After two joint practices Wednesday in Thursday at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots and Giants will close out the preseason Sunday night at MetLife Stadium.
This is the last chance for players to show they are deserving of making the 53-man roster, as those need to be finalized on Tuesday.
It was a solid week of practice between two teams who are very familiar with each other, and that should lead to solid game Sunday night.
Here are five things we’ll be watching.
1. How much playing time do starters get?
On Friday, Giants coach Joe Judge told reporters his starters will play at minimum the first half. Could this be an indication of what the Patriots plan on doing, too? It wouldn’t be all that surprising considering how close the two coaching staffs are and assuming they mapped out the week together. In the past, the third preseason game has been a dress rehearsal for the regular season, but this is also the final one, which has been reserved for players battling for roster spots. Given this is the first preseason with just three games, it’s hard to really know how things will go. But, it’s a good bet to see the starters get extended playing time.
2. Quarterback reps
In the first two preseason games, Cam Newton has gotten the start and played a few series before Mac Jones has come on for extended reps. We’ll see how it goes this week, as Jones got a ton of work Wednesday against the Giants, while Newton didn’t get much work at all this week, partly because he missed three practices due to COVID protocols. It’s also worth paying attention to because it could offer a clue as to who the Week 1 starter will be.
3. Rhamondre Stevenson/J.J. Taylor
These have been two of the best players for the Patriots this preseason and now figure to play bigger roles than expected during the season following the trade of Sony Michel this week. It will be interesting to see how they both react and if they continue their impressive preseasons. It’s always worth watching how players react when teams make moves that show confidence in them — do they relax, or does it push them even harder?
4. Bubble players
There are a few players firmly on the bubble when it comes to making the 53-man roster and this is their last chance to show they deserve a spot on the roster. If they are cut, it’s also an audition for other teams. Here are a few players who could be on the bubble: Joejuan Williams, Harvey Langi, Tashawn Bower, Montravius Adams, Cody Davis, Brandon King, Yodny Cajuste, Korey Cunningham, Kristian Wilkerson, Isaiah Zuber and James Ferentz.
5. Who is playing late in game?
Keep an eye on who is on the field during the fourth quarter, as normally it’s a sign they will not make the team. Now, it is worth noting if a player is playing a different position than usual, this should be viewed differently. This was the case a few years ago with Jason McCourty trying out safety. Also, just because a player plays a lot, it doesn’t mean his roster spot is safe. Just look at a few players released this week — Devin Ross, Malik Gant and Cassh Maluia. All three played a decent amount against the Eagles.
