Boomer Esiason: Patriots ‘don’t really have any game-breaking playmakers’ on offense
As Boomer Esiason explained on The Greg Hill Show Monday morning, the Patriots have played two close, competitive games – a 16-10 win over the Bengals in Week 1 and a 23-20 overtime loss to the Seahawks in Week 2 – in large part because they haven’t turned the ball over (they’re one of three teams with zero turnovers through two weeks).
But as the WFAN host and longtime NFL analyst also pointed out, Sunday’s loss showed the limitations of New England’s offense, whether it protects the ball or not. Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots passing game are averaging just 122.5 passing yards per game, fourth-fewest in the NFL.
The Patriots had too many drives Sunday where they not only couldn’t score, but couldn’t even move the ball. They went three-and-out on six of their 11 drives, including their final drive of the fourth quarter and their only drive in overtime, which left the door open for Seattle to win the game with a field goal.
“Going into the season I think we talked about this, just exactly what they were going to be on offense, and it wasn’t going to be anything exciting,” Esiason said. “It was going to be plodding and it was going to be close to the vest. They don't really have that many playmakers. You want to talk about Hunter Henry having a career day, that's one thing. But when you look on the other side and you see [D.K.] Metcalf and [Jaxon] Smith-Njigba, you see top-tier talent at wide receiver. And the Patriots really haven't had that player since Randy Moss. That's how far back that goes. And that's part of the Patriots’ problem. But if I were Jerod Mayo and I had what I had, this would be the way that I would have to play.”
Patriots wide receivers have just 85 receiving yards this season, which, according to Boston Sports Info on X, is the fewest through two games of any team in the last 10 years.
Patriots
— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) September 16, 2024
Last 10 years - (2015-2024) - entire NFL
320 teams qualify
Fewest receiving yards by WR's thru the first 2 games
320th - 2024 Patriots - 85 yds
dead last
For those wondering, 319th was the 2017 Ravens with 107 yards
Esiason, like many Patriots fans, can’t help but wonder if Drake Maye would be able to make more happen and if we might see him sooner rather than later if the Pats can’t figure out how to make more plays down the field with Brissett at quarterback.
“The question is, when is Drake Maye going to hit the field?,” Esiason said. “He's not going to hit it this week. Maybe after this week he hits it, I don't know. But they just don't really have any game-breaking playmakers right now on offense.”
As Esiason alluded to, a quarterback change this week is highly unlikely because it’s a short week, with the Patriots playing Thursday night against the Jets on the road. Week 4 at San Francisco against a tough 49ers defense would also seem less than ideal, but whether Mayo, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and company would consider it likely depends on how Brissett and the offense look this week.
