The Patriots host the New Orleans Saints today at Gillette Stadium. At 1-3, the Patriots need a win in the worst way. It won’t be easy but the Patriots do match up well in all three facets of the game.

Here are seven things the Patriots need to do on offense, defense and special teams if they want to win today’s game.

Offense

1. 3-Step Passing game: Heavy emphasis on the three-step passing game today. I would mix and match personnel groupings and formations in an effort to get Mac Jones into a rhythm. New Orleans plays a lot of man to man so compressing formations and creating space underneath and to the outside will be important.

Diagram 1: Quick hitters like this stick concept are a great way to get the ball out of Mac’s hand quick and get him into a rhythm.

2. Diversify the Run Game: The Patriots need to diversify the run game today. Use more motion and shifting and force the Saints to have to adjust constantly. Using more unbalanced would help as well. The lack of a running game has been a major problem thus far. Mixing up runs and alignments could finally help the get the ground game going.

Diagrams 2 & 3: Mixing up the run game will be pivotal today. Using multiple formations, personnel groupings and calling certain run plays like jet sweep to pair up with man-gap runs like Power will help.

3. Move more: As I mentioned, more motion, shifting and unbalanced will help this offense. The Patriots need to use more smoke and mirrors. When you are struggling on offense, you need to dress things up to create space and more numbers at the point of attack. The Patriots need to start moving more.

Defense

1.Edge Pressure: With Matt Judon out for the foreseeable future, look for the Patriots to blitz more to genrate more pressure. I would run more T-E stunts on the edge and bring more edge pressure. You cannot replace Judon’s production with one player. It will take a collective effort including the coaches.

2. More Combo Coverages: With Christian Gonzalez out for the season and the team still down it’s other top corners, the Patriots will need to play more combination and zone coverages. Take the pressure off the guys you do have and play off-coverage. Especially to Chris Olave’s side. He is their big play receiver and the one player New Orleans has that could change the complexion of the game.

3. Emphasis on 40 Fronts: With Judon out and Keion White playing a bigger role, the Patriots will need to play more 40 fronts to get their best defensive line on the field simultaneously. I would utilize more four man fronts or three man fronts with a walk up OLB as the edge. It will allow the Patriots to get more pass rushers on the field.

Special Teams: Kick away from Rashid Shaheed at all costs!! That is all for this week’s special teams plan.