The New England Patriots regular season is just around the corner. Final preparations are being made for their Week 1 contest against the Miami Dolphins, and the excitement for the start of the season is through the roof.
Much has been made of Mac Jones recent promotion to starting quarterback for the Patriots over the past week or so. While it is a very important development for New England, chances are it won’t end up being as important as people think it will be for the start of the season. That should prove to be especially true for their home opener against the Dolphins.
The Pats offense has been more or less “dumbed down” for Jones to be able to handle it. Jones has a top tier offensive line, a dangerous running back group, and a number of receiving options to help make his transition to the NFL much easier. Not to mention New England’s lockdown defense on the other end should help keep him in games he may struggle in.
There’s a lot of intrigue surrounding not just Jones, but many of the other players on the Patriots new and improved 2021 roster. While there will be a lot of eyes on Jones in this one considering it’s his first ever NFL start, he very well may end up playing a small role in this one for the Patriots. Let’s take a look at three players on the Patriots that you should keep an eye on during their season opening contest against the Dolphins.
New England Patriots player(s) to watch No. 3: Hunter Henry/Jonnu Smith
I cheated a bit here by adding both Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, but both should be equally important in this week’s gameplan against the Dolphins. Truth be told, we didn’t really see either player in preseason, so we don’t fully know how they will be used in this one. But it’s clear both will be vital pieces in the passing game, and could determine whether or not the offense has a successful day or not.
The Dolphins boast an elite secondary, and there’s a good chance they will be able to slow down New England’s wide receiver core. That’s where Henry and Smith come in handy. If the receivers get locked up on the outside, the tight ends should be able to find room to roam on the inside, and it could be the key to unlocking the passing game against Miami.
While both are equally important, they will probably have different roles. Smith profiles as a more complete tight end, while Henry is a much better pass catcher. They could both be used as receivers, blockers, or we could see one be a receiver and one stay home to block, which is why they are such a dangerous tandem.
While the receivers are likely to face a tough task getting open against the likes of Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, both Henry and Smith should be able to find a bit more room to operate. Miami’s safeties are a bit undersized compared to both Henry and Smith, while their linebackers may struggle to keep up with them. Not to mention both pose a threat of a receiver, so even if they end up blocking, Miami is going to have to prepare to cover them, which adds another challenge.
Don’t be surprised if we end up seeing Henry or Smith lead the way receiving for the Patriots when all is said and done. It may end up not being much, but both players will be vital in helping keep the passing game going, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see one of them rip off a big gain on a play-action pass at some point in this one. Both tight ends were brought in this offseason to take pressure off the quarterback, and they will be needed to do so right off the bat.
New England Patriots player to watch No. 2: J.C. Jackson
J.C. Jackson had a breakthrough season of sorts last season when he finished second in the league in interceptions, although he ended up being robbed of his first Pro Bowl selection. He held his own despite facing the top receivers on the opposing team for a good portion of last season, and he will called upon to do so for the start of the season with Stephon Gilmore on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Jackson will have his work cut out for him in this one, as he will most likely be lining up against the talented DeVante Parker. Parker has struggled to stay on the field throughout his career, but he’s been a game-changing presence when he’s been healthy. Parker has a habit of torching the Patriots when he goes up against them, and it will be up to Jackson to slow him down.
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
Despite Jackson’s solid season last year, some are still not convinced he’s the real deal. Despite picking off nine passes last season, he struggled at times when forced to stick with top wideouts, and many will remember Stefon Diggs having a field day against him towards the end of last season.
Jackson has a shot to prove those naysayers wrong right off the bat with Gilmore set to miss the first six games. Parker is a physical receiver who has great hands, and Jackson will probably end up seeing him for most of the game. He may get safety help occasionally, but Jackson has shown the ability to shutdown his matchups before, so he will probably be on his own for the most part.
If Jackson can shut down Parker, it improves the likelihood that New England will win. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been quite inconsistent throughout the start of his career, but if he can get in a rhythm with Parker early here, it could spell trouble for New England. Here’s hoping Jackson proves his doubters wrong and has a standout performance to open the season.
New England Patriots player to watch No. 1: Damien Harris
While Mac Jones has been the center of attention for the past few weeks, it’s become clear that Damien Harris will be the focal point of the offense for the start of the season. Harris has quickly emerged as New England’s top running back, and he should be in line for 20+ carries Sunday regardless of how the game plays out.
Jones is going to be eased into his first NFL action, meaning Harris will handle to the bulk of rushing duties to help keep the offense moving. Miami’s run defense isn’t anything special, and considering how good New England’s offensive line looks, there should be room for Harris to run come Sunday afternoon.
If Harris can establish the ground game for New England, they will win this game. Not only will he be moving the chains on the ground, but he opens up the threat of the play-action pass, which is where the previously mentioned tight ends come into play. Harris is the key to unlocking New England’s offense against Miami this week.
As such, he’s the most pivotal player to watch in this game. Harris showed the ability to be one of the top running backs in the league last season in limited action. Now that he’s been given the keys to the Patriots offense, it’s time to see whether he can build off last season’s hot finish.
The magic number for Harris in this one is 100 yards. If Harris can hit that threshold, and maybe even find the endzone too, New England will come out of this one with a 1-0 record. Many eyes will be on Jones in this one, but the real player to watch will be lining up behind him in this one, and there’s a good chance his performance will win or lose this game for the Pats.