Quarterback and left tackle are two of the most important offensive positions in modern NFL football.
According to Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots had multiple players at each of those spots who deserved to play in Sunday’s 10-7 loss to the Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Despite a dubious, misleading week of comments and practice reps, Mac Jones started at quarterback yet again in New York. But after a pair of first-half interceptions, Jones was benched for the second half, the fourth time this season the former first-round pick has been benched. He finished playing 35 offensive snaps (51 percent) before being replaced by second-year backup Bailey Zappe who saw 34 snaps (49 percent).
“I think they both deserved to play,” Belichick explained afterwards.
Meanwhile, at tackle Conor McDermott started for the third straight game on the left side where he’s been filling in for injured mainstay Trent Brown. McDermott played 16 snaps (24 percent) before giving way to Brown who logged 52 snaps (76 percent) in his return from knee and ankle issues for a line that ran the ball 31 times for 147 yards.
“I think they both deserve to play,” Belichick said yet again, simply reiterating the point when asked for further explanation.
It would seem that Brown will likely return to a full-time role if healthy enough at left tackle even if McDermott might “deserve to play.” But things probably aren’t as clear moving forward at quarterback, where Jones’ time as the starter seemingly has to come to an end at some point given his benchings, 12 interceptions and New England’s overall offensive struggles on the way to a 2-9 record.
But as far as last Sunday’s action in New York went, Belichick simply thought he had two players who “deserve to play” at two of the most important offensive positions in football. Of course as the old adage goes, if you have two quarterbacks you really don’t have one.
In addition to the split reps at quarterback and left tackle in the loss to the Giants, here are some other notes from the Patriots’ snap counts in the ugly outing in New York.
--New England’s offense was on the field for 68 plays against the Giants, a middle-of-the-road number for the season. Cole Strange, David Andrews, Sidy Sow and Mike Onwenu were the only four Patriots to play every offensive snap, Andrews now having played all 709 offensive snaps on the season.
--Rhamondre Stevenson played the most offensive snaps among non-linemen, with a season-high 78-percent of snaps. His 53 snaps were his most played since Week 2, and he made the most of the time with a season-best 98 yards on his 21 carries. Things weren’t as productive in the passing game for Stevenson, as his five targets led to five receptions for just 9 yards (1.8 avg.) with a long of 7 yards.
--DeVante Parker logged the most snaps among Patriots pass-catchers with 51 plays (75-percent). In that action he caught three of the five passes thrown his way for 42 yards.
--Hunter Henry saw 46 snaps (68 percent) but was not targeted with pass from either QB in the loss.
--Demario Douglas caught six passes on nine targets for 49 yards in his 33 snaps (49 percent) before leaving the game after taking a vicious forearm clothesline hit to the head on a punt return.
--Tyquan Thornton played a season-high 30 snaps (44 percent) in New York, catching two of the five passes thrown his way totaling 19 yards.
--The Patriots’ defense was on the field for 52 snaps in the loss in New York. Safeties Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers were the only New England defenders to play all the snaps. Dugger has now played every defensive snap in five straight games and eight of 11 games this season, leading the team with 716 defensive snaps on the year.
--Peppers has played every snap in each of the last three games and five of 11 on the year, second on the team with 701 snaps logged.
--Ja’Whaun Bentley played all but one defensive play (51 snaps, 98 percent) in his return to the lineup.
--DT Davon Godchaux played a season-high 71 percent of the snaps (37 plays).
--With Bentley back in the lineup, Mack Wilson saw just 9 plays (17 percent) after having played 50-plus percent of the snaps in two of the previous three games.
--Matthew Slater, Brenden Schooler, Cody Davis and Chris Board led the special teams units with 21 snaps each.
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