Imminent Pigskins

Even the most optimistic of Pats fans are thinking, 9-8-0, baby! It's possible. Back in the playoffs! No, really. It could happen. Definitely doable. Hello? Is this on? Let's go! 

Meanwhile, nobody knows who's playing right tackle when they tee it up on Sunday. Okay. I'm sure somebody knows, I'm just not sure I want to know. 

Predictably, the predictions for the Patriots opener against last year's NFC Champion Eagles have been bleak, unless, of course, you're a Philly fan. Stranger things have happened, but an upset win in Foxborough this Sunday seems unlikely to join that list.

Unlikely?

So, you're saying there's a chance? 

Join me, won't you, as I find myself…

Grasping at Pigskin Straws 

The Offensive Line Holds Up 

This probably qualifies as wishful thinking as I have no idea how Cole Strange's knee is feeling or Michael Onwenu's ankle is feeling or who Vederian Lowe is, and, as noted above, the Patriots starting offensive line on Sunday is probably Trent Brown, Cole Strange, David Andrews, Mike Onwenu, and TBA. Strange and Onwenu are both listed as Questionable. If you believe the unofficial depth chart on ESPN.com, it will be Calvin Anderson manning the RT spot. You know; the guy who's just happy to be alive? Yeah, a great game from Anderson and the O-Line would make a great story but then again, real life ain't no movie with Sandra Bullock, either.

I'm not exactly cheering myself up, here.

Maybe it's better to hope that Bill O'Brien has come up with a game plan that can take advantage of an overconfident Eagles defensive front seven? 

Draws plays and screen passes and slants.

Oh, my.

Yeah. Okay. Let's click our ruby red slippers together and roll with that.

Jalen Hurts is a Problem that Marte Mapu was Drafted to Solve

Jalen Hurts is big and athletic and more than happy to run with the football. The countermove is to put a "spy" on the field who is as big and athletic as Hurts.

Enter Marte Mapu, in the hybrid S/LB role. How the rookie holds up will go a long way toward making sure…

The Defense will Keep it Close…

I'll probably say this every week during the 2023 season.

New England's defense is going to have to do the heavy lifting until (if) the Patriots sort out the starting offensive line.

With a front seven featuring Matthew Judon, Josh Uche, Christian Barmore, and rookie Keion White, and playmakers on the back end in Kyle Duggar, Jabril Peppers, and (fingers crossed) rookie Christian Gonzalez, the Patriots have the ingredients for some Darth Hoodie jedi mind tricks on defense.

Mac Jones is Better Than You Think

No, he's not Tom Brady. Yes, he needs a clean pocket and the type of offensive weapons he enjoyed in his senior season at Alabama.

That's not damning by faint praise. (See: Patrick Mahomes, opening night, without Travis Kelce or anything resembling a WR1). Most NFL quarterbacks need time to throw, a running game that sets up play action, and receivers who come down with 50/50 balls more than 50% of the time. 

You don't think Jalen Hurts is better because of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith?

We can quibble over just how much better those two are than any combination of DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Kendrick Bourne. (Are we surprised Patriots Nation is begging Bill Belichick to trade for Mike Evans? We are not. Somebody had to step up once Larry Fitzgerald retired.) We can oversell what rookie wideouts Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte might bring to the table. (I've already tried.) We can forget that there are targets at tight end in Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki, or that both Rhamondre Stevenson and Zeke Elliot are options out of the backfield in the passing game. 

The bottom line is that there's plenty of credible NFL talent at the skill positions for the Patriots.

I would say the same about the offensive line if they were healthy (they're not) and I'm glad to hear David Andrews isn't worried but then, what's a captain going to say about his shipmates?

If the offensive line does hold up, I think Mac Jones has the weapons to shut up the haters.

And keep the Patriots on track for that 9-8-0 finish.

Go Pats!