The Patriots kicked off 2022 with a dominating 50-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium. They also secured a playoff position with the win after Miami fell to Tenessee, but we won’t know the final seedings until after next week’s regular-season finale. Here are your Ups & Downs from Week 17.

Ups ⬆️

Damien Harris & Rhamondre Stevenson

Each back played a big part in yesterday’s win, both combining for 125 yards on the ground, with 2 touchdowns each. Harris led the work in the first half, quickly helping improve the score to 28 by the end of the second quarter, but, he did appear to tweak his hamstring, which has been an issue for the past couple of weeks. It may be minor, but the team decided to sit him for the second half to be safe, the job was already done.

Stevenson picked up the slack for the rest of the game and continued to show his rough-running skills and poured more misery on the helpless jags. A top day for the backs.

Mac Jones

Mac was back yesterday, looking comfortable and accurate on his way to finishing with 22/30 227 yards – 3 TDs, a welcome return for him following back-to-back down weeks for the rookie quarterback.

Sure the Jags didn’t pressure Mac a whole lot, or, offer much difficulty in pass coverage, but, I think Mac needed this game ahead of the now pending postseason and should fill himself with confidence ahead of Miami in the regular-season finale.

Jakobi Meyers

Meyers improved his season receiving total to a career high 796 yards yesterday, after hauling in 8 catches for 73 yards and a touchdown (his second career score). He’s been a key figure in Mac’s progression this season, another brilliant day for him.

J.C. Jackson

J.C. had a solid game yesterday, he was involved in good redzone coverage and managed to snag his 25th career pick (8th of the season). With the news this week coming that the team extended Adrian Phillips, a decision will be made soon on what to do about Jackson’s future with the franchise. I personally would extend him, sure he isn’t the best CB in the league, but he’s proved over his rookie contract that he’s a ballhawk and manages to find plenty turnovers.

Kristian Wilkerson

What a game for this man, finally getting a chance to perform on the main roster and he catches his first and second career touchdowns! Now, Wilkerson was pretty open on both plays due to poor coverage by the Jags, but, take nothing away from him, it was a special moment and potentially could earn himself a place on the 53-man roster.

Downs ⬇️

Special Teams

This will be the only entry on the down list this week, but, it’s needed. The Patriots for years have prided themselves on their special team capability, but this season something has been off on the entire unit.

The unit missed two extra points, which didn’t have an impact on the game, but regardless, this is the type of thing that can cost you in the postseason, especially in a different scenario where the game is close at the end. A note to this, Nick Folk was not at fault for either of the misses, all hail Big Kick Nick.

A bad loss yesterday is not what I asked for this Christmas. The Bills came into town and Josh Allen showed us all why he’s one of the best QBs in the league as they beat comfortably beat the Patriots 33-21. Here are your Ups & Downs from Week 16.

Ups ⬆️

Damien Harris

Really the only bright spot for the Pats was Harris, he roared back from injury with a hat-trick of rushing touchdowns, whilst amassing over a ton on the ground. Harris looked really really good, and I can’t help wondering that he probably wasn’t 100% fit either.

Daniel Ekuale

I wanted to give Ekuale a mention on the ups list as he had a good game yesterday, continuing a pattern for this season as a regular elevation player from the practice squad. He’s not been a game-changer, but every game he’s been active for he’s done something to stand out.

Downs ⬇️

Mac Jones

Mac look flustered and very rookie-like yesterday and it was probably his worst game as a Patriot so far. Jones was never able to find the consistency like Allen did and stuttered throughout the game, tossing a pick early on and being unable to extend drives contributed to his poor performance.

Myles Bryant

I’ve been rooting for Bryant all season, but he has struggled, and boy did he struggle yesterday. He was put through his paces by Isaiah McKenzie, who chalked up 11 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. I do think Bryant has a role to play on defense, but it wasn’t a good look watching him get blitzed by a relatively unknown receiver.

Matthew Judon

I wouldn’t say Judon was bad, but he was ineffective yesterday, as I do feel some more pressure on Allen could have really helped the Patriots. Now, I’m probably being a little harsh on Judon as he’s been the best free-agent signing from the offseason, but he wasn’t at his best yesterday.

Jake Bailey

Bailey had a few weird punts again yesterday, which just continues a disappointing year for him, again, didn’t factor in the loss, but contributed towards the overall poor play by the team. Overall, special teams as a unit has been sub-par this season.

BOOM! The Pats move to 6-4 on the season following a 45-7 demolition job of the Cleveland Browns. Coming into this one, I don’t think I was in the minority by thinking it was going to be close, but boy, I was wrong! Here are your Ups & Downs from Week 10.

Ups ⬆️

Mac Jones

This was Mac’s best game for the Patriots, he finished up 19/23 – 198 YDS – 3 TDs, finding Hunter Henry twice along with a superb pass to Kenrick Bourne. Mac has been quieter in the last couple of games and not had the same sort of production we saw in the first few weeks, but today he made his throws, didn’t make errors, and got the ball into the endzone. Really positive stuff, Mac was great.

Rhamondre Stevenson

No Damien Harris proved to be no problem for the Patriots as rookie running back Rhamondre Stevenson had a fruitful afternoon at Gillette Stadium, rushing for 100 YDS and 2 TDs! A real viewing of what the kid can do, an excellent runner who time and again found ways forward for extra yards.

His work when the Pats were backed up to their own one-yard line sticks out to me, he really got the offense out of an awkward spot, at the end leading to a 90-yard touchdown drive.

Kyle Dugger + Defensive Backs

Another positive week for Dugger who has really stepped things up in recent weeks. He earned his third interception of the year as he stole from Mayfield early in the game, leading to a touchdown. He’s really giving me confidence for the future at the safety position, I think he could be a long-term Patriot.

The rest of the secondary unit was great all game, with no flags, and no real mistakes. J.C. Jackson deserves a special mention as he was everywhere on the field today and should have probably had himself another pick. This defense is really starting to shape into a formidable unit.

Hunter Henry

The touchdown machine, Hunter Henry. Another stellar performance by big 85 as he cemented himself as Mac’s go-to redzone target, 4/4 – 37 YDS – 2 TDS. Henry now has seven touchdowns on the year, all of which came in the last eight games I might add, he’s been brilliant this year, and he was brilliant again yesterday.

Matt Judon

A big congratulations to Mr and Mrs Sleeves this week as they welcomed a new addition to the family! Judon was back with the team on Sunday and was busy when rushing the Cleveland QBs (which was most of the day). After being credited with half a sack, Judon equalled his career high sack tally of 9.5, and we still got seven games to go! He’s been the best FA additon by a mile this year.

Jakobi Meyers

It finally happened, we got to see Jakobi Meyers score his first career NFL touchdown! Unreal scenes followed as the entire team ran to celebrate with him in the endzone, Meyers also confirmed later than his number one fan, his dad, was in attendance to see the big moment. I can’t think of a more hard-working and selfless player on this current Pats roster than Jakobi, I’m so pleased for him, I hope he’s a Patriot for many years to come.

No downs from me this week, nobody deserves it a win like that. Short week, on to Atlanta, LFG!

Patriots win! A stellar defensive showing helped cover up for the lackluster offensive performance yesterday as the Pats came out of Carolina with a win, moving them to 5-4 on the season. Here are your Ups & Downs!

Ups ⬆️

J.C. Jackson

I put J.C. as one of my ones to watch yesterday, I felt he would bring his A-game with Gilmore on the opposition sideline, and boy did he deliver. Jackson missed two practices last week with strep, recovered enough to play, and hauled in two picks, taking one of them to the house for an 88-yard touchdown.

The question that arises now is what the team is going to do about Jackson after this season. Franchise? Extension? Free agency? All are on the table, I personally think they’ll tag him and either trade him or have the one-year rental whilst they try and figure out a replacement.

Jamie Collins

Since he signed as a free agent a few weeks ago, Collins has gone under the radar, but, he has that freaky athleticism to make unreal plays. That’s what happened yesterday, he intercepted a bullet pass from Darnold with ridiculous reactions, one of the plays of the season so far.

Hunter Henry

Another touchdown grab yesterday for Henry, his fifth on the season. He’s becoming the go-to target for Jones in the redzone and has been an impressive addition so far this year. Big up for big #85!

Rhamondre Stevenson

What a day for the rookie RB, he barreled his way through the Panthers defense on a number of occasions, combing for over 100 scrimmage yards (62 rushing, 44 receiving), rightfully earning himself a spot on the UP list! Both he and Damien Harris got banged up yesterday, here’s hoping they can recover this week in time for Cleveland, because man, this running back room has some juice!

Downs ⬇️

Isaiah Wynn

You know why he’s on this list, the muffed block which left Mac open to a blindside hit, causing a fumble and loss of possession. Not to mention, it could have seriously injured Mac, luckily he walked away unscathed. I wonder if Bill is regretting his decision to pick up Wynn’s fifth-year option?

The Patriots climbed to 4-4 on the season as they earned a big win over the Chargers yesterday! There were many good performances, so let’s go through them now! Here are your Ups & Downs from Week 8!

Ups ⬆️

Adrian Phillips

What a game for Phillips, against his former team he produced an MVP performance, picking off Herbert twice, one of which he took to the house for a touchdown. The former UDFA has become a valuable piece of the Pats puzzle since he arrived at the start of last season, I hope they extend him for a few more years.

Gunner Olszewski

There is something about playing at Sofi Stadium that gets Gunner going! He had his best return game of the season, helping the Patriots secure good field position on a number of occasions. He’s a big up this week!

Damien Harris

Another solid day for Harris on the ground, nothing special, but he scored the only offensive touchdown of the day. Really, if we’re being honest, the offense should have run it in on third and fourth down when they tried to force throws into the endzone. Another UP day for Harris!

Nick Folk

The most consistent Patriot, Nick Folk everybody! Folk went 4/4 on field goals yesterday, continuing his unreal stretch with the Patriots.

Matthew Judon

The red-sleeved demon HAUNTED Justin Herbert on Halloween, recording 1.5 sacks and multiple pressures as the former Pro-Bowler returned to form. I mentioned in my preview that Judon would be one to watch, and he was.