t happen and would-be #1 WR Devante Parker did not register a single reception.

What we’re wondering

Is Nelson Agholor the WR1 we’ve been waiting for? Under our nose the whole time? Or was the Steelers game (6 catches, 110 yards, TD) just a one-off?

Mac Jones experienced back issues after the Dolphins game, which limited his practice during the week and perhaps his play against the Steelers. Is this the sort of problem that lingers? And if so, how long and how impactful?

What we’re watching

The Baltimore Ravens would love a running game outside of QB Lamar Jackson. Will we see one? It won’t involve J.K. Dobbins, who is still recovering from a torn ACL. Look to see if the combo of RB Kenyan Drake and RB Mike Davis is enough to spell Jackson. Too many QB scrambles will get their star killed before the playoffs.

The Patriots commentariat continues to scratch its collective head over the light usage of the team’s heavily-compensated tight ends. TE Jonnu Smith and TE Hunter Henry both arrived in New England with the reputation of guys who could make offensive plays with the ball (and who maybe needed a new team to grow into an even greater threat). Hunter Henry had a solid 2021 season with 603 yards and 9 TDs, but Jonnu Smith was a non-factor on the statlines. Hardly the Gronkowski/Hernandez 1-2 punch some fans were hoping for. The 2022 Patriots aren’t good enough to get no production out of their tight ends. Watch for some creative play calling to get the pair more involved versus the Ravens.

For Boston Fans

WATCH: Boston, Mass. WFXT-TV Channel 25

LISTEN: 98.5 The Sports Hub

#humpFL #foreverNE #RavensFlock

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