NFL
By Steve Atkinson
Are the Patriots schedule merchants? Can they just play lights-out against bad teams and bad defenses? However, against good teams, do they struggle, and does Drake Maye turn into a puddle? That might be a possibility as we head into the middle of the season. The Patriots head to Germany to play the 29th-ranked defense, the Detroit Lions, Sunday morning. With AJ Brown at practice Wednesday, that might be a good sign he could play Sunday. Here is Mike Vrabel.
AJ Brown would be a jolt for the offense if he can actually catch the ball. He was brutal against the Jets. Then his bad knee flared up, and he missed the last couple of games. For a first overall pick, he needs to be better than what he’s been; this while trade so far has backfired on Mike Vrabel.
Against Seattle to open the season, Drake Maye had the jitters and threw a horrendous interception. He was also bad against Jacksonville, better in Chicago even though they lost, then horrendous with three interceptions against Green Bay. I’m not sure whether it had anything to do with Tom Brady calling the game or if he just struggles against top-ranked defenses. Green Bay ranked 10th in team defense.
The only team he does well against is Buffalo because they have a 24th-ranked defense. Can he play and elevate the talent around him against a good defense? I think he can, but he hasn’t yet.
Last year they had the easiest schedule of all time, and their defense got them to the Super Bowl. Also, the luck of the opponent’s Injuries. The loss of Diggs and Boutte is a huge factor, which I would take over Kyle Williams and a washed-up AJ Brown. Williams has one good catch a month; then it’s brutal for him. He doesn’t fight for the ball.
Christian Gonzalez, the highest-paid cornerback who couldn’t care less because he just got his money, has been brutal for a while. He was even bad in Miami, letting receivers go by him, but because Miami has a bad defense and Drake Maye does better against bad teams, it was overlooked. But against Green Bay, Gonzalez was more useless than the week before, absolutely useless. Will the Patriots beat the Lions in Germany on Sunday? Probably because they are ranked 29th in team defense.
