Mike Kadlick tells Jones and Mego the Patriots can go 11-6:
While some (myself included) are higher than others on the Patriots heading into 2023, there’s no doubt that they'll have to face off against some high-quality quarterbacks in 2023. Especially in their own division.
Not only did the New York Jets trade for quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason, but Josh Allen is still the signal-caller in Buffalo, and Tua Tagovailoa (when healthy) has shown that he has enough to be the point guard in a high-powered Dolphins offense that includes speedsters Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Patriots safety Adrian Phillips joined NFL Network’s "NFL Total Access" this week and spoke about the challenges they’ll face in the AFC East this season:
"It's going to be tough, you know our division was already tough,” Phillips told Mike Yam and Maurice Jones-Drew. “Buffalo's been doing their thing, Josh Allen's been balling, you've got Mike McDaniel down in Miami dialing it up, and then you get Aaron Rodgers going to the Jets, like it's crazy."
While, in total, New England’s defense allowed just 20.4 points per game last season, the real story lies in how this number shifted when they matched up against above-average quarterbacks versus below-average quarterbacks.
In their eight games against Mitch Trubisky, Jared Goff, Jacoby Brissett, Sam Ehlinger, Zach Wilson (x2), Colt McCoy, and Teddy Bridgwater the Patriots allowed just 11 points per game and just 201 passing yards per game.
Meanwhile, against the likes of Tua Tagovailoa, Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers, Justin Fields, Josh Allen (x2), Kirk Cousins, and Joe Burrow, they allowed 29 points per game and 255 passing yards per game. Quite the shift.
New England needs to step up against this elite competition moving forward, something Phillips understands:
"You literally cannot take a week off. I mean this is the NFL anyways, you can get beat on any given Sunday, but in the AFC alone, we're just stacked," Phillips said. "We're going in with the mindset that if we're just physical and we do our jobs, win all of our one-on-one matchups, we just go out there and play to the best of our abilities, then we can rock with anybody.”
Phillips was also asked by the crew about his own quarterback, Mac Jones:
"One thing I'll say, and pretty much the only thing I'll say is that I'm not in the meetings with them, so I don't know what's going on over there, but I will say that Mac is competing, all those guys are competing, and we're going to ride with whoever's out there. That's a decision that's up to Bill [Belichick] and those guys on offensive side, but we're rocking with [Jones] either way and we're just kind of worried about the defensive side."
The Patriots begin training camp on July 26 from Gillette Stadium.
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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