Preview: (10/24) CHI @ NE
The New England Patriots (3-3) host the Chicago Bears (2-4) on Monday Night Football (8:15p).
Both teams are struggling to find themselves. The Patriots have had two good wins in as many games, finding more consistency on defense and playing conservative “good enough” football on offense. The Bears have been on a downswing with three ugly, low scoring losses that make their Week 1 upset over the 49ers seem like a happy memory in someone else’s scrapbook.
What we learned
Last week the Patriots found a way to win, close in the first half and then a decisive W by the end of regulation. It all revolved around the powerful running attack of Rhamondre Stevenson and a defense that stymied the Cleveland Brown’s vaunted rushers, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
Sure, rookie QB Bailey Zappe throwing for 309 yards, 2 TDs, and no INTs was nice. S Kyle Duggar and CB Jalen Mills collecting two picks off confused Cleveland QB (and former Patriots QB) Jacoby Brisset was nice too. But owning the ground game was the key to controlling pace and tempo against an opponent that many thought was more than an equal match for the unassuming 2022 New England Patriots.
What we’re wondering
The more QB Bailey Zappe wins, the more ridiculous any “quarterback controversy” between Mac Jones and him appears. Not because Zappe is doing anything wrong. He is doing all the right things and contributing to a string of wins. But it’s obvious for all to see that it’s the defense and run game that’s becoming the Patriot’s 2022 identity, and they will win or lose on those grounds regardless of who is behind center.
The only thing to wonder with the quarterback position is what kind of QB will Mac Jones be when he settles back into the starting role? Will Jones start against the Bears in Week 7? And when Jones returns, will he be looking to stamp more of his personality onto the position? Or will Zappe’s success as a Belichick-operated Football-Bot make him think twice?
Is RB Rhamondre Stevenson the man? It was a 2TD effort for him against the Browns, following 161 yards against the Lions. It’s probably too unrealistic to view Stevenson as the mythological “three-down back” in the Patriots’ scheme, which hasn’t flirted with the notion since RB Corey Dillon was a thing. But are we justified in picking Stevenson as Belichick’s 1a choice over 1b Damien Harris, when the injured RB returns?
Is the Patriots’ secondary good? With the departure of star CB JC Jackson in the offseason, many wondered if there was enough talent to fill the void. HC Bill Belichick has been successful “buying low, selling high” on cornerbacks for two decades, so the smart move for football observers was to take a wait-and-see approach. So far, so good. It seems like a new young standout talent announces himself every game, including: S Kyle Duggar, CB Jalen Mills, and CB Jack Jones. We’ll wait a few more games before calling the unit as a whole “good,” but there are definitely pieces to work with right now.
What we’re watching for
LB Matt Judon is a human highlight reel lately. Watch for him to get after QB Justin Fields on Monday Night. The Bears young QB is fast enough to evade the rush, but not football-smart enough to know when and where he should or shouldn’t scramble for safety.
On the other hand, football-smarts is something that comes in time to more experienced QBs. Justin Fields is gaining experience and he has been showing signs of life lately, making plays that keep his team competitive. If the Bears coaching staff sees what we’re seeing, maybe they’ll take advantage of Fields’ strengths rather than trying to hide his weaknesses. RB David Montgomery can give you a lot in the running game, but not enough to win against a Patriots team that already stymied a much superior RB in the Browns’ Nick Chubb. The Bears need their QB to lead the way.
Finally, we’re always watching for a breakout game from a top Patriots receiver. It’s been WRBC all year. That’s fine if you’re Tom Brady, spreading the ball around the receiver corp like jam on toast. But the current crop of Patriots QBs, whether it’s Jones or Zappe, need a WR security blanket and someone who opposing defenses will actually worry about. WR Devante Parker was a pre-season choice for the role. He’s been relatively quiet, though he snagged the elusive 50/50 ball in the Browns’ game, which has been more like a 0/100 ball to his detriment up until then.
For Boston Fans
WATCH: ESPN
LISTEN: 98.5 The Sports Hub
#humpFL #foreverNE #DaBears
The New England Patriots (8-9) fell to host Buffalo Bills (13-3) in the final week of the 2022 season.