FOXBORO — Three and out?
Is the Patriots’ season already over after a 1-2 begin, with the beginning quarterback now on the shelf with a excessive ankle sprain that can in all probability bench Mac Jones for a month or longer?
Well, it positive is straightforward to drive off that cliff and consider the Patriots are already toast. They didn’t precisely set up themselves as a staff to be reckoned with within the first three video games.
And that was with Jones.
How can it presumably be any completely different with Brian Hoyer, who will get the nod because the starter if Jones can’t go? Why would anybody be optimistic concerning the future with Hoyer, a quarterback who has misplaced his final 11 begins?
Two phrases: the schedule.
It permits for a lightweight on the finish of the tunnel. The schedule is the Patriots’ pal relating to surviving whereas Jones takes time to fix.
So, no, the sky hasn’t fallen simply but. There’s no want for doom and gloom.
After dealing with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, who’re first up on Sunday, there’s a succession of groups the Patriots ought to have the ability to beat even with out Jones: Detroit (2-1), Cleveland (2-1), Chicago (2-1), the New York Jets (1-2) twice and Indianapolis (1-1-1).
That takes the Patriots by way of Week 11, on the opposite aspect of their bye and into mid-November.
Those are six very winnable video games, with 4 of six at Gillette Stadium. Even with a backup, the Patriots ought to win at the least half of these video games, assuming Hoyer’s the starter all through.
But let’s dig deeper.
After Rodgers on Sunday, Jared Goff, Jacoby Brissett, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson (twice) and Matt Ryan make up the beginning quarterbacks the Patriots will face in these video games. Not precisely a who’s who of elite NFL quarterbacks. Between them, solely Goff and Brissett have recorded wins towards the Pats. Ryan is 0-4.
Let’s dig even deeper.
Dan Campbell (second season as a head coach), Kevin Stefanski (third season), Matt Eberflus (first season), Robert Saleh (second season), and Frank Reich (fifth season) are the pinnacle coaches on the respective groups.
Campbell and Eberflus have by no means matched wits with Bill Belichick. Stefanski is 0-1 after a 45-7 loss in Foxboro, Saleh is 0-2, whereas Reich is 1-1.
The backside line?
The Patriots can, and may, have the ability to keep afloat throughout Mac’s down time, if it falls according to the standard restoration for a excessive ankle sprain. There’s no excuse for them to only crawl in a gap, and be fully buried by the point Jones returns.
Who is aware of? He may even be again earlier than the Week 10 bye within the second week of November.
As Belichick stated a couple of dozen occasions on Wednesday, Jones standing is a “day-by-day” deal. Based on the character of extreme excessive ankle sprains, nonetheless, it’s extra like week-by-week, particularly if Jones doesn’t go for surgical procedure.
That being stated, we’re taking a look at Hoyer for the foreseeable future. There’s actually no approach round it, regardless of how a lot Belichick tries to maintain everybody at nighttime.
Now, it’s not going the Patriots are going to have the ability to take down Rodgers & Co. in Green Bay on Sunday. That was additionally the belief with Jones underneath middle. In concept, they have been going to be 1-3 regardless of which approach you slice it.
That’s precisely how they began final 12 months. They went to 2-4 earlier than ripping off seven straight wins in the midst of the season.
It’s arrange equally this 12 months with the comfortable a part of the schedule simply across the nook.
Obviously, it’s not optimum having to navigate with out Jones for a time. But Hoyer ought to have the ability to get them by way of this stretch.
He is aware of the offense – even it’s among the outdated combined in with the brand new – and if he performs mistake-free, the Patriots ought to come out of it with their heads above water. Yes, Hoyer has had some shaky video games just lately. He hasn’t delivered, significantly within the huge moments.
But he’s the same kind of quarterback to Jones style-wise, is revered by his teammates, and may have the ability to deal with the task. He may also do a greater job of coping with among the head-scratching selections of first-time offensive play caller Matt Patricia, one thing that left Jones visibly pissed off at occasions.
Whether Hoyer is ready to escape stress with a leaky offensive line is one other matter. But it’s not just like the Patriots are dropping out, and placing rookie Bailey Zappe in there to see what they’ve within the 2022 fourth-round choose.
Belichick just isn’t seeking to run the desk with losses.
So primarily based on the upcoming opponents, there’s actually no excuse if the Patriots sink additional into the abyss.
“You never want to see a key player hurt,” middle David Andrews stated Wednesday. “I believe quite a lot of us have quite a lot of confidence in Brian. He is available in and prepares on daily basis. We have quite a lot of confidence in one another as an entire.
“It’s early, things happen,” he went on. “Mac’s not going to be the only starter on the team that goes down … injuries are a part of it. You gotta out there and compete. You gotta go out there and play … the reality is, it starts with us. It always will.”
The gamers know the drill. They’ve needed to take care of shedding vital gamers. They are properly conscious how they deal with this example, how they handle with out Jones will make or break the season.
“We’re very early on in our season here and if we don’t handle it the right way, this thing can spiral away from us,” Matthew Slater stated earlier within the week.
Schedule-wise, there’s no purpose for it to spiral within the incorrect path.
If it does, it’s on the Patriots. There aren’t any excuses in the event that they go tumbling off the cliff.
Source: www.bostonherald.com