A loss that feels kinda like a win, do you get what I mean? Sunday night filled me with optimism for the rest of the season, after all, we went toe to toe with one of the best teams in the league. Here’s Sunday’s ups & downs.
Ups ⬆️
Cam Newton
After proving he could still run the ball effectively last week, Newton put up the highest amount of passing yards for a Patriots offense in three years on Sunday night. Whilst still rushing for two TDs, he showed superb accuracy to his receivers, who all stepped up to help him. Had a few wayward passes and threw a pick, but all in all, another up week for Cam.
Julian Edelman
Any questions about Edelman’s commitment to the team were answered. He racked up career-high 179 yards from 8 catches, and at times flew around the field like it was his first game in the league. Aside from the big game statistically speaking, the chemistry between Cam and Jules is growing every week, and I think they can be a formidable force this year.
N’Keal Harry
A down week against Miami has been turned into an up week against Seattle. Harry showed some real moxie against, took a brutal hit which saw a Seahawks defender ejected, and made some big plays, one of which that nearly won them the game. Positives for sure, now I’d like him to get in the endzone next week.
Devin McCourty
On Russell Wilson’s third play of the game, his tipped pass was returned to the house in the only defensive turnover of the game. Not the most glamorous pick you’ll see from Dmac, but it was for six and got the Pats off to a hot start.
Chase Winovich
A second-straight week on the ups list for Wino, who was the only real stand-out on a defense that allowed five passing touchdowns for only the second time in Bill Belichick’s tenure in New England. Winovich is going from strength to strength and becoming an intricate part of the front line attack.
Let’s also never, ever, forget about this.
Honorable Mentions- Damiere Byrd, Jakob Johnson, Kyle Dugger, Offensive Line
Downs ⬇️
Nick Folk
Another sub-par performance by Folk who went 1/2 FG & 3/3 XP. It’s not good that every time the Patriots bring on the kicking unit, I believe they’re going to miss. Belichick said Nick is the kicker for the team in a video conference this week, but for how long?
Sony Michel
The run game never got established against Seattle. The team finished with 67 total rushing yards, Michel had just 19 of them from seven carries. It’s really frustrating because I’m a Sony fan, but in a game without James White and Damien Harris, Michel could have cemented his place as lead back, but instead put in another poor performance. Harris is eligible to return from IR against the Raiders, could see him finally get his chance?
Secondary Position
I can’t give them a pass after allowing five passing TDs, although some of them were just great plays made by Wilson and not everyone in the group played bad, the secondary has to be better. At times, they look like the best positional group in professional football, but as they showed on Sunday, they can become undone. A better performance needed this Sunday.
Ja’Whaun Bentley
Bentley didn’t have a great game at all, looking almost sluggish at times on a night where Seattle was able to get their run game moving some more. Recording just 4 total tackles, Bentley will want to bounce back and lead from the front as a newly appointed team captain.
The linebacker position is stretched so thin right now, I’d even be as bold to say that it’s a greater area of need than the receiving group.
Keep an eye out for my Raiders preview out this week!
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