N’Keal Harry an unlikely X-factor in Patriots vs Bills AFC East clash

Is it finally time for New England Patriots former first-round pick N’Keal Harry to shine?

Well, the 2019 first-round pick out of Arizona State University hasn’t had the greatest start to his NFL career and has had fans and critics second-guessing Bill Belichick over the last three seasons for picking Harry over players like Deebo Samuel and A.J. Brown.

There was no better reminder than that in watching both of those studs making players all over the field in the Tennessee Titans victory over the San Francisco 49ers this past Thursday night.

Just imagine if the Patriots drafted one of those players, or even Terry McLaurin or D.K. Metcalf?  Just imagine? Or, better yet, imagine if Harry started making plays offensively.

New England Patriots wide receiver N’Keal Harry and his time to shine

Well, there is no better time than Sunday in the AFC East showdown with the Buffalo Bills.

With just 10 receptions for 169 yards in 2021, no one on either side is really expecting the third-year wide receiver to be much of a factor.  But half of those receiving yards came in the team’s Week 15 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Harry made two clutch caches in that game, including a long bomb from Mac Jones during a key drive in the team’s comeback attempt.  This play below highlighted exactly why the Patriots drafted the kid and is the type of play Harry makes occasionally that has Patriots fans saying, “well, if he can do that!”  Here, let’s look at what I’m talking about:

N’Keal Harry isn’t the fastest receiver, but his size and power does give hm an advantage over defenders when it is time to go up and battle for the ball.  That type of ability, along with how he has been blocking is exactly where there was chatter about a positional change to get Harry more in the mix.

As a smaller type of tight end, the New England Patriots could have something with Harry.  But maybe he has earned more targets with a catch like the one he pulled down late in that game against the Colts.

With Nelson Agholor out, there should be more opportunity for Harry against the Bills who will certainly be focused on stopping the run.  In doing that they want to force Jones to beat them just like the Colts did.  Having Kendrick Bourne able to go helps the passing game, but a big receiver like Harry on the field along with tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith could put some pressure on that Bills’ secondary.

As the Patriots proved in the first showdown, the Bills can be dominated on the ground.  In this matchup, perhaps it’s time to target how they cover tight ends and big receivers down the field.  That is where N’Keal Harry becomes an x-factor in this game.  Has he earned the trust of Josh McDaniels?  Has he earned the trust of Mac Jones?

What we do know is the Buffalo Bills aren’t exactly game planning to take away Harry.  That’s where the New England Patriots can pull out a big surprise.  Hopefully, the kid is finally ready to make that big contribution we’ve all been waiting for.

How ironic would it be that the one player asking for a trade before the season started, is the player who helps the team clinch an AFC East title.