6 rings: 3 matchups to watch in patriots vs. raiders
The Patriots are looking to bounce back this weekend following a historically bad blowout loss in which their quarterback was benched.
Groundhog’s Day.
Anyway, it’s Thursday again and that means it’s time to talk about matchups. In this week’s edition of WEEI.com’s and the 6 Rings and Football Things podcast’s crucial clashes, here are three key matchups to keep your eyes on this Sunday as New England takes on the Raiders from Las Vegas at 4:25 p.m.:
- The ‘triple J’s’ and Davante vs. Belichick’s defense
The Raiders’ offense, while struggling to find a groove in 2023, has several dynamic playmakers that can change any game in an instant. They include Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs, two reigning All-Pro’s that make quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s life a whole lot easier.
Here’s what New England’s head coach had to saw about the three on Wednesday:
- Davante Adams: “Certainly a Hall of Fame receiver. He’s ready for it. This guy’s had tremendous production – touchdowns, receiving yards, catches, you name it.
- Josh Jacobs: “2,000 yards from scrimmage last year, leads the league in receiving this year with running backs. So, he’s had a little more production in the passing game this year than in the running game, but he’s been very productive, hard guy to handle.”
- Jimmy Garoppolo: “As usual, has a high completion percentage, can make all the throws.”
Belichick didn’t, however, have much to say about Meyers in his opening statement. He was later asked about the former Patriots pass catcher:
“He was a free agent and he signed with the Raiders,” the head coach explained when asked why he wasn’t ultimately re-signed. "There’s a lot of guys that leave and change teams in free agency. But yeah, Jakobi looks like he looked here."
Belichick was then asked why said re-signing of Meyers wasn’t a priorty this offseason:
"He was a priority,” Belichick said. “We talked to him.”
Whether he actually was, or not, is certainly in question. What isn’t, however, is Meyers’ ability to get open and be a security blanket for a quarterback. Something Garoppolo now has at his disposal and Mac Jones is yearning for.
Defending all four of these guys on Sunday will certainly be a challenge for New England’s defense, who is escaping much of the blame for the Patriots’ 1-4 record. Sure, the offense has been abysmal, but against a Saints team last weekend, who had scored just 20 points once this season, put up 27 against this supposedly esteemed unit.
Patriots defensive lineman Deatrich Wise said that on Wednesday, his unit “came together” to work on and incorporate some new plays on defense. We’ll see if that’s the trick for them to bounce back this Sunday.
- Patriots pass-catchers vs. Raiders secondary
Speaking of Meyers, the man who New England brought to New England to replace him, JuJu Smith-Schuster, is averaging just 2.6 yards of separation per play in 2023.
Statistically, he and the rest of the Patriots’ pass catchers (DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, etc.) make up the worst passing offense against man-coverage in the NFL.
This Sunday in Las Vegas, they’ll faceoff against the NFL’s worst pass defense against man coverage in the Raiders. Take a look at the numbers (h/t Evan Lazar, Patriots.com):
Clearly, defensive backs Marcus Peters, Tre’von Moehrig, Nate Hobbs, and Jakorian Bennett have struggled in coverage this season, but with the Patriots have the potential to serve as a get-right game for them - or vice versa.
May the best unit win. Or more fittingly for this week, may the worst unit lose.
- Maxx Crosby vs. Patriots offensive line
The Raiders have one of the few true gamewreckers in this league on their defense, and his name is Maxx Crosby.
Drafted by Las Vegas out of Eastern Michigan in the fourth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the defensive end was a second-team All-Pro in 2021 and is a two-time Pro Bowler. He has 42.5 sacks in his career and is averaging a sack-per-game (5) so far in 2023. He’s also tied for second in tackles-for-loss (8) this season.
“Crosby [is] a very, very disruptive guy,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said of the Vegas defender on Wednesday. “Causes a lot of problems in the running game and the passing game, led the league in TFLs last year, just a very disruptive guy.”
“It all starts with #98 [Crosby],” running back Ezekiel Elliott told us of the Raiders defense. He’s got that right.
Trying to protect Patriots quarterback Mac Jones of Crosby this weekend will be an offensive line continues to struggle week in and week out as they try to get healthy and comfortable with each other as a unit.
Want a light at the end of the tunnel? Offseason acquisition Riley Reiff returned from the injured reserve last week and took reps at both guard spots, and Mike Onwenu returned to practice on Wednesday after missing Tuesday’s session. New England may finally have the offensive line they planned on in training camp this Sunday with Brown - Strange - Andrews - Onwenu - Reiff.
But will it work? We’ll get our answer this weekend.
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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