Wilkerson has career day in Patriots blowout of Jacksonville
Kristian Wilkerson had a standout game in Week 17 against the Jaguars.
Game Overview
Matchups between contending teams and those rebuilding aren’t the most exciting and can become lopsided throughout the game. The New England Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 50-10 in one of the largest margins of victory in the 2021-22 NFL season. The Patriots' defense put Trevor Lawrence in uncomfortable positions throughout the game by varying their coverage assignments and putting consistent pressure on the former first overall pick, resulting in Lawrence throwing three interceptions with a touchdown. Trevor was on the same page with former first-round bust Laquon Treadwell, who had six receptions and 87 receiving yards against the Patriots. New England is playoff-bound, with the Dolphins losing to Tennessee. The Patriots will go into a crucial Week 18 against Miami with the division on the line but need help from the New York Jets to beat the Buffalo Bills.
Wilkerson and the Diminishing Role of Harry
Receivers that create a connection with Quarterbacks deserve playing time over single-skilled players. Kristian Wilkerson, a 2020 undrafted Wide Receiver on Tennessee last season, showed promise with Patriots rookie Quarterback Mac Jones in the 2021 preseason. This connection returned in Week 17 when Wilkerson was elevated from the practice squad and caught two touchdown passes on four receptions. N’Keal Harry, the bane of Patriots fans, was a healthy scratch, lending playing time to the former undrafted wideout. Wilkerson has ascended his playing time and can produce when given the opportunity. A full-time elevation to the Patriots roster could be on the horizon for the young receiver after his standout performance against Jacksonville.
Prolific Receiving Options
Another strong connection exists between Mac Jones and Hunter Henry. However, Jones has a penchant for staring Henry down when Jones is under pressure. On the season, this has resulted in nine touchdowns and over 500 receiving yards for the former Chargers Tight End, but defenders can key in on Henry when Jones is under pressure. The Patriots must develop other connections, so Jones shouldn’t feel pressured to give the ball to Hunter when he is under siege. Jakobi Meyers has become a safety net in the past few weeks, with six receptions on eight targets against Buffalo in Week 16 and eight catches on eight targets against Jacksonville with his second career touchdown. Kendrick Bourne also had some notable plays throughout the game and the jet sweep to Bourne is becoming a fan favorite.
Bryant’s Inconsistent Season
Rookies have emphasized positive and negative games throughout the season. Myles Bryant, the 2020-21 undrafted free agent Cornerback out of the University of Washington, was torn up by Bills receiver Isaiah McKenzie for 125 receiving yards on 11 receptions and a touchdown in Week 17. Bryant rebounded against Jacksonville and picked off Lawrence. With Slot Cornerback Jonathan Jones out for the season, Bryant was pushed into a starting role and has shown flashes all season.
Week 18 Overview
Week 18 is a must-win game for New England, and their divisional hopes, but not for Miami, as previously mentioned, were eliminated following a 34-3 loss against Tennessee. Anything can happen in divisional matchups, with familiarity between division rivals. If Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson are healthy, the Patriots have one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, which should feature prominently against Miami. The 2021-22 Patriots will go as far as Mac Jones takes them, but given his rookie status, it’s fair to be skeptical of whether the Patriots can rely on him. When Jones spreads the ball to the Patriots' skill players and doesn’t force the ball downfield, the team is usually able to win. That means not playing from behind, and a quick start is essential. The 2021-22 Patriots are rightfully a playoff team, and year one of the Mac show is going according to plan.
Reference Page
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Statistics Courtesy of Pro Football Reference and NFL.com