Another week. Another must-win for a football team splitting at the seams. We are not talking about the New York Jets, either.
The longest holdout since the NFL signed the new CBA, a mid-year coaching change, injuries and offensive line distress and the most divisive force in football right now – Aaron Rodgers.
The Jets have endured a maelstrom in 2024. Yet, somehow, unless we’ve all encountered some weird, alternative football universe and this is not actually real, New York steps on to your home turf Sunday at Gillette Stadium as a seven-point favorite.
Team Turbulence, aka your New England Patriots, have somehow bottomed out to the point where a receiver who has been here all of 15 minutes after signing a $4 million deal just months ago is publicly lobbying to get out of town – basically begging for a trade.
Begging.
First-year head coach Jerod Mayo can’t catch a break. He’s the prisoner of war who dug the tunnel that allowed 53 others to escape the tyrannical commandant.
Only those 53 have been taking turns sticking a bayonet in his backside.
Since Day 1 of his tenure, replacing Bill Belichick, it felt like ownership had installed him with the expectations of failure.
This blaze has to be extinguished, not by Fireman Ed, but by Fireman Jerod. And it starts – in the strangest of places – the wide receiver room.
It’s been apparent since Day 1 of training camp that the talent in this group is limited at best.
The ace of the staff, Kendrick Bourne, was at his best a No. 3 in San Francisco, who is coming off a torn ACL.
The other vet, KJ Osborn, started 30 of his 59 games in Minnesota.
After that, it’s five unproven youngsters, two rookies, two second-year types and Tyquan Thornton – all of whom have combined for five career touchdowns.
Together, they’ve attacked the coaching, the quarterbacking and each other – albeit it through words, emojis, memes and even end-zone celebrations.
It’s preposterous. And if the Patriots are to emerge from this abyss in this lifetime, it has to be squelched.
Game Notes
If you were naming one key issue in Sunday’s game with the Jets for a potential Patriots’ upset of the 2-5 New Yorkers, it would be the QB, Aaron Rodgers.
If he can accept handing the football off to the likes of Breece Hall and rookie Braelon Allen, New York could get the steamroller out.
But something tells me that Rodgers would love this opportunity to showcase his new toy, receiver Davante Adams, and his most expensive one, receiver Garrett Wilson.
Rodgers’ recent penchant to force things and often throw the ball to the opposition in the process could be the Jets’ lone source of Kryptonite in this one. …
With Verderian Lowe, Michael Jordan and Sidy Sow all limited in practice and questionable for Sunday, expect an eighth different New England starting offensive line. …
You have to wonder in the Patriots were paying attention the past two weeks and noticed how Buffalo and Pittsburgh each carved New York up in the running game.
A return to a steady dose of Rhamondre Stevenson would certainly ease the strain on rookie QB Drake Maye.
Maye has dropped back an average of nearly 40 times in his two starts and has absorbed at least a handful of big league shots. Taking the load of his shoulders would make sense, especially with the dearth of talent on the offensive line.