The Patriots are again in primetime this week.
Initially scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff, the Patriots’ Week 16 matchup with the Ravens was flexed into the 8:20 p.m. “Sunday Evening Soccer” window last week.
“That’s what you play for. That’s what we’re making an attempt to play for, for a few years down the highway,” quarterback Drake Maye stated Wednesday. “Making an attempt to be the staff that folks need to see at night time. Folks need to see when the one recreation on is us. That’s what you need this atmosphere to be. That’s what you need the New England Patriots to be. Taking part in in night time video games that matter, dwelling playoff video games, and that’s what we’re constructing in the direction of and dealing in the direction of. That’s one of many objectives. So, we’re simply going to maintain making an attempt to get there, do no matter we are able to to get there, and it begins in observe out right here right now, tomorrow and each day.”
Listed here are 10 issues we’re watching on Sunday night time:
• The highest concern this week is the Patriots’ run protection. Since Milton Williams went down with an ankle harm in Week 11, the Patriots’ run protection has been among the many worst within the NFL, rating thirtieth in rush EPA (anticipated factors added) per play and thirty first in rush success fee. These points have been compounded final week when linebacker Robert Spillane was lively in an emergency function however didn’t take the sector.
• Now the Patriots should play the Ravens, who rank third within the NFL with 2,047 dashing yards and first with 5.2 yards per carry. Working again Derrick Henry is having one other sturdy season with 1,125 dashing yards and 4.8 yards per carry. His backup, speedy Keaton Mitchell, is averaging 7.6 yards per carry. And quarterback Lamar Jackson hasn’t been fairly as productive as in years previous, however he’s nonetheless dashing for five.5 yards per carry.
• How do the Patriots fight that? It’s not possible that the Patriots’ run protection will immediately be mounted this week. So, the Patriots’ offense might want to get out to a quick begin. That’s been the development in latest weeks. Then they simply must hope that their protection can maintain on within the second half.
• That brings us to our subsequent concern. The Patriots’ offense has struggled to take care of its manufacturing within the second half of video games because the starting of November. They’ve solely put collectively one prolonged touchdown-scoring drive from Week 9 on, and that got here towards the Jets. They’ve simply three different touchdowns within the second half of video games in that span, and all three have been 50-plus-yard runs from operating again TreVeyon Henderson. And the Patriots can’t simply rely upon these.
• The Patriots have been nonetheless capable of win, regardless of their lack of manufacturing and effectivity within the second half, up till Sunday’s loss to the Payments. They may be capable of beat the Jets and Dolphins in Weeks 17 and 18 with out a lot second-half offensive manufacturing. However the Ravens are a unique story, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels can’t take his foot off the fuel pedal within the second half this week.
• It’s asking so much out of him, however it might definitely assist the Patriots if Henderson can proceed his development of explosive performs. Henderson has turn out to be one of the crucial harmful operating backs within the NFL because the starting of November, and he’s now the offensive rookie of the year favourite.
• Maye may help his MVP candidacy with an enormous win on Sunday night time in entrance of a nationwide viewers. He doesn’t rank fairly as extremely throughout the board in passing stats after the previous couple of weeks, however he’s nonetheless undoubtedly taking part in like top-of-the-line quarterbacks in soccer. He’s at present second in MVP odds behind Rams QB Matthew Stafford and simply forward of Payments QB Josh Allen.
• Large receiver Stefon Diggs has been quiet for the final three weeks and hasn’t gone for over 30 yards in that span of time. Final week towards the Payments, Diggs performed simply half of the Patriots’ 52 offensive snaps. He’s Maye’s finest goal, and the Patriots want to determine a strategy to get him concerned.
• The Patriots’ protection has simply three takeaways of their final six video games. Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis, who have been anticipated to be one of many prime cornerback duos within the league this season, each have but to register a choose. If the Patriots’ protection goes to be leaky anyway, then they no less than must discover a strategy to get aggressive and pressure some turnovers.
• The Ravens are favored by three factors over the Patriots, who can clinch a playoff spot with a win or tie. They may nonetheless clinch a playoff spot with a Colts loss or tie, or Texans loss or tie, however this appears like a Ravens 24-21 win.
