New England Patriots: 3 NFL Week 2 matchups of extreme interest
When it comes to the NFL schedule, the first course of action for the New England Patriots is to take care of their own business. In this NFL Week 2 battle, that is getting their first win of the 2021 NFL season and taking care of the New York Jets.
After losing in Foxborough to the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, this is an important game for the Patriots because they already lost a division game and due to the schedule ahead. With the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on tap, Bill Belichick and crew can’t afford to fall to 0-2.
New England Patriots have to take care of business vs NY Jets in NFL Week 2 matchup
Although WynnBET has them as -6-point favorites going into the AFC East showdown, the rivalry between the two teams typically results in a closer game on the field. Belichick, who has been in the middle of the heated rivalry, knows if his team doesn’t come to do their job, it will be a battle because of how well the teams know one another.
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"“I think it’s similar to other division rivalries that I’ve been a part of,” Belichick said on Friday, via Patriots.com. “You play a team twice a year. You’re both chasing the same, you know, goal of the division championship, and then ultimately after that, but what happens after that, it’s a rivalry where you know your opponent well. They know you well, and you have a high level of competition and respect for the opponent, but you also go at a high level of competition because they know you so well. You know them well, and you kind of prod and poke and look for areas to attack and exploit based on, let’s say, almost an intimate knowledge of your opponent, and they do the same. It’s not that all other games aren’t competitive, but I think those divisional games are just a little more competitive because of the familiarity of the teams and the franchises that we have.”"
While the head coach didn’t talk up the rivalry, he knows the Jets have some talent in rookie quarterback Zach Wilson along with some talented receivers led by Corey Davis. For his own team to come out in victory, they need solid play from their own rookie quarterback Mac Jones and the defense must come to play, particularly the front seven.
Patriots fans will be watching to see how their team bounces back, but there are also three other games on the NFL Week 2 schedule of extreme interest, and we will start with a matchup that features the team Week 3 opponent.
New England Patriots: 3 NFL Week 2 matchups to keep an eye on
NFL Week 2 matchup No. 3: New Orleans Saints (1-0) vs Carolina Panthers (1-0)
The New Orleans Saints will travel down to Bank of America Stadium as a 3-point favorites and rightfully so.
After destroying Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, the Saints are riding high both offensively and defensive. New starting quarterback Jameis Winston threw for just 148 yards, but he threw for five touchdowns in the victory. More importantly for Saints fans, Winston didn’t turn the ball over in completing 14 of his 20 pass attempts.
As the next quarterback on the New England Patriots schedule, this is a game to watch to see if Winston is the real deal and to also see how the Carolina Panthers slow down the Saints efficiency on offense. Other than being the next opponent on the Patriots’ schedule, the end results are really no interest except to see just what kind of team will be traveling to Foxborough in Week 3.
NFL Week 2 matchup No. 2: Atlanta Falcons (0-) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)
There is no other reason for New England Patriots fans to have an interest in this game other than seeing if old friends Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski continue to look good.
As 12.5-point favorites according to WynnBET, the defending Super Bowl champions should have no problem taking care of Matt Ryan, Kyle Pitts and the Atlanta Falcons.
After barely sliding by the Dallas Cowboys, the Buccaneers will look to improve things defensively. The Falcons only scored 6 points in a beatdown at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, but they are still a team that can score some points. We all know the Brady-led Bucs will have no problem scoring with the passing game they have. With a rejuvenated Gronkowski, Tampa Bay should have an easy Week 2 win.
Like the Saints matchup, this is an NFC matchup that has no relevance to the Patriots other than seeing how Brady and Gronk look and the team coming into Foxborough in Week 4.
NFL Week 2 matchup No. 1: Buffalo Bills (0-1) vs Miami Dolphins (1-0)
Now we get down to a game that requires some scoreboard watching. If the New England Patriots take care of business against the New York Jets, there is a potential for them to be tied in the standings.
While it would be nice to see the Buffalo Bills fall to 0-2 after getting exposed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, a Miami Dolphins win would give Brian Flores a 2-game advantage in the division head-to-head matchups. For that reason, the Patriots 1-point loss to the Dolphins is that much more frustrating as the team could be in the position the Phins are in.
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In translation, for one-week Patriots fans should be rooting for the Bills to knock off the Dolphins. Like the Patriots and Jets, these two AFC East rivals know one another, and it should come down to the last possession. The team with the better quarterback should come out successful. If that quarterback is Tua Tagovalioa, then Josh Allen and the Bills will be in some serious trouble.