6 rings: Is there a potential divide among Patriots' leadership? Week 16 preview & more
The Patriots are headed to Denver this weekend, on Christmas Eve no less, to take on the 7-7 Broncos from Mile High Stadium.
While New England is out of playoff contention, Denver is right on the cusp and it's the players that will have to make it happen, while the Patriots look to play spoiler.
Here are 10 of them to watch:
10 - CB Alex Austin, Patriots
With the Patriots cornerback room losing bodies by the week this season, rookie Alex Austin made his debut in New England’s starting lineup last week versus the Chiefs.
“Personally, I feel like I had a great game,” Austin said in the locker room following the loss. “But there’s always things to clean up. You’re never as good as you think and never as bad, so looking forward to coming in tomorrow and breaking down the film with the coaches and getting my coaching points.”
With Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy on the other sideline this Sunday, the task will get even taller for Austin and the Patriots secondary.
9 - WR Courtland Sutton, Broncos and 8 - WR Jerry Jeudy, Broncos
Speaking of!
Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson has one of the better stables of wide receivers to throw to in Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy.
Sutton, who came into 2023 having just 14 career touchdowns in five years, has tallied 10 this season and has become quarterback Russell Wilson’s go-to guy in this Sean Payton offense.
As for their No. 2, Jerry Jeudy, he hasn’t lived up to the expectations of a 10th overall pick the way he should have, but the former Alabama pass-catcher can still be productive on any given Sunday.
With New England’s cornerback room in disarray, both of these guys could wind up having big games against the Patriots.
7 - LB Alex Singleton, Broncos
One of the more underrated defenders on the Broncos’ defense is linebacker Alex Singleton. The 30-year-old has been a journeyman since going undrafted in 2015, but has found a home in Denver for the last two seasons and has been a monster.
After tallying 163 tackles last year, Singleton is on pace to shatter that number in 2023. He’s fifth in the NFL (163) through 14 games and is on pace for 197 for the season.
He’ll be everywhere on Sunday night. Bailey Zappe and co. on the Patriots’ offense need to have an eye out.
6 - TE Mike Gesicki, Patriots
With Hunter Henry missing Patriots practice on Wednesday and showing up, but not stretching, on Thursday, it’s looking like New England’s tight end room will be led by Mike Gesicki on Christmas Eve against the Broncos.
Earlier this week on WEEI’s Gresh and Fauria, Gesicki was asked if he feels like he’s been underutilized in New England’s offense:
“Nah. I mean that's not the way that I look at it. I think that this offense has a lot of guys that are really talented and a lot of guys that make plays. With Pop and DeVante... JuJu and Hunter, and Pharaoh when he's gotten the ball in his hands has made plays. You saw Tyquan on that jet sweep a couple weeks ago, he's got speed on the outside.”
“So I mean we've got numerous guys in our offensive room, receiving-wise, that can make plays. There's only one football, so not everybody can get it a bunch. That's just the way the game goes and just gotta be ready when the opportunity presents itself.”
That opportunity could very well present itself this weekend in Denver.
5 - RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos
While Javonte Williams is Denver’s lead guy in the run-game, their change-of-pace back in Jaleel McLaughlin is the one who can wreck a game.
An undrafted free agent out of Youngstown State, McLaughlin made the Broncos final roster following a quality showing in training camp, and has tallied 323 rushing yard on 58 attempts (good for 5.6 yards per carry) and has 24 catches out of the backfield for 112 yards and two scores.
Belichick’s defense can’t let the 5-foot-8 speedster slip through their game-planning cracks for Sunday.
4 - WR Demario Douglas, Patriots
The Patriots’ leading receiver on the season, Demario Douglas, returned to the lineup last Sunday after missing Week’s 14 and 15 due to a concussion, but hauled in just three catches for 33 yards while playing 72% of their offensive snaps.
With Douglas’ concussion being his second of the 2023 season, the rookie pass catcher told MassLive’s Mark Daniels that the team tried to shut him down for the rest of the season.
“For me, it’s not an option,” he told Daniels. “They were trying to. I wasn’t going for it. I felt good, but stuff like that you do have to take precautions.”
Is it the right decision? Who’s to say. But he’ll be out there, and he’s entertaining to watch. So keep an eye on him.
3 - QB Russell Wilson, Broncos and 2 - QB Bailey Zappe, Patriots
We’re onto the most important position in football for this one where both Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe have a lot to prove this Christmas Eve.
Wilson has owned the Patriots in the four games he’s played against them, going 3-1 while throwing 13 touchdowns to just two interceptions. He’s also, however, had an up-and-down 2023 with Denver.
After a 1-5 start, Wilson’s Broncos won five straight games to get themselves over .500 at 6-5, but have lost two of three since and are coming off of a 42-17 loss to the Lions in Detroit last Saturday.
As for Zappe, he’s played high quality football in first halves over his last two weeks as New England’s starting quarterback, but he hasn’t been able to finish the jobs over the final two frames. The second-year signal caller completed 17 of 19 attempts before halftime of Sunday’s game vs. the Chiefs but failed to keep the consistency up down the stretch, completing just 50% of his remaining passes for less than 40 yards.
So, like I said, both guys have plenty to prove.
1 - CB Patrick Surtain II, Broncos
Patrick Surtain II is one of the best cornerbacks in football, and is arguably the best player in this game on Sunday.
The son of long-time NFL cornerback Patrick Surtain Sr., the Broncos 2022 first-team All-Pro as a rookie has been incredible throughout his first two seasons.
Surtain II has just one interception this season, but it has a lot to do with the fact that he’s rarely targeted because of his blanket coverage. The Patriots’ passing game is going to have their hands full against this Denver secondary, and it starts with Surtain II.
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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