After coming off their worst season in 20 years, the New England Patriots kickoff its preseason schedule with a date with the Washington Football Team on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium (7:30 p.m.).
With players coming and going this past offseason, there will certainly be plenty of things to look for in all three phases of the game for the Pats.
Washington will be looking to build off their surprising NFC East title, with one of the top defenses football and an offense looking to improve from a year ago.
Here are five things to keep an eye on in Thursday nights preseason opener.
1. QB Battle
Make no mistake, Patriots QB Cam Newton’s (8 TDs, 10 INTs) performance for the ball club in 2020 was unacceptable.
With newcomer, rookie QB Mac Jones coming in hot early in training camp, the 15th overall pick will certainly put up a battle for the starting nod come opening day.
An excuse used a million times, was that Newton didn’t have the full offseason last year due to COVID-19 to really stick his teeth into getting this offense down pact.
What Newton needs to prove is he’s more capable of throwing more downfield then he did in a season ago & also step up when the Pats need him the most. You saw in plenty of games last season (at Seattle, at Buffalo, at Houston) that the Auburn product couldn’t make plays down the stretch to help the team come out on top.
For Jones, it’ll be his first-ever action in NFL competition. We will no longer see the #50 on him, it’ll be an opportunity to build off his throwing in practice & it will give him an opportunity to impress coaches in what I believe to be a true QB battle in Foxborough.
First team reps will be tough against a pulverizing up front with defensive ends Chase Young & Montez Sweat coming at you, so I fully expect Newton to have his hands full Thursday night.
2. Defensive depth
After finishing in the top 10 last season in points allowed per game (22.1 PPG), I fully expect the Patriots defense to be one of the most underrated units in the NFL.
With key additions such as linebackers Matt Judon, Kyle Van Noy & cornerback Jalen Mills, the Patriots come into the year with the most depth they’ve had at every position on defense in years.
Despite the absence of All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the Patriots secondary will continue to make strides with veteran leadership in Devin McCourty & J.C. Jackson and Adrian Phillips, who each had fantastic 2020 campaigns.
Dont’a Hightower returns after sitting out the 2020 season and you have guys like linebacker Chase Winovich and safety Kyle Dugger who’re both trying to crack the starting lineup.
Facing Washington QB’s in Ryan Fitzpatrick & Taylor Heinicke, the Patriots defense should be flying and starting off on the right foot.
Defense will be the reason this team goes anywhere this season.
3. Speed Kills
The running back position is where the Patriots are the deepest in terms of personnel.
Third-year RB Damien Harris starts off the year as RB1, while after two 900+ rushing yard seasons, Sony Michel took a step back in 2020 and seemed expendable this offseason.
Veteran James White re-signed with the team this offseason (1-year, 2.46 million) and will once again lead the way in the passing game in the backfield.
The competition on making the team relies on a battle between rookie 4th round pick Rhamondre Stevenson & 2nd-year running back/special teamer J.J. Taylor.
Stevenson has come on strong early at training camp, being known for his explosiveness and physicality. Expect that to be a battle to the very end between Stevenson and Taylor.
Despite the QB battle being the most looked at subject at camp, this group is going to carry the offense week by week.
Speaking of that, who’s going to make plays for this offense when they don’t run the ball?
4. Who’s going to catch the ball?
The biggest signing for the Patriots this offseason was reestablishing a true “double tight end set” back in Foxborough.
Jonnu Smith & Hunter Henry will be a big part in what this offense does.
Henry is expected to miss “a couple of weeks” with a shoulder injury he suffered this past weekend that is “not serious” via Adam Schefter.
On the other side, Smith has been looking for an offense to spread his wings and show off his versatility. I believe he found his home and the 6-3, 250 pounder will find ways to help out in the pass game, blocking and even a cameo running the ball.
On the wide receiver front, its been reported that recent acquisition Nelson Agholor has been the best player on offense on many occasions early on in training camp.
Coming off a 48 rec, 896 receiving yards and 8 TD’s, I expect Agholor to be a catalyst for the Pats in the passing game.
N’Keal Harry requested a trade in the beginning of camp, but reportedly has had the best training camp he’s had with the ballclub. It will be interesting how far Harry will be able to take it, if maybe New England is the right fit after all.
Rounding out the wide receivers to watch, Jakobi Meyers was WR1 last season, expect the slot receiver to remain in his underrated role for the Pats this season.
Kendrick Bourne was a nice pick up from San Francisco, who is projected to round out this wide receiver starting core. Gunner Olszewski and Kristian Wilkerson are expected to be a big impact on special teams as well.
5. Kicking game
After a flawless 2020 campaign for veteran kicker Nick Folk (92.9 FG%, 51 yards LNG), he now has some competition with rookie kicker Quinn Nordin.
In Friday night’s season ticket holders practice, Nordin was 10-for-10, including a 57-yard field goal. There’s definitely a real chance Nordin can win it, but these preseason games will be crucial.
Prediction
Patriots 27, Washington 10
The Patriots have been a tremendous preseason team over the years, because of depth at every position. And that’s even truer this season.
Newton will struggle, Jones will throw a TD.
No jobs will be won in Thursday night’s game against Washington, but having fans back in the stadium, with players having an opportunity to see their first game action since last season, expect a highly competitive bout despite it just being a preseason tilt.