The Patriots should keep away from a letdown Sunday afternoon after they journey to New Orleans to play the Saints.
Mike Vrabel’s squad is coming off a blowout win over the Panthers and a detailed, hard-fought upset victory over the Payments in back-to-back weeks.
On paper, the Saints look a lot simpler than the Payments, regardless of their Week 5 win over the Giants that noticed them take the soccer away 5 occasions.
Right here’s what we’re watching in Week 6:
• Quarterback Drake Maye has three turnovers thus far. He was intercepted in Week 1, and the Patriots misplaced. He was intercepted and misplaced a fumble in Week 3, and the Patriots misplaced. He averted turnovers in Weeks 2, 4 and 5, and the Patriots received. So, maybe the most important key to a win on Sunday is to keep away from the pitfalls of the Giants and safe the soccer. Maye has been considerably higher at avoiding turnovers this season. Now’s the time for him to show that subject is behind him.
• Is it TreVeyon Henderson’s time to shine? Antonio Gibson is out for the season with a torn ACL, and although he wasn’t getting a ton of reps or snaps within the offense, the most definitely situation is that his reps are divided between Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson. There may be room for Henderson to the touch the ball extra. He has the potential to be the Patriots’ most explosive offensive playmaker.
• The Patriots have expressed they imagine they’re near getting the run recreation going. Thus far, it’s been fairly abysmal regardless of proficient gamers within the backfield and a retooled offensive line. The Saints are ninth in rush EPA (anticipated factors added) per play allowed, so it may nonetheless be powerful sledding. All of the Patriots want is an enormous run or two to lift their numbers within the rankings.
• Huge receiver Stefon Diggs is coming off of back-to-back 100-yard performances. Will that streak proceed? Diggs is fairly self-motivated, but it surely did appear to be he had some further power in Week 5 towards the Payments, his former group. Diggs has proven spectacular burst and quickness lower than a 12 months faraway from surgical procedure to restore a torn ACL. He’s been Maye’s favourite goal in current weeks, and we wouldn’t count on that to cease now.
• 4 gamers on the Patriots’ roster performed collegiately in Louisiana. Huge receiver Kayshon Boutte, left deal with Will Campbell and outdoors linebacker Okay’Lavon Chaisson are LSU grads, and defensive deal with Milton Williams went to Louisiana Tech. Additionally they have outdoors linebacker Bradyn Swinson on the follow squad. Boutte has come up in large moments this season, regardless of solely having 13 catches for 208 yards with a landing. It looks like it could be useful to focus on him extra within the passing recreation.
• Campbell has been a nice shock at left deal with. He’ll face off towards Saints edge defender Carl Granderson for many of the recreation. Granderson has simply eight whole pressures this season, however 4.5 of these have been sacks. Campbell has to maintain him away from Maye.
• We’ll see Chaisson’s return to motion this week. He missed Week 5 with a knee harm however has been again out at follow. He’ll face off towards Saints rookie left deal with Kelvin Banks Jr. Banks has earned a 58.9 pass-blocking grade thus far.
• The Patriots proceed to start out Christian Elliss at linebacker however have rotated in Jack Gibbens, Marte Mapu and Jahlani Tavai. Elliss has skilled some struggles this season, and Tavai appears to have essentially the most upside in that position subsequent to Robert Spillane. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see if Tavai’s position will increase.
• It sounds just like the Patriots favor to make use of working backs at kick returner. Gibson and Henderson have been the group’s high kick returners. Stevenson was subsequent up in Week 5. Stevenson stated he hadn’t returned a kick in years. Gibson suffered his torn ACL whereas returning a kick, so will probably be attention-grabbing to see if the Patriots proceed to make use of two of their most necessary offensive gamers in that position or if another person will get a shot.
• Cornerback Christian Gonzalez’s standing bears monitoring. He was restricted in follow Thursday and Friday, and Vrabel indicated he could possibly be a game-time determination towards the Saints. If Gonzalez can’t go, count on a heavier workload for Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones, Charles Woods and Alex Austin.
