6 rings: Time to give Mac Jones his flowers + Mike Kadlick joins following patriots win over bills
For the first time since I joined WEEI.com, we've got a mailbag following a Patriots win!
New England upset the reigning AFC East division champion Buffalo Bills 29-25 on Sunday thanks to 272 yards and two touchdowns from Mac Jones, and a stifling defense that held Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs in check all afternoon long. The Patriots are now 2-5 on the season.
A reminder: to stay involved, make sure to keep an eye out for my mailbag thread on Twitter @mikekadlick and @WEEI. Don't have Twitter? Email me at michael.kadlick@audacy.com to submit any Patriots-related questions you may have.
And we're off...
Q: How do we feel about the Patriots' win total after Sunday's win?
A: A win's a win, no matter how small, and Sunday's victory over the Bills was high quality with no caveats necessary.
It was, however, just that. One win. The Patriots always say that the NFL is a week-to-week league, and that couldn't be more true after this weekend. While New England can use the ‘W’ to gain momentum moving forward, they should first focus on Miami.
As far as their win total goes, the Pats opened at O/U 7.5 heading into the season. They'd have to go 6-4 in their next 10 to hit the over.
While it's certainly possible that they notch some wins against the likes of Commanders, Giants, and Broncos down the stretch, one thing we've learned about the Patriots this year is that no game is a given anymore.
Q: What's up with Dugger and will we see more Mapu?
A: Kyle Dugger wasn't great on Sunday. He was the culprit of one of the many missed tackles from New England's defensive backfield, and he also came up short on an interception in the endzone that could have put the game away.
Players normally play better than expected during a contract year, but that hasn't been the case for Dugger this season. While I have confidence that he'll bounce back after a dominant 2022, there's some semblance of positivity here. Perhaps New England can sign him for less money this offseason if he keeps underperforming like this.
As for Marte Mapu, the rookie played just 10 defensive snaps (14%) on Sunday. It's clear they're still easing him into their plan, but I'd expect some more of him as the Patriots continue down the stretch.
Q: Is there any chance the Patriots can trade DeVante Parker before the trade deadline?
A: Given DeVante Parker's contract situation, trading him might be tough.
The wide receiver signed a three-year, $33 million (max. value) with the Patriots this offseason that, while heavily laced with incentives, ties him to New England or whatever team would trade for him through the end of the 2025 season.
Parker has had a poor start to 2023 highlighted by a crucial drop last week against the Raiders and a vastly decreased role this week versus the Bills.
If the Patriots can get out of his contract, they should. But I don't see another NFL team taking it on.
Q: If the Patriots can get to 5-5, are they back?
A: Yes. If the Patriots can get back to .500, then we can consider them back in the mix this season. That is, however, a big if.
To get to 5-5, New England would have to sweep their next three games:
@ Dolphins (Miami)
vs. Commanders (Foxborough)
vs. Colts (Germany)
This would put them back in the Wild Card hunt with seven games to go. But, as I mentioned above, let's take this one game at a time. There's a tough enough task ahead of them with the Dolphins on Sunday.
Q: Will the Dolphins game be a fork in the road for the tank?
A: An NFL team is never going to actively tank their season. There are simply too many players and too much that goes into a football game for it to be executed successfully.
That being said, if they lose to Miami this weekend and fall to 2-6, then you may eventually start to see New England give select younger players a heavier workload, sell off some contract-year players at the trade deadline, and see other veterans hit the injured reserve with the ol' Foxborough Flu.
Q: Should the Patriots be buyers AND sellers at the trade deadline?
A: Speaking of the trade deadline, yes. The Patriots should be both buyers and sellers this year.
A player like Josh Uche, who could potentially garner a mid-round pick, should be on the block for New England after contract negotiations with him have reportedly come to a halt. If they're not going to sign him long-term, then they should get some value for the former top-100 selection while they can.
As far as buying, they should look to do so on offensive players (a la Jerry Jeudy) who are under team control beyond 2023. I wrote about this last week, which you can read here.
They should also look to extend some in-house players while they're at it. Guys like Hunter Henry and Kendrick Bourne, who help on the field as playmakers and off the field as leaders, should be on the Patriots' radar for the long term. Both are unrestricted free agents this coming offseason.
Q: What's a realistic outcome for Sunday's game versus Miami? Include QB and WR stats please.
A: This is a fun one. Here's a go at it:
Outcome:
Dolphins 28 - Patriots 21
QB stats:
Tua Tagovailoa: 24-25, 304 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Mac Jones: 21-30, 228 yards, 1 TD
WR stats:
Tyreek Hill: 8 catches, 88 yards, 1 TD
Jaylen Waddle: 4 catches, 49 yards
Kendrick Bourne: 6 catches, 51 yards
Demario Douglas: 7 catches, 90 yards, TD
Q: Thoughts on Jalen Reagor/Kayshon Boutte?
A: Wide receiver Jalen Reagor was brought up from the Patriots practice squad on Sunday for the third time in 2023, maxing out his elevations for the season.
If New England wants to play him again this season, they either have to a) sign him to the active roster or b) release him (subjecting him to waivers) and re-sign him to the practice squad if he clears.
I agree with '@Patsaccount1' here. With Kayshon Boutte nursing a hamstring injury, it feels like an IR stint could be coming, freeing up a spot for Reagor. It seems like they like what they've seen from the former first round pick so far. They'll find a spot for him.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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