Patriots Turnovers Prove Team is Beating Themselves
A mantra throughout sports is “us against the world.” Teams think their main challenge is their opponents. Teams most often fail to execute, no matter how their opponents play. The New England Patriots hurt themselves in week 1. The team consistently did not finish in the end zone and this led to their 17-16 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Turnovers were the simplest way to describe how the Patriots lost, as their skill players had 4 fumbles. Two of the turnovers were scooped up by the Dolphins, with the latest being a drive-killer for a driving Patriots offense late in the 4th quarter. If the Patriots want to be an elite team in the AFC, they must improve their ball skills and protect the football.
For the most part, Mac Jones looked like a solid NFL contributor and showcased some of his potential against the Dolphins this week.
On the other hand, Mac Jones looked comfortable in his first start at quarterback in the NFL. He moved the ball effectively downfield, throwing 29 completions in 39 attempts for 281 yards and a touchdown. Jones, even though he will not admit it, was not the reason the team lost. Jones had a rapport with running back James White and threw the ball 6 times to White for 49 yards. Nelson Agholor and Jakobi Meyers had flashes in the game. They were both open against an elite Dolphins secondary that includes first-team All-Pro Xavien Howard and Pro Bowl cornerback/safety Byron Jones. NFL experts such as Andrew Callahan thought a lack of elite receivers would bite the Patriots, but it did not in week 1. While the Patriots had success on the ground, rushing for 125 yards, they must win the turnover battle to show that they are legit in the NFL.
Consistency from Damien Harris could be the difference maker and continue to ease Mac Jones’ transition into the NFL.
Damien Harris had a mixed day on Sunday for the Patriots. He rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries (4.6 yards per carry). He did fumble during the drive when the Patriots could have won the game in the 4th quarter. Harris was dependable last year and only fumbled the ball once, so his fumble this week was not indicative of a habit for Harris. Rookie Rhamondre Stevenson lost the football in his first carry and did not see the field much the rest of the game. The Patriots will most likely prioritize ball security and red zone efficiency during practice this week.
James White showed his elite pass catching skills this week against Miami.
If the Patriots can fix these early season turnover issues, their offense should be in good shape against an inexperienced Jets secondary this week. Hopefully, Mac Jones continues to progress and establish himself in the NFL. Given how much the Patriots rely on their running backs, expect a solid contribution from Damien Harris and James White this week. The game starts at 1:00 PM EST Sunday on CBS. Let’s go Pats!
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