Nicely, the Patriots’ season will get far more thrilling in Week 6 towards the Texans.
Rookie third-overall choose Drake Maye is about to make his first profession NFL begin in Gillette Stadium carrying the fan-favorite purple throwbacks.
“I feel it’ll be fairly candy within the purple throwbacks,” Maye mentioned this week. “I feel that’ll be fairly cool to get on the market in my first begin, and particularly in entrance of those followers. I feel Patriots followers are the very best followers within the league, and I’m trying ahead to taking part in at Gillette in entrance of them.”
Listed below are 5 gamers who should assist out Maye with sturdy performances.
WR DeMario Douglas
It’s solely unsurprising that Douglas is the Patriots’ main vast receiver. It’s downright stunning that by means of 5 weeks he holds that distinction with simply 18 catches for 153 yards.
Douglas spoke to reporters this week and expressed his longing to lastly rating his first NFL landing. Maybe that occurs this week with Maye beneath middle.
The second-year professional ought to profit from the quarterback change. However Douglas will help out Maye in a serious method by getting open shortly and gaining yards after the catch.
The Texans’ go rush will get house if Maye holds the ball for too lengthy, and Douglas is the kind of vast receiver who can achieve fast separation towards the Texans’ defensive backs. Texans nickelback Jalen Pitre is a stable defender, however he’s by no means ranked among the many greatest slot cornerbacks in man protection. Douglas may discover a bonus right here.
WR Ja’Lynn Polk
Polk was one other one of many Patriots’ high vast receivers together with Douglas and Kayshon Boutte in Week 5 with Kendrick Bourne nonetheless recovering from a torn ACL.
The early a part of Polk’s season considerably mirrors the early a part of coaching camp for the rookie vast receiver. He was shut on massive performs early in camp simply as he’s been within the first month of the season. Then one thing clicked, and Polk turned the Patriots’ most constant wideout in camp. The Patriots are nonetheless ready for that to occur in-season.
The Patriots have solely tried 15 deep passes this season. Polk has been on the receiving finish of a team-high 5 of them. He solely has one catch for 21 yards, nevertheless.
Polk wants to begin profitable extra of his contested catches, and he must proceed to work on his physique management to remain in bounds.
As soon as he masters these, be careful, as a result of he’s getting open.
The Patriots ought to really feel assured that Maye can ship higher downfield passes to Polk than Brissett. The purpose must be to get Polk matched up towards the cornerback changing injured rookie Kamari Lassiter fairly than Derek Stingley Jr.
TE Hunter Henry
Henry is the Patriots’ main go catcher this season with 180 yards on 16 catches and 11 first downs. He was a security valve for Brissett, and he can serve the identical position for Maye.
Maye and Brissett beloved focusing on tight ends in coaching camp, so anticipate Henry and Austin Hooper to each be closely concerned in Sunday’s matchup with the Texans.
Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is the Texans’ high protection linebacker. He’s allowed 166 receiving yards and a landing this season. Linebacker Henry To’oTo’o and security Eric Murray have every given up two receiving touchdowns this yr. The Patriots can discover an advantageous matchup for Henry so long as he can get open shortly.
LT Vederian Lowe
The much-maligned Lowe earned the NFL’s highest pass-blocking grade final week within the Patriots’ loss to the Dolphins. That ought to let you know simply how inept the offense carried out round him.
Lowe didn’t enable any pressures towards the Dolphins, however the degree of competitors wasn’t almost as excessive as what he’ll face towards Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter this week.
Anderson sometimes strains up on the defensive proper, that means he’ll face off towards Lowe for a lot of the evening. That may depart proper sort out Demontrey Jacobs towards Hunter.
Each Lowe and Jacobs will should be at their greatest, however Lowe might want to replicate final week’s efficiency to assist maintain Maye upright.
RG Mike Onwenu
Onwenu is the Patriots’ highest-paid offensive participant and easily must play higher.
He’s earned a 68.5 general PFF grade this season. Beginning at proper sort out by means of the primary 4 weeks, Onwenu moved to proper guard in Week 5 and earned a 68.8 mark.
That should enhance. He allowed 4 whole pressures in Week 5. Onwenu has solely allowed 4 or extra pressures two different instances in his profession, so the Patriots must hope he’ll give the staff a lift as he settles again into guard.
Count on him to face off towards Texans inside defensive linemen Mario Edwards Jr., Tim Settle and Folorunso Fatukasi.