Locked On Patriots Hit - Quick Takes on the New England Patriots

The New England Patriots have a massive AFC East test against the Buffalo Bills, and everything starts with finding a way to make Drake Maye comfortable again.
That means New England needs a running game.
Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson haven't consistently been given enough space to make things happen. Against Buffalo, that has to change.
The Patriots can't put everything on Maye's shoulders and expect the struggling quarterback to suddenly fix the offense himself.
Get Stevenson involved. Create opportunities for Henderson. Force Buffalo's defense to respect the run and give Maye more manageable situations.
But that's only part of it.
New England's wide receivers need somebody to step up against a Bills secondary that has still been adjusting to Jim Leonhard's defensive system.
Maye hasn't played his best football, but the Patriots haven't consistently made his job easier either.
If New England can establish the run, create separation in the passing game and keep this game close into the second half, the pressure shifts to Buffalo.
The Patriots pulled off a statement win in Buffalo last season.
If they're going to do it again, Maye can't be asked to carry the entire offense by himself.
#Patriots #DrakeMaye #NFL
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The New England Patriots need Gabe Akas, Morgan Moses and their offensive and defensive lines to deliver against the Buffalo Bills.
It starts with getting pressure on Josh Allen.
Akas has already exceeded expectations early in his rookie season, becoming the first Patriots rookie to record multiple sacks and an interception through his first three games, according to the stat discussed on the show.
New England needs that impact against Buffalo.
The Patriots can't allow Allen to sit comfortably in the pocket. With Draymond Jones dealing with an injury, Akas and the rest of New England's edge rushers become even more important.
But the matchup works both ways.
Drake Maye desperately needs protection, and Morgan Moses faces a massive challenge against Greg Rousseau. The Bills edge rusher has been producing sacks consistently to begin the season and could make life miserable for a Patriots quarterback already trying to rediscover his confidence.
New England needs to affect Allen without allowing Buffalo to do the same thing to Maye.
That's easier said than done.
The Patriots aren't playing their best football entering this AFC East matchup, but winning in the trenches could give them an opportunity to make this much more interesting than expected.
If they can't protect Maye or pressure Allen, it could be a long afternoon.
#Patriots #DrakeMaye #NFL
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Drake Maye and the New England Patriots face the Buffalo Bills in a massive AFC East matchup, and one question hangs over everything: which version of Maye is going to show up?
Maye simply hasn't played good enough football lately.
But the Patriots haven't exactly made his job easy.
A.J. Brown is unavailable, and New England's remaining wide receivers have struggled to create much after the catch. According to the stat discussed in this crossover, Patriots wide receivers have yet to force a missed tackle this season.
Romeo Doubs, Pop Douglas, Efton Chism and Kyle Williams need to give Maye more help.
Then there's an opportunity on the other side.
Buffalo has repeatedly put the football in dangerous situations this season. The Bills committed five turnovers in their previous game, while James Cook fumbled on his first carry before eventually bouncing back with a huge performance.
That's where New England's defense could change this game.
Christian Gonzalez and the Patriots secondary have an opportunity to create problems for Josh Allen and potentially give Maye short fields.
But that only matters if the offense capitalizes.
New England has already wasted opportunities created by its defense this season.
If the Patriots are going to pull off the upset in Buffalo, they need to win the turnover battle and, more importantly, they need Maye to finally look like himself again.
#Patriots #DrakeMaye #NFL
Photo Credit: Eric Canha

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Drake Maye is under more pressure than ever, and the New England Patriots aren't doing enough to help their struggling quarterback.
Maye appeared on the injury report with a right shoulder issue despite being a full participant in practice. But whether the shoulder has anything to do with his struggles or not, New England has much bigger problems surrounding him.
The Patriots' pass catchers have to be better.
There have been opportunities where Maye has delivered a good football and his receivers haven't finished the play. There have also been far too many snaps where New England's pass catchers simply aren't creating separation.
That raises another question about Josh McDaniels' offense.
How much falls on the receivers, and how much falls on a scheme that isn't consistently creating opportunities for them?
Then there's the running game.
TreVeyon Henderson has yet to force a missed tackle according to PFF. Rhamondre Stevenson needs to protect the football, but New England also has to find ways to create space for him.
Maye hasn't played well enough.
But asking a struggling young quarterback to fix everything himself isn't going to solve this offense.
If the Patriots want any chance of beating the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, somebody else needs to start making plays.
#Patriots #DrakeMaye #NFL
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The New England Patriots have plenty of questions entering Sunday's AFC East showdown with the Buffalo Bills, but Christian Gonzalez isn't one of them.
Gonzalez has been one of New England's biggest strengths, and his presence could completely change how Josh Allen attacks the Patriots secondary.
The interesting part is how New England uses him.
Gonzalez hasn't simply followed the opposing team's No. 1 receiver everywhere. Against Seattle and Jacksonville, the Patriots were willing to keep Gonzalez in his role and force quarterbacks to decide whether they wanted to challenge him or attack somewhere else.
Buffalo could face the same decision.
DJ Moore received 10 targets last week despite not being 100 percent. If Gonzalez gets opportunities against Moore, that's one of the biggest individual matchups of the game.
But Josh Allen doesn't necessarily have to challenge him.
If Allen identifies Gonzalez before the snap and consistently attacks Carlton Davis or another matchup instead, New England's other defensive backs suddenly become even more important.
That's the chess match.
The Patriots just made a major financial commitment to Gonzalez, and he's played like one of the best players on their roster.
Now comes his first AFC East matchup since getting paid, against Josh Allen and a 3-0 Buffalo Bills team.
#Patriots #ChristianGonzalez #Bills
Photo Credit: Eric Canha

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